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I held my annual Funding Fair this September and I was extremely pleased that so many local groups, charities and organisations turned up to get direct face to face advice on funding.
We had 16 funders attend and a huge number of people were able to get help applying for funding.
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It was great to speak to steelworkers here in Port Talbot with Labour’s shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and colleagues David Rees MS and Julie James MS.
It is clear feelings are running high at the prospect of huge job losses which are to be included as part of the Tory Government's deal with Tata Steel.
Steelworkers support decarbonising the works, but not at the expense of vital local jobs.
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It was a real pleasure to go to the Green Stars annual ‘round the pier swim’. Helle and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Great to see so many take part (despite the dodgy weather!), and lovely to see everyone at the club house afterwards, too.
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I took part in two meetings recently with local Steelworkers to discuss BSPS.
It was great to hear feedback from steelworkers and ex-steelworkers on what they would like my colleague Nick Smith MP and I to raise on their behalf. We raised this issues during our meeting with the FRCC this month.
Thank you to all of those who took the time to come and engage with us.
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Gwynfi Miner's Hall 10th Anniversary
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It was great to attend the 10th anniversary celebrations for Gwynfi Miners Community Hall.
We had a fantastic run down of the history of the building and all of the fantastic activities that go on there.
The hall is a real community hub and I was pleased to be there to celebrate it!
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It was a pleasure to visit RWE recently and meet some of the team and get briefed on all of their exciting plans! I enjoyed seeing their recently renovated Baglan office and learning about the company's pivotal role in Wales’ renewable energy mix.
RWE is Wales’ largest power producer, and they have invested over £3billion into Welsh projects and directly employ over 320 people across Wales, including here in Port Talbot.
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It was great to go to Summer Squad this week. The squad runs throughout the summer holiday, providing children with hot food and a chance to take part in a wide variety of activities and sports.
The squads are run with the support of the Children’s Services, Team Around the Family, the Welsh Rugby Union, the Ospreys & Aberavon Quins RFC.
The programme is largely supported by the the Open University and local businesses, and it is a real testament to how our local community always comes together.
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It was great to visit D.J. Thomas Coaches and their site on Baglan Moors recently.
With the help of Barclays the family run business is constructing a state of the art maintenance facility, office space and departure lounge for holiday makers. They’ve been operating since 1954 and have outgrown their depot at Milland Road in Neath.
It was really good to chat with them about the holiday and day trips and the school bus routes they operate.
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Laura Carys Photography Studio Visit
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It was wonderful to visit local business Laura Carys Photography Studio in Station Road. I was pleased to hear about how well Laura’s studio is doing, with people coming from Swansea to Cardiff to have photographs taken.
The studio offers a wide range of services, from baby and family photos right through to head shots.
Laura Carys recently won the UK Enterprise (SME News) award for the Best Family Photography Studio in South Wales, a well-deserved accolade!
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Dazzle Glitter Tattoos & Stencils Visit
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It was good to visit local business Dazzle Glitter Tattoos who make glitter tattoos, stencils, etch on glass and make wonderful upcycled Welsh slate door signs. They have a wide range of well made products that they make here in Port Talbot, which they send all over the world!
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It was brilliant to pop in to see the ladies at Simply Curtains here in Port Talbot. Simply Curtains specialise have a range of services including made to measure curtains, scatter cushions, soft furnishings and recovering furniture.
It’s great to hear that customers come to them all over, from Swansea all the way to Newport.
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Adult Learning Wales Visit
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It was a pleasure to pay a visit to Adult Learning Wales and see their craft session and carpentry workshop recently. Their carpentry workshop is very impressive and they are looking at running a repair workshop for people to bring goods in to have them repaired.
They also hold regular floristry sessions and other activities for members of the local community.
If you would like to join one of their community classes in Port Talbot, please call (01639) 894927
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I recently took part in some filming for the Rich History Iniquity - Camwedd documentary about Dic Penderyn. Here are some behind the scenes shots from the filming in Carmel Chapel!
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Tata Steel Deal Statement
Electric Arc Furnaces do *not* make virgin steel, and therefore the UK Government’s new deal will fail on:
- Making the steel Britain needs
- Delivering for Tata’s current order book
- Seizing the future
The UK Government should have invested in hydrogen years ago, like European competitors.
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Bibby Stockholm
The Bibby Stockholm barge is a floating symbol of Tory failure, costing £500k p/m to house 0 asylum seekers.
The Home Secretary doesn’t know when it will be safe to use.
The only boat she has managed to stop is her own.
Labour will clear the backlog to end hotel, barge & air base use.
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Alzheimer's Research UK Drop In
I was pleased to stop by the Alzheimer’s Research UK drop in at Parliament.
There are 42,000 people living in Wales with dementia, and this is only expected to increase as life expectancy increases.
I will champion dementia research so we can change the #futureofdementia
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Asking the Prime Minister to Support Steelworkers
Steelworkers in Aberavon have watched in frustration whilst the Prime Minister sits on his hands.
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Record Small Boat Crossings
Saturday 2nd of September saw the record number of small boats crossers this year, at 870 people.
In August we were treated to Small Boats Week, which featured a disaster a day and an empty floating barge of failure.
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Parliament XI Football Match
I was honoured to skipper the Parliament XI last week, in a cracking match against Cadent. We managed to squeak it 2 - 0, which was our first clean sheet in a VERY long time!
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Doorknocking in the Rutherglen By-election
Fantastic response on the doorsteps today in the Rutherglen by-election. Lots of people switching from SNP to Scottish Labour, was also a real bonus to meet our outstanding candidate Michael Shanks at Campaign HQ!
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ITV's The Sharp End, BBC News, ITV News, Channel 4, Sky News, BBC Wales & ITV Wales
I did a wide range of press last week regarding the UK Government's Green Steel deal with Tata.
On green steel the Conservative Government is failing to match ambition shown by governments of competitor nations.
Steelworkers support decarbonising the works, but not at the expense of vital local jobs.
Read more here:
'Promises turned out to be empty words', says MP of Tata's Port Talbot steel deal - Stephen Kinnock - Mirror Online
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The Times
I recently took part in two meetings with steelworkers on BSPS, this piece details what was discussed in those meetings. Steelworkers continue to be let down and its having a dreadful effect on them and their families.
My colleague Nick Smith MP and I have been campaigning for justice and the campaign goes on.
Read the full piece below:
Inside British Steel pensioners’ battle for compensation (thetimes.co.uk)
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Speech at UK Metals Expo
Decarbonisation cannot mean deindustrialisation.
At the heart of Rachel Reeves ‘securonomics’ agenda sits Labour’s Green Prosperity Plan and within that our commitment to a £3bn match-funded Steel Renewal Fund.
This will not only be transformational for the steel industry but for wider manufacturing across the UK.
Hear my full speech from the UK Metals Expo in Birmingham 👇
2023 Opening Keynote – UK Metals Expo
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You can get in touch with us by calling the office on 01639 897660 or ending an email to [email protected]
Check my website, Instagram or Facebook page for details of my next advice surgery.
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Stephen Kinnock
MP for Aberavon
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