MP Helen Visits "Homely" School!
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, met staff and pupils when she visited Brunswick House Primary School in Maidstone last Friday 4 May and was full of praise for all concerned. Children from Year 6 at Brunswick House Primary School were the first children to visit Helen at the Houses of Parli...
MP Helen Helps Catch 22
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, is encouraging students to help young people and have great fun at the same time, by volunteering for the Catch 22 charity . Catch 22 have been contracted to deliver a programme for 16 year olds in Maidstone called "Mix it Up", which is part of the National ...
Helen Supports Fantastic Farmer's Market
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, met with local farmers, when she visited the Farmers Market in the Royal Star Shopping Arcade, last Friday. At the invitation of the Royal Star Arcade, local farmers promoted the first Farmer's Market to be held in the shopping centre for many years. Local M...
Helen Helps Tackle Domestic Abuse
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, met professionals working to address issues relating to domestic abuse, as well as victims, when she gave the Keynote speech at the launch of K-DASH in Maidstone last Friday. K-DASH (Kent Domestic Abuse Support And Help), formally the Women's Support Service...
Local MP Opens the New-Look Maidstone Museum
Local MP Helen Grant, together with the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Brian Mortimer, officially opened the new East Wing extension and Bentlif Gallery, of the Maidstone Museum last Friday. The East Wing extension has created two easily accessible education rooms. The first, for visiting school-parties,...
Kent activists tell Helen Grant MP about physical health concerns of people with mental illness
Volunteer activists for the charity Rethink Mental Illness met with Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and The Weald, today (Friday 16 March) to raise concerns that the physical health needs of local people with a mental illness are being neglected. The activists are concerned that there is not enough a...
Champagne moment for Herbert Hall sparkling wine
It was a champagne moment for Nick Hall of Herbert Hall fine wines as the House of Commons announced that it would include his English 'Traditional Method' sparkling wine on their lists throughout the months of May and June, and hopefully beyond. After an impressive visit to Nick's vineyard, and kn...
Local MP Helen welcomes capped benefits for families who don't work
Wednesday 7th March, Westminster, London: The Government's victory in passing the Welfare Reform Bill, ensuring that no family can get more in benefits than the average working family earns, has been welcomed by Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and the Weald. Under the reforms, the benefit payments th...
MP Responds to Report on Maidstone Prison
A report into Maidstone Prison, conducted by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons, was released this week. Many parts of the Prison were praised, but there were also problems highlighted concerning rehabilitation and the level of support given to foreign nationals. Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone an...
Students in round table talks with MP!
Sixth Form students studying at the St Augustine Academy in Maidstone, engaged in round table talks last Friday, with the Member of Parliament for Maidstone and the Weald, Helen Grant MP. Ever intent upon engaging young people in politics, Helen visited the St Augustine Academy and spent some quali...
Chance to be Chancellor
Young people in Maidstone and The Weald are to be given the Chance to be Chancellor and share their opinions on the Youth Budget 2012. Helen Grant (Con), MP for Maidstone and the Weald, is supporting the launch of Chance to be Chancellor 2012 and is calling on local schools and young people to take...
MP speaks to Maidstone Older People's Forum
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant (Con), met numerous senior citizens when she spoke at a meeting of the Maidstone Older People's Forum, last Friday. In a packed Hazlitt Theatre Exchange Studio, members of the Maidstone Older People's Forum were joined by some local councillors, as they enjoy...
Helen Grant, MP, supports Maidstone 'Big Energy Week' event
Local MP Helen Grant took part in a special event run by Citizens Advice held at the Gateway office of Maidstone Borough Council on 20 January. Part of the nationwide 'Big Energy Week' programme, the event was designed to provide hands-on help for people to cut their fuel bills and get the best dea...
Helen Grant MP supports charity calls for urgent action to prevent babies' deaths.
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, has attended a parliamentary reception in the House of Commons, organised by Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, for the launch of their new report, Preventing Babies' Deaths: what needs to be done. 6,500 babies are stillborn or die shortly aft...
Helen Grant MP Fights Forced Marriage
Survivors of early and forced marriage have got backing from a local MP – who took their cause to Westminster. Helen Grant, Conservative Member of Parliament for Maidstone and the Weald, stood up during Prime Minister's Questions this week to urge action. "I asked what the government is plan...
