Last year I attended ALDC (the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors and Campaigns) Kickstart weekend as part of their Future Leaders scheme.

15 or so young people in the party are offered individual mentorship to help them get to where they want to be in the party - whether that is an MP, a Councillor, or something else.

It's wise to choose for a private member's bill a discrete topic to address a problem which has been identified and can be relatively easily solved - and which the Government might be prepared to see implemented. But sometimes the concern to take forward a cause overtakes wisdom - thus my Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill which finished making its way through the Lords on 3rd July and has been taken up in the Commons by Tim Farron.

Today the Government reported that patients in need of cannabis-based medicines will be allowed access to them in 'exceptional circumstances'.

This is very welcome and long overdue change, which will be a relief for many patients and their families. It is disgraceful that people have been left to suffer for so long, because the Conservative Government have refused to accept evidence of the benefits of cannabis based medicines.

I want to tell you why I joined the Liberal Democrats and to encourage you to make the same journey.

As first-generation immigrants, my parents could have barely imagined the journey they or their children would make in the mother country. As an immigrant from South Asia, barely able to communicate in English, my mother built up a real estate business in London, in a country which has increasingly diversified in the intervening years.

Since its launch in 2013, the Membership Incentive Scheme has helped our party not just grow, but thrive.

The money from it has helped local parties grow their membership, fight campaigns and demand better for their communities.

In recent years, we've seen a worrying trend developing though. More and more local parties stopped actively recruiting new members.

This weekend, Lib Dems will be at a number of Prides. Here's the ones we know about and how you can get involved:

Sheffield Pride

On Saturday, the Sheffield Lib Dems will be taking part in the Sheffield Pride Parade, and will have a stall at the event. To join the Parade, meet at Omega Court for 11am (parking available) or Pear Street (S11 8JF) at 11.30am at the latest. The march is along Ecclesall Road to Endcliffe Park arriving for approx. 1.00pm. If you can, please come dressed in something bright - some branded tee-shirts will be available - together with flags, placards, whistles and rainbow wigs for those who want them!

The last article talked about building your team - once you've got them you have to give them something to do. Delivering leaflets is essential, but the most effective thing we can do to get people to vote for us is talk to them.

Federal Conference Committee met this weekend - unusually at Amnesty HQ in London rather than LDHQ - to set the Agenda for Autumn conference in Brighton.

If you have not yet registered, please don't forget - conference runs from the 15th to 18th September, and you can sign up at https://www.eventsforce.net/autumnconference2018. Or, if you'd like to take advantage of our new refer-a-friend discounts, see https://www.libdems.org.uk/refer_a_friend

1. He approves of a higher pay rate for men

His statements on the gender pay gap are shocking. He stated, "men work longer hours, die earlier but retire later than women." He expanded, saying "from the cradle to the grave, men get the raw deal".

Raab's comments are completely out of touch with reality, plain and simple.

It is a day when we must remember that every person has the power to change the world.

It has been 100 years since Mandela's birth. His dedication to the service of humanity and his contribution to the struggle for democracy continue to inspire millions of people.

Global inequality remains a serious problem facing in the world and protecting human rights is an ongoing struggle of immense importance.