BRENTWOOD and Ongar MP Eric Pickles has backed a scheme run by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust which funds Brits who want to go abroad to gain experiences for their jobs at home.

Next year, the trust will be investing £1.2 million in British citizens by awarding a record number of 150 Travelling Fellowships to mark its 50th anniversary.

Mr Pickles said: “So much can be learnt from the best practice of other countries, like the Netherlands, Iceland and Scandinavia who all excel in this area in the UNICEF 2013 Wellbeing league tables.

“I welcome the chance for early years practitioners from Brentwood and Ongar to apply for funding to travel abroad and learn how others work, and then return to share their newfound skills.”