WITH the first two refugee families settled in Salisbury, it has been encouraging to hear how involved Churches Together have been in co-ordinating local efforts to give them a warm welcome and the support they need.

It came as no surprise to me that these same volunteers are equally keen to extend their hospitality to further families and to additional unaccompanied children.

They recognise that it is vital that any decision on numbers is made only after rigorous work to ensure that any offer of resettlement is realistic and practical for the long-term but have expressed the hope that Wiltshire Council can continue to work with them to make use of the practical skills and help they have to offer.

I took the opportunity to talk to the Leader of Wiltshire Council, Jane Scott, this week and I am pleased to report that she has proactively written to the minister for refugees offering places in Wiltshire and will remain mindful of the many offers of help that are continuing to come from Salisbury.

I am hoping to get away from London promptly this week in order to be able to attend a Wyvern College governors meeting – an all-too-rare opportunity – although I hope I am always available to show my support for all local schools in other ways.

On Friday I look forward to visiting two cutting edge local employers – Chemring Countermeasures at High Post and Porton Biopharma Limited.

I had a really good catch-up last week on the excellent progress that has been made with the Our Wilton project, including the veteran’s centre, and this week, I will be continuing that conversation with Andrew Lord of Alabare, considering his organisation’s experience of the impact of welfare changes on social housing.

I am also looking forward to attending my seventh Mayor Making ceremony and congratulate Cllr Derek Brown OBE on taking up the mantle.