16 With the festive season behind us we catch up with Dr Hilary Jones to stay healthy
06 Wiltshire women in business
A feature from The Enterprise Network.
08 Angus Macpherson Our monthly focus from the Police and Crime Commissioner.
10 TS Theatre An update from local theatre company TS Theatre on an up and coming show.
19 inSwindon The results are in and its good news for the town centre.
20 20 Robert Buckland
Anything Swindon catch up with Robert Buckland, Conservative MP for South Swindon.
21 Justin Tomlinson Anything Swindon catch up with Justin Tomlinson, Conservative MP for North Swindon.
12 SNDOGS Our monthly check in with the team over at SNDOGS.
13 Drove Vets Our regular update from the team at Drove Vets.
14 Empire Cinema and Whats on guide
Keep up to date on the new releases and win tickets to a film of your choice. Plus whats on in the next few months. PAGE 04
26 Seven Capital Investments A leading property investment company has submitted a proposal to take over the scheme to create a regional leisure destination at North Star in Swindon.
Graham
Ian
Welcome to the new issue of the Anything Swindon Magazine. Welcome to our February edition of the Anything Swindon magazine, Now available in all four corners of Swindon; so you may be reading the Anything Swindon magazine for the first time, and we welcome you to our 31st edition of this local and informative lifestyle magazine. This month we have our regular updates from Police Commissioner Angus MacPherson, MPs Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlinson, and our animal updates from Drove Vets and SN Dogs. We have the first of our brand new columns from TV Medic Dr Hilary Jones who gives us his top tips for being healthy in the new season ahead. More Local Information: Good news for the Swindon town centre businesses who have voted to keep inSwindon Business Improvement District for a third term. A leading property investment company has submitted a proposal to take over the scheme to create a regional leisure destination at North Star in Swindon. Wiltshire Women in Business Conference 2017, The Enterprise Network has announced Red Shoe Biz Academy founder, author and entrepreneurial expert Rebecca Jones as its keynote speaker for the Swindon & Wiltshire Women in Business Conference 2017. Your news is important to us so if you have any stories of success or would like support for an upcoming event, please contact us and we will feature you in a later copy.
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The Anything Swindon magazine is now working with The woodland Trust, Supporting the campaign to protect precious ancient woods by supporting the ones that are damaged and fight for those under threat. Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity. Over the last 40 years or so, we have acquired more than 1,000 woodland sites covering over 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). The Woodland Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales (No. 294344) and in Scotland (No. SC038885).
Anything Swindon Magazines are community publications provided by Swindon-based people for Swindon based people. Contact us today to publicise an event or advertise within our pages; our advertising rates are of the lowest across the town. Happy reading,
Graham and Ian. ANYTHING SWINDON
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PAGE 05
“Success for women in business is all about confidence in yourself and your business idea” said Jones. “If we want to grow and improve our business, we need the mind-set and attitude to do it.” “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to share my thoughts and experience at the Swindon and Wiltshire Women in Business Conference” she added. Hosted by The Enterprise Network (TEN), the conference is celebrating International Women’s Day, showcasing entrepreneurial talent from across Swindon and Wiltshire and providing a forum for learning, sharing and connecting. With a packed programme of speakers, interactive workshops, networking and exhibitions, the event will build on the success of previous years to provide support, advice and motivation.
Jol Rose, Development Officer at The Enterprise Network said: “We are delighted that Rebecca will be joining us to speak at the Women in Business Conference. Her story is one of ambition and true entrepreneurial spirit that will inspire and motivate all who attend.
