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TalkTime Christmas Dinner
B-inspired Customer Service Training Fullhurst Community College Donation of 100 Christmas Hampers
Annual Pre-Loved Toy Sale
Gallards Grotto
St Peters’ Church Christmas Tree Festival Front cover provided by Anne Short, B-inspired Neighbourhood Support Service Manager. Send your photographs to: communications@b-inspired.org.uk We will print our favourites and who knows, yours might end up on the front cover.
NMB Update
RESNET NEWS
The latest Neighbourhood Management Board (NMB) meeting discussed the following items:
The team would like to wish all Alert readers a Happy New Year! For this edition we would like to tell you about the Resnet and hope that we can encourage you to become more involved in your community.
Residents’ Network Committee - Pop-uP shops and Saturday Sales are doing well. The Annual Pre-Loved Christmas Toy Sale will be held at the Brite Centre on December 1st. The Resnet is also holding a community event called ‘Gallards Grotto’. There will be local crafts people selling goods, a Santa’s Grotto (with 200 free gifts), festive music, craft activities and free food; sponsored by Popeyes and Sunflowers Nursery. Power to Change Update - The Garage Sale, will be developed into a community shop. The newly established Braunstone Park Football clubs are working hard to establish a vibrant football community. B-inspired have been awarded funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation and once a lease has been signed a Community DIY SOS campaign to help refurbish The Grove. Foodshare – Lots of donations have been made over the harvest peroid and on the run up to Christmas. Families will be provided with enough food to support them over the festive period as the Neighbourhood Support Base is closed.
Let’s start with our highlights of 2018: • New heating/lighting in the garage • £500 spent on an Easter egg hunt on Braunstone Park, 200 children received eggs! • £200 spent on a treasure trail for 100 • children in the Adventure Playground. • £500 donated to Adventure Playground for a trip to Skegness • £1000 towards subsiding trips to the Black County Museum and Plantasia • St Peters’ Church heating grant • Golden Gloves Boxing Grant
Winstanley House – In response to residents concerns about traffic on Braunstone Park, more speed bumps and signage are being assessed by Leicester City Council, Parks and Highways. Meanwhile, Winstanly House have put a notice on their website and booking forms as a reminder for their guests to be considerate to park users.
We also put on our annual toy sale and paid for 200 children to receive presents from Santa at Gallards grotto. We finished off the year by helping cover the cost of the TalkTimers Christmas dinner. The fund raising efforts were doubled in 2018, with The Garage opening its doors twice a week and on the first Saturday of each month. We also held a few pop up shops at different locations within Braunstone.
Clockwise – are offering low interest Christmas loans whilst encouraging people to save. Clockwise have stopped charging membership fees and the mobile application is making transactions easier for account holders.
So that was last year and now we have a wish list for 2019 and we invite you to come and join us; bringing your talents and ideas too!
Commnity Events – St Peters’ Church Christmas Tree Festival is on the 8th/9th of December. The Childrens’, Young People and Family Centre are holding a Christmas themed event for younger people on the 21st December. They will be offering a self-serve breakfast club during all school holidays next year. Over the Christmas period breakfast club will be open on 28th December / 2-4th January.
Our wish list includes: • Opening the charity shop every day • Developing our online selling accounts. • Supporting more local causes. • Getting more people to help with the shop, fund raising and events. • Increasing the types of products we can sell, for example: white goods or mobility aids.
Neighbourhood Action Plan – B-inspired are still collating reponses to produce the final report.
Police – Less incidents of anti-social behaviour (ASB) have been reported lately. The police have a dedicated vehicle to deal with ASB and have been going in to schools to talk about ASB and Knife Crime. Sunflowers – A new fence and broken windows have been fixed from the summer vandalism. The nursery has secured a 15 year lease and are gaining more land to expand services. It estimates 30 more children will use the centre plus the 85 it has already. They want to create allotments and run an intergenerational project with older members of the community.
If you would like to be part of this team, give us a call on 0116 223 2256 or pop along to our base at 45 Wellinger Way. Be part of something incredible in 2019!
