It was a glorious day on Sunday for this year’s Polish Community Day at Queens Park. It was great to see so many local residents thoroughly enjoying this event, and I would like to thank the organisers for all of their hard work to make the event happen, and for giving the people of Swindon a taste of Polish food, music, and culture. I am proud to represent our great Polish community here in South Swindon.
I would also like to thank the Baba Lokenath Foundation here in Swindon for Sunday’s Puja. It was a great pleasure to be invited to this event at Swindon’s Polish Catholic Church in Park South and to see all generations gathering together for the Hindu community’s biggest festival.
As we begin to mark Carers Week 2023 (5th June – 11 June 2023) I would like to thank all of the unpaid carers we have here in Swindon and beyond. There are estimated to be around 21,000 carers in Swindon alone, and it is important that we raise awareness of the invaluable contribution that all of our unpaid carers are making to our society, and that is why I am happy to support Swindon Carers Centre.
I have worked closely with Swindon Carers Centre for many years now, and I am extremely grateful to the team for the excellent work that they carry out here in Swindon, providing a wide range of support and services to our carers. Swindon Carers Centre work in partnership with other organisations, including local NHS services, Swindon Borough Council’s Adult Social Care and Children’s Services, and other local voluntary organisations to identify as many carers as possible and provide the most relevant support for each individual caring situation. They also work to raise the profile of carers so carers themselves can have a collective voice in influencing policy makers and service planners.
As part of Carers Week 2023, I have written to the Minister for Social Care, Helen Whately MP, in support of the Carers UK call for the government to establish a new Cross-Government Ministerial Group in support of unpaid carers. Such a group would better enable the Government to coordinate its support for carers across various departments to ensure carers are better recognised and supported.
This coming Saturday 10th June, I will again be joining Swindon Carers along with North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson, and Mayor of Swindon Cllr Barbara Parry, at the Walk a Mile Event here in Swindon to show my support for unpaid carers. Please do join us at this event and show your support during Carers Week 2023. Full details can be found here: Events - Swindon Carers
If you would like to find out more about my work here in Swindon and my ongoing local campaigns, please take a look at my website here: Campaigns | Rt Hon Robert Buckland KC MP
Finally, my local charity of the week is The Sandwich People, a social enterprise offering freshly made sandwiches, cakes, and buffets. The Sandwich People is about changing lives and is run by people who have experienced homelessness and are now supported by the Salvation Army. They provide opportunities and training in a supportive but genuine working environment, and since 2007 are proud to have maintained a five-star food rating. You can find out more about The Sandwich People and the wide range of delicious food they offer by visiting WELCOME - The Sandwich People