Wiltshire Women in Business Conference 2017. The Enterprise Network has announced Red Shoe Biz Academy founder, author and entrepreneurial expert Rebecca Jones as its keynote speaker for the Swindon & Wiltshire Women in Business Conference 2017. Jones is an inspirational female entrepreneur and has focussed on the meaning of success for women in business since she launched her first business at the age of 19. Moving from the failure of that first attempt, she dedicated herself to researching and refining the skills and mind-set that women in business need. PAGE 06
The aim of the day is to create a collaborative environment. We want to help people build lasting connections as well as to provide great advice that can help businesses on the road to success.” The Women in Business Conference takes place on Wednesday 8th March 2017 at the Bowood Hotel and Spa. Tickets cost just £35 per person which includes lunch and refreshments throughout the day. Further details and ticket reservation online at www.theenterprisenetwork.co.uk/women
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PAGE 07
Angus Macpherson Focus PCC and Chief welcome author of influential mental health report to Force HQ
“My sense is that police officers find the triage service in the control room a godsend. “When they are dealing with someone at a location they are very pleased to be able to speak to a mental health nurse who can offer advice and background information on the person they are with and arrange, where necessary, for an urgent assessment to be carried out.” Lord Bradley, a former MP who wrote a highly influential report aimed at ending the revolving door to police custody for mentally ill people and offenders with learning disabilities, has visited Wiltshire at the invitation of Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson. The peer was a junior Home Office minister with responsibilities for criminal justice, sentencing and law reform in Tony Blair’s government. In 2009 he produced the Bradley Report which examined how, in appropriate cases, offenders with a mental illness or learning disability could be diverted from prison. His review concluded that most offenders with lower-level mental health disorders were not dangerous and could be better treated outside the prison system without any risk to the public. Lord Bradley called in 2009 for talks to start immediately to identify suitable mental health facilities as a place of safety for people who came in to contact with police under Sections 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act, “ensuring that the police station is no longer used for this purpose”. He spoke of widespread concerns about the assessment of detainees PAGE 08
and said there was a need for better availability of information about a detainee’s previous contact with health services. Lord Bradley wrote: “If a mental health need is identified, the challenge for the police is to decide whether or not a criminal justice outcome should be pursued, and if diversion to health and social services is more appropriate.” Mr Macpherson has spoken out on several occasions about the unsuitability of police custody for people experiencing a mental health crisis. He has been urging NHS partners to speed up the provision of extra “place of safety” beds at a specialist mental health unit in Devizes and he has also helped to fund the mental health triage team which is based in the Crime and Communications Centre at the police HQ. Mr Macpherson invited Lord Bradley to Devizes to see for himself how Wiltshire Police and the Commissioner have put into action the relevant recommendations in his report. The Commissioner said: “I was very pleased to welcome Lord Bradley. I wanted to show him that we have taken action in Wiltshire and Swindon on the important issues he flagged in his ground-breaking report in 2009.
After chatting to the on-duty triage team, Kieran Holland and Chris Deaville, and to officers and staff in the control room, Lord Bradley met Chief Constable Mike Veale. Mr Veale said: “It was fantastic to have the chance to discuss this important issue with Lord Bradley. “Working with partners from the NHS we now have a triage service in place, which has had an excellent start. I am looking forward to building on this success. “It is vital that we continue to explore opportunities to work in partnership with other agencies so vulnerable people are able to access the services that they may need.” Lord Bradley said: “I am very grateful to the Commissioner for the invitation to visit Wiltshire and see the excellent work being undertaken between police and mental health staff. The development of the street triage service is of huge benefit to local citizens who may be in crisis. “The ambition for the further development of support and help for vulnerable people in Wiltshire and Swindon is clearly a priority for the Commissioner and the Chief Constable and that is to be hugely welcomed.”
PCC sets policing part of council tax for 2017-18 “I have been lobbying hard for the Home Office to provide fairer funding for Wiltshire Police. Earlier this week I met the Policing Minister Brandon Lewis to press the case for a better deal for our county, which is among the lowest-funded Force areas in England and Wales. “During meetings with our area’s MPs before seeing the minister it was clear that they were supportive of our case.
After an extensive public consultation, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Angus Macpherson has today (Thursday 2 February) set the policing part of council tax for 2017-18.
“I carried out four live online Q&A sessions via Facebook and Twitter as well as setting out my proposals in a range of media interviews. I attended a number of meetings to answer questions.
