Making sure every pupil in our area gets the skills they need to succeed is vital to the long-term prosperity of our region.

That’s why, since becoming the MP for Mid Norfolk back in 2010, I have done so much work with our great local schools and their teachers, as well as local charities and youth groups, on projects aimed at increasing the opportunities of our region’s youngsters.

(For example, through the not-for-profit The Norfolk Way social enterprise that I helped set up, I launched The Norfolk Innovation Awards and set up The Norfolk Way Enterprise Bursary Scheme to recognise youngsters excelling in STEM subjects at school and give them opportunities in the associated sectors that are so well-renowned in our great county. To learn more, please visit The Norfolk Way website here. I’ve also supported school initiatives like Dereham Neatherd’s successful bid to become a National Centre for Computing Hub (see more here), among many other projects)

The Norfolk Reading Project is a fantastic local charity established back in 2015 with the aim of helping schools improve literacy standards in the county.

They do this by recruiting and training volunteers to visit schools and listen to children read on a 1-1 basis. The service is completely free to the schools involved and gives local youngsters additional opportunities to practice and improve their reading.

Currently, the Project has over 150 trained volunteers helping out in over 50 Norfolk schools. The popularity of their work is rising however and the Project are looking for more volunteers who are willing to give up their time and be trained.

If YOU would be interested in supporting the Project, please do reach out to them via the details below!