Preet Kaur Gill MP - My Weekly Update -18 September 2026

2 days ago

10 min read

Updated: 2 hours ago

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This week the Government has...

Thousands more young people to access youth hubs

This week the Government announced 42 new Youth Futures Hubs to open across England. Tens of thousands of young people will soon benefit from better access to mental health support, employment opportunities and crime prevention services, available through Young Futures Hubs.

Alongside providing open access to sports, creative activities and trusted youth workers, each hub will bring together mental health support, skills and training, routes into employment, and crime prevention. It will ensure that young people aged 10 to 18 (up to 25 for those with SEND) can receive seamless, holistic support without having to repeat their story to a different service every time they visit.

As a former Children's Manager, I recognise the importance of ensuring that services for children and young people are available and accessible. They can make a real difference to young lives, opening up opportunities and providing the support needed to help young people across Birmingham Edgbaston thrive.

Fairer compensation for families affected by asbestos related diseases

Families who lose a loved one to an asbestos or dust-related disease will no longer receive less compensation simply because the payment is made after the sufferer has died.

These diseases including mesothelioma and pneumoconiosis can take decades to develop. By the time someone is diagnosed, the employer responsible may no longer exist, leaving a government compensation scheme as their only route to support.

At present, sufferers receive an average payment of £17,700, while bereaved dependants receive around £10,700 a difference of £7,000. The Government is ending this unfair discrepancy so that dependants receive compensation at the same rate as sufferers.

The claims system will also be simplified, making it clearer and easier for families to receive the support they are owed.

Subject to parliamentary approval, the changes will take effect on 31 October 2026. This is a long-overdue reform which ensures families are not penalised financially after losing someone to a disease caused by their work.

No extra fare when your train is cancelled

From Sunday 20 September, passengers whose train is cancelled will have the right to use another operator’s service without paying again.

Anyone with a valid ticket can take another operator’s train on a reasonable alternative route, up to two hours before or two hours after the cancelled service.

This is particularly important for Birmingham passengers using operators including Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry and Chiltern Railways. Until now, people could be left waiting for permission to use another service or forced to buy a new ticket and claim the cost back later.

This common-sense change will make disrupted journeys simpler and help ensure passengers are not left stranded or out of pocket when their train is cancelled.

Birmingham life sciences

Birmingham has the NHS, universities and talent to lead in life sciences.

Britain does not have an innovation problem. It has an adoption problem.

We must turn discoveries made here into better care, investment and good jobs.

My New Statesman piece: How Burnham's Britain can gain the edge in life sciences - New Statesman

Local News

Celebrating inclusion at Harborne Primary School

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting Harborne Primary School to celebrate its achievement of the Inclusion Quality Mark’s Inclusive School Award.

This nationally recognised award follows a rigorous assessment of a school’s leadership, teaching, curriculum and support for pupils. It recognises schools where children of every background, need and ability are welcomed, valued and given the opportunity to thrive.

I particularly want to thank the school’s long-standing staff and new leadership team. Their commitment over many years has built a culture in which inclusion is part of everyday school life.

Harborne Primary is part of The Elliot Foundation Academies Trust, and this award is a wonderful achievement for the whole school community. Congratulations to its pupils, staff and leadership team.

First Banking hub opened in Birmingham

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After campaigning to protect access to face-to-face banking in Harborne, it was an honour to open Birmingham’s first Banking Hub on Harborne High Street.

The new Hub provides everyday banking services for customers of all major banks, including cash withdrawals and deposits, cheque deposits, bill payments and balance enquiries. Individual banks will also provide face-to-face appointments on dedicated days each week.

This is a significant achievement for Harborne and Birmingham. I promised residents I would fight to protect face-to-face banking, and I am delighted that together we have delivered Birmingham’s first Banking Hub for our high street.

I was pleased this story was featured in Birmingham Post in print, read below.

Birmingham leading change for women and families

I was pleased to speak at a JABBS Foundation event in Harborne alongside Dame Vera Baird and Jess Phillips MP, bringing together charities, researchers and frontline organisations working to improve the lives of women, children and families.

Since 2009, the JABBS Foundation has invested over £50 million in projects that do more than respond when families reach crisis. Its work helps test what is effective, build the evidence and turn successful local programmes into wider change.

This includes the Birmingham Pathfinder, which places trusted support in schools to help families facing domestic abuse, poor mental health, addiction, poverty or homelessness. Since 2021, it has supported 1,370 families and now works through 23 schools. The Foundation is also supporting research into better, trauma informed alternatives to prison for women whose offending is connected to abuse, exploitation or addiction.

