On 8 February 2012 Tony attended a medal reception held by the Pakistan Recovery Fund in Parliament. The event, which saw Dr Wakkas Khan from the Muslim Youth Foundation in Manchester receive a bronze medal, recognised Mosques and Community Centres throughout the UK which made a significant contribution to the fund.

This week Tony Lloyd signed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, in doing so pledging his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who died during the Holocaust.

Friday January 27th marked the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the site of the largest mass murder in history – and in the weeks running up to the day, the Holocaust Educational Trust placed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, giving MPs the chance to honour those who were persecuted and killed during their Holocaust and encouraging constituents to actively speak out against prejudice and bigotry today.

In the weeks around Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. This year, people will also be encouraged to take a stand against racism and prejudice today – and to speak out against hatred wherever they encounter it.

At last the Ukrainian Christmas celebration – very lively.

The reception, held on 13 Decemeber 2011, raised awareness of meningitis and septicaemia. Dr Hilary Jones and Dr Nelly Ninnis from St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, were available to speak to guests.

You can read about this here.

Exhibition today on Turkey which we should work with on the EU and Middle East.

A new home for Manchester’s Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Temple which I visited on Friday.

On Friday I also attended the celebratory ‘Oscars Evening’. The event showcased a intergenerational animation / filming project called ‘Animating Lives’ developed with young people living at the Manchester Foyer and older customers living at Dunston Court a Sheltered Scheme in Moston. Some great animation, Wallace and Gromit should worry.

Saturday: Viridor’s waste plant in Moston – a source of noise and unpleasant smell for locals.

Nephra Community Group’s Christmas Fayre New Moston – must be the first Xmas event anywhere but a lovely community.

Remembrance Sunday, Clayton.

Family Action and the St George’s Youth and Community Association celebrated the opening of the revamped St George’s Community Centre on 28th October. The centre has been refurbished and extended through a mix of Department for Education money through Partnership for Schools and Family Action funding from the Norma Leigh Trust.

The opening was a fantastic day with over a hundred local families and children taking part in a number of activities to re-launch the centre including face painting, arts and crafts, sports, pom-pom making and food and refreshments. Tony Lloyd MP, Sir Richard Leese, the Leader of Manchester City Council, as well as local ward councillors and other community organisations attended the event.

Mark Wheeler our Interim Director of Operations attended the St George’s opening. He said: “It was great to see St Georges so packed with local families and organisations. It is a fantastic centre and testament to the great work of Alison and Mel and our Manchester service. I’m sure the Centre will go from strength to strength.”