Talking Politics: North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson

By Ben Fitzgerald - 3 October 2017

Opinion and Features

As I write this, summer is drawing to a close and I reflect on some of the highlights that the past summer months have presented.

Firstly, I have been happy to continue my support for the National Citizen Service programme where young people aged 15-17 take part in a four week course over the summer holidays. The scheme aims to teach essential life skills and works to foster links and understanding between young people from different backgrounds. One of the key focuses is on charity and community work, which is where I usually offer advice to the students and support their various events.

This year I particularly enjoyed an event at the Redhouse Community Centre where the students had organised a fun-filled evening with a cake sale, raffle and live entertainment in aid of the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, a fantastic cause which provides emotional and practical support to families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness. It’s great to see young people getting so enthused about charity work and I will continue to support the principle of NCS.

Another annual highlight for me is the Swindon Down’s Syndrome Group’s completion of the Salamander Project. The project is a five day long course in which the participants work with local firefighters, police officers and paramedics to develop their self-esteem, build skills and have fun. They work as a team and learn firefighting skills such as abseiling, ladder climbing, search & rescue, first aid, road traffic collision, rescue skills, water rescue, and how to use real operational equipment.

I’m not supposed to have favourite visits, but seeing the youngsters from the Down’s Syndrome Group transforming into members of the emergency services and enjoying every minute of it, is certainly something I look forward to every year. If you do want to keep updated with the work that I do as your local MP and what I am up to, please subscribe to my monthly e-newsletter via my website: www.justintomlinson.com.

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