At the General Election I pledged  to spend up to a day a month volunteering in a local school, charity or other organisation. These will be full, "roll up your sleeves and get stuck in" days, so I can get a real feel for the day to day life of the organisation. It will NOT be a 'red carpet' visit, or just a quick drop in.

If you would like me to spend a day in your school, charity or organisation, please email me on aidan.burley.mp@parliament.uk. A quick description of your organisation and the relevant contact details would be extremely useful. 

And of course - what work you would like me to do!

My recent voluntary days

For February's volunteering I joined the Friends of Norton Canes at Norton Canes Library where they were hand-making greetings cards, specialising in a 'ladies apron' 3D design, which they sell at local craft shows for charity.

As well as getting stuck in making cards, I also held a 90 minute Q&A session with local residents hosted by Norton Canes Community Partnership, during which a multitude of issues were discussed, including speed limits on local roads, the quality of teaching in local schools, Ofsted inspections and green belt development. I was joined throughout the afternoon by Cllr John Beddows and County Cllr John Rowley as well local PCSO Neil Griffiths, all of whom were fantastic in responding to residents' concerns.

Thanks go to Tracey Gould for organising the day – and for allowing me to make the tea and coffee, and most importantly of all, providing the biscuits!

In January I joined over 250 riders to take part in the Tour de Nock Charity bike ride which, for the second year running, raised money for local charity The Hibbs Lupus Trust.

Beginning at Hayes Green Community Centre, I rode through the Chase and Staffordshire, at one point even entering the neighbouring county of South Derbyshire! I had initially only intended to ride the 15 mile route, having got caught up in the excitement of the day, I ended up riding the 40 mile course – which actually turned out to be 45 miles! A decision my muscles have only recently forgiven me for!

I was joined on the day by Ian Kendrick, Bar Manager of the Cannock Conservative Club and between us we raised over £350. The Tour De Nock, now in its third year and open to all, was supported by Cycle Shack Events and raised over £1300 for The Hibbs Lupus Trust, which provides support for those affected by lupus and helps raise awareness of the condition. It is run entirely by voluntary trustees, friends & supporters of the charity and so relies heavily on the support of the general public.

In December I headed over to the Cannock Campus of South Staffordshire College to take part in a painting and decorating apprenticeship lesson.

I was joined on the day by the Deputy Principal, Mark Robertson, and local apprentices who are currently completing a painting and decorating apprenticeship at the college.

With paint brushes in hand, we set about painting one of the training booths before being taught how to effectively wallpaper a room quickly and easily.

These are real 'hands on' sessions that enable the apprentices to hone their skills in a real environment.

Apprenticeships such as this are central to the Government's strategy to deliver growth and build a sustainable economy. They not only help and support people gain the skills they need to succeed and progress in their careers but also help employers to build a workforce with the motivation and expertise they need to compete globally.

Until now, too many businesses have been put off taking on an apprentice because of unnecessary bureaucracy and red tape. It is therefore good news for businesses and young people alike that the government is streamlining the system.

Over 600 more people in Cannock Chase are benefiting from an apprenticeship thanks to the government's extra investment in the last year. This is great news not just for these individuals, but also for the whole local economy.

In November I joined the staff and pupils at Hazel Slade Primary School in Cannock Wood to help serve up lunch to the students.

The school's new healthy eating policy has been a great success and I was happy to help promote their healthy eating menu and the wider importance of healthy eating during my visit.

I arrived at the school just a few short weeks after figures from South Staffordshire PCT showed that Childhood Obesity levels in Cannock Chase were well above national average. The figures showed that 100 children in reception years (18%) and 200 (23%) at year six are classified as obese in Cannock Chase, compared to the national averages of 10% and 19% respectively. Worryingly experts have predicted that obesity levels in the UK as a whole will nearly double in the next 20 years which could mean an extra £2bn a year has to be spent by the NHS to cope.

In light of these shocking statistics, I was delighted to be able to visit Hazel Slade School to see what steps they are taking to promote healthy eating among its pupils. Having donned the traditional chef's hat, much to the amusement of both pupils and staff alike, I helped serve up a lunch of Gammon with Pineapple and vegetables and Fresh Fruit salad to the hungry pupils. After Lunch I took part in a Question and Answer session with some of the pupils where I was able to speak about life as an MP.

I believe it is vital we do all we can to educate youngsters at an early age about the importance of exercise and healthy eating if we are to have any chance of reversing the shocking levels of Childhood and Adult Obesity in the UK. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the staff and pupils at Hazel Slade Primary School and I have nothing but admiration for the work they are doing to promote healthy eating.

