My regular column for the Vision magazine this month feature two great local groups who support young people with special needs and their parents, and older people needing a bit of company and fun in their lives respectively.

Emails from constituents who are members of environmental campaign groups have been arriving in my inbox this week, urging me to do all I can in Parliament to promote the protection of our environment. 

The Chief Executive of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, David Ramsden,  has written to thank me for the role I played in the campaign for access to cystic fibrosis medicines.

NHS England has today announced it has secured a definitive agreement with Vertex Pharmaceuticals to make available all three of their UK-licensed cystic fibrosis medicines. 

After a full day in the constituency recently, it was good to kick back and try out Brentwood's latest attraction - free-to-play table tennis.

Many of the headteachers I meet speak about the increase in poor mental health among their pupils, and how it affects too many children's day to day lives.

Having a baby is now safer than 10 years ago, but although there has been a reduction in stillbirths and neonatal deaths, nothing can reduce the grief caused by the loss of a baby.

Brentwood and Ongar's Member of Parliament, Alex Burghart, added a dash of pink to his usual attire to support Breast Cancer Now’s wear it pink fundraiser, which takes place on Friday 18 October.

Brentwood and Ongar is a constituency of contrasts.

I had the pleasure of meeting Dennis Rensch MBE and his wife last week, just after he was given the prestigious and rare award of the Order of Mercy for his work with Havering and Brentwood Bereavement Service.