Scott Media and Best Mates partner up to help reach more people.
A Swindon-based public relations agency is lending its expertise to help a local peer-support organisation reach more people in need of a helping hand.
Scott Media has announced a 12-month partnership with Best Mates. They’re a charity dedicated to offering guidance and support to individuals navigating difficult times. Over the coming year, the PR agency will provide pro bono communications support. All aimed at highlighting the vital services Best Mates offers to the community.
A charity every year
Each year, Scott Media chooses a local charity or community project to support on a pro bono basis. The agency specifically targets causes that have a strong local impact within the community. Thus giving access to PR support that can often be difficult to justify within a charity budget.
Best Mates, founded by local community leaders Jeff Tucker and Carl McCulloch, provides support to adults navigating life’s challenges. It helps them access the right services when they need them most.
Built on the power of shared experience, it links up individuals with a dedicated ‘Mate’. Someone who’s had success in overcoming similar personal hurdles. That ensures tailored guidance and empathy in whatever way the person needs. The organisation also runs successful weekly Walk & Talk Wednesday groups. In this way they provide an open, accessible environment for collective mutual support.
Lauren Roberts, media consultant at Scott Media, said: ‘When I heard the story behind Best Mates, I immediately found myself relating to it. There have been times in my own life when having someone to talk to, who’d been through something similar, would have been so helpful.
‘That’s what makes Best Mates so powerful. The support comes from people who understand because they’ve faced their own challenges too. What Jeff and Carl have built is something special. Our role is to help more people hear about it because if someone doesn’t know support is available, they may never reach out for it.’
Scott Media and Best Mates – Lauren Roberts of Scott Media
A success story
In the two-and-a-half years since its foundation, Best Mates has achieved remarkable success. Named as charity of the year at the South West Business Awards, the organisation has succeeded in supporting over 280 people across the region.
Jeff expressed his delight at Scott Media choosing them as its pro bono PR partner for the next year.
He said: ‘As a growing charity, support like this is invaluable. It will help us to:
Raise awareness of the work we do
Reach more people who may be struggling …
… and ensure more people know that support is available.
We’re so grateful to Fiona, Lauren and the team for believing in our mission and joining us on our journey.’
To find out more about Best Mates, visit https://bestmates.org/. Scott Media specialises in PR and marketing services for small businesses and entrepreneurs. For information visit https://scottmedia.uk/.
CELEBRATING THE SUMMER SOLSTICE in style with Louise Muir Sage.
Synonymous with Wiltshire’s iconic Stonehenge, the summer solstice is being celebrated across the northern hemisphere on Sunday 21st June.
Reiki practitioner and founder of crystal emporium Something Kind of Woo, Louise Muir-Sage, is hosting a one-day retreat to mark this highlight of the spiritual calendar.
CELEBRATING THE SUMMER SOLSTICE – Louise Muir Sage owner of Something Kind of Woo
The summer solstice
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year and marks the official start of summer. This solar event occurs when the earth tilts closest towards the sun, providing the most daylight we’ll experience all year.
‘Spiritually, it’s often seen as a celebration of light, energy, growth and abundance,’ said Louise. ‘It’s a moment to pause and notice how far you’ve come since the darker winter months. For me, it always feels like a powerful energetic turning point. Everything feels brighter, more alive and fuller of possibility.’
In Wiltshire, the summer solstice is ingrained in its ancient landscapes. People have celebrated it for thousands of years.
‘Places like Stonehenge become a focal point every year because, whoever built them, did so with the movement of the sun in mind. Watching the sunrise align with the stones on the solstice is something people travel across the world to experience,’ Louise said.
There’s a real sense here that the land remembers. Wiltshire carries so much history, ritual and connection to nature. And during solstice season you can feel people slowing down and reconnecting with that.’
Kicking summer off
To kick off summer in style, Something Kind of Woo is hosting their summer solstice gathering. It’s designed to help people slow down, reconnect with themselves and embrace the energy of the season.
The event’s an opportunity to reflect on the year so far, connect with others and experience grounding energy. Louise will be working with meditation, intention setting, seasonal energies as well as creating our own smudge sticks using sage.
‘The focus is on creating a welcoming space where people can breathe out for a little while and reconnect with themselves,’ she said.
Also, attendees will see the return of the popular summer solstice box. It contains everything the season represents with crystals, a ritual herb blend, journalling tools, and incense. All chosen with care.
‘The idea behind it is that spirituality doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating. Sometimes it’s simply lighting a candle, setting an intention and giving yourself ten minutes to breathe.’
When and where
Something Kind of Woo’s Summer Solstice celebration takes place on Sunday 21st June, from 10am to 1pm, in Grittenham, near Brinkworth. Tickets range from £30 for an event pass, to £60 for an event pass and solstice box.
