Today – Sept 16th – is the last day to enter the Parliamentary Staff Awards which ‘recognise the dedicated staff behind each and every MP and peer and the work they do to support parliamentary and constituency engagement’ More details here https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/sponsored/parliamentary-staff-awards-2021-qa

The Members’ Services Fair is an opportunity for Members and their staff to find out more about the full range of support, services and facilities provided by the House Service and the work of different teams across Parliament. A series of talks and panel discussions will be held in the Macmillan Room on Monday 18…

READ HERE for the full call for fellows. https://balfourproject.org/bp/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Call-for-Balfour-Project.pdf The Balfour Project intends to appoint up to twenty Peace Advocacy Fellows for the academicyear 2021-22. If you are a post-graduate or final year undergraduate student with an interest in the the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, you are welcome to apply. The selected fellows will be paid a…

The Members Services Team have some drop-in Q&A Sessions coming up: Creating a safe workspace for Members’ staff, 10 September 10-11am – https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?f=1979   Members’ staff training, 14 September 2-3pm – https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/notification/index.php?update=4665   Workplace adjustments and the IPSA Disability Fund, 8 October 10-11am https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=4627   Stress Awareness (with Mind) and Movember, 2 November 10-11am –…

Members of Parliament handle a high volume of immigration, nationality and asylum enquiries from constituents. The Commons Library has produced a briefing which provides a brief overview of the UK’s immigration and asylum system and basic British nationality law. It also outlines the legal restrictions on giving immigration advice, gives some suggestions on handling constituents’…

w4mp has been asked to remind all MPs and their staff to be careful not to disclose any of the MP Hotlines details to constituents, as they can only deal with MPs and their staff. It’s very easy to pass on these details inadvertently, especially when forwarding emails, so do check that the hotline details…

MPs’ offices are receiving a large number of requests for assistance from constituents with relatives, friends and colleagues stranded in Afghanistan. In order to help your MP to assist you in the most efficient way, please read this quick guide: https://w4mp.org/w4mp/w4mp-guides/in-the-constituency/casework-guides/issue-by-issue/afghanistan/

Parliament has been recalled on Wednesday 18 August 2021 to debate the situation in Afghanistan. You can find relevant Commons Library research and analysis on the Commons Library website here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/type/research-briefing/ Please note that the situation in Afghanistan is fast moving and briefings should be read as correct at the time of publication.

With the developing situation in Afghanistan, we have been updating the hotlines list as soon as we have received further contact information and useful links, so please do keep checking back to the list online. If you have any useful contacts or information that are not on our list, please do let us know. Please…

We are all deeply affected by the situation in Afghanistan and the human tragedy that we are seeing.  All MPs and their staff understand that constituents are extremely anxious about their friends and relatives in Afghanistan and want to do all they can to help them. Every MP is trying to help a lot of…

As the situation in Afghanistan develops, w4mp is trying to obtain hotline contact details to assist MPs’ offices. The hotlines list has been updated this morning and will be updated each time new information is received. Please let w4mp know if you have any contact details or other useful information which is not on the…

Parliamentary Staffers Awards now open!! Prospect Magazine and MAPSA are delighted to announce that entries to the third annual Parliamentary Staffers Awards are now open, so please get nominating!! We know how difficult the last year has been for staff and offices of every MP and Peer, with unprecedented increases in workloads and stress, alongside…

This course aims to support the Member’s staff to build confidence and skills to deal with distressed callers. This is also an important part of new starters induction training. Course Overview Module 1: Mental Health Awareness Session Module 2: Communication Skills Module 3: Suicide/serious self-harm calls Module 4: Difficult Calls Module 5: An open session…

Over the recess, PDS is still offering digital coaching sessions on a range of topics- including Teams, cyber security and office 365 (for both new starters and longstanding staff). To book please see here. (Parliamentary network account required) For 24/7 technical support the Support Desk is available as usual on 020 7219 2001.

