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THE HERALD • MID-APRIL 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Working together enriches our community Borough Councillor Matthew Lay writes in the Herald AS I WRITE what might be my final article for the Herald (I hope not, but I take nothing for granted) I had something I wanted to say while still the local Borough Councillor for Markfield, Stanton and Field Head. That something was a massive thank you. A thank you to all those who have played a part, big or small in enriching our community over the past 24 years whilst I have worked on your behalf. So much of what I think of as a positive improvement in our community has been achieved by working together. Sometimes this might just be another individual. Sometimes a group or an organisation, sometimes it’s another Council like the 3 local Parish Councils in the my ward. Often it is people volunteering their time for the benefit of others. Having been around for some time you do really get to appreciate the work people do to make the community in which we all live, a better place to be. Of course in saying that I am also aware that you get to meet people who do the opposite but often this is more due to lack of consideration rather than a deliberate attempt to annoy or do harm to others. It’s simply not possible to list everyone but for starters I have had the pleasure to work closely over the years with many local volunteer Parish Councillors at both Stanton and Markfield Parish Councils. Those involved in these institutions have come and gone, but all have tried to leave the community better than when they started. Both Parish Councils have achieved many positive things and have positive plans for the future. The Powers of a Parish Council to address some of
the local issues which cause most upset and anxiety are limited but nevertheless they have tried and persisted. I advocate more powers being handed to Parish Councils so they can get more things done especially around issue like parking and enforcement. They would need more support to this but it would improve community life. In Markfield and Stanton we are fortunate to have so many voluntary groups, clubs and societies operating in our community. We also have lots of public venues and halls to host them in, all requiring volunteers to keep them going. A big thanks goes out to all those who support these activities which bring so many people together. A few I would mention include the local history group, the Cubs/Scouts/ Beavers/Brownies/Guides etc and the Mayflower club, but this is just for starters. I grew up in a family closely involved with the Markfield Methodist Chapel and whatever your views are on religion I have witnessed and always been impressed with the countless volunteers involved in all our local churches providing a range of services (not all spiritual) to a good many people. This has included entertainment events, fund raising events and groups for young and old. Keeping the church buildings alone in a fit state is no mean achievement and we have a good number to upkeep so it requires a lot of volunteers and lots of effort. A big hand to everyone involved because the work can be thankless. One of the really positive things that has happened on our community in recent years was actually born out of a big negative. When the Leicestershire County Council decided it would no longer staff its own libraries, local people came forward to volunteer to keep it open and raise the funds
necessary to make it a success. It has undoubtedly been that and it offers a great community service which would definitely not be around if people hadn’t stepped up to take it over. We know this because some local libraries did close. The call for volunteers was responded to by local people and this made the task of securing the libraries future possible. A great achievement by all involved. Another big positive for our community is the fact we have two really good recreation and community centres in Stanton and Markfield. Both of these are run by volunteer organisations who give time so these facilities can be used by all in our community. Both centres host a wide range of activities which bring people together for recreation, social activity and events. Both are great adverts for modern community focused and multi-purpose buildings and the management committees and the staff all play a really important role for without them they would not function. Alongside our community centres we have many sporting clubs and societies and the Jubilee Playing Fields management committee. These organisations support formal and informal sporting activity which is such an important feature in any community. These clubs and societies also give many young people an important outlet for their energy and sets them up for future life. This conveniently leads us onto our local schools who of course operate in the heart of our communities. Remember though, sitting behind each school is yet another host of volunteers on governing bodies and parent teacher associations. As funding for our schools becomes ever tighter, the role for such bodies becomes ever more important in
Matthew Lay part plugging gaps. We need to recognise more that the learning and development of our children must be one of the highest priorities and responsibilities. My final thank you recognises the those involved in the publication and distribution of the local Herald which I have faithfully contributed to over many years. The magazine allows groups and societies, individuals and more to raise profile, ask for support or simply inform others what is happening. Without such a publication it would be harder to sustain the voluntary works of those they represent. I hear many positive things about the Herald and if it didn’t exist we would have to invent it of that I am sure. The people, groups and organisations I have mentioned above (which is not a conclusive list by any means) really do make a difference to our lives even if you don’t always notice it. They just go about doing what needs to be done. It can be hard sometimes when contributions go unrecognised but I do think that in the end more notice and appreciate than is realised. I for one recognise that my efforts working in this community would be so much harder without the countless others going about doing their bit. It’s for that reason I wanted to say thank you just in case nobody else does. You make our community a better place to be.
Matthew Lay
I know I’m drinking myself to a slow death. But, then again, I’m in no hurry.