Community Spirit Shines Bright AT SOUTH SWINDON’S CHRISTMAS LIGHT SWITCH ON EVENTS.
South Swindon Parish Council’s series of Christmas tree light switch on events proved to be a tremendous success last week. Hundreds of residents came together to celebrate the start of the festive season across three local communities.
The Mayor of Swindon, Cllr Imtiyaz Shaikh was delighted to attend all three events with South Swindon Parish Councillors.
The kick off
The celebrations kicked off at Broadgreen Community Centre on Tuesday 19 November. That event featured Rhythmix Goa, St Luke’s Choir and dance group Sizzling Stars entertaining residents with fantastic Christmas carols and dancing. The community centre hall was also packed with stalls and food. Santa also made a special visit, giving out free treats to the young people in attendance.
Community Spirit Shines Bright – The Mayor of Swindon, Cllr Imtiyaz Shaikh, to his left Cllrs Rebecca Banwell-Moore and and Cllr Marianne Le Coyte Grinney & to his right, Cllr Neil Hopkins & Cllr Trish Philpot
Cavendish Square came alive on Wednesday evening with musical performances from Natasha Bushnell and the Parish Youth Club. The Parish Youth Club’s festive tombola proved super popular. And local vendors, Mazza’s Munchies and Lizzy Bakes kept the community well-fed. Swindon’s own Stilt walker also towered above the crowds.
Meanwhile, the final celebration at Badbury Park Community Hub on Thursday proved to be a real festive treat. Local businesses including:
Lizzy Bakes
Stockers Street Food and …
Badbury Park Pizzeria … all created a festival atmosphere with their variety of refreshments. And Fandangos bar served festive drinks to the adults. Santa’s story time session proved to be a particular highlight, drawing crowds of excited children.
Oh Christmas tree!
The Christmas trees will be in place until early January for all residents to enjoy during the festive period.
Cllr Linda Kasmaty, Chair of Leisure, Environment & Amenities, said:
‘It’s fantastic to see so many families come out and enjoy the switch on events, supporting local performers and businesses and creating such a festive atmosphere. We’d like to thank all our local performers, vendors and community groups who helped make these events so memorable.’
Mayor of Swindon, Cllr Imtiyaz Shaikh, said:
‘It was a true honour to have attended the three wonderful Christmas light switch-on events hosted by South Swindon Parish Council. These occasions showcase the heart and spirit of our community. They bring people together to celebrate the festive season. I want to offer my sincere thanks to the residents and local businesses. Their support and enthusiasm has been second to none. It all makes these events so special. Your contributions and community spirit light up Swindon as brightly as the beautiful displays we’ve switched on. Wishing everyone a joyful and peaceful holiday season!’
Community singingChildren community singingChildren singing at Christmas tree community event
Words from the Hub 2-Extra Tasks and Other Stories.
Here we go with another eclectic mix of work by a variety of writers and artists. And including members of the creative writing group, Words on Wednesday, based at Swindon Hub.
A book launch
Members of a local creative writing group, Words on Wednesday, invite everyone to join them in celebrating the launch of the second book in their anthology series. It’s entitled Words from the Hub 2 – Extra Tasks and Other Stories.
Words from the Hub 2 – book cover
Matt Holland, founder of Swindon Artswords and the Swindon Festival of Literature, wrote the foreword to the book. In it he described it as, ‘Writing that is authentic, sincere, raw, and readable.’ This colourful little book includes poems and prose by twenty-two writers. An it features twelve illustrations by local artists.
Matt is an avid supporter of local writers and he’s taken time out of his busy schedule to be compere at the book launch. He will be joined by Stuart Lloyd Gould, a published writer in his own right, and the main sponsor of the book. Without access to his publishing company, The Anxiety Society Publishing Proprietary, this publication wouldn’t have been possible.
The short presentation will begin on Wednesday 11th December at 10:30 am, with doors opening at 10:00 am, upstairs at Swindon Hub, concluding by 11:45 am.
All welcome!
All proceeds are being donated to Swindon Hub CIO Charity No. 1196338. With free light refreshments and great company, we hope to encourage book sales. At only £4 a book it will make a great stocking filler.
