Agenda item

Swindon Ocotal Link (SOL) 

            Bruce Clarke updated the Network on the activities of the Swindon Ocotal Link, which included the following:

·        Visit from the Venture Scouts to Ocotal during July 2004.

·        Participation in the Twinning Conference in October 2004.

·        Hosted a guest from Guatemala who spoke at the Agenda 21 Hospitality conference.  Worked together with Agenda 21 and the Fair Trade Coalition on a grant application to promote a coffee project which was unsuccessful.

·        Successful visit by Lesther Figueroa – SOL expresses its thanks to the New College

·        Receipt of a grant of £750 from the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign for Primary Health Care work in Ocotal.

·        $9,000 donated this year to Ocotal, including donations from SOL members.

·        Visit by 7 people who had not visited Ocotal before – each made a donation of $200 to projects in Ocotal.

·        SOL now has a web site – Swindonocotal-link.org

·        School twinning is being discussed with Greendown and Hreod Parkway.

            Bruce added that as the Head of Ofsted had stated that Citizenship was one of the worst taught subjects in schools, Twinning could be used as a means to get this message across.  The Chair suggested that Daryl Jones (Senior Economic Development Officer) contact the Director of Education to find out which schools were currently involved in Twinning activities.

Swindon Salzgitter Twinning Association

            Reg Clarke again reported on the success of the recent Swindon International Festival and Conference and circulated a copy of the Swindon Festival 2004 Budget for information.

Swindon Torun Link

            Councillor Stan Pajak updated the Network about a trip to Torun by a junior ice hockey team to take place from 17^th – 21^st March 2005.  Places on the coach and at the hotel were still available for anyone wishing to visit Torun for the weekend with accommodation costing about £15 per night for full board.

Wroughton – St Germaine les Corbeil Twinning Association

            Mike Ide informed the Network that 30 people had recently visited Wroughton including the Mayor of St Germaine les Corbeil, with accommodation being provided by families. The visit had included a trip to Longleat, a walk around Wroughton, a visit to the Cenotaph followed by a visit to the Mayor’s parlour. 

            Mike also informed the Network that the new E111’s were now available and that the old ones had expired on December 31^st 2004.

La Garenne Link

            Phil Eagle reported that he was still looking at ways of sending the display depicting the Twinning Link by schools in Haydon Wick over to France – any ideas would be welcome.

Highworth-Pontorson Twinning Association

            Dr Worsnip informed the Network that local families provide any accommodation for visitors and that a billeting officer keeps a record of these.  There will be a visit in May from Pontorson and the theme for the visit will be based around the history of Highworth in relation to the railways, including a weekend of talks and a visit to the Steam Museum.  Dr Worsnip stated that he was investigating the possibility of translating information from the Steam Museum and from 4 Country Parks (Coate, Stanton, Barbury and Lydiard) into French.  Daryl Jones confirmed that he would be able to assist with this translation.