Pleased to celebrate the delivery of 37 new affordable homes in the Forest of Dean. The government is committed to delivering 1.5 million new homes and projects like these show what can be achieved when partners work together to meet local housing needs. These developments will provide much-needed affordable homes for local people, available to rent or through Shared Ownership. This is a strong example of how thoughtful development can support thriving, sustainable communitie

It’s been a week since the team at Lydney Boxing Club put on their annual boxing show. Some of our office were lucky enough to attend and, once again, Bryan, and the team delivered an impressive evening, packed with talent. Lydney Boxing Club plays an important role for many young people across the Forest of Dean, and Bryan and the team continue to develop real, up-and-coming talent that we’re proud to support. I’ll continue working with Bryan and the club to help ensure thei

Last night, Five Acres hosted their Christmas Carol Service at Coleford Baptist Church, and I was grateful to be invited. The evening brought together voices from across our community, with traditional carols, brilliant performances and a real celebration of the Forest of Dean during this festive season. For me, the highlight of the evening was how clearly it reflected what makes the Forest of Dean so unique—our community spirit! Thank you to the Five Acres Leadership Board f

Last night I hosted my ‘Mince pies with Matt’ evening, and it was fantastic to welcome so many of you to come and have a chat with me. I met a wide range of people, including veterans, police officers, landlords, and residents, who were concerned about various topics such as SME challenges, illegal parking, planning concerns, fundraising and support for veterans, as well as speed limits and assistance for local businesses. Thank you to everyone who took the time to come along

I am excited to announce that the Winner and Runners-up for my Christmas Card Competition this year are… Winner: WILLOUGHBY from Huntley C of E Primary School Runners-up: RHYS from Heart of the Forest Community Special School , & RONNIE from Coalway Junior School   Congratulations to our fantastic winner and runners-up! Their designs are fantastic—creative, colourful and full of Christmas spirit. These designs will be seen across the forest, the country and in Parliament! I w

This week I held a constituency surgery in Newent at Three Shires Garden Centre It was brilliant to chat with customers and staff, and to discuss the topics and issues affecting constituents across the Forest of Dean. I’m keen to meet as many of you as possible—and that includes going to the places you are. A big thank you to the staff at Three Shires Garden Centre for being so welcoming and for making it easy to connect with even more constituents. Next week is my ‘Mince Pie

I am pleased to announce that the Forest Voluntary Action Forum - FVAF  alongside partners of the DIGI Partnership (Digital Inclusion Gloucestershire Imitative) will receive significant funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund. FVAF supports hundreds of local voluntary and community organisations, helping them deliver vital work across the district. Their Digi@Home project tackles digital exclusion by offering free

An extra £14,460,492 will be invested in Gloucestershire’s buses! Ensuring that people in the Forest of Dean who rely on our bus services see meaningful improvements. This Labour Government is supporting every community to take back control of their buses and providing fair funding to make it happen. Routes improved Improved access to jobs, schools and town centres Passenger needs put first It’s vital that the Forest of Dean gets the funding it deserves so that the people

My team and I, alongside SENDIASS, are holding more advice sessions next week, with a couple of 1:1 slots available for parent carers, families or individuals looking for support, guidance, and advice. Teaming up with SENDIASS this year has meant that so many of you across the Forest of Dean have received the support you needed, and we’re committed to continuing that. Please see the details below: Date: Thursday 18th December Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm Where: Coleford If you would

Today, I visited the M48 Severn Bridge to hold urgent talks with National Highways, following this week’s public meeting on roads and transport across the Forest of Dean. The immediate closure of the Prince of Wales Bridge on 9th December highlighted the issues I heard at the public meeting, reinforcing the need for further infrastructure such as a third crossing. On Monday, I heard first-hand how congestion, weight limits, the removal of the bridge toll, and closures are aff

Thank you to everyone who attended my public meeting last night to discuss roads and transport across the Forest of Dean. I was pleased to welcome representatives from Gloucestershire County Council, including the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport & Strategic Highways, the Highways Managers for both the Forest of Dean and West Gloucestershire, and a representative from Street Works. Highways England and the Cabinet Member for Highways at Gloucestershire County Council

Every week, I publish a column in The Forester and the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Review. This week, I discuss the Budget and what it means for people in the Forest of Dean. Have a read here   https://www.theforester.co.uk/.../the-view-from ... I’m committed to keeping all residents, from every part of our community, up to date on the work I’m doing as your MP. Look out each week for my published column, where I share updates on upcoming events, projects I’m working on, an

Today, as part of the 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence, I was grateful to visit Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC). GRASAC offers free, confidential and non-judgemental support for anyone affected by rape or sexual violence. The amazing team there help survivors, as well as their family members, cope with the immediate and long-term impacts of sexual violence and take steps toward healing and recovery. Providing emotional and practical suppor

Thank you to all the pupils and children across the Forest of Dean who have entered my 2025 Christmas Card Competition! There have been so many fantastic entries, and I’ve loved seeing the imagination and creativity from children across our communities. I’ll now begin the difficult task of choosing a winner and notify you all of the winner very soon. Good luck to everyone who took part!

A constituent recently contacted my office regarding an error in housing benefit. After trying to resolve it herself for some time, I am pleased that my team and I were able to secure a reimbursement for her. If you or anyone you know is having difficulty with a situation similar to this, please contact my office. We are here to support you! Please reach out via email at matt.bishop.mp@parliament.uk

Let's Talk Well  support so many young people across our region, and I was grateful to meet the team last week to discuss their future plans to further support young people in the Forest of Dean. They’ve helped thousands of local children and young people over the years, and I know many families here will have felt the impact of their amazing work. We talked about their exciting future plans, which will help even more young people get the support they need, when they need it.

I am pleased to share that so many of you across the Forest of Dean have signed up to take part in UK Parliament Week, and we have achieved an excellent result! 1st in the South West! 8th in the country overall! It’s great to see so many young people learning about how our democracy works. We are empowering our young people to use their voices with confidence as they help shape the future of our community. Congratulations once again, and I hope you all enjoy engaging with t

Ahead of my Public Meeting: Roads & Transport across the Forest of Dean, please submit your questions so panellists and key stakeholders can address your concerns with accuracy. Please be assured that audience questions will be taken on the night, too. You can submit your questions here: https://www.wixforms.com/f/7397685347057927205

Ellwood Community Primary School received the Artsmark award last week, embedding creativity across their pupils’ learning. I was pleased to join their morning Celebration assembly and meet all the students and staff, who told me about the brilliant things they’ve been doing as part of their Artsmark celebrations. Their creativity and engagement meant they received a well-deserving Silver Award. I also had the opportunity to present congratulations gifts for the top five stud

I am hosting a drop-in event for all Forest of Dean constituents to come meet and have a chat with me in December. Please join me during this festive period for a warm drink and a mince pie, where I can hear all about your local and national concerns. Register for your ticket here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../mince-pies-with-matt ...