House of Commons Library Briefing The Commons Library has produced a briefing on gift vouchers and insolvency, relating to what happens to consumers’ gift vouchers and other prepayments when a retailer becomes insolvent. You can read the summary and download the full briefing here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn06540/

The Wellbeing Hub for Members’ staff can now be accessed directly from your desktop using the orange and blue icon which should now have appeared. The Wellbeing Hub brings together all resources into one place, with information on what support services are available and ideas, tools and templates to support you with your wellbeing. It is…

This is an event from the Wellness Working Group Wednesday 14 July 1410:00 AM – 11:00 AM Nick Gazzard from the Hollie Gazzard Trust talking to the group about Hollie’s story and the work of the Trust. He will be joined by Neil Cahalin from Member Security Services at the House to speak about available…

This is a briefing / Q&A session from the Members’ Services Team. National Audit Office (NAO) / Education Team The National Audit Office is the nation’s independent spending watchdog. It reports to, and is funded by, Parliament to value for money reports on subjects ranging from HS2, Defence contracts, local authority finances, Covid-19, to environmental…

The regional roadshows are getting a revamp and the Members’ Services Team would love to hear your thoughts on what should be included. All MPs’ staff are invited to contribute. If you are available 15 July 9.30 – 10.15am and would be willing to provide them with some feedback about what should be included in…

This is an event from the Wellness Working Group Thursday 8 July 2021 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Author of the Sunday Times Bestseller, The Well Gardened Mind, Sue Stuart-Smith will join us to talk about the benefits of nature for wellbeing. “In a powerful combination of contemporary neuroscience, psychoanalysis and brilliant storytelling, The Well…

This session, aimed at MPs and their HR proxies, is run by the Members’ HR Advice Service to supplement the Best Practice Guide to Office Restructures. The session will provide information about how to manage restructuring the office when you are considering reorganising your staffing resources to respond to changing priorities. It will cover employer…

This is an event from the Wellness Working Group. Tuesday 29 June 2021 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Jamie Bristow is Director of The Mindfulness Initiative, a policy institute about mindfulness and compassion training that grew out of a programme of mindfulness teaching for politicians in the British Parliament. The Mindfulness Initiative provides the secretariat…

The Registrar of Members’ Financial Interests runs workshops for Members and their staff on the following subjects together with the next available dates. ‘Openness and Registering Members’ Financial Interests’, covering: How to help your Member register and declare interests The rules on paid lobbying by MPs How and when to register your own interests Thursday…

This session, aimed at MPs and their HR proxies, is run by the Members’ HR Advice Service to supplement the Best Practice Guide to Office Restructures. The session will provide information about how to manage restructuring the office when you are considering reorganising your staffing resources to respond to changing priorities. It will cover employer…

All MP Staff Q&A Session – Creating a safe workplace for Members’ staff – guidance on bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct 10:00 – 10:45 – Thursday 10 June 2021 Open to all of the staff of MPs.  For further information and booking, please see https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=4492  

Please note that, when trying to access these courses, if you receive automated messages such as “you don’t have Moodle” or “it is not for learners”, please contact the Digital team to sort it out as it is a technical error, thank you. Distressed Callers (1 day) https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=3965 Course overview Core skills when supporting emotional…

All Members’ Staff Virtual Q&A Session: UKVI/Passport office / Civil Service Sports Council This session is open to all staff of all MPs. 10:00 – 11:00 – 24 June 2021 For further information and booking, please visit https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=3963

All MP Staff Q&A Session – Creating a safe workplace for Members’ staff – guidance on bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct 10:00 – 10:45 – Thursday 10 June 2021 Open to all of the staff of MPs.  For further information and booking, please see https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=4492  

This session, aimed at MPs and their HR proxies, is run by the Members’ HR Advice Service to supplement the Best Practice Guide to Office Restructures. The session will provide information about how to manage restructuring the office when you are considering reorganising your staffing resources to respond to changing priorities. It will cover employer…

Members’ staff are invited to learn more about the Vote Office and the services we offer to support their work. Friday 11 Jun 2021, 11:00 – 11:40 on MS Teams Booking essential.  For full details please see here: https://intranet.parliament.uk/business-news/news-current-issues/whats-on/2021/june/introduction-to-the-vote-office-training-for-members-staff/  

The Registrar of Members’ Financial Interests runs workshops for Members and their staff on the following subjects together with the next available dates. ‘Openness and Registering Members’ Financial Interests’, covering: How to help your Member register and declare interests The rules on paid lobbying by MPs How and when to register your own interests Thursday…

Affordable rooms in London this summer Room for Tea is a social enterprise which connects interns looking for an affordable place to stay with hosts who have a spare room in their homes. Our motivation is to help aspiring interns and apprentices access affordable accommodation in London during their work experience, and offer young people…