In October I joined staff and parents at the Child Development Centre and helped with one of their support groups called 'You Too'.

This is a group for parents that have children with additional needs and was originally set up in partnership with the Child Development Centre (CDC). Children attend the centre to be mentally and physically assessed for their specific needs. This is a 2 week process and at the end the family will be given a diagnosis/working diagnosis. As you can imagine, this is an extremely emotive time for the whole family. To help support parents through this difficult period they are invited to come along to the 'You Too' group where they can share experiences with other parents that are going through the same experiences as well as obtaining advice and support from experienced professionals. The parents group also invites visitors from other specialist services such as CAB, Parent Partnership Services and Social Workers for Children with Disabilities to name a few.

Whilst there, I welcomed parents into the group with a cup of coffee and listened as they shared their weekly experiences. To hear some of the experiences that parents go through on a daily basis, you really do appreciate the need for support groups like this.

After the group, I joined the crèche next door where I helped supervise the children who took part in crafts and other activities. Knowing that the children were in a safe and secure environment meant that parents could openly discuss sometimes sensitive issues and gain support and advice from professionals.

The 'You Too' group play a very important role in a family's life at a very sensitive and difficult time. I felt privileged to have been invited to spend time with such dedicated families and staff. The hard work and commitment of the staff at the Children's Development Centre really does make a difference.

For September's Volunteer Day I joined volunteers from the Inland Waterway Association which helps campaign for the use, maintenance and restoration of Britain's Inland waterways.

On arrival I was presented with a delicious bacon sandwich as I met up with the other volunteers for breakfast. I was treated to a ride down the canal and through Rugeley to see the impressive work that had already been done to clean up the canal edge. We eventually moored by the 'Bloody Steps' in Rugeley, which are named after the infamous rape and murder of Christina Collins by three bargemen at the age of 37. She was discovered in the canal at Rugeley in June 1839, and carried into the Talbot Inn via these 'Bloody Steps'

Having met up with the work party and a number of other volunteers, including Stuart Collins of British Waterways and Mike Moorse of the Inland Waterways Association, we spent all morning of hours cleaning up the graffiti, painting railings and trimming trees before heading back down for a well-earned picnic lunch.

I had first been made aware of the ongoing problems with van dalism and anti-social behavior at the 'Bloody Steps' by a number of constituents who had sent through pictures by email. So, after hearing about the planned work parties being set up to help clean up the mess, I was only too pleased to get involved and do what I could to help. Although, I don't mind saying that digging some of that compacted turf out was back breaking work!

We are very lucky to have such a wonderful canal network across the West Midlands and Staffordshire and so it is important we do all we can to ensure it remains a safe and clean environment to visit. I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped out over the weekend and especially Margaret Beardsmore from the local waterway association who made it all happen. I hope one day the 'Bloody Steps' area will be a nice picnic area for walkers and canal users alike.

For August's volunteering I spent the morning at prominent Cannock Charity Newlife Foundation helping out at their Home store and main office.

Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children is great local charity that helps to raise awareness and money to support families with disabled and terminally ill children. I have taken a deep interest in the charity since my election last year and even managed to get Disabilities Minister Maria Miller MP to pay them a visit earlier in the year.

I started the day spending time stocking up shelves before serving on the till at the popular Newlife at Home store in Cannock. I then moved across to Newlife HQ where I joined their brilliant Nurse team, reviewing equipment grant applications from families across the UK.

It was a real privilege being able to spend some time with such dedicated people both at the store and the nurses department. What the charity does is fantastic on so many levels – providing employment locally, helping get the long-term unemployed and disabled back into work, raising huge amounts of money for disabled children and, of course, providing fantastic deals for local shoppers.

In July I spent the evening helping out at the Help for Heroes Summer Ball at the Lea Hall Club in Rugeley.

The event, attended by over 200 people, raised money to help and support serving and retired armed forces personnel.

During the evening I helped out selling raffle tickets before presenting some awards and certificates of appreciation on behalf of the local community to soldiers who have been in active service in Afghanistan and Iraq. I was also privileged to hear a speech from a soldier describing his experiences of his service overseas and some of the challenges he and other service personnel face when returning back home from duty.

Our brave armed forces are a credit to the nation, and I for one will never forget the sacrifices they make every day to protect us. In turn it is only right that we provide them with all the support they need and deserve.

In June I spent the morning working in the British Heart Foundation store in Cannock Town Centre.

During the morning I was tasked with operating the till and sorting out the large amounts of stock which had been so kindly donated by the public.

