Page 11 - link magazine

Community News

Calling the town together as a Swindon campaigner marches on Number 10
welcoming, supporting place

Swindon City of Sanctuary, which
launches on Thursday 13 October,
aims to build a culture of inclusion
and hospitality towards refugees and
asylum seekers living in the town. As no event around the world
The Swindon coordinators want can take place without sharing
citizens to sign a pledge to help the food, there will be delicious nibbles
town become offically recognised cooked by Harbour visitors.
by the UK wide City of Sanctuary Swindon Cos chair Nicola Johnson
(CofS) movement which awards said: “We hope to bring our
towns and cities with sanctuary community together, to look at each Steve Carr delivering his petition to 10 Downing Street after walking 90 miles
status once a community is actively other as individuals who all have from BBC Wiltshire offices in Swindon
helping refugees to feel included so much to contribute, no matter
within their communities. where we are from.” Swindon based mental health and happening and where I was going
There are three different pledges: homelessness campaigner Steve to go from there.
for individuals, for schools and Carr has been trekking through the “On my journey, I visited charities,
one for businesses and community British countryside again during soup kitchens and radio stations.
organisations. You can do this at: September, this time to deliver an My aim was to put together an
www.swindon.cityofsanctuary.org extensive report based on findings extensive report on the issues with
The launch at The Platform, Thursday 13 - Saturday 15 October from his walk to John O’Groats homelessness and mental health,
Faringdon Road, will be the first A new multi-cultural arts festival from Land’s End. both of which affect me.”
event of Harbour Fest - see right. to bring communities together, and Steve said: “Due to my own The report was received at
The evening will include short raise awareness and funds for the personal experiences, I decided that Downing Street by a member of the
talks by the founder of City of Harbour Project which welcomes I needed to do something before I Civil Service on 7 September after
Sanctuary, Swindon Amnesty, and supports newly-arrived refugees lost complete control. So starting Steve completed his 82.9 mile walk.
Swindon CoS and The Harbour and asylum-seekers. on 1 February this year I walked Steve also took part in a leg
Project. It will be followed by Events include a film night and the length of the United Kingdom of fellow Swindonian Ricardo
performances celebrating the world music disco party, a Big Gig with just £100 in my pocket, a tent DeFazio’s latest cycling challenge
diversity of cultures in the town, Night and pop-up art show. and no planned route. I feel I had in Europe during September, raising
through entertainment by Kurdish Book tickets for all events at: no route because I was lost. I had funds for important local causes.
singers, spoken word of refugees www.harbourproject.org.uk/ no home, no job, I thought I had no Follow and support Steve Carr’s
journey, folk singing and more. harbour-fest-swindon friends and I had no idea what was project at Facebook: Mind Canyon

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