The Prospective Winchester MP joined political candidates from the other main parties for a question and answer session ahead of the next General Election. The event was put on by the Winchester & District Branch of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT).
Held at the Lantern’s Children’s Centre in Bereweeke Road (on Weds 9 December 2009) and chaired by the Head of Campaigns at the NCT (Anne Fox) the candidates answered questions from mum’s and dad’s at the group’s AGM ranging from the future of health visiting to childcare and their support for breastfeeding.
Steve and his wife Susie have a two-year old daughter, Emily who was born at the RHCH in November 2007, and have made much use of the local NCT especially its breastfeeding support service known as B.A.B.I.E.S (Babies And Breastfeeding, Information, Encouragement, Support). Steve has worked hard over the past two years to help the service continue, including lobbying of local councils and taking part in fundraising efforts.
See more about B.A.B.I.E.S below and find out how you can help this vital service to continue.
Speaking after the event Steve Brine said; “I thoroughly enjoyed this event; we were able to get a baby-sitter for the evening so Susie was able to join me and we knew so many of the NCT members present, it was like a home from home! I thought the questions were excellent and allowed us to cover a wide range of subjects which matter to those bringing up young families in Winchester. As I said on the night, Winchester is a family place so it is important to have a local MP who understands the issues and lives them every day.
“I was especially pleased to have chance to set our exciting plans to bring in a revived regime of universal health visiting if we form the next Government and to highlight some of the proposals in our recently released maternity ‘green paper’. The audience seemed to enjoy the event too, I hope they got a good look at the people who will possibly be representing them in Parliament in a few months time.
"Special thanks to the local NCT branch for giving us the chance to meet their member and to Anne Fox for coming to Winchester to chair the event."
More information …
- You can download the Conservative Party paper ‘Helping new families’ which outlines plans for a universal system of health visiting here.
- You can also download the ‘green paper’ titled ‘A culture change in NHS maternity care’ here.
- B.A.B.I.E.S – this excellent service needs your help more than ever and has set up an online fundraising page. If you can help, just a few pounds will go a long way, please make a safe and secure donation today via www.justgiving.co.uk/winchesterBABIES
- If you were at the event and would like to comment, wish to feedback your thoughts on the two papers available for download (above) or were unable to attend the NCT event and would like to ask Steve Brine a question, please email him direct [email protected]
Pictured above; Steve, Susie and Emily Brine on St Giles Hill in Winchester earlier this year.