My trip to India and recognition for our work with the Armed Forces

As some of you may know I recently took a trip with a colleague from the House of Lords to India. It was a late summer holiday and a break away to see the country and its famous landmarks and attractions.

Jane and Baroness Liz Redfern

But the trip also gave me a real insight into a very different culture and way of living and yet in so many ways what I saw and experienced resonated so much with Wiltshire. They have a very strong ethos around building communities that look after their own and support those most vulnerable. They take volunteering and helping others as part of their everyday life and for me one of the highlights of my trip was a visit to the Golden Temple. Every day, all day hundreds of volunteers welcome and feed tens of thousands of people who otherwise would not have a meal or sustenance, or time with other people. Seeing humanity on this scale was both humbling and encouraging. I have shared some of the pictures from my trip to highlight these awesome sights and people.

Outside the Golden Temple

Inside the Golden Temple

Taj Mahal

Wiltshire embraces volunteering and we have always prioritised looking after those who are most vulnerable and I am often overwhelmed by people’s generosity and kindness and their tenacity to help others and make a difference. My visit to India was a reminder that across the world volunteers are helping to make life so much better for others.

On returning from India, this week’s full council meeting highlighted for me our humanity to others in Wiltshire. A family of Syrian refugees spoke to us about their experience two years on since after being relocated in the county. In fluent English they told us their delight to be part of a community where they now work and study and have expanded their family with a new 2 month old baby daughter. Their gratitude shone through and they are thankful for the opportunity to have a future that provides security and support. Everyone at the meeting was humbled and united in their support for the family and the many other refugees we have housed and continue to offer a home to. 

We do communities well in Wiltshire and I’m very proud that we do…

I was so delighted that our work to help integrate military and civilian communities in Wiltshire was recognised at the highest level. Alistair Cunningham and Kevin Ladner – who have worked tirelessly to bring these communities together - joined me to receive, on behalf of Wiltshire Council, the MOD's Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award from HRH Price Harry at a ceremony in London last week. This is the highest badge of honour for organisations that have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and demonstrated their outstanding support for those who serve and have served. It recognises the work we do to support the military community and our ex-service personnel who have made their home in our county. 

We know that to have strong and able communities we need to help them to integrate and provide the support and facilities needed to do this. Whilst we could show India a thing or two, I did learn a lot from my time there. What I do know is that when we unite together and pool our talent and energy we can achieve so much and really go some way to help improve the lives of others and ourselves…

Finally, after 11 years we are saying farewell to Carolyn Godfrey, and I can honestly say that we wouldn’t be as strong as we are now without her incredible service and giving. Carolyn, thank you for all you have done - you will be so missed.

Jane