As well as working in the shop, I also spent time just outside the store helping to raise money for the charities latest campaign "Big Hearts wear Little Hearts" which is raising awareness of heart problems in children and young people. I managed to collect £25.95 in his tin in just a few hours which I thought was quite a good achievement!

I was struck by just how busy and popular the shop was and how hard the 3 paid staff and its army of over 44 registered volunteers work to keep everything running smoothly.

Charity shops like this would simply not be able to operate and raise such vital funds if it weren't for the generosity and time of volunteers and I would certainly encourage anybody who can spare a little time to do so and help make a real difference to people's lives.

In May I spent the evening volunteering at The Aquarius Ballroom in Hednesford.

I felt honoured to be volunteering, as it was their final weekend of dancing at the ballroom, famous nationwide for its perfect dancing floor. It was an emotional evening hearing people's stories of meeting loved ones at the dance many years ago.

Arriving at 7pm, dressed in evening suit I was soon put to work by Mike Allsopp, though I was a little concerned when Mike announced that I was the main bouncer on the door! Thankfully there was no brawling or stampede, so I soon got going selling tickets and meeting and greeting.

Mike has been a part of the Aquarius for quite some time and the driving force in making sure of a smooth transition from the ballroom closing to using Cannock's Civic Suite for dancing. The Aquarius Ballroom has been such a big part in people's lives and it was an emotional weekend for many.

In April I  joined volunteers from Veolia Environmental Services and Emma Beaman, AONB Officer from Shugborough Park Farm to conduct the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty's 2011 Visitor Survey.The survey aims to establish how many visitors travel to the Chase, where they come from, and why they visit AONB sites – in order to continually improve the tourism offer to local people. In all, over ninety volunteers are devoting 12 days of their spare time, from October 2010 to October 2011, to survey visitors at 30 protected AONB sites at Cannock, Rugeley, Lichfield District, Stafford and South Staffordshire. After a short briefing session and clipboard in hand, I set about surveying visitors at Marquis Drive in Cannock. The information gathered from the surveys is invaluable to groups such as AONB who help to promote and protect Cannock Chase and surrounding areas.

During the afternoon I also received my certificate for becoming the first individual member of the AONB Membership Scheme (cost, not met by the tax-payer, £25!) which works to make sure the right balance is struck to conserve and enhance the area, while maintaining it as a living, working environment. I really enjoyed my afternoon surveying visitors. I wanted to take an active role to help maintain and protect these AONB sites and surveys like this are vital to ensuring these sites remain protected. Spending the afternoon talking to local residents and visitors reminded me of just how lucky we are in Cannock Chase to have such natural beauty on our doorstep – and I was amazed by how far people had travelled to visit the Chase, including from Wales!

In March I played a game for Rugeley Rugby Club 2nd team against the Birmingham Barbarians at Hagley Park Playing Fields in Rugeley. I was a bit nervous about dusting off my boots having not played a competitive game of rugby for nearly 10 years. However, the boys were very supportive and made me feel really welcome as part of the team. I was slightly unlucky not to score when I crossed the try line following a quick tap penalty. Unfortunately the referee decided I had not taken the penalty from the right spot and called me back. The Birmingham Barbarians are a quality opposition but we certainly had our chances throughout the game. Whilst I don't think Rugeley's regular scrum half will be worried about his place in the team, I hope that I might be used as an 'impact substitution' for a future game!

My February voluntary day was spent working with Dog A.I.D (Assistance in Disability) - a national voluntary organisation which provides specialised training for people with physical disabilities and their dogs. Dog A.I.D. has recently opened an office in the Cannock area and is part of the umbrella group Assistance Dogs UK, alongside other larger charities such as Hearing Dogs and Guide Dogs. . The main difference between Dog A.I.D. and many other assistance groups is that the disabled owner learns how to train their own dog, giving the owners a greater degree of independence and flexibility.

I attended a training session with three of the dogs and their owners; Zanti a chocolate Labrador belonging to Peggy, Buddy an adolescent labradoodle with Jodie, and 4 year old Rottweiler Rossi with his owner Stephen. I was able to see how the training works – by instructing and rewarding the dogs for completing particular tasks, and even have a go at it myself!

All of the dogs are at different stages of their training so they need a lot of one-to-one attention, and every single owner and their pet need to be dealt with individually. It was hard work but also good fun too, and I was delighted to be able to help Sandra Fraser and her assistant Erica Bennett even just a little bit!

Before the end of the session I was fortunate enough to have time to chat with each of the owners about the difference this important service makes to their lives. I would like to thank Sandra and Erica for the opportunity and for the hard work they do. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to support this worthwhile cause in Cannock since May, and look forward to working with the Dog A.I.D team in the future.

