Latest news with #RachelTaylor
BBC News
19 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Warwickshire MP joins Tamworth ambulance and aid delivery to Ukraine
An MP has set off on a three-day journey to help aid workers deliver an ambulance full of essential supplies to Ukraine. Rachel Taylor, who represents North Warwickshire and Bedworth, is joining Dawid Kozlowski who, since Russia invaded in 2022, has co-ordinated the delivery of more than 300 tonnes of aid to the pair set off from the LKQ Euro Car Parts headquarters at the Birch Coppice business park in Tamworth, Staffordshire, on Monday. Mr Kozlowski has led the company's aid efforts, donating 51 ambulances, more than £6,000 worth of prescription medicine and 1,000 Christmas presents to Ukraine. The latest campaign will see the ambulance handed over at the Poland/Ukraine border, before it is driven deeper into the country. "There are a lot of people living in poverty in Ukraine because of the war so I've tried to do something that will improve their quality of life," Mr Kozlowski said. "Ambulances will have a huge impact for them because it gives them more chances to survive."Ms Taylor added: "I just felt that our spotlight had gone off Ukraine a bit and yet people over there are still suffering. "Bombings every night, drone attacks - it just felt like the right thing to do to help out." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Guardian
13-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Proper support for children with special educational needs can lead to successful outcomes
I have two children, both autistic. One does well in mainstream school, with adaptations; the other cannot survive in a mainstream environment at all – everything about it triggers him. Any minister who wants to do away with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) settings should be required to leave their quiet office and spend a week conducting their duties in a busy secondary school (After disability benefits, is Labour really about to target the educational rights of special needs children?, 7 July). Every 55 minutes they must drop what they are doing and move to a different room to work on a completely different ministerial portfolio, regardless of their interest in or aptitude for it. A few times a week, they will be required change for PE in a room full of people. Why is it so hard for government to understand that 'inclusion' does not mean 'force everyone into a single framework regardless how unsuitable it is'? It means understanding, respecting and acting appropriately, as everyone has different TaylorLewes, East Sussex The battle to acquire an education, health and care plan (EHCP) is not easily won. All too frequently it requires tenacity, resilience and no small measure of confidence and skill to negotiate the appeal and tribunal process. As a teacher, barrister and former representative of Independent Provider of Special Education Advice, the leading charity in the field of Send law in England, I know this from first-hand experience. My own child had complex medical needs and I was astounded when my local authority said that they did not meet the threshold (clearly defined in the Children and Families Act 2014). I appealed, successfully, but had to attend a hearing at a magistrates court. I understand why local authorities are not supportive of EHCP applications; they know they do not have the funds to meet the plans. Watering down, or removing children's rights to support can never be the answer. Adequately funded Send support enables children to be successful. My own child, with a plan in place throughout secondary school, was able to go on to achieve a first‑class degree. I fear that this might not be the outcome for our next generation of HailesFowlmere, Cambridgeshire Your correspondents (Letters, 6 July) make a powerful case for the need to support children with additional educational needs, but I feel that they are mistaken in trying to perpetuate the current use of EHCPs. I was, for many years, a governor of two secondary schools and witnessed the problems with the EHCP 'system' with mounting despair. The processes have become so complex that they are almost inaccessible to parents who lack the skills to navigate an administrative labyrinth, which discriminates against some of the neediest. The time taken to secure a plan can be so protracted that it is pointless for junior schools to initiate a request late in the child's time with them; the secondary school may struggle to support the child for their first year and only get a plan by the end of year 8 – meaning that children at a crucial stage in their school life lack additional support for as much as three years. Any system with these features needs replacement, and I would urge your readers to welcome the opportunity to achieve QuibellLondon Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
The Independent
12-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
How an 18-year-old was selected to run a major county council
Reform UK has selected 18-year-old George Finch to permanently lead Warwickshire County Council, which manages £1.5bn in assets and a £500m budget. Labour MPs Preet Gill and Rachel Taylor have criticised the appointment, stating that the people of Warwickshire deserve better and questioning Finch's lack of experience for such a significant role. Finch's selection follows the resignation of the previous Reform leader, Rob Howard, who stepped down just weeks after being elected, citing health challenges. The party has experienced recent internal instability, with other newly elected councillors resigning or causing controversy shortly after the local elections. Despite earlier surges, recent by-election losses and a slight decline in national polling figures suggest that Reform's momentum may be slowing.
BBC News
29-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
MP Rachel Taylor to drive donated ambulance to Ukraine
An MP who is taking an ambulance to Ukraine has said she is "honoured" to contribute towards humanitarian efforts in the MP for North Warwickshire and Bedworth, Rachel Taylor, is set to take on the 1,300-mile drive from Birch Coppice to the Poland-Ukraine ambulance has been paid for by fundraising by an automotive parts firm, based in her said it had delivered more than 200 tonnes of aid since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, including 34 ambulances and more than £6,000 worth of medicine. Taylor - who is also chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freight and Logistics - met with a delegation from the Ukrainian embassy in said seeing the dedication of the team coordinating the relief effort had been "truly inspiring"."I'm really excited to be playing my small part in supporting Ukrainians in their fight for freedom," she said."I know the strength of feeling in North Warwickshire and Bedworth about the need for the UK to keep standing strongly with Ukrainians in their hour of need."Taylor was elected as the Labour MP for North Warwickshire and Bedworth at the 2024 general that, she was a local councillor in North Warwickshire and worked as a property solicitor and has also previously served as a line judge and umpire at Wimbledon and in grassroots tennis. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Otago Daily Times
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Lawrence youth art awards return
Young artists are invited to showcase their talent as Lawrence Creative Art's Youth Art Competition returns. Open to Clutha youth aged 13 to 21, the competition promises a $1000 first prize, $700 merit prizes, $500 people's choice awards, and trainee spots at the Tisch Art Academy. The exhibition opens for the first round of awards on July 19 at Tischler and Co Studio Gallery Lawrence, where it will run until July 27. It will then be on show at Balclutha's Te Pou Ō Mata-Au, Clutha District War Memorial and Community Centre from August 1–17 — an extended season to give more people the chance to view and vote for the people's choice award. ''Last year's first competition was really successful with over 40 entries, and we know artists from last year are still creating,'' facilitator Rachel Taylor said. ''We believe providing a kind of official arena with real prizes and attention is sometimes just what it takes to inspire creative people to get busy and overcome barriers like self-doubt and procrastination and show the world what they've got. ''That builds the confidence and experience to encourage young beginners to develop and proliferate, and inspires newcomers to take their first steps, so altogether we hope it causes more art and beauty to be brought to the world.'' Entries close on July 11, with entries to be delivered to the Lawrence Community Library. ''We want lots of people to enter and contact us for questions, guidance and resources — the competition generates networking and technical tutoring as well. ''We've had a lot of kids say they're now working digitally, so as the world changes we expect to change with it, but for 2025 it's open to sculpture, 2-D and 3-D works, but not digital art and photography unless they are within mixed media.'' Entry forms are available at There is a $20 fee for each work entered.
