fishpondsvoice March, 2022 — ISSUE 84
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'Excellent' school gets top rating Frome Vale Academy Principal Dr Jan Saunders and pupils
Cars wrecked in big storm Fifteen cars at Roadworthy Bristol on Fishponds Road were damaged when Storm Eunice brought down scaffolding. PAGE 9
Painted pillars under the M32
A "HIGHLY ambitious and inclusive" primary school has been given an 'outstanding' rating by inspectors. Ofsted's high praise for Frome Vale Academy, in Frenchay Road, comes less than four years after the education watchdog said the school required improvement. The inspectors said children's behaviour was "excellent" and also praised the teaching, leadership and curriculum. They said: "Pupils excel at this highly ambitious
and inclusive school. "Staff strive relentlessly to find ways to improve pupils’ lives, including through the delivery of the very carefully planned curriculum. "Pupils know that staff care for and respect them. "Disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities learn alongside, and in harmony with, their peers." Turn to Page 2
A £20,000 street art project to brighten up the space under the M32 Eastville flyover is getting under way. PAGE 3
Owner's delight as ferret is found A runaway pet ferret is safely back home after turning up at Fishponds sorting office where it bit a postman on the ear. PAGE 23
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EDITORIAL Ken McCormick 07715 770377 news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk
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PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Fishponds Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Fishponds Voice is distributed each month to local residents in Fishponds and the surrounding areas. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please get in touch or collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is welcomed, call Brookfield Publishing on 07540 383870 or email news@fishpondsvoice. co.uk. This month 9,000 copies will be distributed in Fishponds and the local area.
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March, 2022
n NEWS
Primary school 'immensely proud' to be Outstanding From page 1 The school, which has 175 pupils aged from four to 11, many from the nearby Oldbury Court estate, was visited by two inspectors, Matthew Barnes and David New, in January. Their report, which has just been published, praised every area of the school and gave it the highest possible rating. The inspectors hailed the "ambitious curriculum that goes beyond the expectation of the national curriculum". Their report also highlighted the "wide range" of extracurricular activities, equality of opportunity and inclusion of children of all abilities at the school, which gave pupils responsibilities and taught them about cultures from around the world so they could "understand, appreciate and respect difference". They said: "Pupils’ behaviour is excellent. Everyone has high expectations of behaviour. "Staff promote positive relationships in all aspects of school life. Bullying is very rare, and is dealt with effectively if it happens. Pupils’ attitudes to learning are exemplary, especially as they get older. Pupils rightly said that they feel safe and are safe. They truly act as, and value being, Frome Vale Citizens. "Leaders’ moral purpose underpins the success of this highly effective school. Leaders know their school and its community exceptionally well. "Leaders have secured the support and enthusiasm of all. Staff feel, and are, valued. Leaders develop staff to be highly effective, whatever their role. Consequently, the curriculum meets the pupils’ needs with precision. "Skilled staff deliver the intended curriculum very effectively. They have strong subject knowledge across all areas of the curriculum."
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The school's "well structured, interesting and exciting" teaching of reading for younger pupils and the teachers' recognition of the importance of "broadening pupils’ experiences to reduce barriers caused by disadvantage or individual need" was also highlighted by the inspectors. The report said: "Teachers plan learning with the school’s strong ethos in mind. They use regular and ongoing assessment to successfully adapt the curriculum. "Consequently, pupils make rapid gains, often from very low starting points. "They are exceptionally well prepared for the next stage of their education." Safeguarding arrangements, the academy council and board of trustees at the school, part of the Cabot Learning Federation, were also praised. Principal Jan Saunders said: "I am immensely proud of the outstanding Ofsted judgement, which is an endorsement of the hard work and unrelenting approach to developing a broad and engaging curriculum underpinned by a culture of Frome Vale Citizenship. "This approach has involved all stakeholders who have worked tirelessly to ensure that we provide the best life chances for all our pupils. We would like to thank our Frome Vale Citizens, school community, families, and the CLF.” CLF executive principal Kate Richardson said: “The report describes a school at the heart of its community supporting pupils to thrive and excel as global citizens, achieved through exceptional enactment of an ambitious curriculum coupled with a strong offer for children's personal development. The school and community have a long-standing relationship with the trust; we are delighted with the outcome.”
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March, 2022
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n NEWS
£20,000 bid to brighten up M32 flyover A PROJECT to use street art to brighten up the space under the M32 Eastville flyover is getting under way. National Highways, which is responsible for the upkeep of the motorway, and Bristol City Council are funding the £20,000 scheme. Community arts, social and environmental charity LitterARTI will work with street art group Peace of Art Bristol to paint three pillars of the concrete viaduct, which crosses Stapleton Road, Glenfrome Road and the river Frome. National Highways says it hopes "new, vibrant artwork" on the grey concrete columns will improve the look and feel of the area. Scaffolding towers were due to go up and the work was expected to take two weeks, finishing in mid-March. National Highways route manager Sean Walsh said: "We want Bristol’s M32 gateway to be a clean and welcoming environment for our motorists and local residents living alongside the road. “Our work goes beyond operating, maintaining and improving roads. We aim to address social and environmental issues and add real value to society. “We were delighted to partner with LitterARTI – a glowing example of how this funding can make life better for communities living and working near our roads, and hopefully inspire generations to come.” Resident Maire De Burca came up with the idea and set up
An image from National Highways shows how the pillar decorations could look a Facebook group, M32 flyover metamorphosis, to build up support. Lead artists Sadie Phew and Conrico Steez are managing the project, which is being paid for with a £15,000 grant from National Highways’ Users and Communities fund and around £5,000 from the council’s Originators Fund, with support from Annali Grimes of LitterARTI and Aumairah Hassan and Manazzar Siddique from Peace of Art. The designs, guided by results from community questionnaires, will feature bright bold shapes and colours, and include themes from nature, including one inspired by scientific research into microscopic organisms living in the river Frome. Sadie aid: “We want to encourage the community to use the space more by creating an outdoor art gallery and we're so happy to be making it happen. “It's a pleasure to share our love of nature and passion for ecology and conservation through our artwork.”
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LItterARTI has been working on art projects with communities alongside the M32 for over five years, while also running the M32 Flea Market. Annali said: “For real change to come about, it needs to be driven by the people, with support and in partnership with National Highways and Bristol City Council. “It is positive that the underpass and communities
surrounding the motorway are being prioritised just as much as the motorway on the top. “By brightening up and beautifying the area, it will definitely lift spirits of local people and will improve the space for communities and pedestrians around and along the M32 corridor. “Hopefully this is the beginning of more improvements to come in the future.” National Highways is responsible for the strategic road network and has funding to protect the environment and enhance landscape near roads. Council deputy mayor Craig Cheney said: “We are delighted to have supported this exciting work through our Cultural Investment Programme’s Originators Fund and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the local environment, residents, and users of the M32."
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March, 2022
n NEWS Group needs your views A GROUP set up to make Fishponds Road a better place is asking for people's views. Fishponds Road Revival was set up to improve the environment in the area by a combination of campaigning and practical action. Already it has planted flowers in previously unloved places, identified problem areas on Fishponds Road for walking and cycling, particularly where new crossing points are needed, and brought pressure on supermarket Morrisons to hand former pub the Farriers Arms over for community use. The community group is hoping to get more people actively involved this year and to start, it has launched a survey to find out what they think of Fishponds Road, the best ways to improve it and how much help they could offer. The survey can be found online at bit.ly/3KbL24H.
Speedwell man jailed for child sex offences A SPEEDWELL man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually assaulting young girls. Scott Hunt, aged 33, was found guilty of two charges of sexual assault of a child aged under 13, and three counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity by a Bristol Crown Court jury. Avon and Somerset police said Hunt's victims had "shown tremendous bravery" to report the offences, and encouraged other sexual abuse victims to come forward. Sentencing him in January, a judge made Hunt subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to prevent him carrying out further offences after his release, and he will also be on the sex offenders' register for life.
Investigating officer DC Michael Coleman said: “These were awful offences, committed against two defenceless young girls in the Bristol area several years ago. “Both victims have shown tremendous bravery, fortitude and resilience throughout the criminal investigation and resulting court proceedings. “I hope the custodial sentence given to Hunt will be able to help the victims find some form of closure. “I also hope it will encourage other victims of sexual abuse to come forward and report offences committed against them, in the knowledge they will be believed and listened to.” Police say anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault will be supported by a team of dedicated investigators if they
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call the force on 101. People can also contact The Bridge, a sexual assault referral centre. Help is available at any time by visiting the centre's website at thebridgecanhelp.org.uk or calling 0117 342 6999.
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March, 2022
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n NEWS FISHPONDS Road is set to be home to a café which aims to make a real difference. The Project 769 cafe, being set up by Bristol charity PROPS, will be run by adults with learning disabilities. PROPS says 95% of adults with learning disabilities are not in paid employment – but the Project 769 cafe will change this by supporting them to gain skills and put them into practice through meaningful work. The charity, which supports 53 adults with learning disabilities from its base at the Vassall Centre, is renovating number 769 Fishponds Road, by the Manor Road junction, which is vacant after previous occupant Bristol Alterations moved down the road. It will turn the ground floor into a fully accessible café offering drinks, food and products handmade and sold by trainees, with the first floor housing a meeting and gathering space available for workshops and meetings. PROPS head of operations Lara Jaffey said: “Project 769
This is not just another cafe...
Members of the PROPS team who will run a cafe in Fishponds Road will create truly meaningful opportunities for transferable workplace training and routes to employment that our trainees otherwise have so many barriers to. "From cooking, customer service and barista skills to printing, clothes creation, admin and more, this project will help break down those barriers in a very real way, six days a week. "As the face of our high streets is changing, we want to
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provide an inspiring model for other charities and retailers of how high street spaces can evolve to become accessible, inclusive social and creative hubs within the local community.” PROPS says the space is being designed to ensure it can serve the needs of everyone, "especially those too often excluded from accessing public spaces". The charity is working with local roasters for its coffee and "bespoke barista training" to
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support its trainees, who have been "preparing recipes and training for months". PROPS needs to raise £80,000 for the project and is appealing for help from individual supporters and businesses, with three different appeals. A crowdfunding campaign for the renovation is being launched at www.avivacommunityfund. co.uk/p/props-cafe in March and a sponsored fundraiser is being held throughout April, with people encouraged to run walk or wheel 95 miles. More information is available at www. propsbristol.org/Appeal/95miles-in-april-2022. PROPS is also asking builders, traders, contractors and craftspeople who can share some time, materials or expertise to help with the renovations. Anyone who can help is being asked to email Konna@ propsbristol.co.uk.