I spent the afternoon with the Chase CVS – Council for Voluntary Services in January, to learn more about the volunteering done by others in Cannock Chase.

The Chase CVS have provided support and advice to the voluntary sector in Cannock Chase for the last 15 years, and have really helped to instil a sense of community and responsibility among local people – by empowering them, and providing them with the skills, information and resources necessary for them to help themselves.

I wanted to learn more about the way the CVS support local volunteers and voluntary organisations, and took some time during the afternoon to chat to managers, staff and volunteers about their experiences. From help with getting started, to support for ongoing projects, the CVS are involved in many aspects of the community and provide everything from moral, to financial, to structural support. I was also able to chat to them about their funding, and offer my support for their continuation.

During my visit I met Ken Jackson, Chairman of the CVS, to talk about my own volunteering! I was happy to sign up as one of his registered volunteers in the area, and look forward to getting involved in more local projects in future.

In December I spent my voluntary day with the Cannock Lions Club, serving a Christmas lunch for the SSAFA - the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association.

The otherwise cold winter morning kicked off in St Luke's Church Hall with a cheerful Carol service sung by pupils from nearby St Luke's Primary School, followed by an appearance from Father Christmas himself, which certainly got everyone into the festive spirit.

After saying a few words to mark the occasion, I had the honour of carving my first turkey of the Christmas season, which I was pleased to have been able to provide for the occasion myself.

The servicemen and women enjoyed a delicious lunch and it was a great pleasure to spend the afternoon with them, and the Lions Club volunteers. I really felt that I had been a part of a genuine example of the Big Society in action; local people supporting and helping one another and bringing Christmas cheer to these war heroes.

The Cannock Lions are part of an international network of volunteers who dedicate their spare time to helping vulnerable groups and individuals through local community projects. A new addition to the Lions network, the Cannock club has only been around since May, but already has 25 members who work extremely hard to organise events and projects which really help in Cannock Chase.

The SSAFA provide important support to current and ex-servicemen and their families, and I was delighted to be a part of helping to recognise their bravery and their contribution to our society.

The Cannock Lions do great work, and did a superb job of arranging the lunch. I would like to thank Pam and her team in the kitchen once again for a lovely day, and for the opportunity to be a part of it.

In November I had the chance to take part in British Pub week and serve behind the bar at Mill Farm Pub, Cannock. I decided to work there both to raise awareness of the importance to support our local pub trade and to continue my volunteering in the local community.

British Pub Week is an event that runs from October Saturday 30th to November 6th. It is meant to preserve the cultural, historical and social importance of the pub. British Pub Week unites the nation in celebration of all that pubs stand for, but also how important they are for the local economy and the community.

As soon as I got there, I had my sleeves rolled up and was serving along with the bar staff. Manager of Mill Farm Sue Gibbons takes such pride in the pub that she was coaching and correcting me as if I was a new member of the team.

Working back behind the bar brought back some old memories from when I was a student; pulling pints in my local. I think some of the locals didn't quite believe it when I told them that I was their MP, but stood with me in supporting National Pub Week. It was a change being on the other side of the bar this time and serving rather than drinking beers!

I think it's a shame that we see so many empty pubs these days, especially the older ones, as well as so many closing. That is why I wanted to volunteer to help support British Pub Week, as I believe pubs play a vital role in supporting a local community and a strong economy.

I would like to thank the Mill Farm Pub for inviting me to do an evening shift with them, and being part of the team. The people I worked with were fantastic. I would also like to congratulate Manager Sue Gibbons and her enthusiastic team for going that extra mile to make sure everyone enjoys their time at Mill Farm Pub.

 

October's voluntary day was spent working with the Home Comforts team.

Home Comforts are a successful charity that gets local people to donate good quality, second hand furniture to their warehouse in Hawks Green. The charity then sells the furniture on for low prices to people on benefits or those with very low incomes.

The charity uses two vans to help deliver the furniture to people's homes as well as pick up the new stock from local donors.

This was where I got stuck in; it was my job to help deliver and pick up furniture to and from customers' houses.

It was typical cold autumn's day so it was a good job I had my thermals on ready for a day's work, not that they were really needed - some furniture was pretty heavy, it was like having a full work out at the gym!

The van rounds were great, we went all around the constituency, and the picture is of us delivering a dining table to Benyon road in Chadsmoor.

