Advertise on podcast: Watford Matters with Dean Russell

In this episode, I sit down with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice MP.

We're slowly beginning to normalise conversations around our mental health. It begins with a simple 'how are you?'. For the latest in my series of mini mental health conversations, I'm pleased to be joined by the latest of Watford's leaders - Cheska Tyler, the headteacher at Cherry Tree School. 

Meet Shaf - Shaf is the founder of CageFit Gym in Watford. It’s a real community hub and he’s helping people become both physically and mentally fit. I popped along (not to work out sadly) but to speak to him for the latest of my mini-mental health conversations.

One positive from the past few difficult months has been people and community groups in Watford looking out for one another and displaying a strong spirit of neighbourliness. And volunteering with people like Enoch at One Vision has made a big difference for a lot of people’s mental wellbeing.

Here in Watford we are working to make it normal to talk about our mental health. My next mini-mental health conversation is with Harjit Singh, Deputy Lieutenant, and a local community volunteer with One Vision. He’s had his hands full helping others during the pandemic.

Watford's mental health conversations - one of my main focuses in Parliament is to make it normal to talk about our mental health with friends, neighbours and colleagues. I want Watford to lead the way on this - and I’m pleased to begin my series of mini mental health conversations with Maria Manion who runs Watford Business Improvement District (BID). 

One of my main focuses in Parliament is to make it normal to talk about our mental health with friends, neighbours and colleagues. I want Watford to lead the way on this - and I’m pleased to begin my series of mini mental health conversations with Watford Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Chris Luff and apprentice Lee. 

Watford's school kids definitely excel in maths - and pupils at Holywell Primary School proved it to the Chancellor when he dropped in recently to give them a virtual lesson! The skills on show were incredible and I was very proud of each and every pupil. You can listen to the full session with Rishi in this episode. 

Meet Mark Wilson - Mark is a Neurosurgeon, a doctor in the Air Ambulance, and co-founder of the GoodSam app. The app matches those in need of CPR with those that can provide it, lets people share their live video and location with emergency services, and so much more. Mark joins me in this episode. 

The rollout of the Covid-vaccine is progressing at pace both nationally and here in Watford - and it is thanks to our brilliant doctors, nurses, staff and volunteers. Everyone in the top four priority groups has now been offered a jab, the over-65s are next in line. We’ve still got a way to go, but the end of the Covid nightmare is finally in sight. I recently caught up with Elliot Howard-Jones and Cath Slater from Hertfordshire NHS Community Trust - they've been heavily involved in setting up mass vaccination centres across Hertfordshire. You can catch our full conversation in this episode. 

Our local schools are doing an incredible job giving lessons digitally and keeping our children learning. I was excited to virtually visit St Paul's C of E VA Primary in Kings Langley to thank the teachers and pupils and answer some of their questions - Year 6 definitely put me through my paces and you can listen to how it went in this episode! 

Thank you to Watford’s faith groups for pulling our neighbourhoods together and helping vulnerable people throughout the pandemic. In this episode I'm joined by Dr Rev Peter Waddell from Abbots Langley and Bedford Church and we discussed the impact of Covid on the community, mental health, prayer, and much more.