IT'S WEDNESDAY - SO IT MUST BE "GIRLS ABOUT TOWN"!

Those who “follow” me will know that I am now one of the “Girls About Town” on Swindon 105.5 Radio each Wednesday morning from 10 until 12 noon.  Today it was presented by Harriet - top middle of my collage - and sadly it was her last day because she is moving to Bristol to train to become a corporate lawyer.  All the music for today’s programme was chosen by Harriet and there weren’t too many tears - in fact, we were all delighted when Harriet opened a large red tin and produced a wonderful home-made vegan chocolate cake - and I can tell you, it was absolutely delicious but afterwards, we had to do lots of chair-obics to counteract the calories - not easy when there are seven ladies girls in a small studio!

The usual format is that in the first hour there is a guest, or guests, and they chat about what they do or what they are promoting, with music and chat interspersed.  Today there were three guests, Kati (pronounced Kutty), Elaine and Jenny from the Swindon Community Health and Wellbeing Team.  

I must confess I knew nothing about this Team so it was interesting to hear all that they do in the community, which includes giving information and advice to individuals on a whole range of issues from loneliness, sorting out benefits, how to lead an active lifestyle and volunteering.  This advice may be either as a result of a referral from the client’s GP or the client can ring The Live Well Swindon Hub and find out information for themselves.  

The Team seeks to place volunteers with clients, often on a one-to-one basis, with regular visits to help with shopping or other tasks, or simply to sit and have a coffee and a piece of cake with someone who is lonely and cannot get out, and form friendships so that they don’t feel so lonely.  

If volunteers are not able to help on a regular basis, then there is an initiative called “Local Heroes” where a volunteer can be contacted if someone needs a parcel to be collected, or needs a fridge for medication to be delivered or any other “one-off” job. 

All in all, it sounds a wonderful service to the community and I hope that after hearing how enthusiastic the three ladies were, more people will get in touch to volunteer, or even to take advantage of the services they provide.  

In my collage today, you will see Shirley, the Station Manager at the top left obviously trying to sort out an issue and looking rather pensive.  Underneath is Vikki, teased today and called “the late Vikki” because she was about half an hour late and at the bottom left is Karen, the administrator at the Radio Station, who does a great job and who also looks deep in thought.  Harriet, as I have already said, is at the top middle and top right - well it’s only fair it should be more about her today, on her last day at the Radio Station, and I rather liked her snazzy shoes, so they are in the middle right.  The four actual “Girls About Town” are in the middle at the bottom, with Jo looking very thoughtful at the bottom right. 

After the programme we went out to a local Italian Restaurant, Da Vinci, for a meal with Harriet and it was good to meet up with Angela and another Jo - I think it’s fair to say that Harriet had a good send off.  We hope that she will have a great three weeks in London, doing some training and then in Bristol.  I’m sure she will pop in to see us from time to time and as the programme is repeated on a Thursday evening from 10 p.m. until midnight, she might even listen in to see what we get up to in her absence.

“Never underestimate 
     the difference YOU can make 
          in the lives of others. 
Step forward, 
     reach out 
          and help. 
This week reach out 
     to someone 
          who might need a lift” 
Pablo