THE Camrose Trust is the only local charity in Basingstoke run by volunteers to support homeless people. Last week I met trustees for an update on the work they are doing. I was privileged to be part of the group of people who originally worked with Trinity Hospice in Winchester to establish this service in Basingstoke. Ten years on Basingstoke still needs to support people who are homeless and I would like to pay tribute to the volunteer workers who make this unique service possible.

IT WAS good news that the Basingstoke breastfeeding counsellors secured funding from the council to continue their work in the borough for the next few months, but a long-term funding solution is needed too. I met Hampshire County Council and Action for Children to discuss where the solution might lie. Midwives, Children centres, health visitors and GPs all have a responsibility to support breastfeeding among new mums. But mums choose to turn to organisations like the National Childbirth Trust and BFC who offer more accessible, expert advice. I was pleased to hear that parents' views are central to any long-term solution.

IN AUGUST, Parliament doesn’t sit and MPs work from their constituencies. There are historic reasons that Parliament went into recess in the summerfor the summer recess but the modern-day reasons are very different. Whilst the recess gives everyone the opportunity to do more in their constituencies, it also means the Parliament buildings themselves can be maintained. The building is long overdue for complete renovation, perhaps when that is complete there can be a renovation of the sitting times too.