It will go up by £3.17 per year (or 6p a week) for the average Band D property, which represents an increase of 1.9 per cent.
“People were invited to let me have their views via a feedback form on my website, by email or by post. Parish and town councils and the business community were also invited to contribute.
The increase, unanimously supported by the Police and Crime Panel at a meeting today at Monkton Park in Chippenham, will help to protect community policing. It means that the rate for the police and crime element of council tax for an average band D property will be £170.27, up from £167.10 for 2016-17. The increase will provide the Commissioner with an additional £790,000 of local income for 2017-18. With an £814,000 cut in Government funding, Mr Macpherson says he is materially left with a standstill budget for the year ahead. Mr Macpherson said: “I carried out an extensive consultation because I don’t take decisions like this lightly. “This year I produced a short video setting out the need for an increase which was circulated to area boards across Wiltshire and to Swindon Borough Council for its localities. “There were links to the video from my social media accounts and my website.
“Of the hundreds of responses I received from the public, 66 per cent supported the increase. This was backed up by my specific Twitter poll where 68 per cent of respondents also supported the increase.” “The consultation demonstrated that the public are in favour of the increase to help maintain local community policing. “I am pleased that the Police and Crime Panel have recognised the strength of the case, and have endorsed the increase in the police part of council tax.
“This decision will leave me with a funding gap of £3.719m in 2017-18. This year I intend using reserves of £1.439m to close the gap to £2.280m. The Chief Constable is currently producing a plan to identify efficiencies and savings to enable a balanced budget to be set” Police and Crime Plan 2017 – 2020 The consultation also covered Mr Macpherson’s proposed Police and Crime Plan for 2017-2020. The Commissioner is still studying the feedback from the public and a number of organisations and deciding whether to make any changes to the document in the light of the submissions. After considering the feedback, Mr Macpherson will circulate a revised draft of the plan to members of the Police and Crime Panel ahead of its next meeting in Salisbury at the beginning of March.local citizens who may be in crisis. “The ambition for the further development of support and help for vulnerable people in Wiltshire and Swindon is clearly a priority for the Commissioner and the Chief Constable and that is to be hugely welcomed.”
TS Theatre Productions presents Eugenia by Robert Lewis
Sometimes you sit there and think there must be others, others as angry as you, who see the rise of fascism, racism, populism, xenophobia and feel like there’s nothing we can do about it. If only I could change it, if only I could do something about it. If only I could do something about them. Local theatre company TS Theatre Productions will perform the premier of the new political comedy drama play Eugenia at the Shoebox Theatre in March. Eugenia tells the story of Jean, a scientist who finds herself in a world where expertise is vilified and personality politics run roughshod over truth and human decency. Tired of howling into the void, she follows a more practical course of dissent. But at what cost? PAGE 10
An original piece by Swindon playwright, Robert Lewis,
directed by Peter Hynds this play is darkly comical and embraces the ridiculous as well as the profound. If you’ve never considered how a suicidal panda may choose to express himself,
this show has the answer. In typical TS vein, this play was written and will be performed within eight weeks. Given the topical nature of the story and the uncertainty of what tomorrow will bring, time is very much of the essence!
TS Theatre Productions was formed in 2011 with one rule: If you have a good idea then pick it up and run with it as quickly as possible. TS performed ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in 2012 at the invitation of the RSC and in the same year sold out Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre with ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’.
ANYTHING SWINDON
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DOG OF THE MONTH - PIP
Registered Charity No. 1163257 SNDogs (Saving Needy Dogs)
SNDOGS update Now that the evenings are getting lighter and Spring is looming – why not think about spending some of your spare time volunteering for SNDogs at the various events they attend during the Spring and Summer months?
