I recently spoke to young mums and dads about the importance of setting up a Child Trust Fund for their children. Every Child Trust Fund set up for today’s Five Towns babies will turn into a valuable nest egg which is released when they turn 18.

Every baby is now sent a £250 voucher which parents can decide to invest however they choose.

The Government tops up the Fund when kids turn 7 and families from low income families receive an additional £250. And of course parents, families and friends can make extra contributions at any time.

The School Council at Halfpenny Lane Junior School showed me their popular new healthy tuck shop which sells raisons, dried apricots and muesli bars at break time.

I would like to see other local schools to find ways of encouraging kids to enjoy good school food to replace the old junk food vending machines that have now been banned from schools.

Everyone in Castleford knows we desperately need a new Tigers stadium. So I joined Castleford Councillors to hand over a petition of 5,000 signatures to Wakefield Council calling for a new stadium for Castleford Tigers to be a central part of their sports strategy for the district.

If you would like to add your support for the campaign, please contact my office.

See update article...

I was really pleased to open the new premises of the Warwick Woman’s Health Group on the Warwick estate.

It’s a fantastic community project, helping local mums make new friends, learn new skills, and keep healthy. I was particularly impressed with the commitment and enthusiasm shown by the women who have made these new premises a reality.

Castleford Rotary Club invited me to attend their Annual Awards Ceremony. The Club has now been serving the local community in Castleford for 84 years and it is was great to celebrate the work of local volunteers with them.

I have been calling on the Highways Agency to erect a new permanent motorway sign for Pontefract on the new southbound stretch of the A1. Lots of local people and visitors to the town have complained to me that they have driven straight past the Pontefract exit when trying to find the town. We’ve had a good result to get temporary signs to Pontefract erected. But there are still some miles to go before we get a permanent sign to help drivers find the town in the future. Now the contractors who manage the have accepted that Pontefract is hard to find on the new A1 southbound stretch, they should agree to our calls for a permanent sign. See update...

Photo of Yvette with local campaigners.
Photo courtesy of the Pontefract and Castleford Express

I was delighted to officially open Airedale's Sure Start Children's Centre. Sure Start is already making a massive difference to parents and our youngest kids in Airedale.

It was great to see the strong enthusiasm at the new Children’s Centre. Now I want to see the same support at Children’s Centres across our towns.

Photo taken at the opening of Airedale Sure Start

I have been campaigning to maintain full postal services in Castleford town centre after the Co-op announced it was terminating its Post Office contract.

Over 1200 people have signed a petition in support of Castleford Post Office, so in January I called a meeting in Castleford to tell national Post Office managers the strength of local support. I also asked for assurances that there would be no break in services when the lease with the Co-op runs out. See update...

Photo of Yvette and Cllr Mark Burns-Williams handing petition to Ian Carlton from the Post Office

I met with residents of Birch Grove in Castleford who were having difficulties with Yorkshire Water. The water company have been charging residents for surface water drainage since 2000 even through their homes do not use the company’s service.

I am urging all water users across Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley double check their water bills to make sure the same is not happening to them.

Wakefield and District Housing tenant Chantell Lamb from Ferry Fryston invited me to see her newly refurbished home which has been transformed with a new kitchen, bathroom, central heating and double-glazing.

Chantell’s home is the 300th home to be refurbished under WDH’s programme. There has been double the investment round here compared to a few years ago for modern central heating and new facilities. As with any refurbishment, it can be a real hassle while the work is underway but WDH have told me they are doing all they can to ensure there is as little disruption as possible.

The new bike shed at Kings High School is part of the school’s travel plan to encourage more pupils to cycle to school. The plan also includes proposals to advise pupils on bike safety and maintenance.

Photo courtesy of the Pontefract and Castleford Express

I have launched a consultation to find out people’s views on crime and anti-social behaviour in their area.

Click here to let me have your views on crime and anti-social behaviour

On a visit to the T&G Learning suite at Nestlé, Castleford in the Autumn

In November 2003, the headteacher of Ackton Pastures Primary School has added his support to my campaign for more affordable childcare for local parents

Picture courtesy of the Pontefract and Castleford Express