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n NEWS
Council tax bills up by 3 per cent COUNCIL tax bills will rise by just over 3% for Bristol householders this year. The total bill faced by an average Band D taxpayer, including charges for police and fire services, will be £2,230.37, up £66.72 on last year. Around 80% of householders, in council tax bands A to D, will receive a one-off £150 rebate from the government this year as part of a package to mitigate the cost of living crisis. The rebate was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak at the same time as a £200 energy bill "upfront discount" - but unlike the energy 'discount', it will not have to be paid back. Bristol City Council is raising its share of the bill by 2.99%. The local authority’s element of the bill to a Band D property will be £1,901.22, up by £55.20 on the
current year. Added to all bills are charges for policing and fire services, which are set independently by the region's police and crime panel and fire authority. This year the policing bill for a Band D taxpayer will rise by £10 or 4.1%, to a total of £251.20. It is the maximum increase the government told police and crime commissioners they could ask for. The fire authority's Band D charge of £77.95 is £1.52 more than last year, an increase of 1.99 per cent. Adding the three increases together means the total bill for Bristol taxpayers will rise by 3.08%. A vote on the final council budget was due to take place in early March, after five amendments were made by
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March, 2022
Council tax bills 2022/23 What you will pay, who your money goes to and how much your bill is going up
Fire Police City council A £1,267.48 £167.47 £51.97 B £1,478.73 £195.38 £60.63 C £1,689.97 £223.29 £69.29 D £1,901.22 £251.20 £77.95 E £2,323.71 £307.02 £95.27 F £2,746.19 £362.84 £112.60 G £3,168.69 £418.67 £129.92 H £3,802.42 £502.40 £155.89 *Figures from Bristol City Council
Band
Total council tax
Increase
£1,486.92 £1,734.74 £1,982.55 £2,230.37 £2,726.00 £3,221.63 £3,717.28 £4,460.71
£44.49 £51.90 £59.31 £66.72 £81.55 £96.36 £111.20 £133.41
Marvin Rees
Heather Mack
councillors to Labour mayor Marvin Rees's original proposals at the first budget-setting meeting on February 15: four tabled by the Greens and one by the Knowle Community Party. Mr Rees then ended the meeting by exercising his right to take up to five working days to either incorporate the amendments or reject them – the first time this has happened under the mayoral system in Bristol. The mayor then presented a reworked budget, which the council’s Conservative group said it would support after several of their proposals, including cutting the cost of bulky household item collections from £25 to £15, were incorporated. Their support, added to Labour votes, was expected to be enough for the revised budget to pass in a chamber where Labour no longer has a majority. Green group leader Heather Mack said that while the mayor had accepted some of her party’s amendments – for more traffic enforcement, residents' parking schemes and 'school streets' where traffic is restricted at pick-up and drop-off times – other proposals had been ditched despite being supported by a majority of councillors in February. Cllr Mack said: "It is disappointing to see the mayor disregard some amendments passed by full council at the budget meeting, which would have funded new public toilets
across the city, invested millions of pounds into parks and neighbourhoods and supported Jubilee Pool’s community transfer. “Under a committee system the council would have already adopted these amendments, but under the Mayoral system one person has free reign to reject the will of a majority of elected councillors.” Mr Rees said: "We have listened to the proposals from all Bristol’s political parties and incorporated the best of them. “I have always said that my door is open to people bringing solutions, so I am pleased to incorporate the amendments that grapple with Bristol’s complexities and tackle the city’s problems. “Some of the councillors’ proposals were well-reasoned but funded by unnecessary cuts, so we have taken away their spending proposals and worked in the ones we could afford to, in a way that won’t affect the council’s key services.” The mayor’s revised budget has 17 changes to the original version but still includes £19.5 million of cuts. There will be a 4.1% council rent increase and rise of up to 30% in tenants’ service charges. The council's overall revenue spending for the year is £1.09 billion, of which £243.2m will come from council tax.
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By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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March, 2022
n NEWS
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New parking charges come in at parks PARKING charges at Vassalls Park and Snuff Mills have come into force this month - and charges could soon be introduced at Eastville Park, too. The charges of £1 for up to one hour, £2 for up to two hours and £3 for up to five were introduced on March 3 in the car parks off Oldbury Court Road and River View. They will be in force from 9am and 6pm, seven days a week. The city council says all money raised will be used for improving and maintaining the parks, which have seen a large increase in visitors since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. They have been combined with new or extra double and single yellow lines in 37 roads in or near the Oldbury Court estate. Plans to bring in charges were first agreed by the city council in February 2017, but have been repeatedly delayed. Final confirmation was announced last September, with the council
Oldbury Court car park originally saying the charges would be active by December. Parking charges are also likely to be introduced at Eastville Park in the coming year as the council tries to plug a £19.5m budget deficit. Extending charges to Eastville and 12 other sites managed by the council’s parks service around the city where car parking is currently free would raise around £80,000 a year.
Cabinet councillor Ellie King, who has responsibility for the city's parks, told a meeting in January that issues such as public transport links, the steepness of surrounding roads and traffic displacement would all be assessed when deciding which areas to include, and that the public would be consulted. She said: "The parks we’re thinking about mostly are the big
ones that need that resource to be put in and where there aren’t the barriers there are in some of the smaller ones, or those with access issues, such as Stoke Park." The council says the charges "will encourage a turnover of visitors so that the opportunity to have access to a parking space could improve". It says a lack of spaces is often an issue during holidays and good weather. • Bristol City Council says it is still evaluating submissions to the Future Parks pilot scheme for Eastville Park. The council is looking for businesses, voluntary groups and others to come forward with schemes to help run facilities. Two organisations that have announced bids for the park – the Friends of Eastville Park and Eastville Park Lido Steering Group – have each been asked for more information. Meeting report by Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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fishpondsvoice
March, 2022
n NEWS
9
Storm tears down scaffolding and damages trees
Scaffolding fell on cars at the Roadworthy Suzuki dealership Picture: James Down A FISHPONDS car dealership has been left counting the cost after high winds brought down scaffolding, damaging 15 cars. The scaffolding collapse at Roadworthy Bristol on Fishponds Road happened as Storm Eunice tore across the region on February 18, also bringing down trees, damaging power lines and tearing off roof tiles. Roadworthy managing director Steve Hoare was inside the Suzuki dealership and watched as three storeys of scaffolding, put up to replace the building's flat roof, came down onto the forecourt at about 9.30am on the day of the storm. He said: "It happened about six feet away from me. A customer literally just went through the door, ten seconds before it happened." The cars affected were a combination of used cars and some customers' cars brought in for servicing. Steve expects about eight or nine of the used cars to be written off, after suffering
irreparable roof damage. While the business was able to reopen the next day, the company faces lost sales due to current difficulties in finding suitable used cars. Steve said global supply problems affecting new cars have had a knock-on effect on the used market. He expects the accident to have caused around £150,000 in losses. But he said: "The main thing is that nobody was injured. "I want to say a big thankyou to some of the businesses opposite us – we had lots of offers of help, particularly from the International Food Centre, who offered the use of their car park to get our cars out of the way. "It's surprising how people pull together in a moment of need and it was nice to see good old Fishponds rally round." City council trees and woodlands manager Andy Bryce said there had been 48 emergency call-outs and 130 individual reports of fallen
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This huge limb was blown off a tree in Eastville Park Picture: Dan O'Hare trees and branches during the storm and following weekend, with more damage still being discovered. Incidents included three trees uprooted across the Bristol & Bath Railway Path, causing blockages at Clay Bottom and near Morrisons, an uprooted tree in Perrymans Close, Oldbury Court, a partially snapped tree in the upper open section of Eastville Park, a tree left leaning over a footpath by a footbridge near Snuff Mills and snapped branches overhanging gardens in Justice Road, off Lodge Causeway. Mr Bryce said: "Our contractor was working around the clock over the weekend to attend emergency call-outs. "Several cars and properties were damaged but thankfully there were no injuries." The city council recently announced plans for a wave of tree planting under Bristol’s One City Plan and Metro Mayor Dan Norris is pledging to ensure three new trees are planted to replace
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This tree was brought down across the Bristol & Bath Railway Path between Staple Hill and Fishponds Picture: Paul Hassan each one felled by the storm. Bin and recycling collections were suspended on the day Storm Eunice hit, as the Met Office issued a rare red warning of "danger to life" for the region. While no deaths were reported in the West, four people were killed elsewhere in the UK. Electricity provider Western Power Distribution said February 18 saw the most power cuts the South West had ever experienced, with 28,000 homes affected.
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10
n NEWS WORKERS at Bristol Waste tips are being given body cameras and CCTV has been fitted to all recycling vehicles after incidents of "violence and aggression" against them more than tripled in a year. There were 68 reported incidents against employees of the city council-owned firm in the 12 months up to October 2021, compared with just 20 the previous year. It mirrors a nationwide rise in aggression during the pandemic, partially fuelled by frustrations over restrictions at recycling centres and the cancellation of some kerbside collections because of driver shortages. The issue came to light as scrutiny councillors questioned managing director Tony Lawless about Bristol’s Waste annual business plan. The document said health and safety had been a central focus in the last year and that the company’s priorities for the next 12 months focused on preventing harm to people and the environment. But it said: “Despite the positive effort around
March, 2022
Bodycams for waste workers after rise in violent incidents
A recycling crew Picture: Bristol Waste improvements, the amount of change has had a negative effect on our health and safety results. “With Covid-19 restrictions, congested city streets and increased tonnages, we have seen an increase in accidents and incidents.” The report to the council scrutiny management board on February 9 said the rise in aggressive behaviour towards employees was "UK-wide, with a marked increase...since the onset of the pandemic”. Green councillor David
Wilcox said he was "appalled" by the increase and asked what steps Bristol Waste was taking. Mr Lawless said: “We’ve put video on all our vehicles now. Any of the incidents that are captured on camera we report to the police. “We’ve put body cams on some of our staff who work in the household reuse and recycling centres as well, so there is a lot of video evidence that will be recorded, reported and hopefully prosecuted.” A Bristol Waste spokesperson
said: “We take the safety of our staff seriously and have a zerotolerance approach to abuse. “We have support systems in place to look after any staff who experience abuse, including access to mental health first aiders and employee assistance programmes to support wellbeing. “We believe that our work to encourage reporting, and the business expanding with cleaning and security services, has contributed to the increase in reports, however, nationally the Environmental Services Association has reported a nationwide increase in violence and aggression in the waste industry during the pandemic. “We are monitoring this closely and will take any actions needed to ensure the safety of our staff.” By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
@ARV Solutions Staffing Consultancy @arv_solutions @arvsolutions
WE’RE HIRING! Come and join our collaborative and family-oriented culture, not often seen within our sector. Our growth has come from delivering excellent service and gaining loyal, repeat clients. Whilst sales skills are important, we value customer service experience highly and also appreciate the benefits a diverse workforce can bring to our organisation. We are looking for experienced Recruiters, keen to join us and take advantage of our progressive, supportive ethos as well as trainees who can demonstrate a positive attitude and drive, and bring customer facing experience. We will provide full training and development plans for all.