Did you know… The coldest temperature ever officially recorded was -89.2°C
Friends of Highway Spinney (FOHS) News I am delighted to report that for the third year running we have achieved a Level 5 – Outstanding Award in the Britain in Bloom – It’s Your Neighbourhood (IYN) Awards. This year we increased our score and gained 91 out of a maximum of 100! The opening words on the assessor’s report were ‘This splendid project continues to thrive and shows no sign of flagging’! This was the 10th year the IYN Awards have been held in Leicester. I hope you managed to get to see our display at the Braunstone Cross Roads entrance commemorating the 100th anniversary of the ending of WW1 – we have had lots of positive comments. We purchased an assortment of poppies and crosses from the British Legion. These were displayed in the wild flower beds and on the railings to the entrance. Natural wreaths were made from foliage and decorated with poppies. Laminated posters were displayed which included details of men who fought in the war, poems and letters. We would like to thank Braunstone Town Council, 118 Dance Studio, Braunstone History Group and the Braunstone Life for their contributions to this celebratory project. Would you like to learn how to coppice? Then come along to the Wyatt Close entrance on Monday 14th February and Monday 28th February 2019 from 10 – 1 pm. Alan Jelfs of Leicester Environmental Volunteers will lead us. We also hope to remove some of the many sycamore saplings that have sprung up. A note for bird enthusiasts – a pair of Jack Snipe’s have been seen in the meadow at the Meadwell Road entrance, and we have of course our resident Green Ringed Necked Parakeets.
Janice Lock, Events Secretary, FOHS
BRAUNSTONE RAFA We anticipated a busy 2018 due to the RAF’s 100 Anniversary. This proved to be the case with our special event at Welford Road Cemetery, and our RAF 100 concert plus the parade and services at Leicester Cathedral. Melton RAFA hosted a celebratory dinner which was attended by some of our Branch members plus all the usual annual events. The ‘Poppy Cascade’ also involved some of our members too, along with the number 100 created with 100 felt roundels an acknowledgement of the RAF’s 100th birthday. All this was rounded off with the various remembrance events, including at the King Power Stadium and, of course, our own new memorial at the Civic Centre. On the social side our Christmas Dinner is booked and plans are being made for next year. It will be our 20th birthday next year, so an excuse to celebrate. A commemorative stone is already in situ at the National Memorial Arboretum. Whilst all this has going on, it must be remembered that as, part of the greater RAFA family, we have a welfare role too. If you or anyone you know requires help contact: www.rafa.org.uk/welfare Date of next meeting: Jan 8th 2019 & Feb 12th Braunstone Civic Centre at 7.30pm Roy Sherwin, Branch Sec Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to everyone.
Police News We have sadly seen the end of the summer and we have returned to darker evenings, with this we would direct readers towards our website for advice around security for your home. www.leics.police.uk/darkernights
Please ensure that you have timers on lights that come on at random times, ensure your external doors are secured and please do not be tempted to leave your car running on the drive with the keys in the ignition, lock it or lose it.
With our current beat priorities, we have seen a reduction in reports of motorcycles being ridden around the park, we are considering closing this priority unless the situation returns to an unacceptable level again. We are continuing to monitor issues around Gaddesby Avenue and are working with our partner agencies to resolve these issues, hopefully a result will be known by our next update. We would like to thank you for your continued support and we hope you have a pleasant Christmas. Wayne - PS 1272 Chapman
In the Spotlight Our new addition to the team is Nishal Bhakta. He will be working with us as a customer service apprentice. He will be in charge of the admin side of the business and act as our front of house, covering the reception at our Neighbourhood Support Base on Wellinger Way. He is friendly and has a welcoming personality please do not hesitate ask him any questions you may have when you pop in to our office. Here’s what Nishal had to tell us in his spotlight A good night out? Meal with friends A good night in? Watching a movie What animal would you be? A shark What is your pet hate? Catching the bus What was the last film you watched? The Conjuring 2 Describe Braunstone? Friendly What words would people use to describe you? Friendly, sociable and fun What would you do if you won the lottery? Travel, buy a car, and donate some to charity What one thing could you not live without? Laptop Have you a claim to fame? Unfortunately I do not Who would play you in a movie? Aziz Ansari Who would you like to invite for tea? Charlie Brooker
Get More Community News Online www.b-inspired.org.uk
@BInspiredleicester
Power to Change & Community Business
Braunstone Grove - A New Chapter
What is the Braunstone Grove? • A youth and sport facility located on Cort Crescent • Built in 2006 through funding from the Braunstone Community Association, Football Foundation, Sport England and Leicester City Council • Has been utilised by many services such as Streetvibe Young People’s Service, local football teams, NHS Choices, SCORE 4 Sport, schools and many more • Over the past 12 years, Leicester City Council have managed the building but recently put the facility up for a ‘Community Asset Transfer’
>>> Who is taking over?
Why b-inspired?
• B-inspired have been named as the community organisation they would like to take over the running of the Grove by the Council • B-inspired were previously the ‘Braunstone Community Association’
• We have worked in the Braunstone area for nearly 20 years • We deliver community services and manage community facilities • We also conducted consultation with over 600 residents around the Grove
>>>
>>>
What are the next steps?
