Page 16 - link magazine

Community News
Energising Swindon in 2017

Swindon has an unbelievable Weir, Swindon Council’s head of
amount going for it - a huge localities and volunteering, jointly
and busy voluntary sector and coordinate the working group of
grassroots community groups, a some 50 people which has been
hive of cultural activity, lots of looking at:
interest in history and heritage, • sharing knowledge and taking
a growing media scene, many action to stimulate volunteering;
regeneration plans, and a great • celebrating Swindon and
entrepreneurial spirit. encouraging civic pride;
But we’re our own worst critics • improving communications
who seem to either delight in Lord Joffe, centre left, at a reception held by Justin Tomlinson MP and Robert within and between sectors and in
putting ourselves down, or don’t Buckland MP in early November for members of voluntary organisations who communities;
bother to look at the good things took part in a whole day’s broadcasting on Swindon 105.5, sponsored by the • supporting employment for people
we’ve got, according to Lord Joel Zurich Community Trust with physical and mental difficulties;
Joffe. • innovation funding and skills
He admits being somewhat snob and not acknowledge I lived felt frustrated or angry by the way development.
negative in the past even though Swindon.” they were being taken advantage of, Richard Hill said: “It’s an
he made charitable giving a central Since retiring from the House of or their ideas ignored. ambitious initiative and everyone
part of his businesses since moving Lords in 2015, Joel has been on “It was clear to me participants involved so far is contributing in
to Swindon in the 1970s. The Zurich a mission to rediscover Swindon needed to be brought together to a spirit of real collaboration, with
Community Trust, (formerly Hambro by talking to a wide range of talk about how the voluntary sector positivity and a focus on the future,
Life and Allied Dunbar community community representatives, council and the council could work together rather than dwelling on what has
trusts), is now one of the UK’s officials and business people. He “There is so much that works well; happened in the past.
largest corporate givers with a very said: “I was astonished by the Swindon really is a great town on “If we continue to pull together
high percentage of staff involved in range of community and cultural the verge of being much better.” in the same way, concentrating
payroll giving. organisations in the town - it’s a After several months of research and building on the positives of
“I used to drive to work in the huge social resource to tap into. in 2016, two gatherings of voluntary Swindon, then we’ll make a big
town centre and back to Liddington “But I was concerned that the organisations and council staff took difference to creating a stronger
but had little time to spend on the level of citizen engagement was place under Joel’s watchful eye in civil society in our town.”
community, although I was aware declining, some of the people September and early November. To find out more and participate
Swindon was a busy place,” said Joel. already in the voluntary sector were Richard Hill, Voluntary Action in the initiative, contact Richard
“But at times I would be a bit of a increasingly demotivated, and some Swindon chief executive, and Patrick Hill: [email protected]

Can Swindon become a model of fairness and opportunity?

January conference to bring people together
Voluntary Action Swindon (VAS) be launched at a community
and Swindon Equality Coalition conference at the National Trust
are launching a new campaign to HQ on Saturday 21 January, which
raise awareness of equality issues is open to members of community
and promote fairness and inclusion and voluntary sector organisations
in the town, and are seeking local in Swindon.
people to take part in it. VAS has been commissioned by
“By raising and addressing Swindon Borough Council to deliver
equality issues, we aim to make this work, which seeks to increase
Swindon a model of fairness and the number of Swindon residents’
opportunity, where people can © Justin Smythe engaged in equality issues, as well
aspire and achieve to their best during 2017. achieve prosperity, supported as the number of issues being
ability, and as a town we reach our Hannah commented: “The name by strong civic and community raised. The Equality Act gives public
full potential,” said Hannah Parry, for the project was inspired by the leadership.’ authorities responsibility to ensure
development officer at Voluntary 175th Anniversary of ‘New Swindon’ Janey Templar-Milligan, member there is dialogue about issues of
Action Swindon. in 2016. We felt we should take the of Swindon Equality Coalition, said: equality and inequality, making sure
“The past year has seen awful opportunity to celebrate our past “By raising awareness of equality, that as many people as possible
events take place such as the and where we are today, and also we also hope that more people will have good access to services
homophobic terrorist attack in think about what kind of town we feel confident in coming forwards and do not experience unlawful
Orlando, the murder of Jo Cox MP want to live in and to encourage and raising issues that they may discrimination.
and a significant rise in race-related people to take an active and have personally faced.” Hannah added: “We are keen to
hate crime in the UK and US. positive role in shaping Swindon for A specific website is being partner with other local community
“There is still a need for debate in the future. This is about the power developed to signpost people to and voluntary groups and large
our communities about inclusion and potential of what can happen where they can find information employers. So far, the National
and we hope to bring this about when people come together to and support and a series of short Trust have offered their support for
with the support of the Swindon affect and create change.” films on a range of equality issues this project and we are hoping that
community”. This fits with Swindon Borough is being produced in partnership other large employers will offer
The campaign is called the Council’s vision for the town with students at New College and their support for this campaign.
‘Swindon200 Project’ and will seek launched in 2016 which says: local charity Viewpoint Community To become involved in this
to sign up 200 people as ‘Equality ‘[Swindon] will remain, at heart, a Media. initiative, contact Hannah Parry:
Ambassadors’ who will help to place of fairness and opportunity A new ‘Swindon Equality and [email protected]
shape and take this work forward where people can aspire to and Inclusion Charter’ will also or call 01793 538398.
16 swindonlink.com n January 2017

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