jim.roach@arvsolutions.co.uk www.arvsolutions.co.uk
Trainee Resourcers (£18K - £22K – realistic earnings £30K+) Recruitment Consultants (£22K - £28K – realistic earnings £37K - £50K+) Recruitment Team Leaders (£30K - 35K - realistic earnings £50K - £70K+) In Return, ARV Offer: • Hybrid and flexible working • Part time contracts considered • £500 well-being benefit • Generous, achievable bonus structure • Local business working with national clients • Breakfast sarnies every Friday • Social activities throughout the year • Private Medical Insurance • Proven record of progression and development
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fishpondsvoice
March, 2022
n NEWS THE family of a nurse who died following a collision with a van say she will be "missed beyond belief and loved forever". Deborah West was walking to a hair appointment when she was hit by a van pulling into a car park off Chestnut Road, Downend. She suffered serious head injuries and died later in hospital. Deborah, who was 56, lived in Congresbury in North Somerset but had previously lived in Downend and often returned to the area. She had trained as a mental health nurse at Glenside Hospital in Fishponds and had worked there for some years afterwards before working in other hospitals, then taking on a variety of community nursing roles. Her family and the police have appealed to anyone who has information or video footage that could help their investigation into the collision to come forward. Deborah, who was wearing a pink gilet, had parked in the
11
Tragic nurse was 'a beautiful soul, always helping people' Co-op car park and was walking along the pavement past the entrance to the Openreach car park, behind the Downend exchange, when she was knocked down by the white van. The Voice understands that the van was not being driven by an Openreach employee or anyone working on behalf of the company. The road was shut as emergency services tried to save Deborah, who died later at Southmead Hospital. Her family said: "Debbie was a very much loved fiancée, mother, daughter, sister and auntie. "We are all heartbroken at the sudden loss of Deb, as she was such a special person, always smiling. “Deb had a beautiful soul and was always helping people, be it family, friends or in her work as
a mental health nurse. "Her career spanned over 35 years, in which she helped and touched the lives of countless people in Bristol and Somerset. "She will be sorely missed by colleagues and clients alike in the mental health service for her outstanding work and dedication. “As a family we are utterly devastated at her untimely death and are struggling to come to terms with it. We would like to thank everyone for their messages of support and love we have received. “Deb will be missed beyond belief and loved forever.” Deborah's parents, Diane and Derek West, still live in Frenchay, where her grandfather founded the Riverside Drive Park Homes estate. Her fiance Tim Palmer said she was a keen gardener and had
Deborah West achieved a commendation in the Royal Horticultural Society Level 2 certificate in horticulture. She had been due to take more exams on February 7, just over a week after she died. She was also a dog lover and the couple had four dogs. Anyone who can help the investigation should call 101 and quote the incident reference number 5222 022 479.
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fishpondsvoice kingswoodvoice
12 March 2022
March, 2022 27
WILL & PROBATE ADVICE
Sort your Will and support Bristol Children's Hospital We are so lucky to have Bristol Children’s Hospital on our doorstep. It provides an unrivalled level of service when our youngsters are most in need. However, there are many extra things that the NHS cannot cover that the Grand Appeal finances, that make life a bit more bearable for sick children and their families. Our local Will experts – Simpson Solicitors – have teamed up with Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal - the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity. Many families who have benefited want to make a donation to support the Children’s Hospital but perhaps do not have the spare money - especially if they have taken time off work to look after their sick child. This scheme provides you with a way to leave
a gift in your Will, so you do not have to pay now but you will know you that in your Will you have left a gift to help sick children. Even giving a small percentage of what you leave behind could make a tremendous difference to help future generations of local children. Under the scheme, Simpson Solicitors will prepare a Will for you (or two mirror Wills for a couple), absolutely free to you. And you will still receive their full award-winning service. They hope is that you will then leave a generous legacy in your Will for the Grand Appeal. Sigrid Grind says “I am so proud that Simpson Solicitors has been selected . I am hoping that many people will take advantage of the scheme. I also hope that many who participate will leave a generous gift in their Will to the Grand Appeal.
Melissa Witter
Sigrid Grind
0117 960 8594 is the number to call the friendly team at Simpson Solicitors if you would like to make or update your Will under this scheme. Call now to book your meeting as there is limited availability. By leaving a donation in your Will, you can gift a sick child a brighter future.
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0117 960 8594 www.simpsonsolicitors.com
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BOOK YOUR FREE MEETING: Call 0117 960 8594 OR message@simpsonslawuk.com OR Michelle at Simpson Solicitors OR pop into our Kings Chase Shopping Centre offices in Kingswood (opposite Costa). If getting to us is difficult, our FREE Home Visit service covers Bitton, Downend, Fishponds, Hanham, Kingswood, Oldland, St George, Staple Hill, Warmley, Willsbridge and surrounding areas. To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870
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fishpondsvoice
March, 2022
13
n NEWS
Electric bike hire is a hit in Fishponds AN electric bike hire scheme launched by social enterprise The Big Issue is proving popular in Fishponds. The scheme's 'eBikes' have joined Voi electric scooters as a familiar sight on local roads and are being promoted as another alternative to using a car for short journeys. About 400 are in circulation around Bristol at any one time, and usage figures show the stretch of Fishponds Road between Eastville Park and Manor Road is particularly popular. The Big Issue, best known for its street newspaper first published more than 30 years ago, has teamed up with a Norwegian 'micromobility' company, ShareBike, to run the scheme. It has created around ten jobs for longterm unemployed people on the bike's maintenance crew, who travel around the city changing batteries, carrying out repairs and moving bikes to where they are needed. ShareBike chief executive Jan Tore Endresen said research had shown almost two thirds of car trips in the city were under three and a half miles, and the aim was to replace car traffic with bikes for those short journeys. Initial data from the scheme showed that
Fishponds was one of the most popular areas for the bikes, along with the city centre and roads around Bristol University. The scheme had a deal with UWE and as a result the area around Blackberry Hill was one of the busiest, but Jan said the bikes were also frequently used in other areas, including Hillfields. He said the bikes "offer a comfortable and convenient alternative to fossil fuel-based transportation". The boundaries of where the bikes can be picked up or left had been reduced after the operators found the bikes were being spread too thinly – but the Eastville and Fishponds areas remain fully covered. A small number of bikes had been vandalised or stolen but this was not connected to the decision to stop them from being left in some areas, Jan said. The scheme was launched in February with a £450,000 backing from City Funds, a Bristol-based investment fund run by Bristol & Bath Regional Capital, a community interest company. Big Issue Group chief executive Paul Cheal said: "Renting an eBike from The Big Issue is not only good for the environment, but it also creates opportunities for marginalised
A Big Issue eBike at the Harbourside people. You are biking for good." Bikes can be rented for a monthly subscription of £19.95 for unlimited rides up to 10 minutes per ride, with a pay-as-you-go option – both have a maximum charge of £12 per day. People who spot a lost bike are being encouraged to report it by emailing support@ bigissue.bike or calling 0117 971 7695 on Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm.
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fishpondsvoice
14
March, 2022
n PETER'S VISION
Advanced eye care
EXQUISITE DESIGN SUPERB QUALITY 57 Henleaze Road
768 Fishponds Road
Bristol BS9 4JT
Bristol BS16 3UA
0117 962 2474
0117 965 4434
eyecareteam@turnersopticians.co.uk www.turnersopticians.co.uk Turners Eye Care Ltd T/A Turners Opticians Incorporated in England & Wales Reg No. 8201460 Subject to availability, T&C’s apply.
To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870
I WAS reflecting this month that we’ve had our second practice for over 5 years. Has it always been a smooth road? Well honestly, no. But I’ve learnt a lot, enjoyed meeting many new patients and been humbled by the significant number of patients who have chosen to return to see us too! So as an Optician, what do we offer? Our primary offering is advanced eye care. How does this look? Well it starts with our ethos. We aim to make you, our patient, feel relaxed, informed and reassured following a visit to us for your eye care. How do we do this? We start by allowing enough time to listen to any vision concerns you may have and we carry out a good number of checks of your eyes and visual system. The latest addition to our clinical practice is a new, super sophisticated, instrument (it’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of the latest tech!) which lets us look into both the front and back of your eyes with more detail and clarity than ever before! Why are we so focussed on eye care? Simply it’s our passion, and the reason why we invest so much in our Optometry practices - for the benefits of our patients. Almost all of us rely on our eyes and vision for so, so many of the day to day aspects of our lives, it’s easy to take our sight for granted. We also firmly believe in preventative steps wherever needed, and regularly advise our patients on the best way to care for their eye health and vision to keep them seeing clearly far into the future too! There’s another reason to come and see us at Turner's Opticians this month. We’ve an amazing new range of frames to show you! I’ll say from the outset that this is probably the fastest I’ve ever stocked a new range of frames, such is my excitement at having viewed them. I will also say that I’m the proud owner of a set of Walter & Herbert frames myself! As you can see from the picture, I’ve changed from my chunky Ray-Bans to a new look for this year. Walter & Herbert have been designing and making glasses in the UK since the 1940’s. They bring an innovative and creative outlook, through which the family have honed and perfected not only the frame style & design, but also the exquisite quality of the finished frames. I’m super chuffed with the look and feel of mine too. I appreciate that how glasses feel may be an interesting thing for an Optometrist to say, but yes, the details matter, well to me anyway! When it comes to your eyes, we’d love to see you and for you to experience the advanced eye care we firmly believe you deserve. A visit to Turners Opticians gives you so much more than just a sight test. Don’t forget, whether it’s for reassuringly thorough eye care, or for glasses that both look and feel great too, we’re here when you need us, six days per week. Just get in touch and we’ll be happy to see how we can help you. We continue to offer COVID safe ways to choose your new glasses too! To help us keep you all safe, we’re still asking you all to telephone first to book a time to come in. Please call our Henleaze practice on 0117 962 2474 or our Fishponds practice on 0117 965 4434.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Peter
Peter Turner is a Senior Optometrist at Turners Opticians in Bristol, and also works part time as a Senior Optometrist at the Bristol Eye Hospital. Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk
Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377
fishpondsvoice
March, 2022
15
n NEWS
Your chance to sew a ‘hug in a mug’
Teen robbed boys on railway path
PEOPLE in Fishponds are invited to join a project to make a quilt for a Bristol charity. One25 supports some of Bristol’s most marginalised women, including those who have suffered childhood abuse and street sex workers. The charity’s aim is to help the women move towards independence in the community, and women Jemima Lumley who attend One25’s drop-in sessions love to drink hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows, which they described as “a hug in a mug”. Charity volunteer Jemima Lumley has taken this as the theme for a patchwork quilt she is making for One25’s birthday. She is inviting people to embroider a square with a printed mug on it. Each square costs £5 and as well as raising funds and awareness for the charity, the finished quilt will hang in One25’s drop-in centre. Sewing sessions are being held at the Old Library in Eastville on March 18, April 15 and May 20, from 2.15-4.45pm. People can also go along and collect a patch to sew at home. For more information email jemimalumley@icloud.com.
A TEENAGER who robbed three boys on the Bristol and Bath Railway Path has been given a suspended sentence. Kavell Common, 18, was in a gang who threatened the boys, who were on their way home from school, near the Forest Road railway bridge in September 2020 and ordered them to hand over their phones. Common, who has moved to Kent since the incident, was arrested the following day after police were called in when he tried to mug another boy, who escaped. At Bristol Crown Court in February he was sentenced to a year's detention in a young offenders' institution, suspended for 18 months, which means that if he offends again during that time he is liable to serve the sentence. He was also ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and pay £200 in compensation, with £200 in costs. The incident happened at a time when a series of crimes were being reported on the railway path, including other robberies, sexual and physical assaults. A police spokesperson said that since then there had been a reduction in recorded crime on the path, with 36 incidents recorded in 2020 and 14 the following year. The worst months for offending had been August, November and December 2020, with six, five and eight recorded offences respectively. The spokesperson said: "We are pleased to see there has been a reduction in recorded crime along the Bristol Bath Cycle Path over the past 12 months."
