When I visited St Peter’s School last Monday, I was asked about tourism. It got me wondering – how can we entice newcomers to spend money here if we can’t celebrate the good in our town.

And there’s so much good. Just ask those students and many others. They love the beach and AFC Bournemouth, they are proud of our diverse communities and interesting district high streets.

Yes, we swerve the same potholes, walk past the same run-down playgrounds, and struggle to see a GP and dentist. And, of course, we know that our town centre is in trouble.

But, while I see the same problems, I disagree that life won’t improve. I disagree because I see how much good is going on every single day. Let me tell you about some of our unsung heroes.

Barbara has been volunteering with the Royal British Legion for twenty-five years. The Shelter Lived Experience group is determined to improve renters’ lives by drawing on their own experiences. And local people are supporting youth groups, Scouts, and Guides. They give back because they care.

I’m not responsible for the good they do. No politician is. In fact, they’ve been doing this for years despite politicians, not because of them. With people like this, how can Bournemouth go wrong?

So, imagine then how much more we could achieve if politics supported unsung heroes and brought investment and attention to town. As your MP, I will fight to shine light on what we do, whether it’s here in the pages of the Echo or from the benches in Parliament.

I mean, it’s not exactly difficult for me to shine light on our town when there’s so much good to shine light onto. It’s easy to tell the Government what they should be doing because we’re doing so much of this locally. Take tackling hunger and feeding children.

Chef Russ is making tasty nutritious meals for Pokesdown Community Primary School students, LOVEChurch at St James’ and St Clement’s Church are giving free breakfasts to local students, and even more people are feeding children, so they don’t go hungry. Local people provide the blueprint for the free breakfast clubs the Government will be rolling out. I’m on the committee examining the bill to roll out free breakfast clubs nationwide and I’m drawing on Bournemouth’s examples.

Take our carers and the NHS. Since my last column, I’ve met occupational therapists in Boscombe who help people to feel better and palliative and end-of-life carers at the Macmillan Unit. With the £22bn investment into our NHS, announced by the Government, we can build on what our amazing public servants are doing by giving them the resources they lack. And I’m thrilled by the new hospital developments locally, with the new BEACH and COAST buildings.

So, to our unsung heroes, and all who responded to my column, thank you. Please keep sending me your ideas to make Bournemouth better.