Christ Church Gets Eco Award. Christ Church Swindon is the proud recipient of the A Rocha UK Eco Church Gold Award. It recognises the church as a national leader in Christian creation care. The award follows a detailed and rigorous assessment process. During it, evaluators described Christ Church as ‘as beacon Christian community, inspiring other churches to make a similar journey in their own context.’
The gold award is the highest level in A Rocha UK’s Eco Church scheme. The scheme encourages and supports churches in caring for God’s earth through worship, buildings, land, community engagement, and lifestyle. Christ Church is now one of only 109 churches in the UK to achieve the Gold Award, the third in the Diocese of Bristol and the first in Swindon.
Dedicated team
This achievement is in large part thanks to the dedicated work of the church’s Eco Team. Headed by Anne Grainger, her leadership and commitment have helped turn vision into reality.
Anne Grainger, Eco Team Chair, said:
‘We’re happy to receive this award as it shows we’re moving in the right direction. This isn’t the finish line but a milestone on our journey to help protect the earth for future generations. And to inspire others to do the same.’
Daphne Hardwick, Christ Church Eco Fair Organiser, said:
‘We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the many local eco and wildlife organisations who’ve supported and partnered with us throughout this journey. Their expertise, encouragement, and collaboration have been invaluable in helping us achieve this milestone. We look forward to continuing these strong partnerships as we work together in our community to care for God’s creation.’
The Rt Revd Neil Warwick, Suffragan Bishop of Swindon, said:
‘I’d like to offer my congratulations to Christ Church Swindon for becoming the first church building in Swindon to receive this status. They’ve joined two other congregations in the diocese who’re also commended for their attentiveness to environmental justice. This is a wonderful example of how our church communities are responding to the cry of the earth. And I’m pleased that their hard work has received this recognition.’
The Revd Canon Simon Stevenette, Vicar of Christ Church with St Mary’s, expressed gratitude for the dedication of any people over the years:
‘This achievement is the result of years of prayer, action and partnership. We’re thankful for all who’ve worked so hard to help us reach this point. From those who inspired our creation care journey years ago, to the many volunteers and community partners who have been part of our mission. We’re honoured to get this recognition and are humbled by the responsibility to inspire others in caring for God’s creation.’
Christ Church Gets Eco Award – The Swindon Christ Church eco team
A tribute
The award is also a tribute to the legacy of creation care pioneers within the church, including:
Owen Barraclough
Margaret Williams
Phil Mansfield
As well as the inspiration of Martin Palmer and the encouragement of the Old Town Partnership and Swindon Deanery colleagues.
Looking ahead, Christ Church plans to continue working with its many community partners to further develop its environmental mission, seeking to live out God’s passion for the renewal of the whole created order. We hope that this Gold Award will inspire other churches to pursue environmental initiatives. And hear the cry of the earth and join us in achieving Net Zero by 2030.
Big Breakfast Meets High Sheriff of Wiltshire. Wiltshire’s High Sheriff Martin Nye had an early start when he visited Swindon’s Big Breakfast Plus. He did so as part of his focus on food, exploring the theme of farm to fork.
Martin, who took over as High Sheriff in April and who is also chair of the Soil Association, spent time at the charity. It opens seven days a week, from 7.30am, offering a cooked breakfast and warm welcome to homeless and hungry people in Swindon.
Big Breakfast Plus operate from the Pilgrim Centre, and fits well into the farm to food theme. It uses locallysourced food where possible. This includes 800 free range eggs a week from Beechwood Eggs in Berkshire.
They also get organic milk from 10 Green Bottles at Berkeley Farm Dairy in Wroughton. And some of the sausages come from Helen Browning’s organic farm in Bishopstone. Donations of fruit are also brought in, from a local allotment.
Martin said: ‘I was so impressed with the well-oiled machine of Big Breakfast Plus. The speed, efficiency, and very high standards, all delivered with good humour and kindness. The charity and its volunteers are doing some valuable work that’s evidently a vital part of the lives of the people who use the service.’
Big Breakfast Meets High Sheriff – Wiltshire High Sheriff Martin Nye with volunteers at Big Breakfast Plus
A warm welcome
Big Breakfast Plus trustee Charlotte Mannion said it was wonderful to welcome the High Sheriff.