What are our plans?
• The transfer is expected to be completed in January / February 2019 • Work is set to begin on improving the facility around March 2019 • We are currently looking for people to submit their interest in being involved in the transformation of The Grove, including help with renovating and running services
• The consultation highlighted what services local people wanted at the Grove, these included:
Call: 0116 2252 489 Email: joe.smith@b-inspired.org.uk
>>>
To find out more, or to get involved...
• • • •
A social bar and community cafe Youth, sport and community activities Training and education Improvements to the Grove (inside & out)
• We will create a ‘community hub’ with all of the above and more, all supported by local people
Braunstone Foodshare Updates We are looking forward to some improvements to our service in 2019. We have been lucky enough to meet a new volunteer with experience of writing data bases, we spent the last three months of 2018 fine tuning the new system which goes live in January. It may sound a little boring but we are hoping that with the new system in place, we can capture a whole range of things that affect people when using Foodshare. We hope this means that we can help people in more ways. We are also hoping to update our fridges and freezers, they have been great but more industrial units would be a lot more efficient. We hope this year to improve our fund raising efforts and we have taken some time to look at how much food (in monetary terms) we give away. We worked out that in 2018 we gave away approximately £72,000 worth of food. We also gave just over 130 emergency food parcels and our home delivery service saw us deliver 300 food parcels to older and vulnerable residents. We are now thinking of ways to raise some much needed funds and will continue to appreciate the wonderful groups and individuals who regularly donate to us. A big thank you must go out to St Andrews Church, St Bart’s, Enderby Parish Churches, St Bartholomew’s, Aurum House, Blessed Sacrament, Slimming World, Friar Lane Baptist Church, Kirby Muxloe Church, NEXT, LOROS, Fullhurst Community College and many more who prefer to remain anonymous, for all of your Christmas Donations.
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Please drop-in from 11am to 4pm on your appointment day only. Coming outside of these times, could mean that we are not able to offer you this service.
Did you know..
Honey is a better cough suppressant than over the counter cough suppressants
Slow Cooker Sausage and Onion Casserole Perfect winter dish for the whole family (serves 4 people) Ingredients: • 8 Good quality sausages • 2 Large onions, sliced • ½ litre of beef stock – made with stock cubes • 2 tbsp chutney – any kind but mango chutney is good • 1 tbsp of Soy sauce • Cornflour to thicken Method: 1. Switch the slow cooker to high temperature to warm it. 2. Brown the sausages in pan with a little oil and then add to the slow cooker with the sliced onions. 3. Make up ½ litre of beef stock with your stock cube and add to the sausages and onions along with the chutney and soy sauce. 4. Switch the slow cooker to low and cook the sausage and onion mix for 6-8 hours. 5. In the last 10 minutes of cooking add two dessert spoons of cornflour to a little water to make a runny paste and stir it into the sausage and onion casserole to thicken. 6. Serve with mash or rice and your choice of vegetables.
Get in the mood for LOVE... Valentine’s Day Secret Origins Like all major occasions these days, Valentine’s Day can often arrive amid a flurry of presents, chocolate, flowers and social pressure. We have some cost effective ideas for you to try this year. In the past Valentine’s Day was very different, best known on the religious calendar as a feast day, even these humble beginnings are difficult to verify. There are two martyrs known as St Valentine, both associated with February the 14th, the most famous of which was known for secretly officiating the Christian marriages of soldiers in the Roman Empire, a crime for which he was imprisoned and executed, supposedly performing miracles of healing on some of his fellow prisoners, achieving sainthood upon his death. The day wasn’t officially connected with the concept of romantic love until the 14th century, when Geoffrey Chaucer recorded the public displays of affection between members of the English Royal Court. From therein it continued to evolve, emerging as the celebration of love that we would recognise today sometime in the 18th century. Whatever you may think of our 21st century version, there can be no denying that its history is truly fascinating. Written by Erik Humphreys