SNDogs have lots of volunteer opportunites: PIP is a lovely little 5 year old dog looking for an extra special home. Even with only 10% of her sight remaining Pip is still curious about the world around. As she becomes more adjusted into a new home she will show even more of her true characFostering – do you fancy welcomter. Anyone interested in adopting ing a dog into your home whilst her needs to take a lot of things into it is looking for a new permanent consideration such as stairs or steps home? – fostering is very rewardin and entering the house. Pip may be ing and the dog can be placed with able to live with a small dog or cat, you – sometime for a few days/ she finds bigger dogs scary as she weeks to a few months - food, can’t see them; but seems better with treats and vets bill are all taken those similar in size to her. Pip finds care of by SNDogs. children too noisy and very scary so would suite an adult home only. If you can give PIP a home please email: sndrescue@gmail.com Fundraising - help out at various fundraising events – this can be a street collection, bag packing in a supermarket, jumble sale, a school fete or helping out at a dog show.
If you can give Pip a home please email: sndrescue@gmail.com Volunteering with us is very rewarding - you’ll make lots of new friends – human and doggy ones and trying something different is fun - you may discover skills that you never knew you had! SNDog volunteers come from all walks of life and the amount of time you can commit differs for each person but we all have one thing in common – a desire to help the dogs who find themselves in our care, loving new homes as well as to promote the welfare of dogs - the only stipulation is that you are over 18 years of age!
Up and Coming SNDog Events: Cake Baking - good at cake baking and craft making? Our Crafty Ladies Group make delicious cakes and amazing crafts to sell at many of our events.
11th Feb Bag Packing at M&S, Town Centre, Swindon 11am – 2pm
Please visit www.sndogs.uk for the full list of events
Home Checking we need to know if homes are suitable for our dogs and need people who can respond quickly to homecheck requests local to them. It helps if you are an experienced dog owner but SNDogs can provide full training. PAGE 12
11th Feb Valentines Dog Walk @Coate Water, Swindon meet 10.30am
SNDogs relies entirely on donations - there are many ways you can help SNDogs. Donate via Paypal – swindonsneedydogs@gmail.com or bank transfer to (Co-op) SNDogs Account No. 65622481 sort code 089299.
We also have an Amazon Wish List – search for Saving Needy Dogs. Visit our website for more info... www.sndogs.uk
Drove Vets Monthly update
Epilepsy - it happens, we can deal with it. Part 1 - How to recognize it Epilepsy, it is a word that can understandably cause alarm. This may be because witnessing a fit can be very frightening; because the timing of them can be unpredictable; because the cause is often unknown. Fits are the result of abnormal activity in the brain. As Vets, we see seizures more commonly in dogs, but cats can also suffer from fits. It can occur in any breed, although some breeds are more commonly affected. It can be passed through generations and be more common in particular families. Seizures occur when an individual is relaxed or asleep. Collapse during exercise is often due to fainting where not enough oxygen reaches the brain. Twitching, whimpering or growling when asleep (while dreaming) are twitching episodes not fits. Many pets have only a single seizure: if they have more than one seizure then they have epilepsy. Fits tend to happen in three stages. If you know what you are looking for, then they can be recognised early. 1. The first stage happens while your pet is conscious: they can become disorientated and may want to hide away, or they may seek out your company and come and sit with you.
3. The final stage is the recovery phase. Some pets will get up and carry on with what they were doing. Some may appear dazed and remain disorientated for hours and they may be temporarily blind. Some may have a set pattern of behaviour, drinking water or asking to go out to the toilet.
2.
As each fit can cause damage to the brain, several fits may happen close together.
The second stage begins with them becoming stiff as all the muscles tense up. They often fall onto their sides. This is followed by shaking and spasm of the muscles, which often progresses to involuntary paddling with the paws. They may loose control of their bladder and their bowels. This stage often lasts only a few minutes.
It is important to report any fit to and seek advice from you vet. When reporting it, note the progress and duration of a fit, and the circumstance that preceded it. A video of the fit is always helpful. Please read next month’s edition to find out how Epilepsy is treated.