Once the rounds were done we went back to the shop where all the donated furniture was kept. I helped conduct telephone surveys to donors to check they were happy with the level of service. I also learnt how the website worked (you can learn more about the charity and view all the stock for sale here: www.homecomforts.org.uk)

Once again I had a great day learning at close hand how a brilliant local charity works, and I recommend Home Comforts to anyone, since the warehouse is now open to the general public too. The stock is very good quality, the service is brilliant and the team are great!

 

 

September - I was kindly invited to help out with ‘The League of Friends', a trolley service in Cannock Hospital.

It was my job to load up my trolley full of hot drinks, confectionary, cakes and other tasty treats then to visit the wards to tempt the patients and staff to buy the goodies off my trolley!

I found that this really lifted the spirits of the patients, spending a little bit of time with them and offering the much needed things for the needy.

Once my trolley rounds complete and patients were happy I then spoke to nursing staff and patients about the service and the general standards of cleanliness within the wards.

The dedication and commitment of all the staff and volunteers to the patients was clear to see. The attitude levels toward cleanliness, in particular, impressed me immensely.

It is clear from my discussions with both patients and their families how valuable a service this is. It not only sells food and drinks to patients and visitors, which is of course vital, but also provides an opportunity for those patients who perhaps are lonely or have no visitors to have a chat with a volunteer over a cup of tea.

Hospitals are never the nicest places to be, but the volunteers from the League of Friends make the patient experience just that little more pleasurable.

I would like to thank The League of Friends for letting me help with the service, and the Hospital for inviting me.

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay!

 

August - I hit the streets on my third voluntary day to experiance what goes on in the life of the Staffordshire Police.

I started my shift at the Police Station where I caught up with the guys who serve our community with pride, before moving on to carry out patrols in some of Cannock's most deprived areas where reports are also at their highest for anti-social behaviour and drinking.

The highlight of the day was that I was able to see first hand the challenges that our local Police Service's have to face day in and out.

I am a member of the Home Affairs Committee and I take a great interest in policing and crime.

I think it's very important for MP's and others to see what is actually going on other than turning a blind eye to it all and pretending nothing is happening. I believe it's time to take action to improve our community and work together to create a ‘Big Society'.

Too many false promises have been given out to people in previous years and I want to make a stop to this.

I would like to thank the Staffordshire Police for allowing me to take part in their day to day activities.

I found the whole event extremely interesting and I shall also be doing my bit to encourage a safer community!

 

July - For my second outing I put my scruffs on and was equipped with shovels and wellies for a day out at the Anglesey Nature Reserve also know as Deavall's Farm.

I spent the morning putting up the nature reserve's sign on the Stafford road, one of our main roads for everyone to see.

The nature reserve works along side with the council every day to keep on top of the country side so it shows it's well known beauty at it's fullest.

It was great to meet up with the volunteers and make a real difference to our local community.

Cannock Chase is blessed with a number of nature reserves and is an ideal place for the people of Cannock to unwind, particularly in my case after a busy week at Westminster.

These guys give up their Friday mornings to make a real difference to the local community. Whether it be picking up litter, digging up weeds or as the case today erecting a sign they are committed to making Cannock's nature reserves a clean and pleasant place to be.

Most MPs only tend to make flying visits when meeting groups in the constituency. I wanted to change this and roll up my sleeves and get stuck in.

Local organisations and Charities are a vital part of our society and I am fully committed to supporting them in any way I can.

I would like to thank the Anglesey Nature Reserve for letting me put my green fingers to action!

June - For my first time volunteering I was offered the chance to volunteer in the small town of Chadsmoor at Coniston Hall on Cecil Street, a constructive day care centre called ADS (Addiction Dependency Solutions).

ADS offer a free and confidential service to anyone over 18 with drug or alcohol problems, who lives in the area. A range of treatments and activities are available, including a Structured Day Care Programme, a variety of social and leisure activities, as well as family support.

I started the day visiting Sandy's Guest House in Bridgtown, an outreach centre and hostel for some of ADS's clients. Then it was back to Coniston Hall to take part in a bicycle maintenance workshop before helping prepare vegetables and toppings for a homemade pizza lunch with ADS's Healthy Eating Group.

This, my first full day volunteering in the community, is proof that taking the time to spend a whole day with an organisation gives you an unvarnished view, and some understanding, of the day-to-day realities and challenges local residents face.

I look forward to learning each month more and more about the unthanked and unsung heroes and heroines who help to hold our community together. The work that ADS do is vital for the lives of many people, hard to do and incredibly complex. Addiction impacts on many areas of our social life - health, housing and homelessness, training and education, and crime.

I would like to thanks the ADS team for inviting me to Coniston Hall.

The effort that you all put in is amazing, and I couldn't think of a more constructive way to help people and to enable people to move forward.