Page 18 - link magazine

18 The Link Magazine • February 2006
Line Dance Town should do more to hold on
DfbOnhfllR with to those who don't want to stay
Midnight Cowboys Lucy Proctor. from Old Town, who has been writing for The Link
Mobile Hairdresser
Tuesday: Even Swindon. 7.00 whilst applying for journalism jobs away from Swindon,
NVQ Qualified Community Centre Jennings reflects on the attractions of the place, or lack of them
with salon experience Street (off Rodbourne Road) Unlike most of its population af- Sarah Lewis-Paul, 24, who stud-
Wednesday: Highworth, 7.00 ter the festive period, Swindon ied Communications at Cardiff
All aspects of felt lighter following the exodus University and now lives in Lon-
Hairdressing covered Thursday: Coleview 7.00 of many young people back to don, said: "The problem with Swin-
Community Centre. Nythe Road
Ladies, Gents & Children university, and to jobs elsewhere. don is that it doesn't offer any-
Step by step instruction for Over Christmas and the sum- thing alternative to any other small
M: 07899 663796 absolute beginners. Weekend mer holidays Swindon's popula- town. It has a very high employ-
socials in Highworth and Swindon tion swells by about 2,500 students ment rate, but not for any of the
Tel: 487085
For more details -back to see family, get some home- jobs that I want to do."
Ring Lewis Watson on 764732 cooked food, rent-free accommo- The large companies that em-
e: [email protected] Ten years of teaching.! dation and take a break from the ploy so many in Swindon offer
challenges of university life. opportunities in engineering or
Although most are pleased to be other scientific subjects. Many
in the comfort of their childhood school-leavers embark on their
home and excited to see old friends, excellent apprentice schemes, and
Over 2,500 sq. ft. of there is generally a negative feel- jobs for manual labour or office
products for the Artist, I about being in Swindon itself. work are relatively easy to come
Current and ex-students tend not by. But students of English, His-
Crafter and Student
to feel proud of the town, and the tory, Politics or a creative subject
D.M.C. Main Agency thought of living here after uni- are left with no career options in
Daylight Lamps Stockist versity is uninspiring. their hometown.
The explanation
DIY Framing Supplies Roman blinds for this is simple -
& Equipment Swags & tails
the places where
Well worth a visit. Try us! Cushion covers people go to uni-
Framework Art & Craft Measuring and fitting advice versity offer more
than Swindon.
63 Pembroke Centre No job too small
Cheney Manor Trading Estate For further information call They tend to be cit-
Swindon SN2 2PQ ies or bigger towns,
Tel/Fax: (01793) 513069 Sue: 01793 870451 with all of the
Phone for directions. Parking. or Lynn: on 01793 330595 amenities and at-
tractions that a uni-
versity attracts to a
place.
Swindon's lack
of a university A place to meet up ccith old friends, but not remain
SEAF^HI
means an absence
of other features. There are few "I think Swindon is a good place
i^ cafes or coffee bars to breakup the for people with families," said
Holder of the Seatish .
Friers Quality Award Award Winning Quality Fish & Chips drab town centre, the shops them- Becky Goss, 23, who now works in
selves are uniform and small, with photography in London. "But for
few opportunities to buy some- me, there was just no chance of
THREE GOOD REASONS TO USE thing a bit different, and Swin- getting a decent job in photogra-
don's nightlife leaves a lot to be phy in Swindon, and it's the same
OUR GREAT MONEY OFF VOUCHER desired. for most creative jobs."
For a town of its size, Swindon is Both Sarah and Becky lived in
1 If you've not used us for a while - Welcome back
sorely short on decent places to Swindon for months after univer-
2 If you've never used us before - Try us have a drink. Choice ranges from sity looking for jobs while temping
the occasionally rough and always to combat their debts. Both say the
3 If you used this voucher last time dull chain bars in town, to the town is not that bad, but that it
slightly posh bars of Old Town doesn't really have anything to
- HERE'S ANOTHER
with ideas beyond their station. offer them.
REMIND YOURSELF WHAT NATURAL There are some good pubs in Swin- Swindon is primarily an indus-
don, but they shut at 11pm. Not trial and service-based town. For
UNPROCESSED FOOD IS LIKE only are the nightspots flat and those not interested in this kind of
unoriginal, they are expensive. Stu- job, there is no point in returning.
Chips from real potatoes and top quality fish from the sea dents used to the union bar or pro- Talking to current and ex-stu-
all with fewer calories than chicken tikka masala, sweet & sour pork* motional prices find themselves dents that return every holiday,
and more nutritious and satisfying than burger and fries. spending twice as much as usual the consensus is that Swindon just
on a substandard night out. can't compete with their new
We now have a seating area so %ou can enjoy your
fish & chips at a table with a hot cup of tea or coffee On leaving university Swindon homes, with economies, job op-
is often a very unattractive place to portunities and an atmosphere
* Source: Carlson Bengston Consultants Ltd return to, particularly for students enriched by the presence of a uni-
versity. Perhaps when the Univer-
interested in a career in the arts,
Tf'a1tl1 iiii £1 off all orders over culture or creativity. There is little sity of Bath's plans for a campus in
Swindon catering for 8,000 stu-
going on here and with London or
femlly lisa reslau.ants 8 taktawayt £3 with this voucher Bristol just down the M4 serving dents come to fruition the town
as reminders of what could be will have that extra spark.
West Swindon District Centre. Tel: 870 455 done, there is simply no reason to • Lucy has now left Swindon to work
stay. for a West London local newspaper