News

  • Laura Cutter

Over 60s Christmas Lunch
Over 60s Christmas Lunch 640 480 Laura Cutter
And last but not least… the last Christmas Activity in our jam packed December calendar took place yesterday afternoon… an Over 60s Christmas Meal at the Kembrey Inn.
As part of its aim to reduce loneliness and isolation, the Council contributed £10.00 per person towards the meal and collected the residents via its community minibus. This event was so important, as for some, this will be the only shared meal they will have this Christmas.
There were 28 people that were joined by our fabulous Administrator Darry and Volunteer Bus Drivers Mike, Vic, Darren and Ian. The Volunteer Bus Drivers really cherished having the time to sit and talk to the residents that they only see in passing every week.

And that’s a wrap…! A massive well done and thank you to the Councillors, Staff and army of Volunteers that have made special Christmas memories for so many residents within our lovely community. From Christmas Competitions, Christmas Parcels, Christmas Meals, Christmas Parties, Live Nativity Scenes and Christmas Style Cafe’s – they’ve really pulled out all the stops this year.

  • Laura Cutter

Parish Council’s Donation to Swindon Foodbank
Parish Council’s Donation to Swindon Foodbank 602 451 Laura Cutter

“We hope our donation can help to make a real difference to someone’s Christmas”

For the third year running Haydon Wick Parish Council has donated £200 to the Swindon Food Collective instead of sending corporate Christmas Cards. The funds, Haydon Wick Councillors decided, were needed for a much greater cause.

Chairman of the Council, Councillor Vinay Manro said that “we’ll still be sending our festive greetings, but via email again this, so no one misses out. It seemed the most sensible thing to do again this year. We’ll divert the £200 funds we’ve previously spent on printing and posting corporate cards, to the local community instead. We hope our donation can help to make a real difference to someone’s Christmas”.

Swindon Food Collective is an independent food bank in Swindon. They currently feed nearly 10,000 people per year, one third of these are children. They have seen demand for their assistance increase across the borough, with one zone particularly being the Haydon Wick and surrounding SN25 area.

The Parish Council hopes their donation will go some way to helping with the preparation of food boxes for individuals, couples and families.  Anyone in need can ask for a referral. Referrals can be obtained via children’s schools, health visitors and midwives, professional carer agencies, social workers, Nelson Trust, Salvation Army, Threshold, Turning Point, Probation, Citizens Advice or the SBC Emergency Fund or Livewell Hub. These can either be in the form of a text referral form the agency of choice or a paper voucher which can be taken to any of the eight distribution centres.

Swindon Foodbank Collective told us: “Our workload has increased significantly since 2020 from feeding 6,000 to now almost 11,000 people and we have expanded our services from 8 distribution centres to 12 over the past couple of years.

We are now giving out in excess of 122 tonnes of stock a year which provides IRO 98,000 meals.

However, the cost of living crisis has meant that people can’t be as generous as they used to be.  Donations of food etc., are coming in at about 92 tonnes a year and so the charity has had to buy extra stock of non-perishable food, toiletries and household products to meet the increased demand. We are very grateful to Haydon Wick Parish Council for their continued support.”

To find out more about Swindon Food Collective visit www.swindonfoodcollective.org/.

  • Laura Cutter

Memory Cafe Christmas Nativity Scene 2023
Memory Cafe Christmas Nativity Scene 2023 291 302 Laura Cutter

Christmas 2023 came early for guests of the Parish Council’s Memory Café as they were welcomed to this special Christmas Café this morning with a live Nativity scene provided by Chloe’s Mobile Farm. The farm animals included Hattie the Cow, Ronnie & Reggie the Sheep, Tom Thumb the Shetland Pony and Norris the Donkey. The guests enjoyed brushing and stroking the animals and asking the farmers questions about their upkeep.

Guests were then warmed up with Christmas style café, a room decorated with a tree and festive fireplace scene, a table full of Christmas goodies and warm refreshments. Councillors and volunteers were on hand to host the guests and ensure they were comfortable for the morning’s merriment.