Having spent 18 years working in children’s services and safeguarding, I know how important it is to intervene early and provide support which deals with the whole person. Birmingham is showing what can be achieved when philanthropy, frontline services and our universities work together and how successful local approaches can help shape national policy.

Read more about foundation here: https://jabbswomenandgirls.org.uk/

Football tournament featured in First News

I am so proud of my constituent Avaani from Blue Coat School. When she saw there was no girls football award, she wrote to me and helped organise a football tournament for local girls. Now more girls are playing. What a brilliant example of speaking up and making change happen.

Read her article in First News above.

Congratulations to Sir Richards Drive residents

When Calthorpe Estates gave the community the opportunity to purchase the Green on Sir Richard’s Drive, I arranged a public meeting in July so residents could hear directly from the Estate, ask questions and discuss how we could protect this valued local space.

More than 130 residents attended. Since then, I have continued working with Calthorpe Estates and keeping residents informed, while Mark, Sally and other local residents have led the community’s efforts to take the purchase forward.

They have now registered Green Harborne Limited and are in the process of registering a charity, with solicitor Mukesh Murria generously providing legal support free of charge. This is an important step towards creating the organisation needed to purchase and manage the land on behalf of the community.

The purchase is not yet complete, but this is real progress. I will continue supporting residents as they work to secure the Green for future generations.

Read my letter to residents above.

Holding Royal Mail to account over postal delays

I have joined more than 100 MPs in signing letters led by Dave Robertson MP calling for tougher action over persistent Royal Mail delays.

This is not simply about post arriving a few days late. Constituents are missing hospital appointments and court dates, receiving bills after payment deadlines and facing charges through no fault of their own.

The letters challenge the gap between what residents and postal workers are reporting and Royal Mail’s insistence that there are no significant local problems. They call on Ofcom to take stronger action, properly investigate failures and ensure Royal Mail engages seriously with MPs and the communities we represent.

We have also written to the Secretary of State raising concerns that repeated fines have failed to improve the service. If Ofcom does not have the powers needed to hold Royal Mail to account, the Government must consider strengthening them.

People pay for a reliable postal service and should be able to depend on receiving important letters on time. I will continue pressing for the service Birmingham Edgbaston residents deserve.

Coffee morning - Saturday 26 September

Come along to my coffee morning on Saturday 26 September from 10am at Christ Church, Summerfield.

It's an opportunity to chat with me as your local MP about any issues or concerns you may have.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Check the location here: https://share.google/Gi8aRLojHwoTIFTa0

Times Radio - It's a Constituency Knockout!

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I had great fun representing Birmingham Edgbaston on It’s a Constituency Knockout and winning.

From inspiring Tolkien’s Middle earth to being the birthplace of lawn tennis, our constituency has given so much to the world.

Watch the full segment above.

Birmingham must take action on Exempt accommodation

I have been campaigning for stronger action on exempt accommodation because, when supported housing works well, it changes lives. It gives someone leaving prison the chance to turn a corner, helps a person escape homelessness, and enables those dealing with addiction, poor mental health, or domestic abuse to rebuild their lives.

In 2021, I worked alongside local residents, Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police to secure the closure of Saif Lodge in North Edgbaston after serious concerns were raised about poor living conditions, inadequate support for vulnerable residents, and antisocial behaviour affecting the local community.

Birmingham has some excellent supported housing providers that offer safe accommodation, proper support, and a route towards independence. However, their work is being undermined by a broken system that has allowed unscrupulous operators to exploit vulnerable people and extract vast sums from the taxpayer.

We need to do more to support reputable providers while preventing exploitative operators from taking advantage of vulnerable people. Everyone deserves access to safe, high-quality supported housing that helps them move forward with their lives, and Birmingham cannot afford to wait any longer for action.

UK Parliament Teacher Ambassador Programme 25-27 January 2027

Applications for the UK Parliament Teacher Ambassador Programme in January 2027 are now open. Teachers from schools and colleges across the UK are eligible to apply for the three-day immersive training programme, with the opportunity to hear from MPs and those working in key roles across UK Parliament. The tools developed will help teachers lay the foundation to gaining Teacher Ambassador status.

Deadline to apply is Sunday 1 November.

