Over the last few weeks, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to connect with communities across South West Devon with each conversation a reminder of the pride, resilience and sense of purpose that make this corner of the country such a special place to serve.
From holding a constituency surgery in Plympton and hearing directly from residents about their concerns, to speaking with farmers at the Devon County Show about the challenges they are facing, it’s been a month grounded in listening, learning, and championing local voices both here and in Westminster.
Read The Previous Rebecca’s Review Here
One of the ways I’ve taken these local voices forward is by leading a Westminster Hall debate on the future of the Adoption Support Fund – a lifeline for many families who’ve welcomed children into their homes through adoption or special guardianship.
I know from speaking with families locally just how crucial this support is, and I’ll continue pushing the Government to rethink the planned cuts.
As always, if you’d like to book a surgery or just share your concerns over email, please do get in touch at rebecca.smith.mp@parliament.uk Read on to hear about my work for our area in more detail!
5Leading a cross-party debate to reverse cuts to Adoption Support Fund
I had the exciting opportunity to lead a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament to raise urgent concerns about the Government’s decision to cut the Adoption & Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) by 40 per cent.
This fund, introduced by the last Conservative Government in 2015, has supported thousands of adoptive and kinship families by providing access to trauma-informed therapy and specialist services. Many constituents have contacted me in recent months to share their concerns about the issue.
The Government’s decision to cut this vital funding means that the annual therapy funding has been reduced from £5,000 to £3,000 per child, the £2,500 allowance for specialist assessments has been completely removed, match funding for children with the most complex needs has been scrapped, families can no longer carry over support across financial years.
These cuts come at a time when families are already under immense pressure and when vulnerable children need more support, not less. These aren’t optional extras. For many, this is essential help that makes the difference between crisis and stability.
During the debate, I called on the Government to restore the full £5,000 Fair Access Limit, reinstate specialist assessment funding and bring back match funding for complex cases. Whilst the Minister’s response was disappointing, I will continue to urge the Government to act swiftly and reconsider the changes, stressing that the wellbeing of children must come first
4Meeting with constituents at my Plympton advice surgery to address local issues
It was great to be able to meet with many constituents this month at my latest Plympton advice surgery.
During this time, I had the opportunity to meet with local mum, Nicola from Girl Guiding Plym Division who highlighted the challenge they face in finding a location to run uniform groups like Rainbows and Brownies in Sherford.
We discussed several potential solutions and I’ll be exploring these options to help secure a suitable space for young people.
I also had some important discussions with constituents on issues such as adult and children’s social care and the future of local banking, and I will, of course, be following up on these issues.
As ever, if you’d like to get in touch or arrange a surgery meeting, please feel free to email me at rebecca.smith.mp@parliament.uk
3Celebrating rural life at the Devon County Show
May is a very special month for the Devon County Show. It was my first time attending and I loved the atmosphere, the livestock, horses, music, pets and shopping!
Catching up with key local farming and rural community groups like the National Farmers’ Union, the CLA and BASC was really important. We really need to see the government reverse their cruel Family Farm Tax so our local rural economy continues for future generations. However, it was a shame the Secretary of State pulled out of attending at the last minute, letting down over 200 Devon farmers.
I’ve been contacted by many local residents who are rightly concerned about the impact this tax will have not just on farms, but on jobs, heritage, and our wider food security.
It was also another great opportunity to meet with Adopt South West, Girlguiding Devon and Devon Air Ambulance again at their stands.
I hope the organisers are pleased with how the 2025 show went and that everyone who attended had a great time!
2Visiting Boringdon Primary School to celebrate their new nursery expansion
In May I had the chance to visit Boringdon Primary School and to meet with Matthew Stace, the headteacher and some of the pupils and staff.
It was great to see the fantastic work happening in their classrooms. Matthew also shared some exciting plans for Boringdon’s new school nursery, which will be built in the small hall.
It’s great to see the school expanding opportunities for local families so watch this space if you have preschool children looking for a nursery!
Huge thanks to everyone for the warm welcome and for sharing what makes Boringdon such a positive and inspiring place to learn. I particularly loved hearing about the new House system in place and the ‘Team Boringdon’ t-shirts!
1Opening new showroom at Plymouth Marine Centre and supporting local maritime industry
In May I was delighted to officially open the new showroom at the Plymouth Marine Centre.
A huge thank you to Dennis, Jan, David, Gill and team for their hard work and commitment to Plymouth’s maritime heritage and future. This fantastic facility showcases the innovation and dedication of our local marine industry and it was wonderful to celebrate this investment into our community by this brilliant local family.
As a local business, the new showroom is a testament to Plymouth’s position as a leader in marine excellence. It’s inspiring to see such investment in our coastal community, supporting jobs and education in the sector.
I’m looking forward to seeing the positive impact this facility will have on our local economy and the opportunities it will create for South West Devon.