The Café included a very special Christmas raffle with homemade prizes including a fabulous wreath donated by one of the Council’s volunteers, cute little crochet snowmen containing a surprise chocolate orange and lots more goodies donated by the Council’s Councillors, Staff and Volunteers.

The merriment continued with Father Christmas playing some cheerful Christmas carols and then handing out the Christmas presents to the guests.

Councillor Rebecca Ross, Chair of the Community Development Committee said:

“This event was a very rewarding way to end the year. It was heartwarming to see the guests having such a good time and to see the connections that have formed through regularly visiting the Memory Café. My thanks to the team for their dedication and innovation which make our Memory Cafés accessible, fun and friendly for all to enjoy. My thoughts remain with the four families of the Café who sadly lost their loved ones this year and face their first Christmas without them.”

The Parish Council’s Memory Café was started in 2021 and since then it has gone on to win three community awards and become an established community café in the parish.  The café is only possible with a team of loyal and hard-working volunteers, expertly overseen by the Council’s Memory Café Co-Ordinator.

The Café runs on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at Haydon Wick Bowls Club. Booking in advance are preferred to helping with catering and planning activities. For more information, contact the Memory Café Co-Ordinator on memorycafe@haydonwick.gov.uk or call 01793 722446.

  • Laura Cutter

Councillor Allowances
Councillor Allowances 512 512 Laura Cutter

Haydon Wick Council rejects Swindon Borough Council’s Independent Remuneration Recommendation opting to freeze their allowances for a third year running.

At Haydon Wick’s Full Council meeting on the 12th December 2023 Councillors unanimously voted to reject Swindon Borough Council’s (SBC’s) Independent Remuneration Panel’s allowances recommendation and freeze their allowances for a third year running.

The Panel’s recommendation would have seen the Parish Council’s budget for councillor allowances rocket from £18,906.72 per year to £33,972.00 – a difference of £15,065.28.

After a thorough debate the meeting heard why some of the Council’s 18 Councillors draw down the £74.97 per month for a Councillor or £139.40 for the Chairman’s monthly allowance.

Councillors receive their allowance in recognition of their time and expenses incurred while on council business. By offering a reasonable and proportionate allowance the Parish Council is helping to ensure being a parish councillor is inclusive for all. As many of the Councillors commented that use their allowances towards funding childcare or dependent’s care costs, or to contribute prizes and refreshments to the Council’s various community activities.

The Councillors’ Allowance budget of £18,906.72 is to equivalent to £2.11 or 1.63% on the current precept cost of £108.68 for a Band D Household for all Haydon Wick residents.

  • Laura Cutter

Christmas Parcel Scheme 2023
Christmas Parcel Scheme 2023 800 800 Laura Cutter

“This year has shown a real sense of togetherness, and the Council is proud to host regular events which have been proven to have had a positive impact on the wellbeing and happiness of many residents. These include the Haven, the Memory Café and the Welcome Spaces initiatives.”

Haydon Wick Parish Council successfully delivered the traditional Christmas Parcel Scheme again this year, spreading festive cheer and goodwill to those residents in need across the Parish.

Councillors, Staff and Volunteers worked hard to pack and deliver the parcels on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th December 2023. The project successfully delivered 135 parcels to residents who are over 70 and live alone in the parish. The parcel included some festive food, toiletries and a selection of other useful food to be consumed this winter.

The Christmas Parcel project typically begins in September, when the Staff are tasked with contacting local suppliers for sponsorship and donations, administering the parcel applications and collecting all the produce, organising 15 delivery rounds and co ordinating the volunteers.

The Council is very grateful for the generosity of the volunteers and local groups who came together to help and would like to pass thanks on to Morrisons, Aldi, the Redeemed Christian Church of God and N&B Foods for their ongoing support over the past three years and the Swindon Food Collective for their contribution to this wonderful and humbling project.

Chairman of the Council, Councillor Vinay Manro said:

“This year has shown a real sense of togetherness, and the Council is proud to host regular events which have proven to have had a positive impact on the wellbeing and happiness of many residents. These include the Haven, the Memory Café and the Welcome Spaces initiatives.

