Tomorrow's politicians in Machynlleth

I really enjoyed tonight's husting over in Machynlleth. Most of the young people in attendance were too young to vote, yet they asked highly relevant and searching questions of us all. I am embarrassed to admit that I picked up the only yellow card of the evening for the use of jargon, by referring to JSA.
The future of politics in that part of Powys is definitely in safe hands.


nick

My conscience, my decision.

I have had to send the following email to withdraw my acceptance for a husting event this week. It's self explanatory and echoes the same sentiment I expressed on the 29th October last year when I criticised Lembit's offer to debate with the BNP.



nick



Dear xxxx

Thank you for your email, although I have to admit I am saddened by its content. My disappointment stems from the inclusion of a candidate who represents what can only be described as an 'extremist' party. Of course it is your husting event and you are at liberty to invite who you so wish, however in the same vein it is also at my discretion who I choose to share a platform with, a right that I'm sure you respect.

Several of the roles I have undertaken in the past and indeed that I currently perform are targeted towards achieving inclusion and tolerance within our communities. Consequently I feel unable to partake in an event that effectively will help to legitimise a political party which seeks to undermine that target.

yours sincerely

Back in the saddle

It was great to get out and about after being confined to bed for almost a week. The day started with a quick interview for Wales Today and then off to several locations in Newtown and Welshpool to meet people, the absolutely best bit of any campaign.


nick

Apologies

My sincerest apologies to those who I had to leave in the lurch last evening. A flu type bug broke loose on me in the afternoon, by 6pm I was asleep and I awoke at 11am today. I still feel rotten and I think after sorting my mail, I shall be back in bed.


nick

Why do we let our young die so needlessly? (ii)

Seems it took just 2 days for the next needless waste of a young life to be taken.


nick

Sign up for Robert Owen

There is an online petition you can sign, which is campaigning for Newtown's most famous son Robert Owen, to feature on Scottish banknotes to mark the UNESCO Year of the Co-operative in 2012. The campaign has been organised by Bill Butler, Labour and Co-operative party MSP for Glasgow Anniesland and I hope you can find a couple of minutes to show your support of Owen's fine achievements.

Online petition - Bank on Owen



nick

Why do we let our young die so needlessly?

I’ve written before about my concern that we have a generation of young people who have become accustomed to using knives and guns, married with a misplaced gang loyalty, on other young people who are often completely innocent parties. Such appears to be the case with this appalling tragedy in Hackney, East London.

Which wasted young life will eventually become the catalyst to say enough is enough in order to rid ourselves of these vile acts of barbarity?


nick

This Man's Best Friend

It's a sad day for our family today as our beloved Springer Spaniel passed away. Sally was the most perfect dog for two little girls to grow up with and we were blessed to have had her for sixteen years. I miss her terribly already.


nick

This one took a long time to think about

The Conservative Party was in government for two-thirds of the twentieth century and only now in 2010 are they promising to give people more power over their own lives!


nick

The Polish Tragedy is the World's Tragedy

I'm so saddened by yesterday's tragic events. We had the pleasure of visiting Poland last year and met many warm and friendly people. My sincerest sympathies go to them and their country.


nick

Wales This Week

I just watched the very interesting 'Wales This Week' programme looking at the impending cull of badgers in Pembrokeshire due to bovine TB. God knows farming is a hard enough task these days and economically perilous, but it seems amazing that in 2010 veterinary science hasn't progressed far enough to give them all the help it can in eliminating this dreadful disease for the benefit of all concerned.


nick

Chalk another up for the Gaffemeister

There’s a major issue for the electorate to seriously consider after the gaffemeister Chris Grayling’s latest faux pas concerning same sex couples and B&Bs. It isn’t that his obvious lack of judgement causes him to alienate giant swathes of the British public in one offensive statement, but that Cameron still affords him the opportunity to do so on a regular basis!

It says more about Cameron’s total inability to assemble a suitable team to govern our nation, than Grayling’s complete disregard for the rights of others.


nick

Eugene Terreblanche

I had inquisitively asked whatever happened to Eugene Terreblanche back in January when we were in Johannesburg. “He’s slumped into obscurity on a farm in the middle of nowhere” was the reply. Well it seems he’s out of obscurity for just a little while, as the world reflects on how a man who courted violence for so long was ultimately destroyed by it.


nick

Closing the stable door before the horse bolts

There is still only one logical decision to be made over this ridiculous waste of North Wales taxpayers money. I was surprised to discover the horses actually have more stringent employment regulations than human officers. Consequently they can only work for a specific period of time on a daily basis. Travelling time is included in that and so if they are required in Holyhead for example, it is one day travelling, one day working and a third day travelling back to the stables in Erddig!

The common defence for the existence of the Mounted Unit is their PR role, particularly in schools. Even that task was carried out more efficiently when dedicated Schools Liaison Officers or SLOs visited packed school halls and drilled home the road safety message. Hopefully Brunstrom's folly will soon be consigned to a place in history, where they should never have left in the first place.

The Leader - News from Wrexham & Flintshire - Future of North Wales Police's mounted unit to be decided


nick

AVOW joins the Fundraising Standards Board

I am unashamedly proud of the work that gets done at AVOW, well I am the Company Secretary so I'm bound to be! That said, I'm pleased to reproduce the following and hope that if anyone follows this up on behalf of their organisation from having read it here, I'll be happy.

AVOW has now signed up to the FRSB as a symbol of good practice, and to demonstrate our commitment to transparency and accountability.

Trust and confidence is vital when local people, trusts or businesses decide whether or not to part with their cash to support a charity or voluntary organisation. But to maximise fundraising capacity, organisations not only need to be trustworthy but need to show that they are. The Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB), which runs the self-regulatory body for fundraising in the UK, has been established to help the public to give with confidence. Through the scheme, the FRSB works to encourage high standards across all areas of fundraising.

What relevance does this have to your organisation? Any organisation that receives money from individuals, businesses or grant making trusts should consider joining the scheme. Even if they don’t actively fundraise for money but rely on members and supporters to do it for them, then they should think about it. Organisations that join - whether large or small - all sign up to the highest standards of fundraising and the FRSB Fundraising Promise. This means they commit to being open and fair, honest and legal when they ask for money and display the scheme’s tick logo as a way of demonstrating their commitment to good fundraising practice. Members must also have a complaints procedure to handle any concerns from the public. The FRSB is aware that many small organisations may not have such a procedure and is happy to help and give guidance towards setting up a simple process

Joining needn’t be costly. The annual fee starts at just £30 for smaller organisations. Members can also benefit from access to advice and information through the FRSB website and activities. They believe that by following the Fundraising Promise principles, it will help to build more fruitful, longer lasting relationships with all the people and organisations that donate to you. And hopefully, this will help raise more money to support the work that you do.

For more information or to obtain a membership application pack, visit www.frsb.org.uk call 0845 402 5442 or email: membership@frsb.org.uk


nick