School's Speech Day leaves local MP speechless
Friday 6th January 2012, Maidstone, Kent: Local MP for Maidstone and the Weald (Con), Helen Grant, visited Maidstone Grammar School for Girls for their Sixth Form Speech Day. The occasion marked the return of A-Level students who sat exams last year, but were returning to receive their much deserved...
MP Meets Skateboard and Break-dance Entrepreneurs
Helen Grant, Member of Parliament for Maidstone and the Weald, met two budding young entrepreneurs when she visited the Trinity Foyer Project in Maidstone today. Trinity Foyer is a charitable organisation which undertakes remarkable work with young single homeless people aged 16-24 who have low to ...
MP Hears Maidstone’s "Good News"
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, was encouraged by hearing good news about the County Town, when she attended an informal lunch meeting of local business leaders today. Hosted by Maidstone's Town Centre Manager, Bill Moss, in the boardroom of the Maidstone Town Centre Management, Helen met ...
Preventing Forced Marriage in the UK
Speaking in Parliament on the 3rd anniversary of the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act, Helen Grant MP (Maidstone & the Weald), urged caution in response to calls for the offence to be criminalised. She said "Forced Marriage is a terrible offence which crushes self-esteem and is often acco...
Maidstone Mencap's Bazaar Christmas
Local MP Helen Grant last weekend attended Maidstone Mencap's Christmas Bazaar at Cobtree Hall; an annual event aimed to raising money for this much cherished local charity, and a great day out for children and their families. Mencap is the leading voice in learning disabilities. Everything they ...
Operation Yuletide packs a punch
Local MP Helen Grant last week visited Angley School to help with the annual Operation Yuletide. Organised by the mother of one of our operational army servicemen, Operation Yuletide sends countless numbers of packages onto our military personnel in Afghanistan for Christmas. Ably supported by the ...
MP visits Maidstone's Cornwallis Academy
It was back to school for Helen last week as she met students studying politics and sociology at Maidstone's Cornwallis Academy. They had clearly done their homework when they quizzed the Member of Parliament for Maidstone and the Weald. Local MP Helen visited Cornwallis Academy last Friday and spe...
Local MP talks trains with Transport Minister
Last week MP for Maidstone and the Weald, Helen Grant, met with Transport Minister Norman Baker. Mrs Grant raised a number of issues on behalf of the many commuters and rail users in her constituency including, rail fares, ticket office closures, winter resilience and franchise agreements. First on...
Boost for Kent economy
The Government this week announced that East Kent has won its Regional Growth Fund Bid, totalling £40 million. The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is a £1.4bn fund operating across England from 2011 to 2014. It supports projects and programmes that lever private sector investment creating eco...
Local MP speaks out on Legal Aid reform
Earlier this week local MP for Maidstone and the Weald openly questioned Government Ministers about their plans to amend legislation regarding legal aid. The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill has come back to Parliament this week, and will be making changes to the amount of m...
Local MP says we need more women in business and politics
Last week Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and the Weald, hosted an event in the House of Commons aimed at improving the gender balance in business and politics. The occasion was a great success with a fantastic turnout of high profile guests including MPs, Peers, diplomats, business people, charity...
Helen Meets The Heroes!
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, met a huge selection of heroes when she visited Maidstone's Northborough Junior School last Friday, to support them as they participated in the first National Heroes Day. Held to coincide with Trafalgar Day on 21st October, National Heroes Day encourages c...
MP Helen Visits Army Recruitment Team
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, visited the Army Recruitment Team in Maidstone last Friday, to find out more about the many career opportunities that the Army has to offer. As Vice Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces, Army Division, as well as her eldest son,...
MP Helen Joins Invicta Grammar School’s Celebrations
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, met with pupils and staff from the Kopernikus Gymansium in Rheine, Germany, when she attended Invicta Grammar School's special celebrations last Saturday. Helen, together with the Mayor and Mayoress of Maidstone, joined Invicta Grammar School, Maidstone, as ...
Local Member of Pawliment picks Dog of the Year
Today Helen Grant, local MP for Maidstone and the Weald, alongside her dog Charlie, judged the Westminster Dog of the Year Competition. As Border Terrier Charlie won last year's competition it was thought he and his owner were best placed to help pick his successor! Organised by the Kennel Club and...
