Here in Swindon, we have a great tradition of support for our armed forces, with serving members, plus a significant number of veterans living locally, and on Armistice Day, I was pleased to take part in a moving and poignant Act of Remembrance at the Swindon Cenotaph.
Along with hundreds of local people, I returned to the Cenotaph on Sunday, where I was honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of Swindon at the Remembrance Sunday Service.
On Sunday afternoon, it was a privilege to take part in the Radnor St Chapel Remembrance Service, where I was pleased to see many young people also taking part. Eighty soldiers and sailors who fell in the Great War are buried at the Radnor Street Cemetery, and we remember them, all locally who gave up their lives for our freedom.
Our Armed Services are an ingrained part of Swindon’s history, and I am proud to represent a constituency that holds our military in the highest regard.
I was delighted to be back at New College last Friday, for a really thought-provoking session with Politics students and Citizenship students, where we talked about law and politics, and the interrelationship between those concepts. As well as written constitutions, unwritten constitutions, and a great set of questions about the operation of Select Committees, and democracy itself. It was a great afternoon, and I thoroughly enjoyed the session, my thanks to the staff and team at New College for making me once again so welcome, as part of Parliament Week 2022.
As part of the continuing regeneration of our town, I was glad to visit the DHL Swindon Depot last Friday, to meet the team and see the huge number of items handled. The depot is part of the massive redevelopment of the old Woolworths site, which closed with many redundancies in 2008, so it is great to see businesses relocating and expanding on the new site.
Finally, my local Charity of the Week is The Nelson Trust, who have been supporting women to overcome trauma and addiction here in Swindon since 2013. This excellent local charity also works with young women at the Youth Offending Team.
The charity firmly believes that everyone who comes through their door can achieve their potential, if they are given the safety, confidence, and hope that they need. Their ultimate goal is to help women believe that change is possible.
The trust brings belief, hope, and long-term recovery to women whose lives have been torn apart by addiction, trauma, violence, and abuse, and for those who are at risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system.
Service users are assigned a key worker and offered a whole package of help – from treatment to training. The trust’s staff become the consistent and constant thread in lives that have become unravelled.
This excellent local charity provides a safe and supportive environment where a wide range of support needs can be addressed and supports women and their families throughout Swindon and Wiltshire.
The Nelson Trust has seen an increase in referrals here in Swindon, due to the cost-of-living crisis. There are many ways in which you can help to support this wonderful local charity, including fundraising, volunteering, or by taking part in the Christmas Box Appeal and donating items including bath and shower bombs, fluffy socks, scarfs, hats and gloves, hot water bottles and colouring books and pencils. Further information can be found on The Nelson Trust website: https://nelsontrust.com/