This annual Christmas Parcel project is more than just delivering a parcel, the residents really look forward to this every year and it’s a good way of checking in on some of our most vulnerable. It gives us the opportunity to have a chat and invite residents along to events that they may not be aware of and reassuring them that the Council is available should they need support. This really is a rewarding project for all that are fortunate to participate and is possibly one of the most important community dates in the Council’s calendar.”.

The Council would also like to congratulate Callie, aged 11, from a local primary school for her creation of a ‘Mary & Joseph’ design Christmas card. The card will be placed inside the parcels this year, from all the children that live or go to school in the parish of Haydon Wick. Callie won a selection of merchandise showcasing her design from her own packs of Christmas cards to give out to her family and friends, a tote bag and a t-shirt.

This project is always a fantastic and rewarding way to end the year. The Parish Council wishes all readers a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

  • Georgina Morgan-Denn

Christmas Opening Hours
Christmas Opening Hours 458 355 Georgina Morgan-Denn

Christmas Opening Hours  

 

The Council Offices will be closed from 4pm on Friday 22nd December 2023 until 8am on Tuesday 2nd January 2024. The Parks & Open Spaces Team will operate a reduced service between Christmas and New Year: 

 

Wednesday 27th December 2023 

7.30am - 3.30pm  

 

Thursday 28th December 2023  

7.30am – 3.30pm 

 

Friday 29th December 2023  

7.30am – 3.30pm  

 

Normal service will resume from Tuesday 2nd January 2024. 

 

For urgent enquiries please use the out of hours line 07598 403789 [for text messages and voicemails only] or report any items to tidyup@haydonwick.gov.uk  

 

 

 

 

  • Georgina Morgan-Denn

Welcome Space & Haydon Wick Haven
Welcome Space & Haydon Wick Haven 689 713 Georgina Morgan-Denn

Every Monday between 11am and 1pm the Council Offices (SN25 1QQ) are open as a safe space that offers the opportunity to drop in, have a chat, keep warm, enjoy some refreshments, and meet new people.

 

Our wonderful Haydon Wick Haven and our winter #WelcomeSpace initiative run on alternative weeks. The current dates are as follows:

 

Monday 27th November – Welcome Space

Monday 4th December – Haydon Wick Haven

Monday 11th December – Welcome Space

Monday 18th December – Haydon Wick Haven

More dates coming for 2024…

 

The Community Bus Service runs on the same week as the Haydon Wick Haven, so please contact us if you require this service to attend. Otherwise, we would love to welcome you along to any of these drop-in sessions.

 

For more information or to book the Community Bus, contact Darry at:

admin@haydonwick.gov.uk / 01793 722446

 

  • Caroline Hunt

Award Winning Sensory Garden
Award Winning Sensory Garden 765 717 Caroline Hunt

“The Parish Council is very proud of its Memory Café and in scoring a hat trick of awards in the last couple of year, those being the Community First “Most Innovative New Project” award, the Haydon Wick Heroes “Best Community Group” award and now this latest award “Growing Together Award for Community Gardening””.

Haydon Wick Parish Council is delighted to announce that its Memory Café has won another award. This time, the award focuses on the outdoor Sensory Garden, created within the Council’s Leisure Garden Site.  This very special certificate was awarded from the BBC One Show and Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) in the category of the “Growing Together Award for Community Gardening“. The award is an attribute to the fantastic creativity and attention to detail from the Council’s very talented Memory Café Co Ordinator and innovative Parks & Open Spaces Team, who collectively worked together and their hard work has certainly paid off.

The idea behind the Sensory Garden is to offer a safe, calm and relaxing space to the residents of the Memory Café and their companions, to enable them to sit and relax outdoors, listen to the birds, amongst the carefully chosen scented plants, flowers and climbers which include honeysuckle, roses and clematis. The Sensory Garden will enable the residents of the Memory Café living with dementia and their companions to come sit and enjoy a safe environment to chat with others, potter, hand weed and plant. The specially designed raised beds make it easier to access the plants and save any unnecessary bending and lifting.

