Page 22 - link magazine

22 Opening up anc

Sixty people who live in West Swin- to positively re-enforce the identity
GLEMBY don, or work for caring agencies in of black children.
the area, spent two days at the be- • The need for more information
ginning of November talking about and communication through per-
Hair & Beauty Salon at how residents live their lives in the sonal contacts and interaction.
MCILROYS area and the problems they face. • The good facilities for under fives.
A range of issues were raised for • The inadequate facilities and op-
attention by statutory and volun- portunities for 5s to 14s and
Regent Street, Swindon tary organisations, schools, teenagers,which allow them to de-
Tel: (0793) 511872 churches, individuals, community velop their identities and form good
groups and politicians. relationships, without having to
cn Ut These included: spend a lot of money.
• Isolation, loneliness, the lack of • The lack of local offices run by
extended family support and the Social Services, Department of So-
difficulty of establishing oneself in cial Security and Housing
CLARINS LORAL the community • The inadequate public transport
PARIS ARIS • The unwelcomingand unfriendly network within the area.
atmosphere that some people feel. • The complete lack of affordable
• The over-emphasis on material- nurseries available to working par-
ism and the pressures on relation- ents.
ships with partners and with chil- Conclusions
GGLEBOX dren arising from having to work At the end of the conference the
long hours and/or financial diffi- different interest groups present
Specialists in video culties. committed themselves to take ac-
& TV repairs • The isolation felt by black people tion to alleviate the problems iden-
in the area and the need for schools tified, (continued on next page).
Free home estimates
All work guaranteed Vital contribution from speaker
Service from 8am - 9pm
Rev. John Flory, one of the West expressing his dismay and explain-
NO CALL OUT CHARGE Swindon conference organisers, has ing the context of his comments.
paid tribute to Westlea headteacher There was an angry reaction to
Neil Griffiths for his open and hon- the newspaper article by some who
TEL: SWINDON 813485 est contribution to the event. attended theconference and we have
Neil, as second of five speakers, been asked to publish one of the
said how he encounters daily the letters sent to the Advertiser, below.
huge pressures that many families Rev. Flory said he was very grate-
are under when parents approach ful for the way Neil spoke at the
The Complete Kitchen him for support and guidance. conference. "Coming so early his
He said the loneliness experienced comments made the success of the
& Bedroom Centre. by parents, the poverty caused by conference; It helped us focus clearly
large financial commitments and on the problems of West Swindon
high levels of marital instability was generally. Westlea is no different
* Kitchens by Symphony, having profound effects on family from other parts of the area, or the
Ram, Now, Apple
relationships, and the development town in general
* Appliances by All of children. "I'm just sorry that the way his
Leading Manufacturers Much to Neil's surprise his sen- comments were publicised will
sitive comments appeared in the damage the trust established with
* Bedrooms by 'Now' Swindon Evening Advertiser the next people in the community. It will
& 'Misty'
day underthe headline "Estate hides make it more difficult for those who
* Replacement doors tales of woe," prompting himto send need support to share their isolation
to any size in Solid an immediate letter to all parents with others."
Timber or Laminate
To the Editor of the Evening Advertiser
* Help & Advice to assist from Sandra Small, Sue Russell and Helen Lawrence of Westlea
your DIY installation
We write with reference to your ar- West Swindon is in a crisis which in
* Our own Professional ticle reporting on the two day con- fact is not the case at all.
Fitting Service Available ference at the Link Centre and the Furthermore, please note that Mr
* Free Delivery comments made by Neil Griffiths, Griffiths' pre:.entation was one of
Headteacher of Westlea School. many - why was there no coverage
* For Free Advice, After reading the article we felt of the rest? We can only conclude
Design & Quotation the whole thing was unfair. We that they were not 'newsworthy'
Call in attended this conference and can enough.
truthfully say that Mr Griffiths'
As residents of Westlea, we would
or telephone our comments were completely exag- like to point out that Mr Griffiths
New Showroom gerated and out of context. and his staff have done an enormous
He made these comments out of his amountof good locally,and haveall
deep concern for local people and the worked extremely hard toforgedose
children in his school, the things he links with the community.
commentedonattheConfexencewere We just hope that because of that
Ut1LflLd
of a general nature of life today, not unbalanced and sensationalist re-
85 Crlcklade Road, Gorse Hill, Swindo,, pointed at fist the West Swindon porting, all the good and hard work
Tel: (0793)511842 community. The whole report was they have put into the community is
completely out of context and totally not ruined because of this most un-
unjust The article made it look as if fair article.