A WARM WELCOME AWAITS AT QUARRY HOUSE NURSING HOME Providing top quality, best value, holistic care Quarry House in Fishponds offers safe and nurturing care We are now enabling close contact visits in the home, every resident is able to have an essential care giver, and there is no isolation required for new residents from the community. We still have a varied activity schedule which keeps life interesting and happy.
We also ensure: • Strict Infection Control measures approved by Public Health England are fully implemented • Care staff wear PPE at all times and we have ensured a high volume of supply • Skilled nurses are on site 24/7 and respiratory equipment is at hand • Safe face-to-face visits where possible
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We’d love to hear from you and we’d be very happy to give you a virtual tour of the home...
Give us a call on 0117 969 0990 or visit our website at bristolcarehomes.co.uk To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870
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WESTERLEIGH ROAD, PUCKLECHURCH, BRISTOL BS16 9PY
fishpondsvoice
March, 2022
n NEWS
17
Call to retired GPs May Park Primary School children and staff with High Sheriff of Bristol Sue Davies
Pupils welcome High Sheriff AN Eastville school's Romanian pupils gave a presentation on their country's culture when they received a visit from the High Sheriff of Bristol, Sue Davies. Mrs Davies was greeted with a welcome speech in Romanian when she arrived at May Park Primary School in February. This was followed by a presentation the children had planned themselves, including a traditional Christian song, hand-drawn Romanian flags, an explanation of the differences between British and Romanian customs and the potential impact of a language barrier. Each week, the group meets with school safeguarding lead Tracey Kildea and PCSO Hayley Bickford to learn life skills, support each other and have discussions. The group received a donation from the High Sheriff to fund activities and as a thank-you they invited her to visit them at school. Mrs Kildea said: "The group were delighted to host such an important person and felt proud to be Romanian."
DOCTORS who have hung up their stethoscopes are being asked to come out of retirement to provide online consultations for patients. The move is among measures to make more GP appointments available as practices struggle to keep up with patient demand. Health bosses hope the “attractive home working opportunity” for recently-retired GPs, those who would otherwise retire or those taking a career break will help ease the crisis. But some councillors are concerned that not enough is being done to provide extra faceto-face consultations. Members of South Gloucestershire’s health scrutiny committee heard about the scheme from Jenny Bowker, head of primary care development at the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, on January 26. Ms Bowker said the schemes
were paid for with £4 million of government ‘winter access’ funding that had to be spent by the end of March. She said the CCG had tried to create a retired GP network, working remotely, in December but the attempt was overshadowed by a call for the same doctors to help with the covid booster programme. Ms Bowker said: "That’s a scheme that we’re going to look at again this year, to see if we can attract more people." Kingswood ward councillor Andrea Reid said “by far the most common problem” for residents has been an inability to get face-to-face appointments with a GP. She asked whether the CCG would be making more faceto-face appointments available or would just be increasing the number of remote consultations. Ms Bowker said it would be a “combination of the two”. By Amanda Cameron, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Rediscover St Nick’s Market St Nicholas Markets, also known as “St Nick’s” is a hidden gem in the heart of the Old City. Home to the largest collection of independent retailers in Bristol, the historic indoor and outdoor markets house over 60 stalls, selling a range of unique gifts, quality crafts, clothing and fashion, accessories, books, records and food. Eat in or take away, it is a food lover’s paradise, with food and flavours from across the world. From shoe repairs to key cutting and knife sharpening, you’re sure to find a trader to fix anything that’s broken. Open Monday to Saturday, enjoy a unique shopping experience in the heart of the Old City.
stnicholasmarkets.co.uk Corn Street, Bristol BS1 1JQ Reopening High Streets Safely / Welcome Back Fund delivered with funding from:
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18
fishpondsvoice
March, 2022
n NEWS
Frenchay 10k is back for 40th race
Runners at the start of a previous Frenchay 10k ONE of the country's oldest 10k races is back after two years away. The Frenchay 10k will be run for the 40th time on April 24, with hundreds of people of a wide range of ages and abilities set to help raise money for two charities. For the past 20 years it has started from the UWE Glenside campus at Blackberry Hill in Fishponds. This year it will once again start and finish at the campus, with runners getting underway at 11am on April 24. The course starts with a circuit of the campus grounds, followed by a run through the surrounding area, down Blackberry Hill and through Oldbury Court, onto Gill Avenue then goes down Frenchay Road to Frenchay Bridge, up to Frenchay common, along Frenchay Park Road and into Broom Hill before returning to the UWE grounds for the finish. The race was founded after a Frenchay resident, John Honeywell, attended a talk given by pioneering Frenchay Hospital neurosurgeon Hugh Coakham about brain tumour surgery in 1979. John and his friend John Laurie decided to raise some money to fund his research, and the following year the first ever Frenchay 10k was run. The event raised money for the same cause for seven years, until funding of the research was taken over by a national charity. Since then a variety of local charities have been helped. This year two good causes will share the money:
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Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk
Freewheelers Emergency Voluntary Service, which provides a free 'bloodbikes' out of hours motorbike courier service for hospitals, and Ronald McDonald House Bristol, which provides free 'home from home' accommodation and support to families of critically ill children being treated at Bristol Children's Hospital. All the proceeds from the race, minus costs, are donated each year to the charities, which provide volunteer marshals on the day. Since the first race almost £175,000 has been raised in total for charities. The inaugural event had 120 contestants and numbers have risen over the years to an average of 600 per year, with organisers hoping for a record field of 700 this year, which will be John Honeywell's last as race director. Up until 2020 the race had been run every year except for 2001, when restrictions to fight an outbreak of foot and mouth disease among livestock meant it could not go ahead. With the 2020 and 2021 races also called off due to coronavirus restrictions, this year's race will be the 40th in the event's history. Race spokesperson Dave Guyatt said: "We always have a field of established runners, casual runners and people who just enjoy a leisurely jog or stroll around the course." People can enter online at frenchay10k.co.uk. Entries are also usually accepted on the day, but organisers are encouraging runners to guarantee their place by booking in advance.
Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377
fishpondsvoice
March, 2022
n NEWS
19
Basketball champs
Begbrook Primary Academy pupils meet a corn snake
It's animal magic ...
CHILDREN at Begbrook Primary Academy had some special four, six and no-legged visitors as they learned about different types of animals. Pupils in the school's three Year 1 classes had the chance to hold a corn snake, a cockroach, a tree frog, a bearded dragon lizard and a rabbit during the visit from animal handling education experts Wild Science, to start a science project on animal classification. Year 1 teacher Florrie Earle said: "It was a wonderful and really valuable experience. "The children were absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to hold or touch one of the animals and they were so brave – much braver than many adults would have been. "Lots of them also wanted to share what they already knew about animals."
MEMBERS of a primary school's basketball club triumphed when they took part in a tournament, despite only playing together for a few weeks. The Begbrook pupils took part in a tournament organised at Bristol Metropolitan Academy for Year 6 pupils from across the Cabot Learning Federation in February. Year 6 teacher Abbie Fidler The winning Begbrook team organised after-school training for just a few weeks before the tournament and said she was amazed by the children's skills. The school took 18 children, split into three teams of six, and played six games in one afternoon, with Bristol Met pupils refereeing and keeping score. One of the teams won all of their games – and the overall tournament. School PE lead Rachel Harris said: "Many of our children progress to Bristol Met and know how successful their basketball team are. They hope to play basketball when they reach secondary school. "They were very excited to compete at the Met and enjoyed some competition to put their training into action." Players Isabella Eastham and Zac Quick said: "We were so happy one of our teams won the tournament. We think all schools enjoyed the experience and hope to do it again soon in the future."
“We love to play and learn. Our teachers are really kind and nice.” Discover more at our next Scan to meet Theo & Elena
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Working Open Morning Friday 29th April 2022 Register at colstons.org Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk
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fishpondsvoice
20
March, 2022
n ADVERTISING FEATURE
The chiropractic connection Headaches are not normal! However they are very common, but aren’t if your spine is in good health. We at Sutton Chiropractic in Downend specialise in the effective and safe treatment of headaches, from migraines to tension headaches. Over 10 million people in the UK suffer from headaches on a regular basis and for many people this is a daily occurrence. Often we are quick to take painkillers to reduce the headache when it happens and soldier on as best as possible, but never address the cause of the headache is in the first place. Thankfully Chiropractic has the answer! We’ve been helping patients with neck tension, headaches and migraines live pain-free for years. Research has discovered that most headaches are caused by damaged structures around the neck; joints, ligaments, muscles, and cervical discs, all of which
have lots of nerve endings. As chiropractors we are trained to find, examine, and correct these problems in the neck that cause these headaches. The most common forms of headaches are tension headaches, migraines, along with headaches from the side effects of medication.
Tension Headaches (Cervicogenic headaches) Tension headaches involve pain and discomfort of the neck, head, or scalp. It’s normally accompanied by muscle tension in these areas as well, which can lead to feeling like your head is in a vice.
Migraines Migraines are usually a severe headache at the front or side of the head. This is often felt as a throbbing pain. Other symptoms can be nausea, vomiting and
Matt Sutton increased sensitivity to light. Migraines are a very common condition affecting as many as 8.5 million people in the UK, with 1 in 5 women and 1 in 15 men being affected.
days off school and can happily play with his friends without pain! The angle we hold our heads at is a major trigger for these issues, such as when texting on our mobile phones, or reading propped up in bed. Another frequent cause is working at a computer with poor ergonomics, such as the screen being in the wrong position and long stints of screen time at work etc… Whatever the reason you’re experiencing these headaches, you should see a trained chiropractor to get to the cause. We are skilled in the detection headaches and their root causes, along with any serious problems masquerading as a headache. Headaches are not a normal part of life. Find the cause, fix the problem, enjoy life!