She said: ‘He spent a lot of time talking to the team, volunteers and guests and seemed most interested in what we are doing. We agree with the principle of using local produce where we can, and are always interested in hearing from potential suppliers. We get through a lot of food, here, often serving well over 100 breakfasts in a day!’
Big Breakfast Plus relies on volunteers to help run the café and also donations to fund its services. For more information about how to support the charity, visit https://bigbreakfastplus.org.uk/.
RPA Founder Business Award Finalist. Swindon-based entrepreneur Fi Da Silva Adams is a finalist in the prestigious Best Businesswomen Awards2025. That’s the UK’s largest celebration of female business talent!
Fi, is the founder and CEO of Swindon and Wiltshire’s leading performing arts company for children and young people, Revolution Performing Arts (RPA). She made the shortlist for the Best Businesswoman Working with Children & Families award.
After launching RPA in 2007 as a small drama group for toddlers and preschoolers, Fi soon expanded the programme. She extended it to offer creative performing arts experiences to children of all ages. RPA was the first organisation to introduce performing arts after-school clubs in the Swindon area.
Revolution Performing Arts Founder & Business Award Finalist – Fi Da Silva Adams, founder of Revolution Performing Arts and its sister company, Rapport Community Interest Company
RPA today
Today, RPA delivers over 1,200 sessions every year. 300 children attend weekly classes. And almost 5,000 young people take part in its Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme across Swindon and Wiltshire. The organisation also stages five public shows per year. They offer inclusive, pressure-free performance opportunities for children from all walks of life.
Fi said ‘Being named a finalist is a huge honour, especially for work that means so much to me personally. Performing arts has the power to change lives, and we see the impact every single day. It’s a privilege to create safe, joyful spaces where young people can be themselves and grow in confidence.’
Besides RPA, Fi also leads Rapport Community Interest Company (CIC). That’s a not-for-profit sister organisation aimed at 11–18-year-olds. Rapport explores all forms of performing arts, including:
drama
singing …
…and dance. All delivered in a way that’s age-appropriate, inclusive and empowering. The focus is on confidence, self-expression, and celebrating individuality.
Fi, who overcame her own challenging start in life, is a passionate advocate for the transformative power of the arts. AND the importance of every child feeling seen, heard and valued.
The Best Businesswomen Awards
The Best Businesswomen Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of women across all industries.
Debbie Gilbert, founder of the awards, said ‘This is the 11th year of these awards, and once again, we’ve seen an incredible calibre of entries. Despite the mounting pressures faced by women in business, from funding gaps to rising costs to the mental load of balancing life and leadership, these finalists have shown that female entrepreneurship is stronger than ever. The standard of entries impressed our judging panel. We’re proud to shine a light on these trailblazing women.’
On the 10th October 2025, the Gala Awards Night at the Daventry Court Hotel, Daventry will see the winners announced.
To find out more about Revolution Performing Arts and its initiatives, visit www.revolutionpa.co.uk.
Funding Boost for Swindon’s Arts. Swindon’s arts and culture sector to take centre stage thanks to £600,000 funding boost.
An exciting £1.3m two-year programme of arts and cultural activity has been launched in Swindon.
It comes after Arts Council England’s National Lottery Place Partnership Fund today (12 Aug) committed £600,000 to the programme. It’s set to:
Establish Swindon as a festival town
Unlock new opportunities and spaces for arts and culture …
… and map out progression pathways for people keen to develop their own creativity.
A new not-for-profit organisation, Swindon Culture Collective CIC, will lead the programme. It’ll support the network of arts and cultural organisations known (until now) as the Magic Swindon Network.
Meanwhile, Swindon Borough Council, one of the project’s partners, has appointed Kate Wyatt into a new role of Head of Culture, Heritage, Arts and Special Events. This is in recognition of the important role arts and culture has on the future development of the Borough. And while also directing the Council’s support of the project and providing strategic input.
Funding Boost for Swindon’s Arts – young people engaged in a creative activity
Swindon Culture Collective
Swindon Culture Collective will bring together the town’s rich and vibrant community of cultural organisations and grassroots activity. It will increase collaboration and visibility of everything the town has to offer. Further it aims to increase arts and cultural participation and inclusion. And celebrate Swindon’s creative and cultural life.