The Registrar of Members’ Financial Interests runs workshops for Members and their staff on the following subjects together with the next available dates. ‘Openness and Registering Members’ Financial Interests’, covering: How to help your Member register and declare interests The rules on paid lobbying by MPs How and when to register your own interests Thursday…

This briefing paper explains the status of directly-elected mayors in English and Welsh local government, and the routes to establishing them, including the use of local referendums. It also includes an up-to-date list of elected mayors and statistics on previous referendums. Find the briefing here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05000/

There are still a few places available for the Member’s Staff Induction session on 27 May 2021. If you have any new starters who have not yet signed up the course, please ask them to sign up here: Member’s staff induction The details of the session are s follows. Part 1: Induction (9.30-12.30) Part 2:…

The Commons Library has published a new research briefing looking at online scams. In addition to looking at the scale of the problem, it considers the different types of scams, who are the targeted victims, and what is being done to combat them. You can find it here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9214/

The Commons Library has published a new research briefing looking at the results of the local elections that took place in England on 6 May 2021. You can find it here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9228/  

The Wellness Working Group has launched a new Wellbeing Hub for Members’ Staff. This is a dedicated space created by MPs’ staff for MPs’ staff; they know just how difficult this job can be and the importance of taking time to look after yourself.  They have gathered all resources to support you on this site.…

Award-winning public affairs professional Robert McGeachy has written The Public Affairs Guide to Westminster: The Handbook of Effective and Ethical Lobbying, drawing upon his experience of working in the House of Lords for many years, and of leading successful UK-wide public affairs campaigns. The Westminster Public Affairs Guide shows organisations and individuals how to influence…

The Members’ Services Team run all-Members’ staff phone-ins monthly. These events are available to book through our learning management system, Act. Supporting individuals with Hoarding disorder Tuesday 18 May 10-11am – Supporting individuals with Hoarding disorder

This Commons Library briefing paper provides general information about how the law applies to cohabitants, the number of cohabiting couples, and about the Law Commission’s proposals for reform. The number of couples choosing to live together (cohabit) without getting married or entering a civil partnership, in what is often called “a common law marriage”, increased…

The House of Commons Library has published a briefing paper which provides answers to frequently asked questions about international travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Coronavirus: International Travel FAQs for England This paper is a compilation of frequently asked questions about international travel from and to England, and how it is affected by current restrictions…

The Commons Library has produced a Universal Credit reading list covering the new benefit from its development more than a decade ago through to April 2020. You can find it here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9211/

Please join us for a series of fascinating events to mark Mental Health Awareness Week. We are also launching the WWG’s very own SharePoint site which includes information on: Spending the IPSA wellbeing funds Group supervision – what is it and how might it help staff? Employee Assistance Programme Courses run by the House on…

Follow the new official @CommonsSpeaker Twitter account! The Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, launched his new official Speaker Twitter  account on Wednesday 21 April 2021. Follow @CommonsSpeaker to stay up to date with his work as Speaker of the UK House of Commons, both inside and beyond the Chamber.

Wellness Working Group Online Event Kooth.com, Mental Health Support for Children and Young People Time: 11am – 12pm Date: Friday 16 April 2021 Dr. Lynne Green, Consultant Psychologist and Chief Clinical Officer and Gareth Evans, Director of Accounts and Engagement for Kooth will cover what Kooth is for children and young people, how to talk…

The world we live in is fast paced and dynamic – while this can feel exciting it can also become overwhelming, so how do we navigate our lives skilfully?  Mindfulness supports resilience and well-being. It is particularly valuable at this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, equipping you with tools to relate to challenging situations, and…

The Members’ Services Team run all-Members’ staff phone-ins monthly. These events are available to book through our learning management system, Act. Dealing with fixated individuals Members of Parliament are at risk of being targeted by fixated individuals. In this session we will look at identifying obsessive behaviour and discuss the process should your office be…

These rates are for the National Living Wage (for those aged 23 and over) and the National Minimum Wage (for those of at least school leaving age). The rates change on 1 April every year. 23 and over 21 to 22 18 to 20 Under 18 Apprentice April 2021 £8.91 £8.36 £6.56 £4.62 £4.30 Apprentices…

The new Certificate of Employer’s Liability Insurance, which should be displayed in all MPs’ offices, is now available to download from the intranet here: https://intranet.parliament.uk/PageFiles/133981/DC503%20-%20EL%20certificate.pdf