🚨 Update on the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) for rough-sleepers - North Somerset Council have now called SWEP. Despite having no time to prepare (SWEP only just announced and previously been told it would not be enacted), Somewhere to Go Day Centre staff are currently out looking for... clients to help them into shelter over night. Thank you for all you are doing.🚨

🚨 Update on the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) for rough-sleepers - North Somerset Council have now called SWEP. Despite having no time to prepare (SWEP only just announced and previously been told it would not be enacted), Somewhere to Go Day Centre staff are currently out looking for... clients to help them into shelter over night. Thank you for all you are doing.🚨

The Met Office has issued a red weather warning for damaging winds as Storm Darragh approaches.

Weston-super-Mare is within the area covered by the red weather warning, which is currently expected to stay in place from 3:00am until 11:00am on Saturday.

Red weather warnings are reserved for very dangerous weather with a high level of certainty and you are recommended to stay indoors during this time.

Top tips for staying safe in high winds 👇
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/stay-safe-in-strong-wind/stay-safe-in-strong-wind

Top tips from the National Grid 👇

📞 Call 105 to report a power cut, 24 hours a day. Keep this free electricity emergency number handy or save it in your mobile phone. Customers can find more information about power cuts at www.powercuts.nationalgrid.co.uk

🔋 Keep a battery/solar charger handy so that you can recharge your smartphone or tablet and follow updates on social media and via an online power cut map (https://powercuts.nationalgrid.co.uk/power-cut-map/). Customers can also sign up for severe weather updates at https://www.nationalgrid.co.uk/register-for-storm-updates

🚨Unfortunately North Somerset Council have not declared the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (a local authority's temporary response to the risks from severe weather) meaning there will be no extra provision for the homeless or those rough sleeping. If anyone is concerned about rough sleepers, they will need to call 01454 615165 for the 'out of hours' homeless team to access support and Somewhere to Go will be open from 9am.

❄️ Keep your freezer shut – depending on the type of freezer you have, the contents could stay frozen for up to 12 hours.

🔦 Have a torch or lantern ready. (It is best not to use candles or paraffin lights.)

🔌 Protect sensitive electrical equipment, such as computers, with a surge protector plug.

⚡️ If you have a mains-operated stairlift, check to see if there is a manual release handle that can be used to return it safely to ground level if it stops working.

Vulnerable households can get extra support by signing up to NGED’s Priority Services Register. It’s a free service for anyone who is elderly, disabled, has children under 5 years old, or relies on powered medical equipment. Sign up here: https://www.nationalgrid.co.uk/customers-and-community/priority-services

If you live in Weston and need other assistance or advice, to book a call, surgery online or face to face please email me on 👇
[email protected]

🛍️ It’s Small Business Saturday this weekend 🛍️

We are incredibly proud of the independent shops in our town.

Over the next couple of days we'll be out and about across Weston and Worle to catch-up with as many small businesses as we can.

Think local ...this Christmas and see how they can help you out with your festive shopping 🎄🎅🏼🎁

If you know of a small business we should visit, let us know in the comments and we'll try and stop by 👇

#smallbusinesssaturday2024 #shoplocal #shopindependent #supportlocalbusiness

This was a really important announcement this week.

So many of us have lives we share online and we use the internet to help empower us in so many ways.

But one of the ways it can be used by some to abuse others will be clamped down on by this Labour government. 🙌🏻

... ⬇️⬇️⬇️

🚨Minister Stephanie Peacock MP to visit Weston-super-Mare in the new year 🚨

I had an important meeting with Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth this morning at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport promoting all the hard work of so many across Weston, Worle and ...the villages.

Minister Peacock committed to visiting us to see the outstanding work across all areas of her portfolio for herself, including the innovative work of Super Culture to mark us out as a leading creative arts destination 😍

We discussed a number of areas including:

🔴 How I am working with the Department to supporting our AMAZING charities through the new Civil Society Covenant, working closely with Voluntary Action North Somerset - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-partners-with-civil-society-to-transform-lives-across-the-uk--2

🔴 The powerful community work of our proud sports teams like Weston-super-Mare AFC Weston Ability Football Club Weston-super-Mare AFC Women and Hornets RFC, Weston Super Mare Rugby Club and how we are working together to secure resources, support and maximise impact


🔴 The important work of Weston-super-Mare Youth Council, YMCA Weston-super-Mare and many others to support so many young people across our communities and how we are looking forward to bringing the Youth Council to Westminster

🔴 The excitement in the town about the renovation of Birnbeck Pier, the work of The Birnbeck Regeneration Trust and this Government to secure the funds needed to bring it back to life

Very much looking forward to welcoming Minister Peacock to Weston-super-Mare! 😀 We have SO MUCH to be proud of. ❤️

🎄🎅❤️👇