Congleton MP, Fiona Bruce, whose constituency includes Sandbach, has been awarded Conservative MP of the Year Award at the Patchwork Foundation's annual MP of the year awards in Parliament.

The foundation awarded Fiona the title for her work in promoting freedom of religion or belief issues around the world for all faith groups, and her advocacy for persecuted minorities wherever they are.

Fiona Bruce said: "I was honoured to be presented with the Conservative MP of the Year award from the Patchwork Foundation by Mr Speaker in Parliament.

"In my role as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), I have long been convinced of the need to involve and educate young people if we are to make enduring headway on the massive and long-term global challenge of addressing discrimination and persecution of people across the world on account of what they believe.

"I have therefore made a particular effort to speak with groups of young people from across the world, both in person and virtually including to the Religious Liberty Initiative International Summit in Rome and at Cumberland Lodge, Windsor to the Religious Freedom Institute students on Statesmanship and Religious Freedom.

"I have hosted several groups of young people interested in freedom of religion or belief on visits to the UK Parliament, including from Notre Dame University.

"I am working alongside experts to support the development of an education toolkit for teachers to use in schools across the 42 countries which are part of the International Freedom of Religion or Belief Alliance (IRFBA), which is being piloted in the UK, including in one school in my own constituency.

"I am particularly pleased to be promoting the connection of groups of young Freedom of Religion or Belief Ambassadors from across the world and working towards a virtual conference in 2023 linking these young people including those who live in countries where freedom of religion or belief is restricted, with a view to helping equip young people across the world to promote freedom of religion or belief to their generation and beyond."

The Patchwork Foundation is a charity committed to strengthening democracy and supporting the development of young people throughout the UK.

It runs programmes to facilitate conversations between diverse groups of young people and leading figures in politics and the public sector to promote more engagement in the public square and civil society.

Through the programmes, over 42,000 young people have been provided with the opportunity to engage directly with decision makers, helping those who might not have easy access to the world of politics to feel connected to the processes and people running the country.