MP welcomes her ‘virtual' summer school participants

Debbie Abrahams, top right, and some of her staff, top row, welcome this year’s summer school participants

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams has welcomed a new group of 15 participants to her seventh annual - and this year ‘virtual’ - Working for your Community summer school.

The participants will embark on a week’s programme which includes contributions from leading politicians, famous sporting heroes, and inspiring speakers.

Commenting on her initiative, which runs each day this week (July 13-17) and is aimed at 18-24 year olds, Mrs Abrahams said: “As well as learning about what politics is about and how to develop their community action skills, the young people also learn about the life skills necessary to succeed.

"I'm really keen to give local young people a behind-the-scenes look at how politics works and affects everyone’s daily life.   

“This year my summer school is entirely online but we have a very strong line-up of contributors and leaders in the areas of politics, community development, campaigning, sport, personal development, and communications."

Sessions will be delivered by various experts and leaders in community development, campaigning, communications, sport and politics, including: Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House; Annaliese Dodds MP, Shadow Chancellor; Kevin Sinfield MBE, Leeds Rhinos Director of Rugby; John Abrahams, England Lions Cricket selector; Lisa Nandy MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary; Dame Eleanor Laing, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons; David Lammy MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Shadow Lord Chancellor; Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester; and Angela Rayner MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.