The success of the Sensory Garden has been complimented by several plot holders of the Leisure Garden site donating upcycled components including old sleepers, a timber shed, a compost bin and fruit trees. There has also been a lot of generosity from several local businesses with donations of wooden pallets, paving slabs, bulbs and decorative stones.

A small group of Memory Café residents who love gardening but are now unable to work on their own gardens, have got together in maintaining this special place. The garden has continued to encourage friendships to form, and those more isolated residents have had the opportunity to meet with others in a safe space. The Sensory Garden encourage conversations, triggers memories of the past and makes memories in the present. The benefits of having access to a safe outdoor space will have a positive impact on all those who visit.

The Parish Council is very proud of its Memory Café and in scoring a hat trick of awards in the last couple of year, those being the Community First “Most Innovative New Project” award, the Haydon Wick Heroes “Best Community Group” award and now this latest award “Growing Together Award for Community Gardening”.

 

 

  • Georgina Morgan-Denn

Trent Road Play Area Refurbishment
Trent Road Play Area Refurbishment 512 512 Georgina Morgan-Denn

“Parish Council works with local accessible play area charities and school pupils to update the fifth play area within three years to incorporate accessible play”.

As aligned within the Council’s Community Led Plan and aim to make play areas accessible for all, the Parish Council allocated £70,000.00 from earmarked reserves during budget setting for 2023/2024 for the refurbishment and enhancement of a local play area Trent Road Play Area, in Greenmeadow, Haydon Wick. The Parish Council sets aside budget for refurbishing the play areas on an annual basis as it has 23 play areas to maintain to a high standard for the community to enjoy. Last year saw the enhancements of Luna Close Play Area in Oakhurst and Gaynor Close Play Area in Abbey Meads being fitted with accessible play area equipment and interactive sensory panels and the wet pour safety resurfacing of Voyager Drive Play Area.

The specification for Trent Road Play Areas was to tailor the needs of children with various disabilities including the provision of a basket swing, an accessible roundabout and numerous play panels. As much of the equipment at Trent Road Play Area is in repairable and reasonable condition, the play area was set to receive an enhancement instead of a full refurbishment and therefore the specification was for a few new pieces of equipment and a cosmetic enhancement. Benjamin’s Smile Charity, Mums on a Mission Charity and Greenmeadow Primary School tasked with reviewing the tender bids received from various play area companies and coming up with a list of which items they would like to be included within the Trent Road Play Area during a school lesson on disabilities and how small adjustments to every day life can make a huge difference to those with disabilities and their families. Greenmeadow Primary School is considering fundraising to sponsor a piece of equipment in the autumn term and sponsorship raised will be match funded by the Parish Council and used towards the unit.

The Parish Council is passionate about eventually making all 23 play areas in which it is responsible for, accessible for all children of varying ages and disabilities. The refurbishment of five of these within the last three years is significant progress.

Four tender bids were received from different companies and scrutinized by the Play Area Working Party and the winning bid was submitted to the Full Council for approval.

Benjamin’s Smile, Mums on a Mission and Greenmeadow Primary School were very impressed with the designs for Trent Road Play Area, and everyone collectively agreed an overarching winner.

Wicksteed won the tender, for its innovative designs, utilising the budget and giving maximum play value within the space due for enhancement and the provision of several accessible friendly panels. The working party, Committee, Councillors and Officers agreed that the design was very eye catching, easy to maintain and that the design captured over and above what the original wish list was for a very competitive price. The Parish Council will be protecting the new assets with the provision of CCTV to ensure that the equipment is looked after well for years to come and to ensure that individuals and families using the play areas feel safe.

Councillor Richard Hailstone, Chairman of the Parks & Open Spaces Committee said:

“I am really pleased to report that we have been able to refresh Trent Road Play Area this year and develop the site for the local grass roots football club, AFC Haydon Vale, which occupy the site frequently. I will look forward to seeing Trent Road Play Area open with its new look in a few weeks’ time. Thank you to the local charities for feeding back on the designs and for the pupils of Greenmeadow Primary School for giving the thumbs up on the current designs and giving us plenty of ideas for future play area developments. Wicksteed was the supplier of the current play area equipment, which has served purpose for the last 30 years with minimal repairs and maintenance, the current equipment will continue to be used and be repainted to match the freshness of the upcoming refurbishment. Our focus has been making sure there is something for everyone with refreshed equipment that can meet most accessibility requirements, so that these can be enjoyed generations to come. It is anticipated that the refurbishment will be completed by the late summer/early autumn and will be opened by pupils of Greenmeadow Primary School”.