The Chiropractic Connection Headaches are often the result of muscle contraction or joint misalignment in the head and neck. These muscle contractions are commonly triggered by stress, anxiety, and poor posture. Which is why we see teenagers with these types of headaches. In fact our youngest patient with headaches to date is 9 years old! Thankfully he’s having far less
Talks run by Sutton Chiropractic CALL TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
Headaches – how to live a pain free life Natural Immunity talk with local Kinesiologist Donna Holgate
Posture – It’s not age, see to it now and live a life full of bounce Women’s health Menstrual issues, pre & post pregnancy pelvis, year 1 of motherhood
Christchurch Family Medical Centre, North Street, Bristol BS16 5SG T: 0117 214 1636 W: www.suttonchiro.co.uk FB: @suttonchiro E: reception@suttonchiro.co.uk
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fishpondsvoice
March, 2022
21
n FRIENDS OF EASTVILLE PARK
The history of the ‘Green Metal Shed’
A community cafe event at the Nissen Hut
Friends of
EASTVILLE PARK
The Eastville Park Nissen Hut before renovation started
EASTVILLE Park has a fascinating history, spanning over 100 years, and is one of the earliest and largest of Bristol’s municipal parks. Members of the friends group have spent many hours trawling the city archives, gathering information and photos which, hopefully, we shall be able to share with you in the near future. The park played an important role in World War Two when, in 1939, it was appropriated by the military. Among other things, it was used for infantry training and, later on, for tented accommodation for the troops returning from Dunkirk, prisoners of war and American servicemen – ‘Tent City’. A barrage balloon and search lights were also based there, as deterrents to German bombers aiming for the Filton aircraft factories. When the war ended and, slowly, normal park-life resumed, Bristol's Public Works and Maintenance Committee agreed for one of the ex-service huts to be moved to the upper park for use as a sports dressing room. It is now our Nissen Hut, which regular
An early Nissen hut in the First World War
visitors to the park will be familiar with as the venue for pop-up cafes, community activities and other fun events. Nissen huts have a history all of their own and are known as one of the great designs of the twentieth century. They’ve helped win two world wars, explore the Arctic and tame the Outback. Designed by and named after the British Army engineer and inventor Major Peter Norman Nissen, the huts were first used in France in September 1916, when the front line kept moving. A Nissen hut used as a hospital ward At least 100,000 huts were produced for use as barracks, We have started with the renovation and hospitals, prisons, churches and farm refurbishment of the Nissen Hut in order to buildings. provide a community hub – a warm, cosy Friends of Eastville Park are anxious to centre for a variety of community activities and preserve all aspects of the park’s history, outreach. including the Nissen Hut and the adjacent Art It won’t be long, folks! Deco pavilion, both within the bowling green The History Girls site.
Microsuction and irrigation (syringing) Ear Wax Removal Service
Pilates classes in Fishponds Suitable for all levels
Ear Clear Bristol THE SOLUTION IS HEAR Call Sarah Hayward (Ear Wax Removal Specialist) on
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Mondays 19:15 at The Life Church Wednesdays 8.45 and 10.15 at Lincombe Barn Saturdays 9.15 at All Saints Church Hall Please contact Emily to book your place on 07974252486 email: info@teachmepilates.co.uk or find me on facebook and Instagram: Emily Osborne Pilates
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March, 2022
22
n NEWS FROM OUR MP
Let's rethink approach to children’s mental health PEOPLE with mental health conditions currently face agonisingly long waits to access the care they need, and children are no exception to this. Half of all mental health problems are established by the age of 14, so getting the right help during childhood is vital. However, numbers of children waiting for mental health treatment have doubled since June 2020, and a fifth of these children now wait for more than 12 weeks for a first appointment. Delayed support can lead to worsening symptoms and, for some, the need for inpatient treatment. But service provision for children with severe mental health needs, including young people with eating disorders, is also falling short. A recent Care Quality Commission report found many children being held in ‘inappropriate settings,’ such as on general wards, while they wait for a suitable bed to free up. Far too many are being treated miles away from their families
and support networks, which isn’t acceptable. Seeking care is especially complex for parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities as well as mental health difficulties. These children are often ‘bounced between’ child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and SEND services, with neither able to provide the right support that’s centred on the individual child’s needs. While Bristol City Council is trying to do better, in announcing its Belonging Strategy as well as a three-year, £6.1 million Education Transformation Programme, problems still exist in the here and now. The overall picture of UK children’s declining mental health appears bleak, and some MPs have attributed this to the introduction of Covid-19 restrictions. It’s easy to pin the blame here, but this fails to address why so many children were waiting for mental health
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support before the pandemic – particularly when NHS services have faced real-terms funding cuts for over a decade. It’s also clear that many people end up needing long-term support after facing adverse childhood experiences – an issue I raised during Labour’s Opposition Day Debate marking Children’s Mental Health Week. There are some glimmers of hope, and new approaches are being pioneered to tackle the scale of the crisis. In Oxfordshire, NHS services are working to secure separate provision for mental health crisis care. In Bristol, there are plans to allocate a room in A&E departments to autistic children, giving them a safe space away from sirens, bright lights and aggressive patients. And the ‘Fund the Hubs’ campaign points towards data from Australia, showing that 60% of those who attend drop-in youth support hubs see improvements in their mental health. It’s great to see support for
Kerry McCarthy MP for Bristol East
writes for Fishponds Voice this initiative grow in the UK too. If you’re having problems in trying to access mental health support for your child, or know someone who is, please email me at kerry.mccarthy.mp@parliament. uk, or call 0117 939 9901.
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fishpondsvoice
March, 2022
n NEWS A PET ferret whose disappearance sparked a desperate search and social media appeal turned up after running into a sorting office and biting a postman's ear. Magdalena Makola asked for help on Facebook when her ferret Fredzia, who is around seven months old, ran away from her home near Eastville Park in January. Over the following days Magdalena made appeals, put up posters, informed vets and animal shelters, and searched the park and surrounding area. Sightings came in from Eastville Park and a back garden in Stapleton but after five days on the run, Fredzia turned up at the Royal Mail delivery office in New Station Way, Fishponds, and took a liking to postman Ian Hodges. Ian was sorting parcels with a colleague in a unit at the site when the ferret ran over from the direction of the Railway Path, over another worker's foot and into a cage used for sorting parcels ready for delivery. Ian, who had not been aware
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Ferret's odyssey ends at Fishponds sorting office of the Facebook appeal, said: "He seemed really friendly – he climbed up my leg and into the crook of my arm. "Then he ran on to my shoulder and before I could do anything, he sank his teeth in and was hanging off my earlobe!" One of Ian's colleagues tried to prise the ferret free while another offered Fredzia grapes to tempt him away, and eventually they managed to get him into a box. Ian's colleague Nikki Bassett took Fredzia to a vet to check him over, stopping on the way when he escaped from the box and started to explore her car, appearing in her rear view mirror. The vet posted an appeal to find the ferret's owner on Facebook and someone who saw
it got in touch with Magdalena. Meanwhile, Ian surprised his manager when he reported the incident in the workplace accident book. Ian said: "He asked me what sort of accident it was and when I said I'd been bitten by a ferret, his jaw hit the floor! "Everyone's been laughing about it ever since and we've even had a cartoon 'No Ferrets' sign made." Fredzia left Ian with a couple of tiny bite marks on his ear but he said: "I think he was just nervous – I didn't take offence." Magdalena said Fredzia had been tired and hungry but otherwise OK, and thanked the "many people" who had helped look for him. She said: "I couldn't sleep for five days – I was crying.
Fredzia the hungry ferret "Now I'm very happy. "Thank you once again to everyone – and remember that you always have to hope."
DRIVER (Part Time) Job Title: Driver Reports To: PROPS Centre Manager Internal Contacts: PROPS employees, PROPS Trainees, Trustees External Contacts: Parents/Carers Hours: 7.30am- 9.30am and/or 3pm-5pm Monday – Friday or any combination of days am or pm Hourly Rate: £9.50per/hour Date: Feb 2022 Key Purpose of Role: To work as part of the PROPS Team and be a driver for the PROPS Centre transport provision. Under the direction of the Centre Manager the Driver’s principal duties include: ● Operating one of the PROPS pick up and drop off routes, collecting service users from given locations and dropping them off at The Centre (mornings); collecting them from The Centre and dropping them back at the given points (afternoon). All journeys are unchaperoned. ● Ensuring that vehicle is kept clean and in good condition, including, but not restricted to: Keeping the vehicles clean and tidy inside and out. Regular visual inspection/checking of tyres, lights, oil, water, refuelling when needed. ● Ensuring that the Vehicle Defects sheets are completed, if required. ● Report any concerns to the Centre Manager. ● Adhere to all PROPS policies including Health & Safety guidelines for drivers ● Adhere to all guidelines and rules relating to PROPS risk assessment Transport. ● To liaise directly with parents/carers when necessary. Contact: Nicholas Trivett (Centre Manager) Tel: 0117 374 7813 email: nick@propsbristol.co.uk The post holder may be required to perform duties other than those given in the job description for the post. The duties and responsibilities may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. The job holder’s responsibility for promoting and safe guarding the welfare of our service users for who s/he is responsible, or with whom s/he comes into contact will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with PROPS Safeguarding Policy at all times. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the role, the job holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of our service users while on transport or at the PROPS Centre s/he must report any concerns to the Safeguarding Officer or to the Centre Manager
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Get ready for Bristol’s Clean Air Zone
Summer 2022
Bristol is introducing a Clean Air Zone to reduce harmful pollution. Older and more polluting vehicles will be charged to enter the zone. Check your vehicle online and find out how we can help you prepare for the zone.
bristol.gov.uk/cleanairzone
fishpondsvoice
March, 2022
n HISTORY Mike Jempson finds out what happens if you donate an item to Glenside Hospital Museum. IN August last year some remarkable sculptures by a Fishponds resident who had once been a patient at Glenside were donated to the hospital museum. They eventually went on display for visitors to admire in January. However, the journey from donation to display is often much longer, as Artefacts Collection volunteer Sue Farrell explains. "When an item comes in we have to make sure it is safe and relevant to our collections," she says. "Ideally it should relate to the psychiatric hospital itself, to its days as the Beaufort War Hospital, or to the Stokes Park Colony – but the museum also traces the history of mental health treatment and training." A former teacher who has been a volunteer at the museum since 2016, Sue is one of several who keep track of artefacts and documents brought in by the public that comply with the museum’s collection development policy. "We would prefer people to make contact before just bringing things in. It’s helpful to know what to expect, and when," she explains. "There is a quite complex procedure to ensure we have accurate details about every item.
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Preserving the past We have to record information about its provenance, and documents have to be completed to confirm whether it is now the property of the museum in perpetuity, or just on loan." Some artefacts, such as documents, clothing and wooden items, may first need to go into quarantine for a period to ensure that there is no possibility of hidden pests transferring to the museum collection. "We have had a problem with moths," admits Sue, wryly. Cloth items often have to spend a while in the freezer at Bristol Museum to kill off potential infestations. "There are more than 2,000 items in the museum," says Sue. "And it’s anyone’s guess how many others are waiting in boxes for more detailed cataloguing." The museum has extensive exhibitions and many items held in storerooms and other parts of the building. And there is a library of books and papers set around the altar of what was once a chapel. Everything has to be recorded and traceable, with each item carefully catalogued, photographed and numbered, with details of its location recorded. One of the headaches for the volunteers, who come in twice a week to help complete the process, is the lack of computers capable
Sue Farrell and Qiwen Chen in the museum's archives of storing and cross referencing information about the museum's extensive archives. Cataloguing is painstaking work and not to everyone’s taste, but Sue finds it rewarding. For her perhaps the most poignant items in the collection are the drawings by local artist Denis Reed, who was a patient at Glenside in the 1950s. “For me he captures the loneliness and vulnerability of fellow patients at the time,” says Sue. Originally from Yorkshire, Sue taught English at Clevedon School before taking early retirement in
Sculptures created by a former Glenside Hospital patient
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2005 and obtaining a degree in archaeology. Having volunteered at Weston Museum before she moved to Fishponds, she was delighted to discover Glenside chapel on her doorstep. It has now become a part of her life since she joined the team of volunteers who keep the museum alive. One of her colleagues at the moment is Qiwen Chen, from Xiamen University in China. She originally came to help with Glenside’s Protect Our Wellbeing (POW) project as part of her Museum Studies masters course at the University of Leicester, but has stayed on as a volunteer, following in the footsteps of Junjie Wang, another masters student from Leicester who is now working at the Aurora Museum in Shanghai. They are just one example of the links the museum has formed across the world. A noncombatant’s uniform from World War I that is part of the Glenside collection is currently on loan to the Australian Army Museum in Fremantle, Western Australia. Even the postage date had to be recorded to ensure that links with the item would not be lost. Such are the minutiae of the cataloguing process. • Anyone with an item that may be of interest to the museum should get in touch online using the form at glensidemuseum.org.uk/contactus The museum is open 10am1pm on Wednesday and 10am4pm on Saturday.