MP Backs Park Home justice campaign
Today local MP for Maidstone and the Weald, Helen Grant, met one of four park home owning constituents campaigning to help those people affected by unscrupulous site owners. Tony Cuthbert, who himself has had no problems on his park home site, was campaigning on behalf of the many people around the ...
MP Helen applauds school voucher scheme
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, joined Tesco staff to present free equipment to local school children, at the Tesco store in Tovil, Maidstone, last Friday. For nineteen years, the Tesco voucher collection promotions have provided UK schools with access to some 4 million free pieces of equi...
Back to School for MP Helen
It was back to school for Helen Grant, Member of Parliament for Maidstone and the Weald, as she visited Maidstone Grammar School last Friday. Helen officially opened the purpose-built Sixth Form Common Room, before presenting a host of well-deserved awards to students at the annual Senior Speech Day...
‘Ticket offices will stay open’ say Southeastern as MP Helen chairs Trains forum
Last week MP for Maidstone and the Weald, Helen Grant, chaired a meeting between Kent MPs, Network Rail and Southeastern. Organised by Helen and Southeastern, the meeting gave both Network Rail and Southeastern a chance to update MPs on the infrastructure work carried about by the organisations to ...
Maidstone’s Broadband Boost
Local Member of Parliament Helen Grant welcomed BT's announcement that Maidstone was to get its share of the company's £2.5 billion roll-out of fibre broadband. It will come as great news to many families in Maidstone that they will now have access to super-fast broadband. Not only will this ...
Gypsies and Travellers – Constituents meet Minister for Communities
This week Maidstone and the Weald Member of Parliament Helen Grant brought a group of 15 people together to talk about Traveller and Gypsy planning policy with Bob Neill MP, Minister of State at the Department of Communities and Local Government. Those attending included concerned local residents, ...
Armed, but not Dangerous!
Over the final weekend of the Parliamentary recess Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant spent her time fighting off British Troops on the prairies and badlands of Canada. This was part of Mrs Grant's training as a member of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme where Parliamentarians gain militar...
Supporting Fruit Growers
Today local MP Helen Grant, Secretary of the Associate Parliamentary British Fruit Industry Group, attended a lunch event to discuss issues currently affecting the fruit industry. There were many people in attendance, including other MPs, Peers and representatives of fruit growers and sellers. Seve...
Kent’s Showcase
Last week Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant spent the afternoon at the Kent Show, accompanied by local Councillor Richard Lusty. Although the weather was not at its best, the Show was teeming with local residents and many of Kent's farmers. Helen took the opportunity to meet as many producers ...
Decision Time for Oaken Wood
Last week Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant tabled a written Parliamentary Question asking Eric Pickles, Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government, when he will make his decision on whether to 'call-in' the Oaken Wood planning application. Local MP Helen receive...
A Proud Day For MP Helen
It was one of the proudest days of her life for Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant. With her family she watched eldest son Ben's passing out parade as a fully trained Royal Marine Commando in Lympstone, Devon last Friday, July 1st. Ben Grant had been undergoing what is said by many to be the...
Localism in Cranbrook
Last week Cranbrook's MP Helen Grant welcomed neighbouring MP and Minister of State for Decentralisation, Dr Greg Clark, to Vestry Hall in Cranbrook for an open meeting to discuss Localism. Vestry Hall was filled with local residents, where most aspects of the Coalition Government's Localism agenda...
Big Society supports voluntary sector in Maidstone and the Weald
Helen Grant MP has welcomed the news that money from the Government's Big Society Transition Fund will support the voluntary sector in Maidstone and the Weald. The funding, part of the third wave of payouts from the £107 million Transition Fund, is being paid out to Women's Support Service, an...
Local MP Helen Speaks out for the Armed Forces
Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant, speaking in the Armed Forces Bill debate last week, took the opportunity to highlight a fantastic Cranbrook organisation called Troopers' Mums. Troopers' Mums are a group of military mums from Cranbrook who get together to tirelessly raise both money and awar...
MP Helen Opens Maidstone MENCAP Sumer Fayre
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, officially opened the Maidstone Mencap Summer last Saturday 11 June, with the event proving to be one of the most successful ever! Maidstone Mencap is based at Mote Park's Cobtree Hall and the Summer Fayre was held in an adjacent field. All the fun of the fa...
VIP’s visit CALARA
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, joined other VIP’s as members of CALARA met in the newly-refurbished Coxheath Village Hall, last Friday. In a packed village hall, members of the Coxheath & Loose Active Retirement Association (CALARA), were joined by the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr B...