Pupils of Greenmeadow Primary school gave some heartwarming comments which really does showcase the importance of accessible play:

“I could go on the roundabout with my sister who is in a wheelchair”.

“That seesaw design is brilliant if you aren’t able to move like me”.

“Some people are deaf and can’t hear like us so having sign language for us to learn is really cool”.

“I love how colourful the play area is”.

Never miss an update by keeping up to date with all the latest Haydon Wick Parish Council news and events by subscribing to our monthly email bulletin. To do this visit: https://haydonwick.gov.uk/latest-news/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Georgina Morgan-Denn

Haydon Wick Parish Council’s Community Bus Service Wins Community First Award
Haydon Wick Parish Council’s Community Bus Service Wins Community First Award 2560 1538 Georgina Morgan-Denn

“The Council is so proud of the Community Bus service and how much of a difference it makes to the lives of the residents who use it”.

Haydon Wick Parish Council’s Community Bus Service was recently nominated for being the ‘Most Innovative Community Run Service’ as part of the Wiltshire Community First Award Scheme. The Council is delighted to share that the service won. This comes after the Parish Council won a Community First Award last year for its Memory Café being the best Local Community Project in Wiltshire.

 

The Community Bus service is a lifeline for many of our elderly and vulnerable residents. The service has been provided to the community for over thirty years and it is only made possible by the Council’s dedicated volunteer bus drivers who give their time each week to support the service.

 

In the past two years, the bus service has gone from strength to strength since it was taken over by the Council’s exceptional Administrator. Her hard work and tenacity has meant the service has developed beyond anything the Council ever thought possible – enabling the parish’s older and most vulnerable residents to leave their homes, form friendships and look forward to spending time with their friends on bus trips.

 

Some recent feedback from the bus users informs how fantastic the drivers are and what an asset to the community they are:

 

“I never get to go anywhere because of my family living far away and my mobility restricts me. This service, along with the wonderful volunteer drivers, enables me to join in and enjoy my life again.”

 

“We are so grateful and lucky to have this amazing service on our doorstep.”

 

“I couldn’t ask for a better service, everyone is so friendly and helpful, they really do care about me.”

 

“I really look forward to meeting up with my closest friends, on our weekly shopping trip.”

 

The Council is so proud of the service and how much of a difference it makes to the lives of the residents who use it.  The volunteers are at the forefront of making it such a hugely successful and much needed service within the parish.

 

On the Wednesday 11th October Councillor Vinay Manro Chairman of the Council, the Council’s Chief Officer Georgina Morgan-Denn and two of the bus service’s fabulous drivers Mike Gregory and Ian Perrett attended the Community First Award Ceremony & AGM in Devizes to receive the Council’s award. The drivers were especially proud to receive the award on behalf of the volunteer team and had a thoroughly enjoyable time meeting HM Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs Sarah Troughton who is the President of Community First.

 

To find out more about the Bus Service visit the Council’s website: https://haydonwick.gov.uk/community-bus/

 

Never miss an update by keeping up to date with all the latest Haydon Wick Parish Council news and events by subscribing to our monthly email bulletin. To do this visit: https://haydonwick.gov.uk/latest-news/

 

Left to Right: HM Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs Sarah Troughton, Cllr Vinay Manro, Georgina Morgan-Denn, Mike Gregory, Ian Perrett

Darry New, the Council’s Administrator taking older residents out to a Local Garden Centre.

 Younger bus users using the bus for a Toddler’s Soft Play Date organised by the Council.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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About Us

We are the Parish Council that wants to lead and develop our local community. We are self-aware and are committed to focussing on the urban issues that are important to the entire community.

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Haydon Wick Parish Council
Thames Avenue
Haydon Wick
Swindon
SN25 1QQ
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