I hope you are looking forward to the year ahead. 2008 was been a busy year for me as your parliamentary candidate. A few highlights:

• Visits from cabinet ministers Ed Miliband, Hazel Blears and Douglas Alexander
• Re-election of councillors' Alison Lowe and Denise Atkinson, election of new councillor Lucinda Yeadon, and a by-election in Farnley and Wortley that almost ended with a tenth Labour councillor in Leeds West.
• Community meetings, including at the Hillside in Farnley, HWCA, the Snowdens, New Wortley and Moorside in Bramley.
• Speaking to students at Abbey Grange and WLHS and school councils at Bramley St Peter's and Kirkstall Valley.
• Seeing first hand the work of Bramley Elderly Action, Armley Helping Hands, BARCA and West Leeds Debt Forum.
• The Kirkstall Festival, Armley Moor Fun Day, Bramley Carnival, I Love West Leeds Festival and Classical Fantasia.

Here's a snapshot of what I've been up to in the last few weeks of 2008:

Celebrating the success of young people
I attended the Youth Improvement Awards event at the Royal Armouries with BARCA-Leeds. The evening celebrated the achievements of young people who often struggle with mainstream education. Around fifty young people from West Leeds attended, and BARCA picked up a number of awards.

2008 has been a great year for West Leeds High School with it's best ever GCSE and A level results. At a prize-giving ceremony I had the opportunity to hand out certificates and celebrate that success with students.

Supporting Local Businesses
The Leeds West Area Committee organised an excellent meeting for businesses focusing on the economic challenges we face and support needed during these difficult times. Locally we must ensure firms stay afloat and workers stay in jobs.

International Development
Secretary visits Farnley Douglas Alexander MP visited us ahead of the full cabinet meeting in Leeds taking questions on issues including the Congo, Zimbabwe, credit unions and asylum seekers. The debate was excellent and shows that in times of economic difficulty we must continue supporting the poorest around the world. A huge thank you to Rev'd Derek Grasby for hosting the event.

New Wortley Community Centre needs your votes!

The New Wortley Community Centre is through to the final for RadioAire/Connaught to do some work in the centre to get some heating in the main hall for the after-school club. Please give them your vote at: www.radioaire.com/community

I hope you and your families had a happy Christmas and new year.

Rachel.