Salvation Army Concert Hits The Right Note With
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, attended a special concert at the Salvation Army citadel in Union Street, Maidstone, last Friday evening. Together with the Mayor and Mayoress of Maidstone, Cllr Brian and Dianne Mortimer, Helen enjoyed an evening of music and entertainment provided by The A...
Helen Supports Friday People
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, visited Friday People today in their Mill Street offices to meet young jobseekers who are being employed and trained by the Kent-based charity. With one in five young people unable to find work, Helen Grant was impressed to hear how this new charity has made...
Local MP Helen speaks out on sentencing reform
Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant spoke this week in a packed House of Commons debate focussing on sentencing, and called for reforms to deal with the large number of women currently held in prison on short sentences. Helen, who recently visited East Sutton Park women's prison in Sutton Valenc...
MP Helen Supports Mental Health Event
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, supported a networking forum last Friday, when she visited a Mental Health Event held at the Blackthorn Trust in Maidstone. Jointly organised by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils, the event for mental health professionals followed on from a Join...
Bedgebury Walk to Help Beat Blood Cancers
Local MP Helen Grant last week joined at least 50 other walkers to start the five kilometre Forget Me Not charity walk through Bedgebury Forest in aid of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research. There are Forget Me Not walks all over the UK every year, each one trying to raise money to beat blood cancers. ...
Focus on Families
Local MP Helen Grant this week spoke in Parliament on the importance of family to society, and the need for government to do everything it can to support and protect families. The Westminster Hall debate was well attended by Members of Parliament from all parties, and issues raised spread from child...
Rallying for Rail
Local Member of Parliament for Maidstone and the Weald, Helen Grant, this week met senior managers from Southeastern, including Chief Executive Charles Horton. This is part of Helen's ongoing campaign to improve train services for people throughout her constituency, and good progress was made at th...
MP Helen leads No2AV Rally with Young Supporters
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant was joined by a large contingent of local young people on Saturday when she held a Youth Action Day against the Alternative Vote. Maidstone Town Centre was awash with placards, posters and balloons as Helen and her fellow campaigners got out their message. Mr...
Model Citizens Meet MP
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, met model citizens when she visited Oakwood Park Grammar School in Maidstone and engaged in lively debate with Sixth Form students. Helen was given an extensive and informative guided tour of the school's facilities by Head Boy, Dan Crittenden, who ably answ...
MP Helen Visits Prisons
Former family lawyer of some twenty years and serving on the Justice Committee, Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, is passionate about justice and recently visited two of the regions prisons to find out for herself, what is being done to help rehabilitate offenders. Helen fully appreciates th...
MP Helen Joins the Gang
Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant attended the Maidstone Scout Gang Show last Wednesday 12th April, a variety show performed by local Scouts at the Hazlitt Theatre Arts Centre, Maidstone. The first Scout Gang Show was performed in London during 1932, and The Maidstone Gang Show has been runnin...
MP Helen Grilled by West Borough Year SIX
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, found herself being "grilled" by Year Six pupils when she visited Maidstone's West Borough School last Thursday, as part of the school's Enterprise Week. During Enterprise Week, numerous people from various walks of life came to the school to talk and answer...
MP Helen Supports Help For Heroes
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, dropped in last Friday to lend her support to the valiant efforts of the Invicta Grammar School pupils who were fundraising in aid of the Help For Heroes charity. The students had been involved in a whole range of exciting fundraising activities throughout t...
Broadband Boost for the Weald
Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council are teaming up with the Weald Business Association to try to bring high speed broadband to the Wealden area. They will be working together, and alongside the local community, to lobby Kent County Council into funding the necessary infrastructure work. This ...
Helen Means Business
Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and the Weald, secured an hour and a half debate today in the House of Commons into Governments policy on the promotion of women in business. There was a great turnout, with both male and female MPs highlighting a number of different issues. The failure of business to ...
MP Helen on Site Visit to Cornwallis Academy
Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant, visited the Cornwallis Academy in Linton to see how the exciting construction of new classrooms and study facilities are progressing at the school. Construction work on the state-of-the art buildings at Hubbards Lane in Linton, commenced two years ago, with t...