Book launch details
Where – Upstairs at Swindon Hub, 36 The Parade, Swindon SN1 1BA. Free entry. When – Wednesday 11th December at 10:00 – 11:45 the presentation starts at 10:30. Free Refreshments.
Words on Wednesday Creative Writing Group
Now a little bit about us. We’ve subtitled the anthology Extra Tasks and Other Stories, referring to prompts given to the creative writing group each week. There’s no pressure to complete tasks. But they often inspire wonderful, eclectic results. Co-facilitator, Sarah Young, says ‘Prompts are useful and helpful. But at the end of the day, you’re writing. And writing is something everyone can do.’ Thus demonstrating the inclusive, supportive nature of the Words on Wednesday group. Penni and Sarah, co-facilitators, would like to invite you to join us in celebrating the launch and find out more about this amazing, free, Swindon-based creative writing group.
Swindon Hub – a community space
Swindon Hub is an accessible, friendly space run by the community, for the community. They aim to build a strong, cohesive and sustainable community with well-being for all at its heart. The Hub does this by providing spaces for groups like Words on Wednesday to meet.
Some useful links
Words on Wednesday – The creative writing group meets every Wednesday at 10:30 -11:30, no cost to attend.
DAVE SOUTHBY SUPPORTS WROUGHTON WITCHES. Dave, 31, who grew up playing for the Wroughton Youth Football Club, is covering the cost of the team’s kit for the current season and next. This sponsorship helps the grassroots club provide essential equipment. And having the right equipement allows the young footballers to focus on the game without the financial worry of kit expenses.
I played for Wroughton Youth from U12s to U18s. So it’s a pleasure to be able to give back to a club that played such a big part in my own childhood,’ said Dave.
DAVE SOUTHBY SUPPORTS WROUGHTON WITCHES – Dave Southby, founder of Dave Southby Financial Planning with the Wroughton Witches U12 girls team.
Making a difference
This club isn’t a wealthy grassroots team, so I know first-hand how much of a difference sponsorship can make. It gives the kids a sense of pride to wear a proper kit and feel like a team. And it’s amazing to be part of that.’
Lee Nott manages the youth football club, and said ‘Wroughton Youth Football Club is so important to the community. And having the support of Dave Southby Financial Planning means that we can make sure that the girls have all the right equipment. That way they can look and feel their best, and so play to the best of their ability.
‘Regular match kits, tracksuits etc – all these things make WYFC a place where the girls want to come and enjoy football. We are able to deliver all these things and the girls’ happiness, thanks to the support of people like Dave’
Beyond sponsorships and community events, Dave’s efforts have found recognition on a larger scale. In October, Dave Southby Financial Planning received the Positive Business Award at The Business Exchange South West Awards. That accolade honours businesses making a tangible effect in their communities.
Dave’s company received recognition for its contributions to various local causes. They include fundraising, mental health and wellbeing initiatives and green projects.
Dave and Neil took on the 100km Thames Path Walk. Their walk raised over £3,000 for The Kelly Foundation, their chosen charity of the year.
More than a corporate responsibility
For Dave, supporting local initiatives is more than a corporate responsibility. It’s a personal passion. ‘I want to encourage other local businesses to get involved with causes they care about. It doesn’t always have to involve money. There are so many ways to give back and often it’s the small gestures that have the biggest effect.’
Dave set up his financial planning business three years ago as a partner with St. James’s Place and is now growing his team. They work with individuals, families and business owners across Swindon and North Wiltshire. The team helps them manage their finances in an effective manner and plan for the future.
Big Breakfast Receives King’s Award. Swindon-based charity Big Breakfast Plus is among a select group of volunteers awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2024. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and equates to an MBE.
Big Breakfast Plus serves breakfasts seven days a week from the Pilgrim Centre in Swindon town centre. The service is available for anyone in the town who is homeless or hungry.
Big Breakfast Receives King’s Award – Volunteers at Big Breakfast Plus – Steve Grimmett Photography
BPP is run almost entirely by volunteers. And that includes a dedicated board of trustees with a mere four part-time paid members of staff.
Every day, the team serve 80 to 90 breakfasts, and on busy days this can be as many as 120. They pride themselves on serving freshly-cooked breakfasts to those in need. And all in a warm and welcoming environment.
