September 2026 – In Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme
September has been a packed month, from securing £222,000 in government funding for Doncaster to launching our competition to design the very first coat of arms for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme. In Parliament, I've been pressing on issues from the Capita pension crisis to men's mental health and the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme. Here's the full update.
Out and about in the constituency
I'm delighted that Doncaster has been selected to receive £222,000 through the government's new Good Food Neighbourhoods programme. Around 6 million people across the UK live in food-insecure households, and the burden falls hardest on families with children, disabled people and those on low incomes. As Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, it's brilliant to see this kind of investment coming directly into our area. The funding can be used for projects like community food shops, mobile greengrocers, lunch clubs, community kitchens and cooking and nutrition programmes.
I share residents' frustrations about the continued delay to the full reopening of Thorne Leisure Centre. This month I wrote to Doncaster Council asking them to set out a clear timeline for completion and to improve their communications with residents. I have also written separately to the energy company responsible for the outstanding electrical works, urging them to resolve the delays immediately.
This month I launched something that has never been done before. I want to create the very first coat of arms for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, a design that truly shows off the brilliance of our area, our history, our landscape, our communities and everything that makes us unique. This competition is open to everyone, and the winning design will become the official coat of arms going forward. As a special bonus, it will also feature on my Christmas cards this year, including one sent directly to the Prime Minister. You can email your entry to or post it to Armstrong House, First Avenue, Finningley, DN9 3GA. The deadline is Friday 20th November.
I'm proud to share that I've been part of a core team that has successfully bid to bring the Baton of Hope relay to Doncaster in 2027. Last year I had the honour of carrying the Baton through Scunthorpe Steelworks, one of the most powerful experiences I've had as an MP, especially as I did it in memory of my cousin who died from suicide. The Baton of Hope is a national relay bringing communities together to remember those lost to suicide, support those who are struggling and have the conversations that can make a difference. Applications to carry the Baton are open now and anyone aged 16 and over can take part.
I've kickstarted my Pitcher's Parliament Programme for a third year running. This month I visited Althorpe and Keadby Primary School, where I saw the launch of their brand-new government-funded free school breakfast club before delivering a presentation on Westminster and the role of an MP. I also delivered a special assembly at Auckley Primary School and was invited to speak to members of Hill House sixth form about careers and personal development. The students were amazing, full of ideas, ambition and personality!
In Parliament
This month I spoke up in Parliament about the Capita pension crisis and the impact it is having on my constituents. People who have served for decades in the Prison Service, the Civil Service and across the public sector are now having to live off savings or borrow from family and friends, with no idea when their pension will arrive. I've received around 400 emails from affected constituents. Whatever uniform they wore and whatever office they worked in, they worked hard, they paid in and they planned for their retirement on the understanding their pension would be there when they needed it. The Minister confirmed she is personally holding Capita to account and has committed to coming back to the House in October with an update. If you or someone you know is affected, please get in touch with my office.
Following the meetings I held with Mineworkers' Pension Scheme members and my letter to the Government, I've now had a response from Blair McDougall MP, who has confirmed he holds ministerial responsibility for this issue. He has confirmed that resolving this remains a priority for Government, and that work is continuing towards an agreed outcome with the Trustees. He said he hopes to be in a position to announce an agreed outcome "before too long." This is a positive response, but I will keep pressing for an agreement to be reached and the issues with the scheme to be fully resolved for our local miners.
This month we also witnessed World Suicide Prevention Day. I raised in Parliament the fact that men in the UK are around three times more likely to take their own life than women, and highlighted the incredible work of local groups doing something about it. Right here in Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme we have the Shed on the Isle, the Jackson Hope Foundation, Mental Health FC and the monthly walking groups run by Rossington ward councillors. I was also honoured to take part in a documentary on men's mental health, Walking Men, due for release later this year. If you're struggling, please reach out. You are not alone, and support is there. Samaritans: 116 123 (free, 24/7).
I welcomed the government's announcement that from next April, women and their partners will be entitled to two weeks of bereavement leave after any pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. It's estimated that one in five women in the UK will experience a miscarriage, and until now there has been no legal right to time off if that loss happens before 24 weeks. This change is deeply personal to me. Mine and my wife Julie's life felt like it was turned upside down when this happened to us many years ago. No one should have to face that. When you're grieving, you deserve the time and space to do so. I fully welcome this change and I am so pleased to see this government be the first to act.
I have continued to push for the expansion of Pharmacy First, and I'm pleased that from this autumn qualified pharmacists will be able to treat five additional conditions including migraines and ear infections. Since launching, the scheme has already delivered 6 million consultations, and this is exactly the type of expansion I have been calling for in Parliament.
Casework highlights
My team resolved 534 cases this month. A few that stood out:
Reinstated a driving licence for a young man who had wrongfully had it removed.
Secured an audiology appointment for a resident who had been waiting years for treatment.
Resolved a postcode discrepancy for a resident where the address on their legal title deeds did not match the Royal Mail database.
If there's anything you think I can help with, please get in touch at or visit lee.pitcher.mp@parliament.uk.