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March, 2022
n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR
Cost of living crisis needs urgent action
T
HE weekly shop, petrol and energy bills are all going through the roof. It’s clear there is a cost of living crisis. It’s affecting everyone and it’s the talk of the town – from a woman I met at a cafe in Kingswood who told me her electric bill had doubled to the terrible stories I heard at a rural foodbank of working families, including an NHS nurse, who can’t afford the basic necessities. April’s rise in national insurance will hit hard. People across the West of England are being bashed by both higher prices and taxes in a way not seen before. Unfortunately that still isn’t the whole story. The cap on energy bills is being raised by almost £700 – a rise of 54%. So the average energy bill will now almost be £2,000 and they are set to rise yet again later in the year too. For many, including the Bristol and Keynsham families I met recently, the grim choice is between heating or eating – with the number
of people in this awful predicament set to rise throughout 2022. So, what is the government’s response to this cost of living crisis? Well, the Chancellor decided to loan billions of pounds to energy companies. His ‘buy now, pay later’ wheeze on energy bills will load up debt for the future, not sort the problem. As Metro Mayor I have levers of power for the long term and have begun a big programme of retrofitting to make homes warmer and bills cheaper through my £50 million green recovery fund. We’ve got so many beautiful Victorian and Georgian houses and cottages but they weren’t built with energy efficiency in mind. I’ve also launched £1m in grants to help local places, like a great (dog friendly) coffee shop Angel my cocker spaniel and I visited in Bath, that are using a West of England Combined Authority grant to go greener and so cut their bills.
Metro Mayor
Dan Norris
writes for the Voice
What is urgently needed now, however, is to get cash to hard-pressed households. Let’s fund that by a one-off tax on oil and gas producer’s booming profits. The government need to face up to some alarming inflation and tax rise truths and provide real solutions to this cost of living crisis; not piling up more things to pay tomorrow for hard working people, families and pensioners.
Housing Forums
for Bristol council tenants – get involved!
Evening:
Afternoon:
Monday 7 March 2022, 6–8pm
Wednesday 9 March 2022, 1–3pm
Your opinions help us make decisions! If you’re a council tenant, you can have your say on how the housing service is run and make suggestions about improvements. For Spring 2022, we are hosting online meetings focussing on issues we know matter most to tenants.
● Come along and find out about the outcome of our investing in council homes consultation and how residents’ views have helped shape our 30year plans for council housing.
To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870
● Places must be booked, you can do this online at: www.bristol.gov.uk/LocalHousingForums
● If you are not online but would like to take part, there is also a free dial-in option which you can join using your phone. For more information about how you can access the meetings contact Tenant Participation 0117 352 1444 or email tpu@bristol.gov.uk
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fishpondsvoice
March, 2022
n NEWS A CHARITY cafe in Speedwell run entirely by volunteers is helping its ninth family to buy life-changing specialist equipment. The Barton Hill RFC Charity Cafe in Speedwell has raised more than £27,000 to help families of disabled children and mental health charity Mind in two years – despite being unable to open its doors for most of that time. The cafe at the rugby club in Duncombe Lane first opened in February 2020, providing a place for people to meet and have a bargain-priced meal in good company each Monday and Wednesday, from noon until 3pm. Just over a month later the pandemic forced it to shut – but contact was maintained with friends and supporters, while volunteers delivered food to those in need, collected shopping, gave lifts to medical appointments and hosted 16 outdoor tabletop sales on the club's grounds. By the time the cafe reopened last October it had raised £17,000 – and since then that figure has increased by more than £10,000, to a total of £27,787, as its popularity grows. The cafe, which also sells donations of clothes, DVDs and other items, passes on all the money it makes, and none of the volunteers are paid. Most is put towards items of specialist equipment to help disabled children, with eight families helped so far and fundraising now ongoing for a ninth. Among those helped was Fishponds boy Zee Walker, who needed a Tiny Trax powered wheelchair to get around. The
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Charity cafe helps families and brings people together
Zee Walker with his powered wheelchair
Rocco Pearson
cafe raised £6,820 to buy one. Zee’s Mum Ellie said: "It provides him so much independence and also a great opportunity to learn about road safety. "He’s loving being able to pop to the counter at the library when he finds a damaged book, or play chase with his friends at the park. "This isn’t just a wheelchair, it’s freedom, and we’re so thankful for everyone’s hard work." Rocco Pearson received a specialist trike, which cost £1,876. Mum Jodana said: "Rocco is able to go out on a bike with his sister, which he’d never been able to do before. "It’s given him so much independence and it’s great because, once he’s big enough, he can steer himself. It’s also
a great way to get him out for exercise – it’s given him a great opportunity." The rest of the money raised – just over £4,500 so far – has been donated to mental health charity Mind.
MIKEBUILDING PALMER STAPLETON BRISTOL All Building work undertaken
Volunteer Mandy Bryant said: "All money raised goes to charity and everything to do with the cafe is totally transparent, honest and open. "Everyone is welcome and you do not need to buy anything – you can just go for company and conversation. "It is a very positive place and focuses on bringing people of all ages and from all walks of life together, from people in their 90s to babies." Regular customer Alison Bleadon said: "This cafe is definitely one of a kind, with a great atmosphere. "The volunteers really go the extra mile to make it somewhere that brightens someone’s day. "They are all so committed to the fundraising but also to the happiness and well-being of people that come."
BAGS of HOPE
Every Little Help Counts! Do you need FREE provisions and supplies to get you to the end of the month? If so, please drop by at the Bristol Dance Company on any Sunday, 12noon to 1pm to pick up a free bag of provisions. No questions asked and you don't have to be a member of our Church. Please text "Bag" and your first name to the number, 07881 339217 so that we can reserve a bag for you.
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fishpondsvoice
March, 2022
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n ADVERTISING FEATURE
BTEA joins the Olympus Academy Trust BRISTOL Technology and Engineering Academy (BTEA) joined the Olympus Academy Trust in September 2021. We plan to merge BTEA with Abbeywood Community School and retain the specialist Engineering/STEM curriculum pathway for Years 10-13. Our purpose is to develop young people with the skills, qualities and qualifications necessary to progress successfully within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths field in the local, regional and national employment market. Our Key stage 4 and Post 16 curriculum enables students to study specialist Engineering courses alongside GCSEs and A-levels. BTEA works closely with a range of local employers to develop Employer-Led Projects (ELPs) that enable our students to work alongside industry professionals and develop soughtafter employability skills and sector-specific work experience.
n NEWS
I was taught in the tradition of Gitananda Yoga, which is based on the authentic teachings of various paths of Yoga that include Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga promotes subtle exercises, gentle and relaxing movements, and postures (Asanas), along with conscious breathing. It helps bring into union breath, mind and body. Hatha Yoga is accessible for everyone. You don’t have to be super fit or super bendy. Visit www.ahimsayogabristol.co.uk
Teachers' showdown PRIMARY school teachers battled it out in front of pupils to show children how much fun the subject can be. Avanti Gardens principal Ashley Milum took on school maths lead Matt Newman in a special Times Tables Rock Stars assembly where the two pitted their arithmetic skills and knowledge against each other. Times Tables Rock Stars is a way of making daily times tables practice enjoyable. Mr Newman won the showdown but had no time to celebrate before he was beaten in his next battle by a Year 5 pupil. A school spokesperson said the assembly had been "exhilarating", adding: "The children loved seeing the professionals in this times tables showdown."
To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870
designed to IMPROVE
STRENGTH, FLEXIBILITY, POSTURE AND GENERAL WELLBEING
Hatha Yoga Classes are held at Portland Therapy, Staple Hill every Saturday 9.15 – 10.15am and Tuesday 6.00 - 7.00pm & 7.20 - 8.20pm All levels welcome For more information contact Bob on 07514 298827 or email: seygas1883@gmail.com
Working in partnership with Bristol Rovers Community Trust
To reserve your place please contact Portland Therapy on 0117 9565855 or email: enquiries@portlandtherapycentre.co.uk
Price per class: £8 Portland Therapy Centre, Church Court, North View, Staple Hill, Bristol BS16 4NQ
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fishpondsvoice
30
March, 2022
n NEWS A NEW chief fire officer for Avon Fire & Rescue Service has been appointed. The service's current assistant chief fire officer, Simon Shilton, has been appointed by Avon Fire Authority to take over the top job from Mick Crennell, who will retire at the end of March. Simon's nomination was approved unanimously by the authority on February 11 and he said it was "truly an honour" to take charge. He said: "Having spent most of my career with Avon Fire & Rescue Service, I’m looking forward to all that the role has in store. "I will of course be building on the outstanding contribution made by Mick and personally, and on behalf of the service, I wish him all the very best on his next adventure. "I am committed to working hard to ensure the highest levels of safety for all who live and work in our communities and, working side-by-side with our dedicated and hard-working staff, we will continue to make our communities safer and make
New brigade chief takes over
Simon Shilton is set to become the new chief fire officer for Avon Fire & Rescue Service our service stronger." Having been part of the fire and rescue service for 28 years, Simon has been a station manager, incident command trainer and training manager. He spent the first 15 years of his career at Avon Fire & Rescue Service as an operational firefighter at Avonmouth, Bath, Temple and Southmead fire stations, before moving to
West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service in 2008 and rising to the rank of area commander. He rejoined the Avon service in 2017 as assistant chief fire officer for service delivery support. Avon Fire Authority chair Brenda Massey said: “On behalf of the fire authority, we are delighted to unanimously approve Simon’s appointment as the new chief fire officer for Avon
Fire & Rescue Service. “The process for appointing the service’s next chief fire officer was incredibly rigorous, and both candidates involved in the process were of high calibre. "Simon’s passion and wealth of operational and strategic experience gave us full confidence he is the right person to lead the organisation. “The fire authority would also like to thank Mick for the dedication and leadership he has shown in the role of chief fire officer, particularly in leading the organisation through a difficult time following the Baker Review and throughout the ongoing pandemic. We wish him well in the future. "We are assured that, under Simon’s leadership, the service will continue to thrive on its continual improvement journey in being the best fire and rescue service for the communities we serve."
n MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC
Tax increase is a positive step for policing LAST month, I announced that I would be increasing the policing part of the council tax – known as the precept – by 4.1% for local residents, equivalent to 83p more per month for the average band D household. I would like to thank the Police and Crime Panel and local people for their support. This increase will help deliver my ambitious Police and Crime Plan, which aims to provide you with an efficient, effective and legitimate police service. I know that any increase in household bills is felt by local people but, without it, it is likely cuts would have had to be made that would impact frontline services. This is why I was determined to hear from as many residents as possible and, through my consultation, I heard from 6,335 residents, of which the majority were in support of an
increase to support policing. This increase is a really positive step for policing. It allows the force and my office to work towards our vision of more visible policing, better community engagement, preventing crime, strengthening partnership work, and improving outcomes and support for victims of crime. The increase will also allow us to give pay rises to the policing family, ensuring we are recognising the hard work of officers and staff that go above and beyond for our communities. If you want an outstanding police service you have to fund it and, as your PCC, I will ensure Avon and Somerset Police deliver. I’m also delighted to announce that my team and I have been successful in securing over £100,000 in additional funding for sexual violence and domestic abuse services in Avon
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and Somerset; an additional £30,797 from the Ministry of Justice’s Critical Support Fund and £70,000 from NHSEI Health and Justice South West. As PCC, my team and I will continue to work with other commissioners – including health and local authorities – to ensure there are effective and efficient services across Avon and Somerset that can be accessed by everyone, which supports victims and survivors to cope and recover. Preventing and fighting crime is a priority in my recentlypublished Police and Crime Plan and this includes tackling male violence against women and girls, specifically domestic abuse, sexual offences, stalking and harassment. As well as ensuring there are good provisions for victims and survivors, we must address the attitudes and behaviours of the
Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk
With Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford perpetrator and ensure police investigations are evidence-led and focus on the actions of the offender rather than the victim. Finally, for anyone who is a victim or survivor of sexual violence or domestic abuse, remember help is available whether you report to the police or not, and no matter how long ago the crime took place. You can find you more about local services at www.survivorpathway.org.uk
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fishpondsvoice
March, 2022
n NEWS
Daughter's run for cancer charity THE daughter of a retired Bristol Metropolitan Academy teacher who was diagnosed with cancer has been running to help a charity which has offered vital support. Angela Truman worked as an English, literacy and special needs teacher for 35 years, most recently at Bristol Metropolitan Academy and its predecessor school, Whitefield Fishponds. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2020. Angela, from Staple Hill, said: "I got up one morning and I was yellow. I was admitted to hospital, diagnosed and given a few months to live but over a year later, I'm still here." Amy, who lives in Bromley Heath, said her "whole world fell apart" when her mum was diagnosed. But she said Pancreatic Cancer UK "answered the questions I had, held my hand over the phone, heard me cry, explained what medical terms meant and what appointments would happen next, heard me not being able to breathe and take the information in, and ultimately supported me through the trauma". Amy took up Pancreatic Cancer UK's Jog 28 challenge to run a mile each day in February to raise money and awareness of
Angela Truman and daughter Amy Esposito the disease, which claims more than half of people diagnosed within three months. She aimed to raise £400 – but the total had passed £2,300 as the Voice went to press. Angela finished the last of 12 chemotherapy treatments in November and is now having check-ups every three months. She has been left with neuropathy – nerve damage to her hands and feet. She said: "It has been incredibly hard and the only thing that held me together was my daughter, family and friends. I'm extremely proud of Amy." Amy is urging people to be aware of pancreatic cancer's symptoms, including jaundice, loss of appetite, indigestion and tummy or back pain. For more information visit pancreaticcancer.org.uk To donate to Amy's fundraiser visit justgiving.com/fundraising/ amy-esposito
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Pupils plant Jubilee trees CHILDREN at Chester Park Federation schools are planting trees as part of a national project to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The school is taking part in the Queen’s Green Canopy, an initiative encouraging people from across the country, Chester Park Junior school pupils helped with from individuals the planting to groups and businesses, to “plant a tree for the Jubilee”. Children at the federation worked together to plant three fruit trees provided by the initiative. Deputy Head Laura Beard said: "We are tremendously proud to be part of Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. "At our school, we learn to grow in every possible way. Sustainability is important to us as well as growing a greener city. "Adding to their learning environment helped our pupils feel a sense of personal legacy that would be enjoyed by future generations of Chester Park children." For more information about the project visit the queensgreencanopy.org website.
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Stay aware of Covid BRISTOL'S director of public health has urged residents to stay at home if they feel unwell, even if it isn’t coronavirus. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the end of selfisolation rules and free universal testing in England on February 21 as part of the national Living With Covid strategy. But public health director Christina Gray told Bristol's health and well-being board three days later that people should remain cautious because rates were still “extremely high”. The city had 2,932 new cases in the week to Feb 20, a rate of 629.4 per 100,000. Ms Gray said that while the high rates were not translating into severe illness or hospitalisation, the future "holds considerable uncertainty with regard to the evolution of the virus". She said "small things we can do individually or collectively" will continue to make a big difference to virus transmission, including getting fully vaccinated, good hand hygiene and wearing face coverings in busy or enclosed areas. Ms Gray said: "Stay at home if you feel unwell, whether or not it’s Covid. We are living with Covid, Covid has not gone away, so please proceed with caution as things start to open up". By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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n MAYOR'S VIEW
Our crusade to get a fair deal for Bristol’s renters
PROVIDING a safe and affordable home is the single biggest intervention we can make to improve people’s health, wellbeing and life chances. That is why we have committed to accelerating the delivery of more affordable homes and in improving the energy efficiency of our council homes. One in three Bristolians, almost 134,000 people rent their home privately, so our influence over conditions and prices in this sector reduced. Nonetheless, I am determined to improve the affordability and quality of homes for rent in Bristol. We have introduced licencing schemes which cover different types of rented property across the city. This puts responsibilities on landlords to make sure that properties they manage are well-maintained, and reassures tenants that their rights are protected. These schemes sit alongside the work of our Private Renting team, who support tenants wherever they live in Bristol. From supporting tenants threatened with harassment or unlawful eviction, to prosecuting rogue landlords who fail to
provide safe properties for our tenants – we are committed to being on tenants’ side. However, government can help us take further action, for example by bringing in a mandatory database of landlords so we can prevent those who treat tenants and their homes badly from slipping through the net. Guaranteeing safety and standards in the private rented sector is important. So too is ensuring that homes on offer for private rent are affordable for our residents. Over the last decade, rents have risen far faster than wages. Private rents in Bristol have increased by 52% on average whereas wages have only risen by 24%. We want to correct this imbalance. That’s why I promised in my manifesto last year to campaign for the powers to make Bristol an affordable Living Rent city. That includes lobbying government for the power to control rents in the city. We believe that rent controls, alongside developing new affordable homes for rent, will help us tackle the crisis of affordability in our private rental sector. We want renters at the heart of that
The Mayor’s View Each month Bristol mayor Marvin Rees shares his views with Fishponds Voice conversation. As I write, we are preparing for our Bristol Renter’s Summit, which will give an opportunity for renters in Bristol to share their experiences, to tell us what enforcement powers they would like us to lobby for, and to hear about different models for what a Living Rent in Bristol could look like if we had the power to introduce rent controls. We need a reset in the relationship both between tenants and landlords, and between local and national government. We’re determined to do everything in our power to make sure we have an affordable and highquality private rented sector in Bristol that everybody can have confidence in.
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March, 2022
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n THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
Times of change are scary - but can be exciting too IT might be an understatement to say that the last two years have been times of significant change for us all. It still seems slightly unreal that a virus that started so small in a distant part of the world caused such loss and upheaval for so many. The pain for some and the change for us all will no doubt be something we will be processing for many years to come, even as restrictions ease and we learn to live with Covid. Change is a part of life. Some of us love it and some of us do everything to resist it!. Our family have just undergone a huge change (on top of everything else that’s happened in the last two years), in that we’ve recently relocated from Portsmouth to Bristol. For 22 years I have been part of leading a church on the South Coast and have recently been appointed as the senior minister of Life Church, which
meets on Forest Road. This has involved selling a house, buying another, finding school places for our three children and my wife finding a new job. This is then coupled with the excitement of a new adventure together and the heartbreak of leaving behind so many friends who we love. My family and I have learnt to see both stability and change as something that comes in second place to knowing purpose for our lives. When we place our primary goal of living out our lives as a response to the purpose we have, then it means that we are happy to stay put, and equally, we are up for the challenge of uprooting and moving somewhere new. It means that we can find contentment, hope and joy even when everything around us seems unfamiliar. Our purpose, as you may
imagine, is one that we believe God has shown us, and that is to help lead His church, sharing with anyone who will listen, the message that there is a God, and He loves and is interested in you. Life Church, as I’m learning, is full of people who believe that too and, whilst we don’t claim to have it all figured out, we believe that God’s love is real and made real because of Jesus. When we discover this, we find hope, forgiveness, freedom, and joy! We also find that there is a reason that we are here on this planet right now, and God wants us to discover it and to live that out. The amazing thing about Jesus is that whilst everything may change around us, His love for us does not. It’s the one thing that you can be sure of, whoever you are, whatever your past or your circumstances are and whatever changes in the world
Gareth and Marianne Matthews, Life Church Bristol
around you. We’d love to extend our invitation to you to come and visit us and find out more about the life that God can bring! We meet each Sunday at 10:30am. For more information see our website, www.lifechurchbristol. com.
Generation Care – Is it time for a change? Careers in care are diverse and rewarding With the recent challenges in the care sector behind us, now is the time to start building the next generation of care workers – our Generation Care. Working at St Monica Trust is about so much more than care. It’s having the opportunity to build your career and develop your skills, whilst delivering the best experience of aging to our wonderful residents. We’ll provide award-winning training and all the mentoring you’ll need to build a fulfilling and successful career.
