The situation in Afghanistan is truly heart-breaking and it is clear that many of the people who worked with the United Kingdom to make their country a safer place, particularly women and children, are now in urgent need of help.
Over the past week or so my inbox has been full of residents expressing their concerns about the situation and asking what steps the Government will be taking to help those in need. This is why I support the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme that has been developed since April and which will create a safe and legal route for those in most need to come and live safely in the UK.
If you are worried about the safety of a family member or loved one in Afghanistan, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me via [email protected] – my constituency team and I will do our best to help by raising their case with the Foreign Office.
I had the opportunity last week to visit the Swindon & Wiltshire Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) to meet and thank the team for everything they do. During the visit we discussed the much-needed reforms and changes that will take place following the Rape Review and the new Victims’ Code.
The SARC is a safe place, which provides confidential practical and emotional support to anyone impacted by rape and serious sexual assault. To find out more about their excellent work, please visit: https://www.firstlight.org.uk/swindonwiltshiresarc/.
Back in July I was contacted by a group of concerned residents who live in the Prinnels, West Swindon.
For those of you who do not know the area, there is a large pond that is central to all the housing in the Prinnels which is a real haven for some wonderful wildlife. Sadly, this beautiful spot has become rather neglected and overgrown.
On Friday it was great to join residents and local councillor Caryl Sydney-Smith to see the clean-up operation of the surrounding area of the pond and to share the pride and enthusiasm being shown to return this unique asset to its former glory.
This is a brilliant example of the local community coming together and a big thank you must go to Jane Willcox who helped organise the clean-up.
In further local news, Swindon Travel Choices, the British Transport Police and Wiltshire Police will be running a bike security marking event in the town centre on Thursday 26th August.
They will be on the train station forecourt between 7am and 11am, and then on The Parade between mid-day and 4pm.
There is no need to book, just bring your bike along and it will be security marked there and then. Whilst you are there you can also pick up a copy of the Swindon cycle map and other goodies.
For more information, please visit: www.swindontravelchoices.co.uk.
I want to wish all our brilliant Paralympians the very best of luck throughout the Paralympic Games. I am particularly excited to see Ben Fox, a Swindonian and ex-Commonweal student compete in the wheelchair basketball.
Go Ben!