Local MP Starts Wacky Races For Red Nose Day
Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant marked the beginning of Red Nose Day by starting a charity event in the The Mall shopping centre. The event was organised by Maidstone Solicitors Whitehead Monckton, who have a long history of charitable work. The event was a 20km endurance race between 2 poin...
Maidstone Back on Track
Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant welcomed Southeastern's announcement of a new High Speed service from Maidstone West to St Pancras International, which is to come into service at the next timetable change on 22 May. The new service will consist of three departures from Maidstone West in the ...
MP Helen Supports Tank Team
Maidstone and the Weald MP, Helen Grant, visited the Rugmer Tank Project last week, to learn of the innovative work being undertaken in restoring tanks and other historic military vehicles, by people serving a Community Payback sentence. Based near Yalding, since 2009 the project provides a facilit...
Local MP Debates Domestic Violence
Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant today spoke in the House of Commons during the debate on UN Women, focussing on domestic violence in the UK. Having been a solicitor specialising in domestic violence for over twenty years, it was a great opportunity for Helen to share some of her experience an...
MP Helen Helps Celebrate Centenary
Local MP Helen Grant, alongside thousands of men and women across the UK, celebrated the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day on Tuesday 8 March. As part of the exciting 'Join Me on the Bridge' campaign, run by Women for Women International, there were calls for an end to violence against ...
MP Helen Helps Hospice
Maidstone Kent, Friday 18th February 2011: Following her surgery in Cranbrook on Friday the Member of Parliament for Maidstone and the Weald, Helen Grant, dropped into the Hospice in the Weald fundraising shops to praise and encourage the staff in their endeavours for the charity, and to see and hea...
MP Helen "Inspired" by Junior youngsters!
Maidstone, Kent, Friday 11th February: Member of Parliament for Maidstone and the Weald, Helen Grant, was inspired by the children of Loose Junior School during her visit on Friday. Following an invitation from Headteacher Mrs Jay Pye, Helen started her visit by addressing children and teachers in ...
Network Rail Meet Kent MPs
Westminster, London, 8th February 2010: Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant organised a meeting between Kent MPs and Network Rail which took place yesterday. Dave Ward, Kent Route Director at Network Rail, outlined the improvements that Network Rail has committed to provide, subject to funding ap...
MP Helen Backs Stones Campaign
Maidstone, Kent, February 5th 2011: The MP for Maidstone and The Weald, Helen Grant, helped kick off the "Bring The Stones Home" campaign, when she met the team and board of Directors on Saturday, prior to Maidstone United's clash with Wealdstone FC. Having learned of the innovative plans to build ...
Drama at Westminster!
Westminster, London, February 1st 2011: Campaign! is a project working with young disabled people throughout South East, including Maidstone and the Weald, and aims to celebrate international collaboration between disabled young people as they work together to build campaigns to raise awareness on i...
State Boarding Schools Conference, Cranbrook
Cranbrook, Kent, 17th January 2011 The Head teachers of England’s state boarding schools gathered together at Cranbrook School this weekend to attend their annual conference and AGM organised by the State Boarding Schools Association (SBSA). Headteacher Angela Daley invited Cranbrook’s...
Tovil Action Group gets a boost
Local Member of Parliament for Maidstone and the Weald Helen Grant met with members of the Tovil Action Group, who are campaigning to protect their neighbourhood from the imposition of a new recycling plant in the area. Their campaign recently proved successful when the planning application for the...
West Farleigh Dandelion Children win awards
Maidstone & The Weald MP Helen Grant, visited the West Farleigh-based Dandelion Time project last Friday 14th January, to present achievement awards to 7-16 year old young people, with serious emotional and behavioural difficulties. Having previously visited the project, Helen was delighted to ...
Shadow Helen 2011 - Maidstone and the Weald Young Politician Competiton Reaches Climax
Twelve budding young politicians have reached the final stage of the Shadow Helen 2011 competition which takes place this coming Saturday, 26th November 2011. Two winners will shadow Helen both in the constituency and in London, for 12 months. The candidates are (in alphabetical order); ...
Helen on Twitter
And great news about #parenting today. It will provide great support for new mums and dads
5 hours ago
Finished my afternoon Sugery. Now on the way from Frittenden to the Medway for the Maidstone River Users Group AGM. Will be a lovely evening
5 hours ago
RT @RicHolden: Cameron BBC clip on #parenting - makes clear how the Government are planning to help parents and new mums particularly. h ...
7 hours ago
