Last week I stopped by to visit the Citizens Advice team at their amazing new base on George Street in Lancaster. I am so incredibly thankful for Helen, Gully and the volunteers as their knowledge and dedication to helping the community is a vital lifeline for so many people.

Citizens Advice are a wonderful organisation that exist to help everyone. Helen and Gully told me that their team have dealt with thousands of enquiries over the last few months. They explained that there has been a very serious shift with their caseload and that the vast majority of new queries often relate to access to housing, mental health emergencies and shortfalls in Universal Credit. Government policies are drastically failing to address these matters, in fact they are actively harming the most vulnerable people in society.

According to recent research conducted by the Trussell Trust and Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 90% of low-income households on Universal Credit are currently going without essentials, and the basic rate of Universal Credit is now at its lowest ever level as a proportion of average earnings. We should have a social security system that, at the very least, ensures that no one should have to go without the essential items. The reality is that it doesn’t. Foodbanks and organisations like Citizens Advice are regularly distributing emergency parcels for people, to deliver some of the most basic necessities such as food, toiletries, and clothing. The team at Citizens Advice and I also discussed the challenges for lone parent families accessing work and affordable childcare, which I was able to raise in the House of Commons on Monday this week.

March 8^th marked International Women’s Day and this year the Football Association asked me and other MPs to support local schools that are taking part in the #LetGirlsPlay Biggest Ever Football Session. Currently, only 67% of schools in England offer football equally to girls and boys and the FA has an ambition for 90% of schools to offer equal access by 2024. Following the historic victory of the Lionesses at the Euro’s last year, it is remarkable to finally see women’s football receive the recognition it has always deserved. There have been huge setbacks historically for women in the sport, at one time not so long-ago woman were banned from playing.

Later this month I will be unveiling a plaque at Lancaster City FC’s ground, dedicated to local football legend Jennie Harris who played for Lancaster Ladies before joining the famous Dick Kerr Ladies. FC, recognised as the most important team in the history of Women’s football. I’m so proud of the schools in my constituency for taking part in the #LetGirlsPlay event this year and I hope many girls have been inspired to go on and find joy and success in playing football.