24 HR EMERGENCY SERVICE TELEPHONE: (01793) 522483
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To win family tickets to a movie of your choice, please tell us in 30 words or less why you love going to the movies? Please email your answer to us at win@anythingswindon.co.uk Closing date for the competition is the last day of February 2017 PAGE 14
Swindon Parkrun A weekly FREE timed 5K run EVERY SATURDAY at Lydiard Park Parkrun SwindonOpen to all standards of runners, come rain or shine. Enjoy the scenic grounds of Lydiard Park whilst also getting fit - what more could you ask for? When: Every Saturday - Time: 9:00am ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Jon Richardson brings his new show, to the Wyvern The British Comedy Award nominee and star of Live At The Apollo and 8 Out Of 10 Cats is embarking on a nationwide tour to complain about the state of the world and offer no solutions. Since his last show he has become a husband and father, seen the UK vote to leave the EU and watched the rise of Donald Trump, all of which leaves him asking one question, why does it seem that no one else alive can correctly load a dishwasher? When: Friday 10 & Saturday 11 March 2017 ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Richard Herring: The Best The comedian brings his latest show to the Arts Centre Richard Herring, King of the Edinburgh Fringe, Metro columnist and the UK’s Podfather (RHLSTP, AIOTM) picks his favourite routines from his 12 one-man shows and crams them into 90 minutes for your delectation. Where: Arts Centre, Swindon When: Friday 30 April 2017, 8.00pm ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Whitney - Queen Of The Night The Wyvern hosts a stunning celebration of one of the greatest singers of our time A stunning celebration of the music and life of one of the greatest singers of our time. This award-winning production features a stellar line-up with rising West End star Rebecca Freckleton delivering a powerhouse and breathtaking performance as Whitney. Where: Wyvern Theatre When: 26 May 2017, 7.30pm ANYTHING SWINDON
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Put the Spring Back in Your Step with Dr Hilary Jones’
5 Ways To Stay Healthy “Spring has finally sprung! For many, this creates the perfect opportunity to ‘spring clean’ our health,” explains TV medic Dr Hilary Jones. “Here are my healthy top tips for the new season ahead!
1. Set Yourself a Challenge Challenging yourself can reveal qualities you didn’t know you had, and spring is a great time to get outdoors and set yourself a new goal that you can work towards. It might be a 10K run, a parachute jump or the London to Paris bike ride, and why not get some friends on board too for added fun and motivation! Convincing yourself that you will conquer the challenge will make you believe it, whilst boosting your self-esteem and self-confidence in the process!
2. Banish Unnecessary Stress Having too much on our plate can leave us feeling drained and anxious so it’s important to create a balance. Take 10 minutes to reflect on the things you find stressful in life and think about ways to limit them or get rid of them altogether! Unclutter your mind before bed every night and give yourself time to think about the things in your daily routine that are really important to you.
3. Spring Clean Your Senses Staying connected with the world around us is key to our happiness, relationships and emotional wellbeing. Whilst many of us visit our optician and dentist regularly, we wrongly neglect our hearing health – with research showing people can wait up to 10 years before taking action on a hearing problem! Don’t waste time wondering whether your hearing is what it should be — get the facts by getting a free hearing test. This spring hearing specialists Hidden Hearing is offering a 3 month supply of Healthspan Multivitamins and a copy of Dr Hilary Jones ’50 Tips to a Healthier YOU’ with every free hearing test. www.HiddenHearing.co.uk PAGE 16
4. Get Health Wise Do you know your cholesterol level and your ratio of good fats to bad fats in your blood? What’s your blood pressure reading? What is your height-weight ratio and what is your body fat percentage? Staying on top of your health and taking positive steps to look after yourself today will help to protect your health in the years to come whilst giving you a baseline to compare with in the future.
5. Perfect Portioning Most of us know what we should be eating in order to stay healthy but portion size is something that many us don’t give much thought to. According to the British Heart Foundation, our portion sizes have increased by more than 50% in the
last 20 years1, so try using your hand to measure your portion sizes: A portion the size of the palm of your hand should be your protein, two fist-size portions for your vegetables/salad, one fist or less is your carbohydrates (potato, rice, pasta etc.). Chewing your food properly and putting your fork down between mouthfuls will also allow your brain time to register that your stomach is full.
