TRANSCOCO invited Michelle Donelan MP to join their Give and Take event at Selwyn Hall in Box.

Transition Community Corsham, a group focussed on creating a sustainable future, organised the completely free community swap shop, run by volunteers twice a year to help people reduce waste by finding a new home for things they no longer need.

The event was run alongside a Fair Trade coffee shop, well timed for Fair Trade Fortnight, and Plastic Free Corsham, which showcases ideas to help people reduce their use of single use plastics.

Wiltshire for Refugees volunteers were also collecting sleeping bags, clothes and other items for refugees.

Ms Donelan said: “The swap shop is such a great initiative that helps reduce waste and save local people money whilst encouraging the community to come together.

"Wiltshire Council have just declared a state of climate change emergency and I had several productive talks with attendees and organisers on how I can help work with them to address this. I am a passionate supporter of fair trade and reducing our plastic and think little changes by everyone can make a massive difference overall.”

Nikki Kenna one of the event organisers said: “Fairtrade Corsham say a huge thank you to all those who made our Fairtrade Cafe at Transcoco’s Give and Take Day in Selwyn Hall, Box last Saturday such a huge success."

She thanked Michelle for attending: "Michelle was able to share a cup of Fairtrade coffee with us and talk to Fairtrade members about our concerns for Fairtrade producers in the context of Brexit. We were encouraged to hear that Michelle had attended the Fairtrade meeting in Westminster for MPs.

"Michelle also took the time to talk to Transcoco members about the implementation of Wiltshire Council’s Climate Emergency and how to support Wiltshire’s goal to be carbon neutral."