Working Through Cancer Network Event: 9 July

Time: 14:15 – 15:15
Date: Thursday 9 July 2026
Location: Online and PCH
Open to: parliamentary staff
Information/booking: dan.horrocks@parliament.uk

You are warmly invited to the next Working Through Cancer Network event where you can hear more about the purpose of the network, the support we are building and how to get involved.

We are delighted that The Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will be joining us to speak about his personal experience of cancer, the challenges of balancing treatment with public life and the insights he has gained from navigating a cancer diagnosis whilst serving in one of the most senior roles in Government.

About the Network
The Working Through Cancer Network exists to support parliamentary staff and others affected by cancer — whether as a patient, carer, line manager, or colleague. We are also developing practical support, including a buddy system and guidance for navigating the help available in Parliament.

RSVP
If you’re planning to attend, in person or online, please RSVP to dan.horrocks@parliament.uk so we can get an idea of numbers.

We hope you will be able to join us for what promises to be a thoughtful and inspiring discussion.

ICGS annual report 2025-2026 published

The Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) team published its annual report for 2025-26.

The ICGS was the first scheme of its type in any legislature and underpins the Behaviour Code, which sets out the standards of behaviour expected of everyone in Parliament.

You can read the report here: ICGS Annual Report 2025-26.

NEW DATE – London and South East Roadshow

The London and South East roadshow has been rescheduled for Thursday 10 September 2026.

You are invited to attend the upcoming roadshow event for London and South East offices. The event will be delivered by the Members and Members’ staff Services Team (MMSST) in the House of Commons. We really hope that you will be able to attend.

If you have already signed up, you will not need to re-register for the new date; MMSST will shortly send you a new calendar invitation.

To register to attend please email mmsst@parliament.uk

BEAT Eating Disorders Casework Service

Do you have a constituent with an eating disorder that has been denied NHS care?

If you are supporting a constituent who has (either themselves or as a carer) been denied a referral, assessment, information, or treatment for an eating disorder, Beat Eating Disorders’ free casework advisory service may be able to help.

We regularly hear from people whose care is not in line with clinical guidance. Our team has an in-depth understanding of eating disorder treatment pathways and can advise MPs and their staff on the steps that can be taken to challenge and overturn these decisions.

We can provide advice on what treatment guidelines say should happen, who to contact, and the content of correspondence to services and decision-makers. We can also support you throughout the process as you work to resolve a constituent’s case.

We are proud of our track record. To date, we have successfully supported the overturning of every decision referred to our advisory service. As Steff Aquarone MP said after using the service: “I can say with certainty that without your initial case management direction, I would not have been able to act with the necessary speed to support my constituent in this vital and complex case.”

To access the service, please complete the form here: beateatingdisorders.tfaforms.net/234

We will contact you within 10 working days.

The advisory leaflet can be found on the MMSST Caseworker Hub.

New open access online Political Staffer Resource Centre

The Political Staffer Resource Centre offers recommendations, advice and support for political advisers, their managers, and advocates for reform.

It’s an open access resource developed by Professor Jennifer Lees-Marshment at The University of Dundee from research on the human resource management of political staff – see https://www.dundee.ac.uk/political-staffer-resource-centre

It shares practical recommendations from interviewing political staffers and those working in close association with them about what best practices they had experienced, observed and developed over time when working in parliament and government. It covers:

The role of a Political Staffer – the different roles, skills required and motivations
Recruiting and selecting political staff – what to look for, where to find people, how to assess them
Orientating and onboarding political staff – how to learn the job, how to help other staff learn the job, including both informal and formal approaches
Ongoing training and career development – content to cover, how to train them on the job, self-training, and formal programmes
Making workloads in political offices feasible – prioritisation, planning, structures, self-managing workloads, enabling breaks and work-life balance
Giving impactful feedback – on the spot, more in-depth reviews, giving usable feedback and making room for dialogue
Building positive cultures in political offices – creating positive teams and safe spaces to grow and develop
Maintaining morale and motivation – setting a clear purpose, highlighting making a difference, being more connected and involved
Wellbeing strategies for political offices – acknowledging the pressures, restricting non-urgent out of hours contact and supporting effective leave

To access the resources complete a simple form https://www.dundee.ac.uk/political-staffer-resource-centre/access-gated-content It’s free to register.

And please share with anyone you know who is interested in this area – whether they are a current staffer especially if they are managing other advisers; a new staffer starting out; a civil servant who supports political staff; a politician who wants to understand how to get the best out of their staff; or a campaigner fighting for reform and investment in political staffing.

We want the resource centre to grow over time through global peer learning, so we have created a mechanism for people to share additional ideas for how they put these principles: just use the sharing solutions form https://www.dundee.ac.uk/political-staffer-resource-centre/sharing-solutions-form.

If you have any feedback, please email us on politicalstaffer@dundee.ac.uk

Political Staffer Resource Centre https://www.dundee.ac.uk/political-staffer-resource-centre

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome awareness month 2026

Online talk: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome awareness month 2026

Time: 1400-1500
Date: Thursday 14 May 2026
Location: Online via MS Teams
Further information: Promoting Ehlers Danlos Awareness month or email ParliAble@parliament.uk

Did you know? Although at least 1 in 500 people in the UK are diagnosed with Ehlers‑Danlos Syndrome (EDS) or Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), many more remain undiagnosed due to low awareness among the public and healthcare professionals.

