It is important that our voters and future voters understand how vital their participation is in our democracy, which is why I am inviting all schools, colleges, community groups and residents here in South Swindon to sign up and get involved in UK Parliament Week.
Parliament Week is a UK-wide festival taking place between 1st and 7th November, which aims to engage people, especially young people, from different backgrounds and communities, with the UK Parliament and empower them to get involved.
To find out more about UK Parliament Week, please make sure you visit: https://www.ukparliamentweek.org/en/about/.
Now that Parliament is beginning to open again to visitors, I am also encouraging schools, colleges and local community groups to come and visit.
The Learning Centre offers a wide range of free curriculum linked interactive tours and workshops and I always look forward to meeting school pupils and staff for question and answer sessions.
If you are interested in organising a visit to the Learning Centre, check out: https://learning.parliament.uk/en/visit-us/.
Working to make Swindon’s streets safer for everyone has always been a top priority of mine as the local Member of Parliament. That is why I am pleased to see that our town will benefit from £550,000 of Government funding to increase the safety of public spaces.
This money, secured through the Safer Streets Fund, will go towards measures proven to cut crime: including the installation of additional street lighting, CCTV and alley gates on rear alleyways to limit access only to residents, as well as the development of toolkits for professionals and workplaces, training packages for schools and colleges and a community support programme.
Everyone has the right to feel safe in public, regardless of where they are and what time of the day it is. That is why I will continue to work closely with the Police & Crime Commissioner, Swindon Borough Council and others on this important issue.
In further good news for Swindon, the Council’s bid to receive funding for zero emission buses is through to the second round of bidding. The Council will continue to work with Swindon’s Bus Company, Stagecoach West and the Department for Transport to co-develop a business case for the investment.
I agree with Cllr Gary Sumner, the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, that this bid builds on the Council’s track record of seizing opportunities to help reduce Swindon’s environmental footprint and I look forward to meeting with the relevant parties on Friday and seeing how I can support the bid.
It has been great to see so many local residents volunteer to help with the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines at the STEAM Museum – now Swindon Borough Council are looking for more heroes to help with the winter flu and Covid-19 booster jab rollout.
If you would like to act as a car park marshal or patient co-ordinator, and have spare time to volunteer, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Council via: mailto:[email protected].
