Robert Buckland MP for South Swindon Last weekend I attended two events which highlighted Swindon’s success as a home to diverse communities where people live, work and play together, whatever their backgrounds.

On Saturday was the Goan Summer Festival, organised by the Goan Swindon Association at the County Ground. Around 2,000 people attended, with music, dance, food and plenty of colour. I have worked closely with the Goan community over the years on a number of initiatives, and helped then with a variety of issues.

As I told the festival’s organisers, I am looking forward to continuing this work and highlighting the community’s valuable place in our town. They have integrated fully into British culture and are a real asset to Swindon.

It was an extremely successful day, organised very well by the community, and I was delighted to have been invited.

The following day saw the Family Fun Day at Queens Park. This is a chance for the local community to get together and enjoy a series of events…and enjoy we did! The weather turned increasingly sunny and warm as the afternoon progressed, and the crowds flocked to the park where the entertainment included a very good Elvis impersonator! There was other music, a magician, stalls, children’s sports and more. These were two very enjoyable events that serve as the glue to help bind our communities together, and I am proud that in Swindon, we do that so well.

On another matter, this Friday I’ll be chairing an important meeting in Swindon to discuss the future of mental health services. It’s the third time I’ve organised such an event, and I’m pleased that many of the organisations, charities and users’ groups in the sector will attend. They include the Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership, Swindon Borough Council, MIND and many voluntary groups who play such a vital role. Mental health care services are a real patchwork. There are some really good professionals and volunteers delivering a great service, but I am always concerned that with such a complex network, some people needing certain help may be falling through the gaps. This meeting aims to ensure that everyone gets the assistance and treatment they need. Mental illness often goes unrecognised and can be an unseen condition, and we need to make sure that nobody misses out on the advice, treatment and support they need.

After that meeting I’ll be holding an advice surgery at the Civic Offices. This will be by appointment only from 11.30am to 1pm. If you’d like to book a slot, please contact the office on 01793 533393. If all the appointments are taken, don’t worry, as I am organising a full programme of advice surgeries throughout the summer and autumn.