To mark International EDS Awareness Month, Gabrielle Fleming partners with ParliAble to share her experience of living with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome – a hidden disability.

“For years, I lived with symptoms I couldn’t explain while trying to build my career. By sharing my experience, I hope others feel seen and supported, and know that with the right adjustments, chronic conditions don’t have to define or limit us.”

The session will cover:

Introduction to EDS
Gabrielle’s personal story
Workplace adjustments and how you can support colleagues with EDS/HSD
Resources for further information and support
Q&A

Everyone is welcome – whether you’re affected personally, supporting a colleague, friend or family member, or simply curious to learn more.

About EDS
Ehlers‑Danlos Syndromes are a group of genetic connective tissue disorders often associated with hypermobility (‘double‑jointedness’). Symptoms typically appear in childhood, but issues like chronic pain, fatigue, and mobility challenges may develop later in life. Experiences vary widely from mild to significantly disabling.

Members’ Office Management Call – 8 April 2026

This week’s guest speakers on the MOM call will be Dementia UK. Find out about supporting constituents affected by the condition, and how to access free, bespoke training sessions for your team, delivered by dementia specialist Admiral Nurses.

Digital will also provide an update on their Enabling Members value stream.

There will also be the regular weekly updates from the Parliamentary Digital Service, the Parliamentary Security Department, the Human Resources Team, IPSA, and the House of Commons Library.

Time: 1100
Date: Wednesday 8 April 2026
Location: online via MS Teams
How to join: email MMSST@parliament.uk citing your role and the member you work for, and ask to be added to the mailing list and receive an invitation to the weekly call

*** Please note that this call is only for those in an office management role within an MP’s office.

MPs’ Staff Survey of Well-being 2026

CLOSING TODAY!

The Wellness Working Group undertakes an anonymous survey of MPs staff to better understand the pressures and effects that our jobs have on our wellbeing. We are delighted that Dr Weinberg from Salford University has agreed to run the survey again for us this year. The survey is completely anonymous and a chance to be able to help us enact change and to help us all obtain better work places and practices.

Please click here to complete the survey.

W4MP Editorw4mpsiteeditorEdit Profile

The more people who respond to the survey, the greater the representative nature of the results, but please remember you are under no pressure to participate and you may change your mind about taking part.

Parliamentary Working Through Cancer Network

The new Working Through Cancer Network was featured this week on page 47 of The House magazine. (The House | If you have cancer, Parliament can be a hard place to work – our new network will help change that)

A cross-party group of staffers, is hosting a small, informal launch on Thursday 12 March (drop in 9.30–11am) in the Jubilee Room. It will be a chance for both Members and their staff to hear first-hand experiences and understand what we are hoping to achieve.

1 in 2 of us will be affected by cancer – yet many people in Parliament are still working through it quietly and alone.

We hope the network will :

offer practical support
develop resources and information
provide a safe, confidential space for anyone in our parliamentary community who is affected, directly or as a loved one’s carer through a buddying system.

Our immediate focus is to:

Encourage colleagues to join
Help line managers recognise the value of the network
Equip supporters to champion it more widely

What we’re asking today is simple:

Add the Network’s Launch event to your diary right away!
Share this invite with colleagues and WhatsApp groups so people know where to turn before they need it.
Come along to support us and find out more…
If you can’t attend, let us know that you support the network and would like to hear more.

For more information or to support, please email robertsg@parliament.uk

Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls Awards: Nominations Now Open

Launched today: a new national awards programme recognising leadership and impact across the UK

Today marks the launch of the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls Awards, recognising and celebrating individuals, teams and organisations across the UK working to prevent abuse and support victims and survivors. With this issue high on the national agenda, the awards, produced by Total Politics, provide a timely platform to recognise leadership, innovation and sustained commitment.

The awards aim to shine a spotlight on those who champion change, challenge injustice and provide vital support in communities across the country. From frontline services and charities to policymakers and campaigners, the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls Awards will honour the leadership and innovation driving progress in this critical area.

The 2026 awards are proudly sponsored by TSB, reflecting a shared commitment to supporting survivors, raising awareness and driving meaningful change across sectors. Organisations and individuals are invited to submit entries highlighting outstanding achievement, impactful initiatives and inspirational leadership in preventing violence against women and girls.

Full details of the award categories and the nomination process can be found at:
https://lp.totalpolitics.com/VAWG_Awards

Angus Parsad-Wyatt, Director of Political Engagement at Total Politics, said: “Through Total Politics and our media title The House magazine, we are proud to provide a national platform to recognise those leading work to prevent violence against women and girls. These awards shine a light on the individuals and organisations strengthening support, shaping policy and delivering vital services across the UK.”

Kate Osiadacz, TSB Head of Responsible Business said: “Supporting the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls Awards reflects TSB’s commitment to helping people escape their abuser and access safety. Through initiatives like the TSB Flee Fund and the Safe Spaces available in our branches, we are working to provide practical and immediate support for those who need it most. These awards highlight the individuals and organisations whose dedication is driving real change, and we are committed to standing alongside them.”

Those working across the sector are encouraged to nominate colleagues, volunteers, teams or organisations whose dedication and impact deserve recognition.