Local MP Phil Wilson, recently took the opportunity to join the Age UK ‘Come Eat Together’ project based in the Newton Aycliffe Youth and Community Centre. Running on the second Monday of every month, the ‘Monday Carvery’ event is open to MP Presents Warm Homes Champion Award to AGE UK anyone over the age of 50, offering a two course meal and after lunch activity. Joining his constituents for lunch, many of them took the opportunity to raise issues and concerns they had with their MP.
During his visit Mr Wilson, along with Sue Carr from Durham County Council, awarded Bob Adamson the Warm Homes Champion Award. The award follows a series of Warm and HealthyHomes awareness sessions with Doctors Surgeries across Sedgefield. In his new role Bob, a volunteer member of the NHS Patient Reference Group, will be working alongside Durham County Council’s Warm Homes Team. They hope that together they can ensure patients have warmer homes and lower energy bills, which will lead to improvements in long term cold related ill health especially in winter months. In addition to the award Bob, also received a £500 grant from Nation Energy Action, a fuel poverty charity, which he used to purchase winter wellness packs, containing fleece blankets and thermal socks, which were distributed to residents at the event.
Those attending the Monday Carvery were delighted with their packs, assuring Bob they would be put to good use! Speaking after the event, Mr Wilson said what a fabulous afternoon. “The ‘Come Eat Together’ project is fantastic, and offers a much needed option for people who may not otherwise get out and about, to meet with existing friends and the opportunity to make new ones. Moreover, I was privileged to present the Warm Homes Champion Award to Bob who has, and I am sure will continue to do, tremendous work across the constituency. I’d like to thank the volunteers and people who attended the event for welcoming me. I had a great afternoon, the lunch was fantastic, and there is no that I will be back as soon as possible.”
Cliff Duff from Durham County Council commented “We are delighted that Bob had received the Warm and Healthy Homes award for all the support and assistance he has provided to local residents and we will be rolling out the Warm Homes scheme to other GP surgeries in the Newton Aycliffe area over the following months” Vince Crosby Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Newton Aycliffe Youth and Community Centre said, “We work in partnership with Age UK on the Come Eat Together event, and it was good to have the support of our MP Phil Wilson at the NAYCC. The local residents were all given a gift through the winter warmth project”.