‘Modern life moves so fast that we often forget we’re part of nature too. The solstice invites us to reconnect with the seasons, the sun, our bodies and our energy,’ added Louise.
‘What I love about solstice season is that it reminds us to slow down, step outside, feel the warmth of the sun and reconnect with what actually matters.
Spirituality doesn’t have to look perfect or serious. It can be joyful, gentle, grounding and human. And honestly, I think we could all use a little more of that.’
If Commercial Road comprises part of the link between the new Swindon and the old, then Milton Road forms the other part. It takes you down to Faringdon road, where, before you, lies the GWR railway village. Well, the GWR hospital to be precise – with the railway village behind it.
Milton Road Swindon 1895. View from the bottom of the street towards the market end of Commercial Road. Milton Road baths aka the health hydro is on the right.
This Swindon street then takes its name from that writer of epic poetry, John Milton. Keeping with the poetic theme there’s a Shelley Street and a Tennyson Street nearby, indicating that a literature lover had a hand in the naming of this area.
Laid out in the 1890s, with Commercial Road as a continuation of Victoria Road, the expectation for Milton Road was that it would become the main shopping route between the railway village in New Swindon and Old Swindon. But in fact, it became almost entirely residential being separated from Commercial Road’s traders by the Wilts and Berks canal.
Today this thoroughfare is probably best known as the location of Milton Road baths, aka the Health Hydro. That edifce to health and social welfare occupies about one-third of Milton Road and a block of Faringdon Road.
And more of that shortly.
On the map
Looking at this section of map you can see Tennyson Street off to the left as you look down the street from Commercial Road. The blue line indicates where the Wilts and Berks canal once ran. At present a footpath runs on the line of the old canal giving access under the bridge to walk to and from the direction of Kingshill.
Map section showing Milton Road and surrounding streets Map from the National Library of Scotland
So, 1890 saw the building of Milton Road bridge over the canal. RJ Beswick designed the Central Cub and Institute, adjacent to Cromwell Street Wharf in the Neo-Dutch renaissance style. The construction of this club demanded the temporary blocking of the canal. Anyway, it spent the 1960s and 70s as a fondly-recalled discotheque by the name of the New Yorker, before meeting its wrecking-ball fate in 1982. The Wiltshire court building replaced it.
This construction of this bridge came about due to the extensive building work begun in the area following the 1885 selling of the Rolleston estate. (See Commercial Road for more on that).
At first called the Commercial Road bridge, this brick arch road bridge with stone balustrades underwent modification in 1891, to replace the stone balustrades ones of concrete and brick. It had steps and slopes down to the canal level. They though were removed sometime before 1960 thus blocking off access to Commercial Road.
1977 saw new steps erected to give pedestrian access from Milton Road towards the Brunel Centre. In 1981 the bridge again underwent modification with the replacement of the old balustrades and a face of new bricks to the frontages.
The canal walk bridge and the steps that give access to Milton Road from Canal Walk
Buildings of note
Milton Road features two buildings of particular note. The aforementioned Grade II* listed GWR Baths and Dispensary recently reopened after extensive refurbishment. Designed by JJ Smith of Swindon, 1898-99 saw the building of the washing baths. The Turkish and Russian baths were added in 1904-5 and further additions came along in 1911. See Secret Swindon, Swindon in 50 Buildings and my Born again Swindonian blog for more about this building of national significance.
Health Hydro Phase 1 Open – the Health Hydro from above – pic Jason Spickett of Swindon From the AirMilton Road Baths blue plaque – self explanatory
It’s arguably fitting that this haven of healthcare and leisure should sit on a street named after the writer of Paradise Lost. For Swindon came close to losing this piece of Victorian red-brick, health and social care paradise. But that’s a long story for another place.
Then, cornering with Tennyson Street, and featured in my recent publication, Swindon in 50 More Buildings, is the nunnery. It’s now a ubiquitous HMO. Built in 1896, the Sisters of Wantage moved into the house to work in the St Mark’s parish.
The ersthwhile nunnery on Milton Road/Tennyson Street inhabited by the Sisters of Wantage
New Space for Swindon’s Youngsters. A new 8-week project, titled Artsite Youth, launches this Saturday 6th June at Swindon Hub. The project will provide space for Swindon’s young people, with the aim of developing a longer-term dedicated space for them in the town centre.
The project invited local young people to come along and try out different creative activities each week. Or, if they prefer, to simply hang out. The idea is to support the young people to help shape the space. That way it will feel like it’s their own and something led by them. The project will listen to them about what they need from a longer-term town centre youth space and involve them in designing and developing it.
‘We want this to be an inspiring, welcoming and inclusive space and project for local young people” says Casey Hillier, project leader. “We know from things young people have already told us during previous projects that there aren’t enough spaces or positive things for them to do in the town. And we want to help change that.’
