Our communities are vital and make the difference between a place to live and a home. The difference between a support network and isolation, between dead dormitory towns and villages and live and flourishing areas. With more and more houses being built we need to all ensure that we support our community events, clubs and charities so that we can preserve and develop the great sense of community spirit that we enjoy here in Wiltshire.

This weekend I am looking forward to attending the Chippenham Folk Festival – this annual event always attracts hundreds of people from around the UK and even overseas. It is events like this this should make us proud to live here, I know I am.

I am also volunteering at the Doorway Spring Festival on Saturday – a wonderful charity that I have backed and helped over the years. I will continue to support them in fact their work never fails to impress me and I would like to take a moment to note the hard work and dedication of all their volunteers.

I have always said that I want to be an approachable and accessible Member of Parliament - so I am going to start as I mean to go on. This Friday (22nd May) I will have a street stall in Chippenham High Street from 10.30am – 1pm. Please pop along – say hello, share your ideas, thoughts and concerns or problems. In addition I will be holding a surgery at The Pilot Pub, Melksham 4-6pm. On Bank Holiday Monday evening I have arranged the first of my informal ‘meet your MP’ events. These are designed for people to pop along who do not have a specific issue that needs dealing with but who just want to meet and chat to their local MP and maybe share their thoughts on national and local issues in general. The first one will be in Gastard – for more information please call Tom on 07917 796963.

If you want to get in touch via email please do not hesitate to contact michelle.donelan.mp@parliament.uk