Summer is here and children have just broken up for the six-week holiday.

However, it can be a challenging time for families.

There’s a desire to plan holidays or exciting days out and activities. But parents must juggle work and caring responsibilities while managing ever shrinking budgets.

Meanwhile, in a parallel universe far, far away, the Tory party leadership contest trundles on, divorced from every day issues facing working people - and just two-and-a-half years since this floundering Government was elected.

It’s a rogues’ gallery of characters, many of whom were part of Johnson’s law-breaking and discredited Government including multi-millionaire Rishi Sunak who, let’s not forget, was fined over Partygate. 

We watch them squabble like rats in a sack. While others, such as charities and local councils, show real leadership in serving our community

A big shout-out to Northwich Town Council and Northwich Rotary Club for the excellent family fun events they organise. Many of them free.

At the weekend was Rotary’s Sunday in the Park music event at Barons Quay to coincide with the Queen's Baton Relay passing through the town ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

I enjoyed their recent Northwich River Festival which included various races, river trips and a charity duck race. And who can forget the town council’s Krazy Races go-karting event!

The town council and partners are also laying on a free summer programme for little ones aged 4-11 years-old, during July and August, based at Vickersway Park & Bethel Church. Visit their website for details.

And CWaC, in partnership with Edsential, is delivering a Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF), for children, aged 5 to 16, who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals. For more information, visit: www.edsential.com/haf2022

In a week when we have seen scorching temperatures, it’s a reminder of the urgent need to tackle climate change and yet it’s hardly registered among the Tory leadership rivals.

And spare a thought for those who must work in hot workplaces. At current, there is no law for minimum or maximum working temperatures, just guidance suggesting a minimum 16ºC or 13ºC if employees are doing physical work but no advice on the upper limit.

This week I spoke in Parliament in support of the TUC campaign to set a maximum working temperature. In whatever we do, we should always put people first.