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Community News

Have your say and use your vote Director: James Phipps

By Group Editor Jamie Hill
Democracy. We all want it but Group Editor: Jamie Hill
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And that is your democratic right parish elections, apathy does seem Rachel Davis - www.calyxpix.com
to decide not to have your say. We to be, unfortunately, the name of
don't have a system in this country the game but I would urge you all Positive Media Group Limited, Unit 3, Arclite House, Century Road, Swindon SN5 5YN
like Australia where voting is to take part as for many of us in T: 01793 744677 E: [email protected]
mandatory. It would probably be a Swindon it will be the first time Our Statistics
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get off their couch to change the Swindon Borough Council cutting
outcome. costs leaving us all with increased
Anyway, it's parish council council tax bills. But they are here
election time across Swindon on now so we should all have our say
Thursday 4 May. and make our voices heard.
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The Spirit of Swindon: Sport, media and culture: Creating opportunity for rest and play

By Tom Wilkes of Spirit of Swindon uncomfortable issues and asking difficult
Poverty, health and education have questions, not as a way of gaining
all featured in our articles so far. The listeners or readers but to serve the
connection between these topics and common good.
economic inequality seems clear enough The factors underlying economic
but the link with sport, media and inequality are complex and multiple but
culture is less obvious. there are ways of addressing them. Spirit
Participation in sport and culture, of Swindon recognises that economic
both recreational activities, can provide inequality is societal and therefore
for physical, emotional, mental and political, however ideological dynamics
spiritual refreshment and stimulation, sometimes prevent us from facing its
distinct from the working and home challenges. Local Authorities across
environments. England have sought to meet increasing
Approximately 35% of people in costs and financial restraints by selling
Swindon participate in sport at least assets which have affected sport and
once a week, figures comparable to the culture at the ‘grass roots’ level. Although
national average, with disabled people Swindon has, until recently, been better
and those from lower-socio-economic for England even though the town has fewer placed than many parts of the country,
backgrounds tending to be less active. While of them than the national average. This signals the number of people employed in the arts,
council services try to signpost residents on a demand for greater provision, one which the entertainment and recreation sector in Swindon
to community based sport and the facilities proposal for a new Swindon Museum and Art has fallen by 30% over a five year period.
available, the way many live their lives, for Gallery will meet. The annual Literature Festival What one thing you can do this month (apart
example working unsociable hours or on shifts, is a good example of an event that offers many from participating in sport and buying a ticket
makes them less likely to take part in sport opportunities for participation in cultural for a Lit Festival event) is to read around each
during their resting periods. activities of various forms. topic and ask awkward questions. Actively
The likelihood of engaging in recreation Where does media fit in to this picture? seeking alternative voices can be difficult but
through culture and sport is linked to education, Politically or commercially biased agendas also rewarding and can encourage all of us to
health and opportunity. The more highly have taken over tracts of the media as revenue transcend party ideology.
educated a person is, and the higher their streams have been declining. Across the Atlantic Spirit of Swindon has emerged from a gathering
income, the more likely they are to participate we have seen how one-sided media channels of people who want to raise consciousness of the
in active recreation; a link between education can feed division and confirm prejudices. impact of economic inequality and help Swindon
and culture recognised and used nationally. As In the UK, and here in Swindon, this is less offer a lead to other towns and cities in the UK.
noted in April’s Link, Swindon scores particularly prevalent but still present. Locally, newspapers We are indebted in this article to: Dave Bell –
poorly on this criteria. and magazines are at their best when they act Chair Swindon Sports Forum, Tom Frost – Senior
Nevertheless, on the positive side, Swindon as ‘good neighbours to the town’, providing Public Health Intelligence Analyst, the KLOE
residents make greater use of our museums, fair, balanced and accurate coverage for their report produced by Phil Back in 2013 and views
arts, sports and heritage assets than the average communities. Part of this involves raising from Jamie Hill – Link Editor.
swindonlink.com n May 2017 3

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