Today Mark dropped in to the Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland shop in Rosemount to see the valuable work that shop Manager Lorna (pictured centre) and her dedicated team of volunteers do.

Mark was given an insight into the running of the shop and the work that the charity does to support people with serious health problems.

Aberdeen South Westminster Prospective MP Mark Jones today attended the Welcome Ceremony of the Aberdeen International Youth Festival.

The event now in its 37th year is the largest youth festival in the north-east of Scotland with representatives from 16 different countries. 

The Welcome Ceremony took place in His Majesty's Theatre with music from the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association and the Noordhollands Youth Orchestra.  

After the event Mark said, "I thoroughly enjoyed the ceremony, its an incredible festival and I will certainly be looking to attend a few shows." 

On Friday 10th July Mark visited the RGU Garthdee Campus to deliver a speech to students at the launch of the Robert Gordon University Conservative Association.

Mark chose to speak about local issues including crime and education and also thanked the students on choosing him as Honorary Vice-President of the association. Mark joked, "its been to long to remember since I was at university!"

The event, which also included a speech from new association President Kyle McArthur, marks the launch of the newest branch of Conservative Future Scotland.

Commenting after the event, Justin Robertson (RGU Student and member of Mark Jone's campaign team) said, "this society will reflect the modern, innovative university the RGU is and will be inclusive and open to any student who wants to learn more about our vision for change."

The Scottish Conservative Party Chairman Andrew Fulton visited Aberdeen on on Thursday 11th June

Mr Fulton attended a buffet evening hosted by the South Aberdeen Conservative Association. The event, which was hosted at the Sportsmans Club was attended by local councillors and association members.

The event was a chance for local members to quiz Mr Fulton on the recent European Election campaign and the forthcoming General Election.

Mark Jones, Aberdeen South Parliamentary Candidate, also spoke at the event introducing a campaign advert detailing his work across the city over the past year. 

Scottish Conservatives Leader Annabel Goldie MSP today visited Aberdeen on her European Election Tour of North-East Scotland.

In the morning Annabel visited a local nursery in Torry before meeting with local Westminster Candidate Mark Jones. The pair were joined by local students and association members in St.Nicolas Sqaure to canvass support for the 'Sign for Change' petition calling for a General Election.

Later Ms Goldie attended a buffet lunch hosted by the South Aberdeen Conservatives and she met with local association members and youth representatives for the Scottish Youth Parliament and Aberdeen Youth Council.

Mark Jones described the visit as "very positive" and Ms Goldie pledged to return to the area to hold an 'Annabel Direct' question and answer session for local constituents.

Conservative Westminster Candidate Mark Jones payed a visit to local social enterprise firm Solstice Nurseries.

Founded in 2002, Solstice Nurseries exists to provide experience and training in horticultural nursery and garden maintenance work for people who have experienced mental health problems and who have a desire to return to paid employment.

In recent months Solstice has come under threat due to the council cuts of frontline services. During the visit Mark inspected heathers in the shade halls, met people that the organisation helps and got his hands dirty helping to plant seeds.

After the visit Mark voiced his support for the organisation saying, "this is a fanatastic organisation that is making a significant contribution to the local area." 

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Aberdeen South Mark Jones today launched his new website www.markjonesformp.com

The website, the first of its kind for a Conservative Westminster Candidate in Aberdeen, enables visitors to keep up to date with the latest campaign news, watch videos, post suggestions and ideas and get involved.

"Our campaign has chosen to use new mediums, like the internet, to talk to people directly," said Mark Jones.

Mark went to the banks of the River Dee to meet with Aberdeen Greenspace Representative Alister Clunas to view the some of the charitys' projects.

Aberdeen Greenspace is a small environmental charity, established in 1998, that has delivered a large number of environmental projects across Aberdeen.

Mark was shown a number of successful projects such as the River Dee Path Improvements and the Coronation Road in Peterculter. The charity has also worked in regeneration areas and has delivered projects in Woodside, Mastrick and Northfield - as well as planting over 51,000 trees across the city in the past 10 years.

Mark said later, "i thoroughly enjoyed the visit and I hope as much as possible can be done to support the work of environmental trusts like Aberdeen Greenspace."  

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Aberdeen South Mark Jones today visited the Aberdeen Foyer.

The successful charitable organisation works to prevent and alleviate youth homelessness and unemployment in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Since the first accommodation site opened in 1998, the organisation has diversified to provide health services, training and learning programmes and drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

The Westminster Candidate met with Aberdeen Foyer Chief Executive Ken Milroy in what was described as "a very constructive visit." The meeting, which focused on the challenges facing the organisation, was followed by a tour of the charity's Marywell Centre.

"The organisation does incredible work for young people across the North-East and I was very interested to listen to the challenges they face," said Mark Jones.

Over Easter Mark visited Doonies Farms to show his support to the 'Save Doonies Farm' Campaign. 

The farm, situated on the clifftops near Cove, has some of the country's rarest breeds of cattle, sheep and horses. Yet the future of this unique facility has come under threat of closure due to the Aberdeen City Council budget cuts.

Mark was given a tour of the farm and offered his support to the campaigns fundraising efforts. Mark commented, "it is vitally important that we secure its future ." There were over 2,750 visitors to the farm over Easter. 

Mark has publicly backed the 'honest food' campaign launched at the National Farmers Union annual conference which calls for clearer food labelling.

The aim of the 'honest food' campaign is to get compulsory 'country of origin' labelling introduced so that meat products labelled 'British' can only come from animals born and bred in Britain.

Current rules mean that meat imported from abroad and processed into products like sausages, bacon and pies in Britain can be labelled as 'British'.

The campaign is designed to allow consumers to make more informed choices about the food they buy and is endorsed by farming and animal welfare organisations including the NFU and RSPCA.

Mark showed up to lend a helping hand to students on the University Conservative Scoiety stall at the Aberdeen University Fresher's Fair

"I really enjoyed the day," said Mark afterwards. "It was great meeting the students and took me back to my own freshers fair - how time passes!"

The societies fair is always a major event in the university calendar and the committee expressed a big thanks to Mark for helping out. The day turned out to be a huge success with the society signing up almost 70 new members.

Former Conservative MP for Aberdeen South Gerry Malone is supporting Mark Jones campaign to become the constituency's next MP. Mr Malone who was speaking at the Aberdeen University Conservative Annual Dinner said it would be a excellent to see Mark follow in his steps and represent Aberdeen South in Parliament.

Westminster Candidate Mark Jones continued campaign to highlight the impact of post office closures. In late 2008 the Labour Government closed a number of local post offices despite huge oposition.

Mark commented on the issue by saying, "post office closures have hit local people hard, particularly the elderly and those without transport...we are now in a situation where large areas have been left without adequate post office cover."

Throughout 2008 Mark campaigned vigorously against the post office closures including canvassing local support against the move and creating a doorstep petition which was signed by over 500 people in Mannofield alone.

Mark joined over 2,000 protesters in a march down Union Street to protest at Aberdeen City Council's massive £27 million budget cuts. The cuts have affected sports facilities, schools and services to the disabled and vulnerable. The march was organised by the Grampian Senior Citizens Forum and Aberdeen Trade Unions Congress.

Many people directly affected by the cuts marched including groups representing the homeless, disabled and elderly, as well as those opposing school and leisure centre closures.

Councillors from the ruling Lib Dem/SNP Coalition council were heckled by the crowd during a rally that followed. After the rally Mark said, "today the people of Aberdeen have sent a clear message to the council leaders that they have to rethink this decision."