What’s on in Braunstone... Monday 10am to 11.30am 11am to 12.30pm 1.30pm to 3pm 4pm to 6pm 5pm to 7pm 6pm to 7pm
50+ Aqua Fit at The Leisure Centre Let’s Walk Braunstone at The Stable Block, Braunstone Park BINGO - Golden Years Group at Blessed Sacrament Church, Gooding Avenue Taragh Twirlers at The Oak Centre, Bendbow Rise 13+ Street Dance (Beginners) at The Brite Centre - Call 07850 4747 999 Golden Gloves Boxing Club at The Oak Centre, Bendbow Rise
Tuesday 9.15am to 10am 10am to 12pm 10am to 12pm 12pm to 1.30pm 12pm to 2.45pm 1.30pm to 3.30pm 7.15pm to 8pm 6pm to 7pm 7pm to 8pm
Walk / Run Westcotes Park Braunstone History Group at The Brite Centre, Braunstone Avenue TalkTime at Sandyhurst, Hockley Farm Road - Call B-inspired on: 0116 223 2256 Manor House Lunch Club – Call: 0116 222 5476 Knit Wits @ The Brite Centre, Braunstone Avenue 4th Tuesday of the month Memory Café at The Brite Centre, Braunstone Avenue Cardio Combat at West End WMC, 16+ only - Call 07850 747 999 Golden Gloves Boxing Club at The Oak Centre, Bendbow Rise Women Only: Golden Gloves Boxing Club at The Oak Centre, Bendbow Rise
Wednesday 10.15am to 11.15am 11am to 2pm 1.30pm to 3.30pm 3.30pm to 4.30pm 4.30pm to 6.30pm 6pm to 7pm
Coffee and a Chat at St Peter’s Church St Peter’s Art Group at St Peter’s Church The Garage Sale at 45 Wellinger Way, Braunstone Family Multi-Sport at Braunstone Leisure Centre - Call: 07850 4747 999 Taragh Twirlers at The Oak Centre, Bendbow Rise Golden Gloves Boxing Club at The Oak Centre, Bendbow Rise
Thursday 11am to 1pm 12pm to 1.30pm 12pm to 3pm 1pm to 3pm 5pm to 6.30pm 6pm to 7pm 6.30pm to 7.30pm
TalkTime at St Peter’s Church - Call B-inspired on: 0116 223 2256 Lunch Club at Trinity Church - Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month Women of Wisdom Co-operative at Cort Cresent Community Centre Knit and Natter at The Brite Centre, Braunstone Avenue The Hub at The Oak Centre, Bendbow Rise Golden Gloves Boxing Club at The Oak Centre, Bendbow Rise Satori Freestyle Martial Arts at The Brite Centre
Friday 10am to 11.30am 10am to 1pm 6pm to 7pm
Friday Pop-in at Blessed Sacrament Church, Gooding Avenue Sew ‘n’ So’s Needlecraft at The Oak Centre, Bendbow Rise Golden Gloves Boxing Club at The Oak Centre, Bendbow Rise
Saturday 9am - onwards 11am to 2pm
Braunstone Park Run - Braunstone Park Street Dance (Advanced) at West End WMC - Call 07850 747 999
Sunday 10am to 12pm
Mixed Group: Golden Gloves Boxing Club at The Oak Centre, Bendbow Rise
Braunstone History Group Events 2019 Date
Time
Location
9th January 2019 9th March 2019 26th March 2019 30th April 2019
11am - 3pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 12pm 10am - 12pm
Brite Centre Library Wigston Age UK Braunstone Hall Stable Block Braunstone Hall Stable Block
28th May 2019 10am - 12pm Braunstone Hall Stable Block 29th October 2019 10am - 12pm Braunstone Hall Stable Block 26th November 2019 10am - 12pm Braunstone Hall Stable Block
New Year, New Leaf Money saving tips for 2019
1. Take advantage of the January sales to prepare for next Christmas and birthdays throughout the year. 2. Use cash back websites when you do you shopping online. The back amount may be small but it builds up quickly. 3. Start a savings jar for you spare change. If you look after the pennies the pounds will look after themselves. 4. Plan family meals each week, you can find some easy, cheap and tasty meal ideas online. 5. Create weekly lists when you go shopping and try not to be tempted to buy things on offer or things you don’t need. 6. Buy second hand or join an online group where you can get things for free to save money. 7. Change providers for you household bills, loyalty isn’t rewarded these days, new customers always get better deals! You can save yourself hundreds each year by switching providers 8. Finally, most money gets spent on things that we don’t need or want. Next time you’re out ask yourself these questions: Do I need it? Can I afford it? Can I get it cheaper? And better still; Can I make it myself or get it for free?
Water, Water, Water...
Severn Trent Water, has a whole host of money savings schemes for you from; clearing/reducing water debt, 10% to 90% reductions of your yearly bill, to applying for water bill caps. Visit www.stwater.co.uk for more information or come along to an information day at Neighbourhood Support Base, 45 Wellinger Way, Braunstone on Tuesday 26th February 2019 between 10.30 and 4pm.
