A number of local people have visited No. 10 Downing Street as part of a local champion’s programme.
Five local champions from Darlington have met with the Prime Minister, Chancellor, and Health Secretary recently in a bid to showcase the work of local businesses and to celebrate individuals who have been key to local success.
During the journalism event local journalist Chris Lloyd, Chief Features Writer at the Northern Echo joined Peter Gibson MP and journalists from across the country to share and celebrate the impact of local journalism.
Anna Caygill, Service Manager from Family Help Darlington CIO attended No. 10 Downing Street and met with the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Family Help Darlington CIO are a fantastic organisation who offer specialist domestic abuse support for women and women with children fleeing domestic abuse. Established in 1976, Family Help Darlington CIO is an independent charity, home to Darlington’s only women’s refuge, which itself is one of the longest-standing refuges in the UK.
Mother-of-three Lena Rusa, originally from Ukraine, also met the Prime Minister.
Lena helped launch a donation point at Firthmoor Community Centre last year to support people feeling the war in Ukraine.
Peter Gibson MP said “Lena story is incredible, and I was delighted to introduce her to the Prime Minister. The donation point organised by Lena enabled thousands of items to be donated to her home country of Ukraine and this would have made a huge difference at such a critical time.
Deputy Managing Director of Simply Thank You, Mark Eglington, met with the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt during a session about local enterprise.
Simply Thank You, based at Morton Park Business Park in Darlington since 1993 retails a range of gifts for colleagues, employees, customers, friends, and family. They also stock gift cards, gift codes, gift hampers and flowers. As well as many other kinds of wonderful gifts.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay also hosted an event to celebrate the NHS’s 75th anniversary where local GP, Dr Chris Mathieson, Managing Partner of Neasham Road Surgery met with a range of health professional in recognition of local NHS champions.
Dr Mathieson qualified as doctor in 1992 and went on to work in accident and emergency, becoming a GP in 2007, and is now a Managing Partner at Neasham Road Surgery.
Dr Mathieson said "I had a great day in London. Being in Downing Street was such a privilege and the tour of the Houses of Parliament was very interesting, thanks again to Peter for the nomination."
Speaking about the programme Peter Gibson MP said “Small businesses and the individuals who make them are the backbone of the UK economy”
“I wanted to make sure that the incredible work being done by these fantastic people didn’t go unnoticed.
“It is always a privilege to walk down that famous street and pass beyond the black door. I know all those who attended had a wonderful time”
“Its good know they have been recognised for all that they do”.
