Creation of trust for blind Kirkby baby · Fri, 21st July · 

Ashfield Friends of the Blind and their Patron, Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon, have marked the creation of a trust fund for a Kirkby baby, Bradley McKnight, who was born blind on Christmas Eve last year. The first donation to the fund was made by Mr. James Zaman MBE, Honorary President of Ashfield Friends of the Blind, who presented the association with a cheque for £500. Mr. Paul Caladine (President) and Mr. Barry Jones (Secretary) as well as other members of the associations committee have also contributed £100 to the fund. Specsavers have donated £250.

Geoff Hoon said: 'I very much hope that Ashfield Friends of the Blind can continue to generate support and assistance for those like young Bradley in order that we give them the best possible start in life. Our sincere thanks go to Mr. Zaman, Specsavers and all of the other donors for their generosity.'

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon has revealed that Nottinghamshire will be a pilot area for a far-reaching project to boost services for older people.

He announced the news at a special conference for over 50s at Kirkby on Friday, where he confirmed the county had been as one of just eight areas to test out the Government's LinkAge Plus programme.

The two-year pilot aims to enable older people to maintain their independence in later life by bringing together services for over 50s - such as housing, transport and health - through a £10m network of one-stop-shops in communities.

Mr Hoon told the conference: 'LinkAge Plus makes the case for a radical change to public services. It recommends modernising the delivery of services for older people by putting the needs of the user first. It adopts a holistic approach for delivering services for older people which goes beyond the issues of health and social care and which responds to the needs and aspirations of the individual.'

He said Kirkby would be among the places to gain a resource centre for older people and the Government was committed to removing barriers which older people can face.

'The Government has a vision which I am sure is shared by everyone in this room - for later life to be as active and fulfilling as earlier years, with older people contributing to their families and communities to their full potential.' said Mr Hoon.

He also fielded questions from folk unhappy about pension rates, traffic in Kirkby and policing.

The event was organised by Ashfield Links Forum at Kirkby's Festival Hall and was attended by older people from around Ashfield along with groups who work with them.

Speaking after the conference, Mr Hoon told Chad: 'I was very pleased to attend this event as it has highlighted some important issues about older people's role in society.'

'I very much welcome the progress that is being made at all levels to help older people to participate in shaping local services and to enable them to remain active in their communities.'

Meanwhile, Sherwood MP Paddy Tipping was another guest speaker at the event and highlighted the importance of enabling older people to remain in their own homes and giving them more choice in the care they receive.

He also revealed that from April 2008, all people over 60 will have free bus travel nationwide.

Mr Tipping told the conference: 'I think we really have got to listen very strongly to the voice of older people.'

Reporter Helen Lambourne, published by Ashfield CHAD.

£5m Vocational Skills Centre · Fri, 14th July · 

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon has welcomed the start of building work on a £5 million vocational training centre at Ashfield School, Kirkby-in-Ashfield. The Ashfield Skills Centre will establish links with businesses and offer vocational education to 14-19 year olds from the Ashfield area.

On the 14th July Geoff Hoon marked the official start of the project when he took part in a turf cutting ceremony. He said: 'I have always fully supported the proposals for a Skills Centre - it is an extremely valuable initiative which will be of great benefit to school leavers, the workforce and businesses in the local area. Tremendous effort has gone into getting the project off the ground. I am delighted that we are now at a stage where building work can commence.'

Geoff Hoon welcomes new MEP to Ashfield · Fri, 7th July · 

Geoff Hoon today welcomed the East Midland's new Labour Member of the European Parliament, Glenis Willmott, to Ashfield. Mrs Willmott, who became an MEP in February following the death of Phillip Whitehead, met with Mr. Hoon in both his capacity as Ashfield MP and Minister for Europe.

Following their meeting, which involved discussions of both an international and local nature, Mrs Willmott received a flying tour of the area from Mr. Hoon and met with a number of Ashfield constituents for the first time in her new role.

Geoff Hoon said: 'It is a great pleasure to welcome Glenis to Ashfield. The area has benefited greatly from EU funding over the last few years and it is important that we work with Glenis to ensure that the future development of Ashfield is a high priority in Brussels.'