A group of local charities
Big Breakfast Plus is one of 281 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways fantastic volunteers contribute to their local communities. And work to make life better for those around them.
Charlotte Mannion, Big Breakfast Plus’s chair of trustees, said she was proud and excited on behalf of everyone involved in the charity, to have won the award. In all, a team of around 70 volunteers are on a rota, helping to run the breakfast café, which is open from 7.30am to 9am.
‘Our volunteers are all amazing, committed, and work so well in their teams. I’m so proud that they have won this prestigious award,’ said Charlotte. ‘They come in at 7am, and run a calm, smooth community cafe. Then they greet our guests and make them feel welcome and comfortable. They look out for new people, so they can show them where everything is.
‘All our volunteers go through an induction and receive regular training throughout the year including food safety qualifications. This means we run an efficient and professional operation. The way our volunteers, in teams of 8-10 each day, work together would be the envy of many organisations. They show off all the aspects of high performing teams all in a two-and half-hour window day in and day out.’
About the King’s Award
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities. Created in 2002 to celebrate Her Majesty The late Queen’s Golden Jubilee it’s continued following the accession of His Majesty The King. 2024 marks the second year of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The announcement of recipients takes place each year, on the 14th November, the king’ birthday. This year’s award winners comprise a diverse range. Included are volunteer groups from across the UK. Such entities as:
A mental health and wellbeing support network for veterans and their families in Yorkshire
A group preserving a historic 12th century castle in south Wales
Volunteers providing English lessons for refugees in Stirling …
… and an organisation providing opportunities to engage in the arts for people with learning disabilities in County Fermanagh.
Representatives of Big Breakfast Plus will receive the award crystal and certificate from Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire Sarah Troughton later this summer.
In addition, two volunteers from Big Breakfast Plus will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2025, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.
Charlotte Mannion with Timothy, a guest at Big Breakfast plusGuests at Big Breakfast Plus – Steve Grimmett Photography
Scott Media Up For Award. PR consultant Fiona Scott has reached the finals of the UK Top Business Advisers Awards.
Fiona was picked from hundreds of advisers in the PR industry and across other important business sectors from around the UK. Her selection came for the outstanding work she does with helping SMEs and entrepreneurs use the power of the media to promote and grow their businesses.
Voting is now open for the overall winners. And Fiona, MD of Swindon-based Scott Media, is a finalist in the PR and Content category.
Scott Media Up For Award – Fiona Scott owner of Scott Media
Being shortlisted for my PR services is a real honour. It’s also a testament to the hard work I and my team put in to helping our clients get in front of their potential customers, using the media,’ she said. ‘I am often telling my clients that entering – and, better still, winning – awards is a great way to raise their profile. So it’s nice to be taking some of my own advice.’
Background
A newspaper and TV journalist, Fiona set up Scott Media 16 years ago. She formed the business to support SMEs wanting to leverage PR as part of their marketing strategy.
Since then, Fiona and her team have represented everyone from solopreneurs and inventors to larger SMEs and Paralympians.
This year, Scott Media also launched a speakers’ platform. Its aim to give clients a new avenue for marketing themselves via speaker engagements. She has a successful podcast – PR Not BS. And in 2023 published her first book, The Hard Yards, about her first decade running a business.
Enterprise Nation
The small business support platform/membership community, Enterprise Nation runs the UK Top Business Advisers Awards to celebrate the country’s hard-working advisers. They’re run in association with Constant Contact. That’s a global digital marketing platform that helps small businesses to grow.
Constant Contact UK General Manager and small business founder Erika Robinson said: ‘When it comes to running your own small business, you are CEO, CMO, CFO and so much more. Bringing in external expertise, helps you focus on what you love. Congratulations to Fiona from Scott Media, helping small businesses in the Wiltshire area to thrive!’
Emma Jones, CBE, founder and CEO of Enterprise Nation said: ‘Business advisers are the unsung heroes behind Britain’s booming small business culture. Businesses need their insight and experience now more than ever. We designed the awards to show how important this work is in action. All in order to help more start-ups and small firms find out about the benefits of taking advice.’