HEAD TURNER MEETS HEART STOPPER
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The MPG figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results. They are provided for comparability purposes, and may not reflect actual driving experience. RC F fuel consumption and CO2 figures: urban 17.5 mpg (16.1 l/100km), extra-urban 36.2 mpg (7.8 l/100km), combined 26.2 mpg (10.8 l/100km), 251g/km CO2 (37% BIK)
It’s a YES! Swindon town centre businesses have voted to keep inSwindon Business Improvement District for a third term.
The results were announced today by Swindon Borough Council’s Electoral Services, who independently collated and verified the returned Ballot papers. 41% businesses turned out to vote – up by 6% on the last Ballot. Of those businesses that voted 76% voted in favour by number and 79% in favour by rateable value. inSwindon BID Company Ltd has managed the town centre since 2007 and is one of only 23 BIDs in the country who have successfully obtained a third term. There are over 276 active BIDs in the UK which equates to over £240m being invested by businesses in to their ring-fenced local economy. •
478 businesses having one powerful voice for a greater say
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Reduced business costs through group purchasing initiatives
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A safe and welcoming town centre from the Street Team BID Ambassadors
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An exciting Events Programme to improve footfall and increase dwell time
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A more attractive town centre with increased footfall Subsidised radio link membership, CCTV for detection & crime prevention ANYTHING SWINDON
WWW.ANYTHINGSWINDON.CO.UK
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Co-ordinated town centre management of event space and attractions
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Town Centre performance measurement
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Co-ordinated approach to car parking and transport links – in line with Swindon Borough Council’s strategy.
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A co-ordinated marketing strategy for the town centre
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Business networking, intelligence sharing and a collective voice for the town centre.
Di Powell inSwindon BID Manager said: “This is such a positive result for the town centre. I would like to thank our members and the businesses who have voted to enable our continuation. I am particularly proud and thankful to the team for their hard work and grateful to the Board of Directors who volunteer their time and support to the BID. I look forward to building on the success of the town centre. Together we can create a vibrant town centre we can all be proud of. “Clearly there will be businesses that have not voted in support of the renewal and it’s vital that we engage and understand what we can do for these businesses going forward. “The next five years will be an exciting time for the town centre, with the regeneration programme and place marketing ‘Switch on to Swindon’ strategy highlighting the town as a great place to live, work, invest and visit.” Ian Larrard, inSwindon Board Chairman said: “I believe that inSwindon BID Company are uniquely placed to continue to help shape the town centre so I am delighted that the town centre businesses have voted in favour of the BID for another five years. “This is a great opportunity to build on the success of the last 10 years.”
Full details of inSwindon BID business plan can be found on their website www.swindontowncentre.co.uk
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R
Robert Buckland Robert visits Swindon Foyer
and Oliver to Swindon Foyer to see first-hand the important work that our team here at Swindon Foyer do on a daily basis. While it is only a small part of our overall business, Stonewater is immensely proud to provide these services and of the difference they can make to the lives of young people.
South Swindon MP Robert Buckland visited Swindon Foyer on Friday 27 January 2017 along with the Leader of Swindon Borough Council, Cllr David Renard and Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, Cllr Oliver Donachie to meet the Foyer’s young residents and take part in a life skills workshop.
