August 2025

Monthly resident update

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News from Vikki Slade MP – August 2025 Issue

This monthly newsletter is designed to keep you in touch with what I’m doing for Mid Dorset and North Poole.

During August, Parliament was on summer recess which means I had more time to spend out and about in our communities, listening to your concerns and supporting local organisations.

If you’d like to get involved—whether by coming along to an event, signing a petition, or joining me on the campaign trail—I’ve included links to make it easy. And if that’s not for you, that’s fine too.

I hope you enjoy the read, and feel free to share it with a friend or neighbour!

Please don’t reply directly to this newsletter – contact vikki.slade.mp@parliament.uk

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In this edition:

• Supporting Julia’s House with an Alternative Triathlon
• Summer Village Tour
• A Carer for a day
• Meeting with Home Educators
• Out and About in the Constituency
• Activities round-up
• Remembering Annette Brooke

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Supporting Julia’s House with an Alternative Triathlon 🚴🏃‍♂️‍➡️🚣

On 29th August, I joined Martin Edwards, CEO of Julia’s House, for my Alternative Triathlon. Over 8 hours, 26+ miles, and 3 activities (kayak, bike, hike) we crossed the constituency from South to North.

A huge thank you to everyone who has donated so far. We’re not quite at our target yet, and Julia’s House urgently needs support. I’m continuing to press in Westminster for better hospice funding, but right now they are facing unprecedented financial pressures.

This triathlon was part of Martin’s 20/20 Challenge — 20 epic feats he is undertaking with the aim to raise £100,000 for Julia’s House. Huge credit to Martin for his dedication and determination.

💛 Every donation helps fund vital care for seriously ill children and eases the pressure on families.
📅 Please consider donating — [Link to Donate]

🚌 Summer Village Tour

This August, I headed out on my Summer Village Tour, packing in as much as I could across four busy days.

It was a privilege to meet residents in Lytchett Matravers, Bloxworth, Bere Regis, Shapwick, Sturminster Marshall, Pamphill, Stoborough, Wareham Quay, Horton, Hinton Martell, Holt Wood, and Gaunts Common.

The issues you raised are my issues too, and I will continue to be a strong voice for you in Parliament.

💙 Working alongside a Care Professional in Wimborne

I also had the chance to work alongside Anushka, a dedicated carer in Wimborne. It was truly eye-opening to see first-hand the positive impact that care professionals like Anushka are making in our community—providing an exceptionally high-quality service, often in challenging circumstances.

This experience really brought home just how vital our care workforce is, and why they deserve far greater recognition, fair pay, and proper investment. The pressures carers face every day are immense, yet their compassion and professionalism shine through.

The Liberal Democrats are committed to fixing the broken care system by:

Ensuring carers are valued with decent pay and conditions.

Ending the postcode lottery in care by guaranteeing consistent standards across the country.

Investing in services so that families can access the support they need when they need it.

📖Meeting with Home Educators

🚗Out and about

I travel widely across the constituency attending events and visits, here are a few highlights from August.

🏠 Kingston Lacy

It was a pleasure to visit Shapwick village on the Kingston Lacy Estate with the National Trust. The estate has been in their care since 1982, and I welcomed the chance to learn more about their role as both landlord and custodian, while raising concerns shared by local residents.

💻Connecting Dorset

I also visited Wessex Internet in Wimborne, a fantastic Dorset business improving local connectivity. In 2025, too many households and businesses still struggle with poor broadband, and that simply isn’t good enough.

I will keep campaigning for better rural connectivity and look forward to working with providers and public bodies to ensure no one is left behind.

🎈 Community Integrated Care – Magna Road ​
I had the real pleasure of visiting Community Integrated Care’s Magna Road service. I met their fantastic team and learned more about the award-winning support they provide.

I was given a tour of the building, met the wonderful people they support, heard their stories, and even had the chance to talk through the local bus consultation.

Round-up of some of my other activities

• Took part in the annual Duck Race to support Wimborne in Bloom who work tirelessly to enhance the local community.
• Visited Ashdown athletics track to meet with the organisers and discuss how to secure the future of this important community facility.
• Met with the Assistant Head at Winchelsea to discuss post-16 opportunities and provision for young people with SEND across BCP.
• Attended community celebrations & events across constituency to meet people & hear priorities of those that live here.
• Invited to visit Purbeck Youth Centre to hear about brilliant work they do both as Family Hub & support local young people.
• Met with Building Digital UK (BDUK) to raise issues around rural broadband coverage to make sure our rural areas like Pamphill & Shapwick aren’t left behind.

Remembering Annette

Last month saw the sad passing of my friend and mentor, the former Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Annette Brooke. She was the first woman to win a seat in Dorset at a general election and remains the longest serving female Liberal Democrat MP. Since retiring Annette has been a leading light in community issues – founding the Dorset Equality Group and the Stepping Stones Dementia Group, as a patron for Forest Holme and even persuading the government to change the law to allow Ukrainians to use the cars they brought over with them.

You can read more about her achievements in my Early Day Motion on the Parliament website [Here]

All are welcome to attend a Memorial for her life at Wimborne Minster on Friday 10^th October at 2pm.