Happy New Year and I hope you had a restful Christmas.

2022 was certainly a year of highs and lows but I’m looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that 2023 will bring.

All of us will have tried to have a nice, peaceful Christmas with family and friends, but for many this just won’t have been possible. So many households and families will have been worrying about being at home, heating their homes, affording their normal Christmases or even feeding their families.

Unsurprisingly, this was one of the main issues that people contacted me about in 2022 and it doesn’t feel like things are likely to improve much in the near future with the way the Government is handling the situation.

Whilst fighting for more help, I’ve created an online resource which provide details of organisations and charities that could support people with the cost-of-living crisis. I will keep this resource updated but if you need any support then please reach out to one of the organisations listed.

I know that many people will also have been struggling with their mental health and although there are some fantastic charities and services out there, they’re woefully underfunded and many adults and children are having to wait for months, and in some cases, years, to see a specialist.

I have been campaigning for better mental health services and this is something that I will take forward this year.

If you know someone or suspect that someone is struggling with their mental health, then please reach out to them.  If you suspect someone needs urgent support, then there are a number of support agencies you can call.

January is the time that many people decide on their New Year’s resolution, something they want to do differently or achieve in the year. Why not make a resolution to look out for each other more this year and check in with one another?