Swindon Foyer is set in the heart of Old Town in Swindon and supports some of the most disadvantaged young people in the community. It offers an integrated solution to housing, personal development and the training needs of its young residents. The foyer is run by Stonewater, one of the UK’s leading social housing providers. As well as meeting the dedicated staff at the Foyer, Robert met a number of residents, who provided a tour of the building and its facilities. It was an opportunity to discuss some of the challenges young people face and to sit in on a life skills workshop where residents discussed positivity. Swindon Foyer accommodates 57 young people aged between 1625 years old. While staying at the Foyer, residents are supported to engage in employment, education and training opportunities, either on their own or as part of a group. Sue Shirt, Executive Director – Housing at Stonewater said: “It was great to welcome Robert, David
PAGE 20
“I hope Robert, found the visit useful, and that they will continue to take an interest in the issues affecting young people, how Stonewater can help support their ambitions, and that we can work together to provide these vital services in the long term.” Robert Buckland MP commented: ‘’Set in the heart of Old Town, this local project supports some of the most disadvantaged young people in our community by offering safe and supportive accommodation. During my visit, I enjoyed meeting with residents and staff and taking part in a life- skills, employment and education coaching workshop. I learned more about the types of support available to young people, which includes accessing employment, education, training, help with CVs, IT and cooking. ‘’I am glad that we have this facility here in Swindon, which provides vital support to those young and vulnerable people in our community who need it the most.’’
World Cancer Day Robert showed his support for World Cancer Day 2017 at an event held in the House of Commons on the 1st of February. At the event, Cancer Research UK will be uniting with five other leading UK cancer charities. MPs had the chance to hear from those affected by cancer and see how UK
charities are working together to accelerate the progress in the fight against cancer. World Cancer Day takes place every year on 4th February and unites the world’s population in the fight against cancer. It aims to save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about the disease. Currently, 8.2 million people die from cancer worldwide every year, out of which, 4 million people die prematurely (aged 30 to 69 years) World Cancer Day is the ideal opportunity to spread the word and raise the profile of cancer in people’s minds and in the world’s media. Robert commented: ‘’ Few families have not been touched by cancer, and mine is no exception, which is why I am pleased to support World Cancer Day. ‘’The Government is committed to improving cancer outcomes throughout the UK and recognises that investing in research is vital in order to increase survival rates. The UK is a world leader in health research and I am pleased that the science budget of £4.7 billion will be protected in real terms in this Parliament. ‘’I welcome the ambitious plans already set out to invest £6.9 billion in the UK’s scientific infrastructure up to 2021 which will mean new equipment, new laboratories and new research institutes.’’ You can find out more about World Cancer Day and pledge your support by visiting http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/support-us/donate/ world-cancer-day
Constituency Office 01793 533 393 29b Wood Street, Old Town, Swindon SN1 4AN robert.buckland.mp@parliament.uk
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Justin Tomlinson Justin Tomlinson MP Votes to Allow Government To Trigger Article 50n
North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson voted to give the Government the authority to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which once triggered will begin the UK’s departure from the European Union.
The vote came after a legal challenge was mounted first in the High Court and later the Supreme Court challenging whether the Government has the power to invoke Article 50 without Parliament. Following the decision of the Supreme Court last month, which ruled the government must gain the consent of Parliament before Article 50 could be invoked. Justin along with 497 other MPs voted for the bill to 114. With the vote now passed the government will press on with their timetable for Brexit by invoking Article 50 in March, this will allow for the process to begin efficiently and without delay. Before Article 50 has been invoked the government intends to publish a ‘White Paper’ on our departure from the EU which will entail more precisely about how our ANYTHING SWINDON
from Jamie Wood, a former bone cancer patient and amateur boxer who was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in 2010. Jamie underwent 16 courses of chemotherapy and 3 major operations as part of his treatment and is an inspirational story to sufferers of the illness. Jamie is supportive of this campaign and the importance of raising awareness of the illness.
negotiated exit will occur and how we will begin to take back control from the EU. Once Article 50 has been triggered this will begin the negotiations between the UK and the European Union for a more effective trading relationship, but will also allow the UK to begin exploring potential trade opportunities with other countries once the negotiations with the EU are over. Justin Tomlinson MP said, “I have been clear that as a party and as a government we intend to respect the wishes of the people who voted on June 23rd. Nationally and locally here in Swindon the vote was to leave and I would not be representing my constituents and the country by doing anything that does not allow this process to move forward. Parliament voted to give the people the chance to determine our future in a referendum, and I support the fact that the government is determined to honour the decision of the British public by taking this crucial step.”