Over 100 local artists and organisations, including Swindon Borough Council, have together developed the programme.
Funding Boost for Swindon’s Arts – arts council england logo
Supporting Arts Council England’s investment are further pledges of £770,000 in cash and in-kind contributions from local partners:
Dr Rod Hebden, Director of Swindon Culture Collective CIC, said: ‘This bid was the culmination of a huge amount of work by artists and cultural organisations across Swindon. They came together to identify the strengths of the cultural sector in Swindon. And to bring the confidence and determination that working together we can achieve much more.
‘I want to thank the Arts Council for their support. Along with every single person who has been working with us so far and those who will help to get the work done over the next two years.’
Phil Gibby, Arts Council England’s Area Director for the South West, said: ‘We’re proud to award £600,000 in Place Partnership funding to Swindon Culture Collective. This marks a pivotal moment in the town’s cultural journey. The investment reflects the shared ambition of local artists, organisations and communities to build an inclusive, creative offer. And I’m especially pleased to see the council appoint a new head of culture. This is sure to galvanise the local sector. It’ll further establish Swindon as one of the country’s leading centres for innovation and inclusion. It’s thanks to public funding, we’re able to support bold, strategic projects like this. All helping to:
transform public spaces
improve wellbeing
develop local talent and open up accessible opportunities for all. I look forward to hearing about the positive benefits this programme brings residents and businesses for many years to come.’
Gratitude to partners
Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Planning, said: ‘This is an exciting day for Swindon. We have a thriving and impressive art community in the town, with a breadth of talent, artforms and events that never fails to inspire me.
I’m grateful to our partners in Arts Council England for recognising Swindon’s excellence. And for committing such significant funding to such a brilliant programme. Swindon’s arts community have and will continue to shape the work. We hope it will help bring our existing arts offer to new audiences and increase residents’ engagement with the arts.
‘As a council we’re committed to the life-enhancing power of art. And we also recognise the important role the cultural industries can play in regeneration and economic growth. We have therefore appointed our first ever Head of Culture, Heritage, Arts and Special Events, Kate Wyatt. She’ll lead our work on making Swindon a thriving cultural hub. I look forward to working with Kate and our wonderful partners as we embark on this important journey.’
THE BEST SUPPORTS BEST. Chris Hunt Skelley MBE, paralympic champion and motivational public speaker is joining with local charity, BEST. All to support their mission to help young people in the Swindon and Wiltshire area.
Chris is a multi-award-winning judoka. He’s also one of the most decorated athletes in his field, winning a gold medal in Tokyo and bronze in Paris 2024. He retired from competitive sport in 2025, and is a judo teacher, mentor and motivational speaker. He’s also a loud disability and inclusion advocate.
Since his retirement, Chris has taken it as his mission to help as many people reach their personal goals. He has joined with BEST as their athlete mentor.
‘I help support the people at BEST to enjoy themselves. I get them involved in whatever physical activity they’re interested in. Whether that be in the gym, boxing, or Brazilian Jujitsu. It’s such a fantastic place to work and a safe environment to try different sports,’ said Chris. ‘I’m very proud to be working with a fantastic team.’
The Best Supports BEST – Chris with the BEST team.
Be the BEST
BEST – Be a Better You, is a Swindon-based charity. It provides fun, accessible sessions for young people of all abilities to progress to a positive future. They use skilled and understanding mentors and sports coaches to increase young people’s confidence and emotional resilience.
‘Chris has been working with us for a few months. He’s person-centred and he figures out ways to get young people to engage with judo,’ Craig Hiscock, Manager at BEST, said. ‘I don’t think it’s sunk in for the young people, Chris’ achievements and who he is. To them he’s like any other member of staff. They see him as one of the team. The staff are more in awe of him. He is inspirational.’
Chris continued to discuss why the charity’s work is vital for the Swindon and Wiltshire community.
‘I got involved with BEST because I like what they’re trying to do. Helping people find their feet and act as a good support for young people. As young adults, it’s difficult for them to understand where they want to go. In going to BEST they have escapism and support in helping them understand what direction their future can take.’
BEST means a place for people to escape the outside world when times are tough. It’s a fantastic place find and be yourself.’
