It was good to be back at Cavendish Square in Park South last week for the opening of a brand new Prospect Hospice shop. This is a great new resource for the community, which also offers residents the opportunity to support a wonderful local charity, which plays such an important role here in Swindon. The new shop sells good quality second-hand clothing, toys, books, jigsaws, household items, furniture, and much more, so why not pay them a visit? Did you know that Prospect Hospice also has an excellent selection of goods on sale via their online shop here Prospect Hospice | eBay Stores
At the end of May, the government announced that it was taking steps to clamp down on traders selling vapes to children under the age of eighteen, which is illegal here in the UK. I am very concerned about the sharp rise in children vaping, so I am glad that the Prime Minister has announced these measures, including a new illicit vape enforcement squad – backed by £3 million. The government has also announced increased education and dedicated school police liaison officers to keep illegal vapes out of schools, as well as a review of rules around the sale of nicotine-free vapes and fines for shops selling illicit vapes to be reviewed.
I am calling on local retailers here in south Swindon to take advantage of the free information, advice, and resources available to them as part of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) Campaign this summer, to help them prevent underage sales and identify illegal vapes. The resources included Challenge 25 Posters, a Selling Vapes Responsibly Guide and information on how to report the selling of illegal vapes and can be found here: Campaigns | ACS
As we approach GCSE Results Day this coming Thursday, I would like to wish good luck to all of those receiving their results here in Swindon. If your results are better than you expected on Thursday, or as you expected, that is great. If, however, your results are not as good as you expected, please remember that there are many other options available to you. As mentioned in my column last week, the charity Place2Be understands the pressure that pupils may feel around exams and results and have put together a series of guides aimed at helping young people to navigate the exam season and manage their emotions during this period. These guides contain useful advice and practical tips for students, parents/carers and school staff and can be found on the website here https://www.place2be.org.uk/exams
This summer I am supporting a Barnardo’s Campaign to make sure that every child in England and Wales who experiences exploitation has access to the specialist support services that they need. No child should be left to cope alone after being exploited, but a postcode lottery of services means that not all children are receiving the support that they need to recover, and this must change. You can join Barnardo’s in helping children recover and build their lives after experiencing trauma by adding your name to the campaign here https://bit.ly/3qksBX0
Following this, it seems more than appropriate to name Barnardo’s as my charity of the week. Barnardo’s supports and protects children and young people facing a wide range of issues, from drug abuse to disability, from sexual abuse to domestic violence. Like their founder, Thomas Barnardo, the charity believes that with the right help, children can change their lives and achieve their potential. There are many ways in which you can become involved and support this wonderful charity, including donating, fundraising, volunteering, and campaigning with the charity. To find out more please visit https://www.barnardos.org.uk/
