Member

Last September, I held the Positive about Poole event in my constituency, which brought together key representatives from the public, private and voluntary sectors to talk about how we could make our town a better place in which to live, work and relax. We looked at issues such as what makes a good local economy, why the place around us is so important and how we can meet the needs of local people. Of course, there was a recognition that some of the issues needed to be addressed by Government, while others were the responsibility of the local council, but key to all the discussions was the role of voluntary groups and the many volunteers who make a contribution to their community—not for financial reward but because they wish to improve the lives of others. That sense of the individual being part of something bigger is an important foundation of any decent society.