Wednesday 1 May 2013

Stephen Metcalfe MP welcomes Alternative Education Programme students to Parliament


Last Monday, Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, welcomed students from the Alternative Education Programme in Basildon to Parliament for a tour and catch up.

The Programme takes places five days a week at Southern Hay Youth Hub and gives students in year 11 who have struggled to engage well in formal schooling the opportunity to learn valuable skills for later life.

Mr Metcalfe has been a big supporter of the programme and having been hosted at the Youth Hub on a number of occasions was keen to reciprocate the invite in the Houses Parliament.

The students were treated to a tour of the House of Commons and House of Lords before meeting with the local MP in the grand setting of Westminster Hall.

He later commented: “Having been to the Youth Hub, I was extremely keen to get the young people to Parliament.  It is a very enriching place and I am glad that they got to get a feel of that and an insight into the way Parliament works.”

“It was also great to catch up with some familiar faces and find out what they have been up to since we last met. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all those who work so hard on bringing the program to life and I look forward to seeing more of their students here in Westminster in the future. In the meantime, I will continue to support them in whatever way I can.”