Make a Change
Moneywise Plus offers free support to help you move towards employment, education or training. We’ve supported 700 people to date, our services aim to increase your skills and confidence in: • Getting online – improve your digital skills to use computers, mobile devices and the internet. • Getting money wise - reduce your bills, switch utilities and make your money go further. • Getting skills – build your skills and confidence to move towards the right job, education or training for you. Get in touch with us to find out more about how Moneywise Plus can help you make a change: Tel: 0300 003 7004 Email: info@moneywiseplus.co.uk Website: www.moneywiseplus.co.uk
Useful Contacts LCC Neighbourhood Housing Team
0116 454 1007
STAR
0116 454 6420
LCC Bulky Item Collection
0116 454 1002
Brite Centre
0116 299 5476
Hockley Farm Chemist
0116 285 6008
NHS
111
Police
101
B-inspired Neighbourhood 0116 223 2256 Support Team
2019 Saving Challenge
Put 1p in a savings jar on January 1st, 2p on the 2nd, 3p on the 3rd and so on; until the 31st of December when you put in £3.65. It does get a little costly as the year goes on but it does give you a nice sum of over £600 if you complete the challenge. Did you know that you can search all Support Services in Leicester Online: https://mychoice.leicester.gov.uk/
Picture Puzzle
Name the romantic films from the pictures
Community Letters End of an Era
B-inspired’s Lucie Barry has decided to move on from the team at the end of January. We would like to thank her for all of her hard work over the past 5 years and wish her all the best for the future . We will miss you. Neighbouthood Support Team.
Congratulations to Sunflowers Nursery who raised £1,300 from the ‘Wishes for Kids’ raffle. The funds were used to support a 4 year old girl to go to Disney Land Paris for three days.
Hello everyone, I’ve just joined the Neighbourhood Support Team as a Training Support Worker. I will be planning and promoting a range of introductory and skills based courses for potential and existing volunteers across B-Inspired. I’m currently working on developing a programme of training opportunities, that we would like to make available in the New Year. I want to create meaningful training and would really like to hear your thoughts and suggestions for topics or skills you’d like us to include. Contact me on: 0116 223 2256 or simon.oddy@b-inspired. org.uk and I’ll do my best to help. Simon
Hi Alert readers... Michelle here! Many of you often ask the B-inspired team how our Maltese students are after they completed their placement with us. Well, last November I took a trip to sunny Malta to catch up with the past 3 generations of students. From Abigail and Stephanie from 2016, to the newly graduated Gaby and Rebecca who were with us in 2017, All now find themselves working within varying roles of Occupational Therapy in Malta. And of course, not forgetting our last students Claudianne and Ivana who have progressed into the final year of their studies. The girls would like to say a big ‘Hello’ to the Braunstone community and they hope to see you at some point in the future. If you would like to have your letters, photographs or pets featured in the Alert.
Pets Corner What you looking at!
Please email: communications@b-inspired.org.uk
Puzzle Answers 1. Titanic 2. Brokeback Mountain 3. Casablanca 4. The Holiday 5. Shrek 6. Dirty Dancing 7. Beauty and the Beast 8. Star Wars 9. Grease
Look in to my EYES
Don’t move, they will never find us!
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Deadlines for Content March / April 2019 Edition 1st February 2019 May / June 2019 Edition 1st April 2019 July / August 2019 Edition 1st June 2019 September / October Edition 2019 1st August 2019 November / December 2019 1st October 2019
Make a change in your business for 2019 Call us on: 0116 223 2256
Busy Braunstone Notable dates 1st January New Year’s Day 13th January Pint & Pledge Sessions 16th January World Religion Day 19th January Braunstone Grove Information Event 1st – 8th February National Apprenticeship Week 5th February Chinese New Year 13th February Shrove Tuesday 14th February Valentine’s Day 17th February Random Acts of Kindness Day 27th February Garage Sale Open Evening
Stay in touch with local news and events. Collect your Alert from: • • • • • • • • • •
Hockley Farm Doctors Aylmer Road Post Office Braunstone Skills Centre Braunstone Primary School United Reformed Church West End WMC Childrens Centres Leisure Centre Braunstone Vic WMC Braunstone Police Station
• • • • • • • • • •
St. Peter’s Church Apple-a-Day Cafe Fullhurst School Folville School Local Shops The Brite Centre The Oak Centre 45 Wellinger Way Gallards Hill Queensmead Primary School
The Braunstone Alert is brought to you by:
Produced by B-Inspired’s Neighbourhood Support Team. Write or send pictures to Braunstone Alert - 45 Wellinger Way, Braunstone, LE3 1RG. Call on: 0116 223 2256 or email: communications@b-inspired.org.uk. We make every effort to ensure that information is accurate and up-to-date at the time of publication.