Suzanne Fletcher's Blog

A day of sadness, but at least someone is doing something about the issues.  I accompanied John to "Escape to Safety", by Teesside One World Centre's Refugee Action Project  .  This is a multi-media, multi-sensory interactive exhibition housed in a large trailer, simulating the experiences of someone seeking asylum in the UK.  One walks through the various "stations" of the exhibition with headphones and an MP3 player.  As you hear the situations that have led asylum seekers to flee, what it is like leaving their own Country, and how they are received here, you cannot come out the other end of the bus without being changed.  I thought I was on the lines of understanding, but I have a long way to go.

The Norton School is arranging for its pupils to view the exhibition as part of their Geography or History lessons (it is a Humanities College), asking them to think critically about the issues and people's misconceptions about asylum seekers.  It is suitable for anyone over 10 years old, so do try to see it, by arranging a visit with the Project Officer Hilaire Agnama, himself a former asylum seeker (01642 322216, rapt@towc2.fsnet.co.uk) or Gill Sangster (01642 557361, gill.sangster@stockton.gov.uk).  It is running till Friday 11^th July.

Then a visit to two homes run by CleveARC, a charity run by Cleveland Alzheimer's Residential Centre, Kirkdale and Allison House.  They were set up to fill a yawning gap in care for those with Alzheimer's disease and also cater for those sad cases of people under the age of 60.  Obviously meeting a need as they run full to capacity.  Speaking to some of the relatives it was clear how they had been supported and their relief on finding their loved one's were getting such good an appropriate care, and had seen a difference in them after they has begun their stay.  I was also impressed at how the carers themselves were supported.  Every effort was made to make the Home as comfortable and "homely" as possible with a pleasant and safely enclosed garden.  Yet another example of how the voluntary sector had stepped in the fill an important gap.

I have a lot of concerns about funding arrangements, but it is quite complicated and I want to find out more before commenting.

The John Owen Trophy meeting was disappointing too, with the Schools Tournament arranged for Friday having to be cancelled.  However we are not deterred from making progress - just held back a little!  We hope for a re-organised event later in the year, and I think we are nearly, almost, there for the Trophy Match in August.  Maybe, with some luck, more news tomorrow.

Throughout the day I've been able to deal with emerging crises as well a ongoing casework from constituents with the blackberry and mobile phone.  They can be a bit of a burden, but how on earth would I cope with non stop schedules without them!