It was great to be back at Prospect Hospice on Friday morning, for a really positive first meeting of the day, with the new Chief Executive, Jeremy Lune, as well as the fantastic fundraising team. We spoke about opportunities for the hospice and the work being done on integrated care, which I am very glad about. We also discussed further technological development to emphasise the reach of the hospice. Prospect Hospice is a very much-loved local charity in our Swindon community that carries out wonderful work with hundreds of families and clients each year. It was a great pleasure to be back somewhere that I have been honoured to represent and support for so many years.
I was also very pleased to attend the first meeting of the Swindon and Wiltshire Futures Commission at the Institute of Technology on Friday. This dedicated cross-party group has been established to discuss what it is that we are good at here in Swindon, which is many things, we are an extremely productive town, and what it is that we can promote for the future growth of our local economy. I was very pleased to learn more about the exciting changes taking place at New College Swindon, including the brand refresh and the investments in the Institute of Technology. Alongside North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson, I campaigned hard for the new £21 million Government funded Institute of Technology to be built here in Swindon, so I was very pleased to hear more about the excellent work that they are doing there to provide students with the chance to work using industry stand- and specialist facilities, so that they’re best prepared for the world of work.
Following further torrential downpours on Friday, I was back in West Swindon on Sunday to visit local residents who have been affected by the recent flash flooding. Along with councillors Suresh Gattapur, and Timothy Makofu and residents, I worked at Whitehill Brook to help clear the area and improve the flow of the stream. A lot of trees and foliage have grown up over forty years, so clearing this part of the stream should help to make a difference in terms of erosion and also making sure that we can minimise flooding, which has always been an issue here.
I am very concerned to hear that Boots in Wood Street has informed customers that they will be closing in February 2024. I am aware that this local pharmacy is used by many local residents in Old Town, particularly those who are elderly and may struggle with mobility. My Wood St office is very close to Boots, so I use the chemist myself.
I have requested an urgent phone call with Boots CEO Sebastian James. I have also contacted NHS England, as well as NHS South, Central and West (NHS SCW), to raise urgent concerns on behalf of all of the residents who use Boots in Old Town, as well as the staff who work there.
Finally, during Anti-Slavery Week, my charity of the week is the Medaille Trust, who are carrying out some excellent work here in the town along with Swindon Police to tackle modern slavery. Back in April of this year, I was pleased to open the tenth Medaille Trust safe house for modern slavery survivors here in South Swindon. The new safe house is the charity's second one in Wiltshire and provides nine en-suite rooms and extensive garden grounds, which staff hope to use to grow fruits and vegetables. It houses male survivors of modern slavery. The other Wiltshire house caters for female survivors of modern slavery.
I am aware that several agencies are collaborating to tackle modern slavery locally. But it is also vital that while we go after traffickers, we provide refuge and care to the men, women, and children escaping from those who exploit them. That is why I am delighted that Medaille Trust has expanded its work in this area by opening a new safe house for survivors of modern slavery. While at the house, I was able to meet and chat with some of the survivors and the staff supporting them.
I was happy to hear about Medaille's work in providing not just accommodation but personalised support so that these survivors can recover from their terrible experiences and rebuild their lives. Medaille is a valued subcontractor under the Government's Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC) with The Salvation Army, which funds supported accommodation for victims of modern slavery. This charity is doing incredible work in my constituency, and I look forward to it continuing to grow and expand its work. As MP for this area, I stand ready to support Medaille Trust as much as possible.
You can help the police, the Medaille Trust and their partners here in Swindon by using your eyes and ears and reporting information that doesn’t feel right or where you feel exploitation is happening, and together we can stop exploitation. Anyone who suspects modern slavery or human trafficking is taking place in their area should report any suspicious incidents via 101 or the Wiltshire Police website. Alternatively, information can be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
