I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Year.

As we now say goodbye to 2025, it’s a perfect time for me to outline my plans for the next year here in the Forest of Dean and in Westminster.

Following on from my work for victims this past year, I will be continuing that essential work to ensure victims are at the heart of the justice system.

In 2026, I will continue my work on the Justice for Victims Select Committee, ensuring victims are heard. This includes extending the appeal deadline for unduly lenient sentences, making life sentences meaningful, and reforming victim impact statements. I thank Justice for Victims for their tireless campaigning, and I will continue to fully support their work.

Violence against Women and Girls is a national emergency, and I am committed to doing my bit in driving real change that means women and girls are safer. Alongside my work in Westminster, I will be championing the Hollie Gazzard Trust and supporting efforts to increase usership of their app, helping to further protect women and girls.

Over the past year, it has become clear that parent carers in the Forest of Dean and across the country need far greater support.

My work with Harry’s Pals will gather momentum in the year ahead as I consolidate the formation of an APPG to continue pushing for statutory and emotional support for parent carers of severely ill or disabled children. This year included two SEND events and a SENDIASS collaboration, ensuring families regularly receive advice, guidance, and practical help from my office. By combining day-to-day support with long-term advocacy, I am working hard to achieve meaningful improvements as a small step towards the support parent carers deserve.

Following my Public Meeting and hearing your concerns, I will be working closely with Highways to push for the changes the Forest needs. On 5th January, I will outline the Forest’s specific priorities in a meeting with National Highways.

I have heard from so many constituents on the issues they’re having with broadband. The Forest needs connectivity improvements, and I will be holding a Public Meeting to hear your experiences and take your voices forward to drive real change, ensuring the Forest isn’t left behind.

Current and future Forest High students deserve a safe school building. I am committed to ensuring our young people have a secondary school that is both secure and able to support their full educational potential. This issue has gone unresolved for too long, and I will work to ensure real solutions are found. Continuing engagement with young people will be a part of my work next year, launching a Mock parliament that empowers young people to use their voice to shape their futures.

Next year will see a continuation of events, public meetings, surgeries, coffee mornings, drop-in sessions and opportunities to meet me. I look forward to hearing your views and representing them nationally while driving positive change here in the Forest of Dean during 2026.