New Space for Swindon’s Youngsters – Artsite youth poster
Age range
It’s for young people from 12-18. There’s a new Instagram account, @artsiteyouth to follow to keep up with events and activities. The project will use it to hare young people’s creations and voices throughout the project, so adults are welcome to follow it too.
When and where
Upstairs at Swindon Hub on the Parade in the town centre. From 1-5pm on Saturdays 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th in June and on Saturdays 4th and 11th July.
A range of activities including zine-making, sticker and banner-making, street-theatre, music and mural workshops and more will be on offer!
Alongside this, there’ll be opportunities for young people to have conversations with dedicated and experienced youth workers about their ideas, challenges, hopes and aspirations for future spaces and projects, and to help develop these.
There’ll be a further two sessions on Saturdays 18th and 25th July. But locations and activities for those dates are for the project participants to decide during the first six weeks. They will of course be advertised on Instagram.
Access
Unfortunately, Swindon Hub’s lift is currently out of order which means the upstairs is not fully accessible. There is an active crowdfunder to raise the necessary £5k to fix it. Every donation is being match-funded by Zurich Community Trust; the link to this is: https://zurichfoundation.benevity.org/community/fundraiser/9808
‘We’re so sorry we can’t make this a completely accessible and inclusive space at the moment, as this is very important to us. But we encourage anyone who can to please donate to the crowdfunder! The quicker we can get the lift fixed the quicker the project can become fully accessible and inclusive.’
The project is being delivered by Artsite, a local community arts charity. It celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and has been kindly funded by a grant from Wiltshire & Swindon Community Foundation. The project follows on from previous creative youth projects such as the HOPE mural in the town centre, created by young people during the COVID pandemic.
Launch of the HOPE mural
For those who would like to, there’ll also be an opportunity for young people to talk about their experiences of what it was like for them to live through the pandemic. With the aim of improving health responses for young people in the future.
There are two further ways the wider community is being called on to help support the project.
In the first instance, they’re in need of old magazines for cutting up and using to create ‘zines’ throughout the project. And, in the second instance, they need more comfortable, young people-friendly seating such as bean bags or big pillows.
If you have any of either you would be happy to donate or lend to the project, or if you have any questions you would like to ask, please contact the organizers by email: artsiteyouth@gmail.com
Marketing Tribe get Brunel Centre. Town centre shopping precinct The Brunel Swindon has appointed the Marketing Tribe to look after its marketing. The move sees The Brunel collaborating with local marketing specialists, to help promote it as the go-to shopping centre for people living and working in Swindon.
The Brunel selected The Marketing Tribe from a competitive tendering process. What makes their choice noteworthy is that that the Tribe isn’t one marketing company. Rather it’s an association of separate providers collaborating to provide exceptional services to their mutual clients.
What clinched the Tribe’s selection was that the team are locally based. And further they have been working in the Swindon area for decades between them. So, The Brunel has awarded them a contract to look after their social media, PR and design services for The Brunel.
Meet the team
Leading the Marketing Tribe partnership with The Brunel are:
Social media expert Tracy Marland
PR consultant Jo Smyth
and brand and design specialist Mike Land, with …
… photography from Elizabeth Donovan.
Marketing Tribe get Brunel Centre
L-r: Tracy Marland, Jo Smyth, The Brunel’s Laura Sackett, and Mike Land
‘We were so delighted to have won the tender. As Swindon-based business owners ourselves, we’re enjoying supporting The Brunel in engaging the local audience and showcasing the centre as part of the community,’ said Tracy, who runs Social Butterfly Digital.
Jo Smyth, who runs PR consultancy Word Worker, said she’s hoping greater and more positive media coverage will shine a light on the wide range of stores and activities on offer at The Brunel.
Branding expert Mike Land, of Nickel Design, added: ‘It’s great to be working with The Brunel. It’s been the centre of the town for years. I remember it from when I first came to Swindon for college in the early nineties. So it’s great to now be helping strengthen its identity and position it as a destination for the local community.’
A spokesperson for the Brunel, said: ‘We love working with the Marketing Tribe. We enjoy the positive energy they are bringing towards promoting The Brunel and Swindon town centre. Having marketing led by local people is important. They understand our shoppers, so it’s easy to arrange face-to-face meetings, and have the team on site. Where possible we prefer to use local suppliers to help support the local economy.’
Not only but also
The Brunel is one of many organisations to opt for the Marketing Tribe’s collaborative approach to providing marketing services, bringing together experts under one roof. Recently, the team collaborated with KT Family Solicitors. Between them they provide:
Branding
Website design and build
Copy
Photography
PR and social media for this Royal Wootton Bassett law firm.
