Baroness Smith becomes patron of TRUP

A FORMER borough MP has shown her dedicated support for one of Thurrock’s leading charities.

Angela Smith, who represented East Thurrock and Basildon for 13 years from 1997 to 2010, has become patron of the Thurrock Re-Use Project (TRUP) reports the Yellow Advertiser.

Angela, who recently took a seat in the House of Lords, said she was delighted to support the project.
She said: “I have visited TRUP several times during my time as MP and seen for myself how essential it is.

“Anybody can come to the project and get furniture for their home whether they’ve just moved into a new place or have a bit of a cash flow problem.

“It also helps reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, which is really great for the environment.”

Project manager, Dave Lawrence, said everyone was thrilled that Angela Smith had come on board.

He said: “We are so pleased that somebody like Angela with her credibility and her wide experience has agreed to become the patron of our project.”

TRUP, which has been running for the last three years, is expanding its opportunities for volunteers and is also continuing to support people with special needs.

Angela, who was minister for the third sector, praised TRUP for its work to help people become volunteers.

She added: “The project supports those people who are out of work or recently lost their jobs. It helps them get back their self-esteem by doing something useful and can also provide people with new skills. I have every confidence in TRUP’s ongoing success.”

Angela, who is Baroness Smith of Basildon, is shadow minister for energy and climate change in the Lords.

TRUP is based at the former Bata Shoe Factory in Princess Margaret Road, East Tilbury, and is open Monday to Saturday between 9.30am and 4pm.

E-mail trup@btconnect.com, visit www.trup.org.uk or telephone 01375 846702.