Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon was amongst the dignitaries that helped launch Ashfield Volunteering. The Trustees of Ashfield Volunteering welcomed the Lord Lieutenant Sir Andrew Buchanan and Sherwood MP Paddy Tipping to the launch of Ashfield Volunteering at the Festival Hall in Kirkby.

Ashfield Volunteering is the coming together of Hucknall and Sutton Volunteer Bureaux to make a unified volunteering service that covers all of Ashfield, improving on the excellent service that the individual bureaux provided.

The primary function of the Bureau is to promote the awareness of volunteering and information about opportunities for those who wish to volunteer. In response to the communities needs, the Volunteer Bureau creates new opportunities for volunteers such as the Toy Library and the Car Scheme.

These are just examples of some of the services that are on offer but there are many more. And now with this merger the people of Ashfield will be better and more widely served.

Mr Hoon was quick to praise the efforts of those involved saying: 'Your hard work is welcomed by all of us in the community. Helping those who are less fortunate is at the heart of our society and I hope that the work done here continues to go from strength to strength'.

Geoff Hoon meets Ashfield School Council · Fri, 16th Nov · 

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon met with the newly formed Ashfield School Council, which is made up of students from across the school.

The School Council consists of 14 members, two from each of the six houses and two representatives of the Sixth Form. The Council work with the senior management of the school to create a better environment for the pupils by trying to keep the school cleaner and introducing inter-house competitions. The members of the council were voted for by their fellow students having been nominated for the post by teachers.

The meeting gave the council members an opportunity to talk with Mr Hoon about what it means to be an MP and how Parliament works for the country. By taking on board Mr Hoon's comments the council members hoped that they would be able to utilise the principles in and around the school themselves.

Mr Hoon said: 'I am always pleased to visit the local schools and find such active involvement from the students. A good education is about the whole day at school not just the lessons. To see the children take an active part in their environment is encouraging.'

Geoff Hoon Visits Students' Union · Fri, 16th Nov · 

On Friday 16th November, students within the Students' Union at WNC welcomed Ashfield MP and Chief Whip, Geoff Hoon at the College's Derby Road site.

Mr Hoon was treated to a mini 'Question Time' within the Students' Union social area. Students from Academic Studies, Computer Science and Higher Education courses covered topics such as charity fundraising in the community, opportunities within Higher Education, Mr Hoon's role as an MP and recycling amongst many other topics.

Sue Harries, Students' Union Co-ordinator said, 'Our students really enjoyed Mr Hoon's company and were particularly excited about kickstarting an idea he gave us about helping the younger community within Ashfield.'

Geoff Hoon said: 'I am delighted to see that the college and students will be working closer together in the future to make sure that West Nottinghamshire College continues to provide excellent teaching and support to all its students. I am also very encouraged by the developments of the Students’ Union and their campaigns within the community. I hope they go from strength to strength and continue their good work.'

Geoff Hoon visits Citizens Advice Bureau · Fri, 9th Nov · 

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon visited the Ashfield Citizens Advice Bureau on Market Street in Sutton-in-Ashfield to meet with the staff and new Chief Executive, Sue Davis.

Over the past 12 months Ashfield Citizens Advice Bureau has helped over 5000 people with issues ranging from credit and debt problems to benefit advice. Ashfield CAB has helped raise £900,000 by getting people onto benefits that they did not know they were entitled to. They have helped renegotiate £2,750,000 worth of debt so that people could pay it back in an affordable and manageable way that suited both sides.

But there work is not confined to the office and have an outreach programme where they go out into Ashfield and meet people who have difficulties in getting into Sutton. The Ashfield Citizens Advice Bureau outreach programme visits Kirkby, Hucknall and Selston, every week.

The Ashfield Citizens Advice Bureau is an independent charity and needs, on average, £55 to see each person. It relies on people giving so that they can continue helping those that are less fortunate.

Mr Hoon said: 'The work done here is invaluable to the people of Ashfield, helping with issues so that vulnerable people are not taken advantage of. I would like to congratulate Sue Davis on her new appointment and hope that she is able to continue helping the people of Ashfield.'

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon has called upon Ashfield District Council to address security problems affecting elderly residents of the Homesteads, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, following a meeting with residents on Friday.

Mr Hoon has stated, in a letter to the Council Leader that the Council should, after months of concern, consider funding a double glazing installation scheme at the Homesteads. The area has suffered from a recent spate of burglaries as individuals have been able to gain access to properties through the ageing windows. Residents are also experiencing serious problems with both damp and drafts.

Mr Hoon said: 'This issue has been of concern to residents for some time now. Ashfield District Council should be placing the concerns of the Homesteads' residents at the top of funding priorities. The Council should be addressing these serious issues, even if this requires lower spending in other areas, such as Council advertising. If Ashfield District Council can afford to spend thousands of pounds of Council Taxpayers money on advertising, then surely it can afford to spend similar sums on the security and safety of its oldest and most vulnerable residents'

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon visited the Hilltop Sub Post Office in Eastwood to listen to the concerns of local residents about the planned closure of the local post office.

There were many anxieties that if the sub post office were to close then it would create difficulties for the local residents to reach the nearest post office. Many of them are elderly and the nearest alternatives are not very close or easy to get to for people with limited mobility. The impact would also hit local business' who use and depend on the post office.

The Hilltop Post Office has been operated for the past fifteen years by Shirley and Peter Daniels, who now face an uncertain future if their livelihood is taken away.

Mr Hoon said: 'Post Offices like these have long been the cornerstone of the community and clearly that is the case here. It would be desperately sad if this post office were to close and I hope that it does not.'