Justin Backs Bone Cancer Research Trust Justin Tomlinson MP has given his support to a new campaign called ‘The Biggest Fight Against Bone Cancer’, the campaign is geared toward raising much-needed awareness and funds for bone cancer treatments.
Justin Tomlinson MP said: “I am unsettled by the fact that survival rates for bone cancer have remained unchanged for over 25 years. As the former Minister for Disabilities I know that many bone cancer patients are left with disabilities and in tremendous pain after their treatments. It was great to hear more about the Bone Cancer Research Trust and I am happy to give my support to see that their crucial work in early diagnosis and treatment options pays off. Mat Cottle-Shaw, Head of Fundraising and Communications, said: “Primary bone cancer, which continues to be an under-profiled and under-funded disease, needs everyone to recognise the importance of this campaign and how crucial it is to primary bone cancer patients. We look forward to working with Justin in the future to help raise vital awareness of bone cancer across the country.” Constituency Office
At the reception Justin learned that every year in the UK and Ireland around 600 new cases of primary bone cancer are diagnosed and around 300 people die from these cancers. He also heard
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LOSING OUR HERITAGE ?
HELP SAVE OUR THEATRES
FROM DEMOLITION!
Reading Palace 1962
“Just join in and become a fan of OLD THEATRES magazine. It’s a brilliant publication with something for everybody who loves ‘live’ entertainment and theatres where it can still be seen. Enjoy your copies and help keep our cherished venues ALIVE !” OT Patron Nick Thomas, Chairman of Qdos Entertainment
Three editions are published each year of our beautifully produced publication, containing over 150 illustrations (most in full colour) within its 50 pages. Highly collectable, OLD THEATRES magazine is now in its 9th year and has become part of our theatre heritage. Copies are also distributed to participating theatre organisations in Britain and America as we share our news. We welcome interest from theatre groups, museums, historical societies, schools and colleges. So that we can give our support. (Just send us an email to learn more!) OLD THEATRES magazine, 20 Rife Way, Felpham, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 7BW t: 01243 829904 | e: oldtheatres@googlemail.com | w: www.oldtheatres.co.uk For our latest copy, please send a cheque for £8 (includes UK postage and packing) made payable to T.G. Kirtland at the above address.
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Major development partner proposes to take over delivery of North Star scheme A leading property investment company has submitted a proposal to take over the scheme to create a regional leisure destination at North Star in Swindon. Seven Capital Investments Ltd, which is also one of the UK’s leading private capital funders, has agreed in principle to acquire control of Moirai Capital Investments in order to take forward plans to transform North Star with more than £100m of investment. Currently managing a development portfolio of more than £800 million, Seven Capital has been responsible for major property investments across the country and has identified the North Star development as an ideal opportunity for it to invest in the leisure market. Seven Capital’s interest in the regeneration project comes after the Council served Moirai notice of its intention to terminate the development agreement covering the former Clares site, which had been earmarked for an indoor ski slope, water park, hotel and other leisure and sports-related retail.
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Moirai was given until 12 January 2017 to fulfil the terms of the notice or see the development agreement terminated. But following the proposal by Seven Capital, the Council has today (11 Jan 2017) withdrawn the notice of termination. A period of due diligence will now be carried out by both the Council and Seven Capital which, if successful, will see the Council’s Cabinet consider whether to approve the proposal. Seven Capital has indicated it would also work with Moirai on the Oasis site. If Seven Capital’s proposals are supported by Cabinet, detailed planning proposals could be submitted later this year. Cllr Garry Perkins, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Economy, Regeneration and Skills, said: “It was a bold call to serve the notice of termination on Moirai, but we had to take that action to kick-start this hugely exciting scheme and get it moving again. “Our decision has been vindicated as a major funder has stepped forward with an impressive track record of developing major schemes, which is willing to pick up the baton from Moirai and help us deliver what will be a landmark regeneration project for the town.”
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