Find out more here: https://learning.parliament.uk/en/session-workshop/uk-parliament-teacher-ambassador-programme/

Community wins

As your local MP I represent our community and am determined to get things done. Constituents regularly contact me with issues that matter to them, and I work hard to raise these concerns with the organisations responsible and push for action. Here are some recent examples of the positive outcomes secured for local people across the constituency this week.

In Bartley Green

When a resident’s Housing Benefit was stopped through no fault of their own, I intervened with the Council and secured £5,467.10 in backdated payments helping them avoid falling into rent arrears.

In Harborne

A family contacted me because their child with SEND was not receiving the support they needed and could not return to school. I took the case up with the Council and helped secure the child’s return.

In Quinton

After a resident reported fly-tipping on Honeysuckle Close, I contacted the Council and made sure it was cleared.

If you have any issues you would like to raise with me please get in touch.

Phone: 0121 392 8426

Email: Preet.gill.mp@parliament.uk

Have your say on Pride in Place funding for Woodgate and Bartley Green

Calling on Woodgate and Bartley Green residents - I want to hear how you think the £20 million Pride in Place investment should be spent.

After years of campaigning I've secured £20 million for Woodgate and Bartley Green as part of the Pride in Place programme.

Woodgate and Bartley Green have long faced challenges with limited opportunities for young people, and closure of community facilities. This investment aims to reverse years of underfunding, and rebuilding pride in local neighbourhoods.

I am asking residents to share their thoughts on how the money should be used. It could be for more youth services, a community hub, improved outdoor spaces or more support for skills and employment. All ideas are welcome and will inform the plans for how the funding will be spent with the goal to benefit as many residents as possible.

Please complete the survey here.

Mobile Household Waste Centre dates and locations

Information on what you can bring to the vehicle

Birmingham City Council arranges Mobile Household Waste Centres across the city.

Bartley Green
Date	Location	Time
31 October 2026	Woodgate Valley Park car park, Clapgate Lane, B32 3DS	8:00am to midday

Harborne
Date	Location	Time
14 October 2026	Grove Park, Harborne Park Road, B17 0BJ	7:30am to 12:30pm

North Edgbaston
Date	Location	Time
25 October 2026	George Dixon Academy, Portland Road, B16 9GD	8:00am to midday

Quinton
Date	Location	Time
3 October 2026	Quinton Park car park, Highfield Lane, B32 1QX	8:00am to midday

Ladywood (Close to North Edgbaston)
Date	Location	Time
26 September 2026	Osler Street, B16 9EU	8:00am to midday
19 October 2026	Osler Street, B16 9EU	7:30am to 12:30pm

To find the next pick-ups near you, please visit: Mobile Household Waste Centre dates and locations

Police drop-in sessions across all wards

West Midlands Police hold regular drop-ins and PACT meetings providing residents with the opportunity to speak directly with officers about concerns relating to crime in the community. Please see below a list of the drop-in sessions coming up in my constituency.

Bartley Green

Cuppa with a Coppa

10:30AM - 11:30AM, Wed 14 October 2026

St Francis Centre, Glen Side, Bartley Green, Birmingham

Harborne

PCSO walkabout

12:00PM - 2:00PM, Sun 20 September 2026

Hagley Road West, Harborne

PCSO walkabout

4:00PM - 6:00PM, Fri 25 September 2026

Hagley Road West, Harborne

Quinton

Drop in Surgery

10:30AM - 11:30AM, Tue 13 October 2026

Quinton Library, Ridgacre Road, Birmingham, B32 2TW

Drop in Surgery

5:00PM - 6:00PM, Tue 10 November 2026

Quinton Library, Ridgacre Road, Birmingham, B32 2TW

Find more information here: Birmingham | West Midlands Police

To receive regular updates about the police in your area, sign up for WM Now updates here.

Here’s some things from last week you may have missed:

🗳️Voted against the Assisted Dying Bill

❓Question to Foreign Secretary on West Bank

🛒Major retail drive to create 100,000 jobs for young people

🩺UK at the forefront of Healthcare innovation - New Statesman article

🚙JLR statement in Parliament

Read last week's update here: https://www.preetkaurgill.co.uk/post/preet-kaur-gill-mp-my-weekly-update-11-september-2026

As always, if you have an issue you'd like to discuss, please contact my office at 0121 392 8426 or preet.gill.mp@parliament.uk, or through my website.

With warm regards,

Preet Kaur Gill MP

Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton

Preet Kaur Gill for Birmingham Edgbaston

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