Recess is always a welcome opportunity to spend even more time at home here in Swindon, visiting local businesses, organisations, and charities, as well as holding local advice surgeries and meeting with local residents, whilst also being able to see a bit more of my family during the week.
Living locally in South Swindon and having my office on Wood Street enables me to be both visible and approachable (something all MPs should be). It also helps to fully ensure that I understand the issues that are important to us.
As part of my ongoing Local Business Support Campaign, you may have read in my previous columns that this summer, I have been running a ‘South Swindon’s Favourite Pub Competition’. Last week, it was great to visit two local pubs that have been shortlisted in the competition, The Patriots Arms in Chiseldon, and The Village Inn in Shaw. Both of these pubs are very much at the heart of their local communities, and it was great to visit and support them.
As well as supporting local businesses, I am always keen to support and promote the many excellent local charities and community groups that we have here in Swindon. As part of this ongoing work, this summer, I have also begun a ‘Local Charity Of The Week Scheme’ where I will be featuring and promoting a local charity or community group in my weekly article, as well as on my social media pages.
This week, I am keen to tell you about The GAP Swindon, a brilliant new community garden project located off Carstairs Avenue in Park South. Volunteers at The GAP have been busy installing self-supporting raised beds and "No Dig" method veg beds as part of the project, and are looking for more volunteers to join them, tending the plants, weeding, planting, sowing seeds, watering, grass cutting and installing and building more "No Dig" raised beds with recycled materials.
The volunteers at The GAP are also grateful for donations of wood, such as decking boards, scaffolding boards, and pallets, as well as corrugated metal sheets, garden tools, and also topsoil, compost, and manure.
More information about this excellent local community initiative can be found by visiting The Gap Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/272055563802944 You can also contact The GAP at 'The Shop' Cavendish Square Park South, or by email [email protected]
Over the past five years, I have been working closely with Swindon Seniors Forum on a Campaign To Tackle Loneliness, with the aim of bringing together key organisations in and around Swindon to discuss the excellent work that is already taking place locally, as well as discussing what further can be done to tackle loneliness. We have held three well-attended and successful events locally, as part of the campaign, and we are now busy organising our fourth event, which will take place here in Swindon in September. I am delighted that this ongoing campaign has attracted the attention and praise of Lady Christabel Flight, Founder of Silver Sunday, and she has agreed to speak at our next event.
Silver Sunday was initially launched as a local campaign to tackle loneliness and isolation and is now a national day where people of all generations can come together and host fun and free activities for older people. It is a day where older people can meet new people, visit new places, try new activities, and connect with their local communities and generations around them.
This year, Silver Sunday will take place on Sunday 2nd October 2022 and I am delighted that two events have already been organised here in Swindon, The Covingham & Dorcan Ward Silver Sunday and Silver Sunday High Tea with entertainment.
This year is the 10th anniversary of Silver Sunday, and it would be great to see even more events take place across the town, particularly here in South Swindon. Examples of events include a tea dance, a community lunch, or a performance, the possibilities are endless. Further ideas, inspiration, and resources can be found on the Silver Sunday website here Silver Sunday | The National Day for Older People, 2nd October 2022 If you decide to host a local event, please get in touch and let me know.
