8 February 2010
George Freeman brought Eastern Region MEP Vicky Ford to Mid Norfolk on Thursday to see first hand some Mid Norfolk projects tackling the housing, broadband and educational exclusion which has held rural Norfolk back.
The tour saw 3 key parts of the battle against social exclusion in Norfolk:
At Dereham Action for Children in the Breckland Business Centre, George met the managers, trustees and youngsters, and pledged his support for their mission ‘to make tomorrow better for everyone’. George and Vicky Ford spent 40 minutes being asked by the 15 teenage clients about the ways that social exclusion in and around Dereham could be tackled.
Commenting on the visit, George said:
‘We need to do more to help youngsters into work. That means promoting local jobs and enterprise. Recognising the importance of basic education and vocational training for those for whom work is preferable to university. And reforming the benefits system to make it more rewarding for those who want to go from welfare to work. We make it too easy for people who prefer not to work, and too hard for those who do.’
At Beeston Village School George and Vicky met pioneering Head Chris Perry and saw the IT suite and fibre optic connection funded by the County Council, and server and PCS paid for by the school.
“On my visit to a pioneering Primary School in Beeston yesterday (EDP Friday 5th Feb) we saw what a powerful impact high speed broadband can have, thanks to great work by our County Council. But how ironic that our 6 yr olds have access in the classroom to broadband that their parents and businesses in Norfolk don’t!
“We need to pressure communications companies to take steps to ensure that Norfolk isn't kept in the slow lane in the future. If BT wont do it we should consider opening up the system and letting in others who will.
“With first class communications, Mid Norfolk could be a vibrant, high-tech rural economy with more and more people working from home.’
Vicky and George also spent 30 minutes being grilled by the pupil assembly and met the school council.
Finally, at Peddars Way Housing Association in Dereham, George and Vicky heard from Dave Seaton, MD, and Andrew Egerton-Smith, Chairman, about how Peddars Way and other local housing associations are at the forefront of pioneering schemes to raise the quality and quantity of social housing
Commenting on affordable housing, George said:
‘With average incomes in our area of £17,000 and starter homes selling for over £150,000, it is impossible for so many local people to find a home they can afford. With better rural communications and planning of the rural economy, we could unlock new schemes for building small developments of affordable housing on the outskirts of our villages, and provide the housing our area so badly needs.
Photo: George Freeman and Vicky Ford, Eastern Region MEP, meeting with clients at Action for Children in Dereham
The tour saw 3 key parts of the battle against social exclusion in Norfolk:
- Dereham Action For Children: tackling deprivation through early intervention
- Beeston Village School: state of the art fast broadband in a primary school
- Peddars Way Housing Association
At Dereham Action for Children in the Breckland Business Centre, George met the managers, trustees and youngsters, and pledged his support for their mission ‘to make tomorrow better for everyone’. George and Vicky Ford spent 40 minutes being asked by the 15 teenage clients about the ways that social exclusion in and around Dereham could be tackled.
Commenting on the visit, George said:
‘We need to do more to help youngsters into work. That means promoting local jobs and enterprise. Recognising the importance of basic education and vocational training for those for whom work is preferable to university. And reforming the benefits system to make it more rewarding for those who want to go from welfare to work. We make it too easy for people who prefer not to work, and too hard for those who do.’
At Beeston Village School George and Vicky met pioneering Head Chris Perry and saw the IT suite and fibre optic connection funded by the County Council, and server and PCS paid for by the school.
“On my visit to a pioneering Primary School in Beeston yesterday (EDP Friday 5th Feb) we saw what a powerful impact high speed broadband can have, thanks to great work by our County Council. But how ironic that our 6 yr olds have access in the classroom to broadband that their parents and businesses in Norfolk don’t!
“We need to pressure communications companies to take steps to ensure that Norfolk isn't kept in the slow lane in the future. If BT wont do it we should consider opening up the system and letting in others who will.
“With first class communications, Mid Norfolk could be a vibrant, high-tech rural economy with more and more people working from home.’
Vicky and George also spent 30 minutes being grilled by the pupil assembly and met the school council.
Finally, at Peddars Way Housing Association in Dereham, George and Vicky heard from Dave Seaton, MD, and Andrew Egerton-Smith, Chairman, about how Peddars Way and other local housing associations are at the forefront of pioneering schemes to raise the quality and quantity of social housing
Commenting on affordable housing, George said:
‘With average incomes in our area of £17,000 and starter homes selling for over £150,000, it is impossible for so many local people to find a home they can afford. With better rural communications and planning of the rural economy, we could unlock new schemes for building small developments of affordable housing on the outskirts of our villages, and provide the housing our area so badly needs.
Photo: George Freeman and Vicky Ford, Eastern Region MEP, meeting with clients at Action for Children in Dereham