For more information about the fantastic opportunities in care please email recruitment@stmonicatrust.org.uk or call 0117 949 4091. www.stmonicatrust.org.uk/jobs
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With dignity at the heart of all we do, you’ll be improving the lives of our residents by helping with day-to-day practical things like bathing, dressing, meal times and activities. In fact, you’ll be such an important part of their lives you’ll get to know them, their families and friends. And who knows what direction this could take you, nursing, management or towards head office support functions? Become Generation Care and start your amazing journey
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March, 2022
n NEWS
Project celebrates women's support service
A PROJECT led by a Fishponds community history worker is celebrating more than three decades of a charity that supports women and girls. Self Injury Support started 34 years ago as Bristol Crisis Service for Women. Changing its name to Self Injury Support in 2014, it has grown into a UK-wide charity providing support and improving knowledge around self-harm. The charity helps women and girls with support services via phone, text and email, as well as providing local face-to-face support at A&E for people with self injuries. Dr Rosie Wild has been leading a project celebrating the history of the charity, which has culminated in an exhibition, podcasts, a website and booklet, launched for Self Injury Awareness Day on March 1. Over the last two years former staff and a volunteers from the charity have been interviewed about their experiences for the project, called Women Listening to Women: an oral history of
Dr Rosie Wild with a display from the new exhibition Bristol Crisis Service for Women. Excerpts from the interviews have been used to create exhibition displays and a 24-page booklet, which will be given free to community centres, health centres, libraries, museums and other charities. Freelance producer Marnie Woodmeade has used the interviews in a series of half-hour podcasts about the service and
the history of self injury. Staff member Jen Price has also designed a series of free posters and postcards for sale to raise awareness about self injury. A new website, www. womenlisteningtowomen.org. uk, is being launched hosting the podcasts as well as recordings and transcripts of the oral history interviews. The exhibition opened at the
Wellspring Settlement in Barton Hill and was due to move to Glenside Museum at Blackberry Hill from March 8, where it will be on display until April 27. Dr Wild said: "We have learnt so much from the bravery of the women who used their lived experience of self injury and poor treatment by medical professionals to design and create a service that really helped and, most importantly, listened. "The history of Bristol Crisis Service for Women shows that even the most marginalised and stigmatised people can create real change when they work together." The project has been made possible with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. For more information on Self Injury Support visit the website www.selfinjurysupport.org.uk. The charity's helpline, for women affected by self-injury, is on 0808 800 8088 and is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7-9.30pm.
n PLANNING MATTERS WITH CHRIS GOSLING
Working from home, again WORKING from home looks likely to be the biggest after-effect of Covid-19 in this country, in terms of how we live our lives at least. This could be what has come to be called a hybrid solution: semi-permanent or optional. But for some people, it is an imposition rather than a choice. An employer may just tell an employee to work in the spare room but for most people, unused rooms are a luxury. A recent survey revealed that 49 per cent of households feel their current property is unsuitable for home working. Only 28 per cent said they had a dedicated work space and the rest used, for instance, the dining room table. Imagine a teenager starting out now doing that over a 50-year working life, even for only part of each week? The current estimate is that 7.5 million people (about 1 in 9) hope to work from home on a permanent basis. That is an awful lot of dining
room and kitchen tables. This throws up a few planning problems, which often stem from a shorthand that we have been using for a long time in this country. On the continent, all property is sold according to its floorspace, but here we buy homes on the basis of the number of bedrooms. Plans for new houses showing office rooms have been scoffed at in the knowledge that, once built, they would turn into another bedroom, with the selling price accordingly enhanced. But now, with the demand for working from home, it is not so simple, especially with many planning policies across the country encouraging one- and two-bedroom homes. The first thought to cater for this significant new demand may be an extension, but first you need a direction that you can extend your house in, and then the space to do it. These
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limitations immediately rule out flats and many terraced houses. Even when it is practicable, there is always a price to be paid in lost outdoor space, let alone the cost of the build. The next solution – I suspect the most common - is to use part of an existing room. In most cases it is unlikely to create a 'mixed use' property, so there are normally no planning implications stemming from such a decision. As workspace moves, in many cases, from being a place you travel to to a portion of your home, planning policies will need to make allowance for the need for an extra room to allow for this. Failure to deal with this issue could easily lead to where you live affecting your career path, surely a totally unintended consequence of the planning system. Developers need to come up with tailored solutions and planning needs to treat such solutions in a sensible manner.
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There will be no one-size-fitsall solution, and workplaces are not going to entirely cease to exist. Ironically, those workplaces that do close are the most likely to provide the homes of the future - and these may well have to provide an element of workspace. Chrisgoslingplanning@gmail.com
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March, 2022
35
n HOME CARE & FUNDING
Tom Jackson, Commercial Lead
We Care & Repair
Empty homes week WITH over 230,000 homes lying empty across the UK, Empty Homes Week is a national campaign raising awareness of the impact of these homes, and how to take action. Many councils now implement higher council tax rates for homes which have been empty for 2 years or more, and purchasers of empty properties should also note that this increased council tax premium passes on with the property. There are many reasons why people leave homes empty, and the issues can sometimes be complex, costly and timely to resolve. One common problem is the cost of repairs to make homes habitable, particularly where a project has run over-budget and the owner does not have access to cash to complete the works. This is where Bristol City council may be able to assist. Working in partnership with Lendology CIC, a social enterprise lender providing finance packages to a wide range of homeowners, the council have invested funds to be lent via this unique loan scheme. Since 2005, Lendology have lent over £3.3 million to homeowners across the city, for home repairs, improvements, energy efficiency or renewable energy measures, and bringing empty properties back into use.
5 Hide Market, Waterloo Road, Bristol BS2 0BH 0300 323 0700 www.wecr.org.uk info@wecr.org.uk Ellie Lister Service Delivery Manager
Lendology
www.lendology.org.uk, loans@lendology.org.uk, and 01823 461099
loans/, call Lendology on 01823 461099 or email loans@lendology.org.uk
Over £2 million has been repaid, ready to be re-lent again, creating a recycling funding pot. With empty properties, Lendology recognise that many people will need to complete the project before being able to make monthly repayments. Their deferred loan option of between 6 months to 2 years gives owners the space to rent, sell or move into the property before monthly repayments commence. For more information, visit www. lendology.org.uk/loans/empty-property-
* Typical Example (4% fixed interest rate, Typical 4.2% APR). Borrow £5,000 over 60 months. £92.08 monthly repayments. Total amount repayable = £5,544.96, including £20 fee for registering the Title Restriction. Missing payments could affect your credit rating and ability to obtain credit in the future. Loans are subject to status and are typically protected by a Title Restriction. This means that you may not be able to sell your home without our permission unless the loan is fully repaid. This is a financial promotion approved by Lendology CIC. Lendology CIC is a trading name of Wessex Resolutions C.I.C.: a community interest company limited by guarantee, registered in England, company number 4512225. Registered address: Heatherton Park Studios, Bradford on Tone, Taunton TA4 1EU. Wessex Resolutions C.I.C is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (675263) for credit regulated activities.
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Working in partnership with We Care Home Improvements and Lendology CIC, the partnership takes the stress out of funding and finding contractors for home repairs, improvements or adaptations. If you are a homeowner, of any age, and need to make essential repairs to your home, call us today for more information. Works covered under the scheme include roof repair, electrical and plumbing work, damp and structural remedies, heating installations or replacement, amongst other works.
For an informal chat about the loan scheme and eligibility, call Lendology on 01823 461099, email loans@lendology.org.uk or visit www.lendology.org.uk
For more information on the services provided by We Care Home Improvements, call 0300 323 0700 or visit www.wecr.org.uk
*Subject to eligibility. **A maximum reduction of £1,000 from an approved loan over £2,000. For loans £2,000 or less, the reduction will be 50% of the loan value. Budget is limited and will be awarded on a first come, first served basis. Typical Example (4% fixed interest rate, Typical 4.2% APR). Borrow £5,000 over 60 months. £92.08 monthly repayments. Total amount repayable = £5,544.96, including £20 fee for registering the Title Restriction. Missing payments could affect your credit rating and ability to obtain credit in the future. Loans are subject to status and are typically protected by a Title Restriction. This means that you may not be able to sell your home without our permission unless the loan is fully repaid. This is a financial promotion approved by Lendology CIC. Lendology CIC is a trading name of Wessex Resolutions C.I.C.: a community interest company limited by guarantee, registered in England, company number 4512225. Registered address: Heatherton Park Studios, Bradford on Tone, Taunton TA4 1EU. Wessex Resolutions C.I.C is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (675263) for credit regulated activities.
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nW HAT’S ON IN OUR AREA
March 5 n DOWNEND BOXING CLUB AND TITAN WARRIORS KICKBOXING CLUB open day, featuring demonstrations of both codes, Harry Crook Centre, Moorlands Road, from noon until 4pm. March 15 n DOWNEND GARDENING IN RETIREMENT CLUB, 10.15am, Assembly Hall, Salisbury Road, Downend. Varied topics. Non-members welcome - £3 including tea/coffee. Easily reached by any bus into Downend. March 18 n LUNCHTIME CONCERT, St Mary’s Church, Manor Road, Fishponds, 1-2pm by the Bristol Veterans Band. No admission charge but there will be a retiring collection to cover expenses. Tea/coffee served from 12.30pm. March 19 n HILLFIELDS COMMUNITY GARDEN VOLUNTEER GROUP, Hillfields Park, 10.30am-noon. All welcome, with activities for children. No tools or experience is needed to join in. More information from hillfieldscommunitygarden@gmail. March 19 n FRIENDS OF LINCOMBE BARN Woods spring clean and woodland management morning, Lincombe Barn woods, 10am-noon. All welcome for however long you can spare. March 28 n HILLFIELDS COMMUNITY GARDEN MINI EXPLORERS, Hillfields Park, 10-11am. Friendly playgroup for children aged 2-4, parents/carers and siblings, with stories, songs, crafts and activities. Free and no need to book. More information from hillfieldscommunitygarden@gmail. April 2 n HILLFIELDS COMMUNITY GARDEN SPRING FAIR, noon to 3pm. Event for the whole community to celebrate the beginnings of spring, hear the garden team's plans for the year ahead, find out about volunteering and other ways to get involved. Treasure hunt, nature-based storytelling and activities for kids. For help attending and more information email hillfieldscommunitygarden@gmail.com
March, 2022
n NEWS Frome Vale grants up for grabs COMMUNITY groups have the chance to win funding for projects benefiting people in their area. The Frome Vale council ward, which includes Oldbury Court, Broomhill, the areas around Manor Road and Beechwood Road as well as Duchess Way in Stapleton, has been awarded £20,000 Bristol City Council to fund locally-led and community-focused projects. The money will be handed out by the Frome Vale Grant Committee, a group of local councillors, community workers and representatives from businesses, schools and places of worship, which came together to work with the council during the pandemic. The group has set out four main priorities to tackle using the funding: isolation of older people, mental health, youth provision and emergency food provision such as food banks. It says schemes tackling other priorities may be considered "if there is shown to be a need in the community". Projects have to primarily benefit residents of Frome Vale ward, with priority given to applications from groups led by residents. There is no fixed amount to apply for but the committee has said it "would like the money to have as wide an impact as possible". Grants must be spent by the end of this year or the money returned, and applicants will be asked to provide evidence of how the money is being spent. Applications can be made by individual residents with a community-focused project and either informal "unconstituted" or organised resident-led groups, but not by businesses or charities. For more information about how to apply or to discuss ideas with the grant committee members, email fvgrants@gmail.com or call Dan Lewin on 07901 212237. The deadline for applications is May 31.
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n ON THE TREATMENT TABLE
Our local link with skeleton medals success in Beijing with Tim Button, Doctor of Chiropractic at Cleve Chiropractic and Next Step in Mangotsfield
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The World Championship race with Jackie in the middle (gold) and Kim on the left (silver), Rahneva Mirela (Canada Bronze)
I
T’S a very long way from Mangotsfield to Beijing – but somehow the amazing Winter Olympic Games made it all seem a lot closer. I’d like to say right now that I’ve never before followed a blog with another one on the same subject, but events in faraway China meant this was too big a chance to miss! Please bear with me as I tell a dramatic story of sporting glory that features two of our Cleve Chiropractic patients. I left off the last blog with Australian Jackie Narracott and Kimberly Bos, from The Netherlands, approaching the final World Cup race of the season in St Moritz – the home of skeleton. Kimberly was holding first place in the table with Jackie in a respectable 17th. By the end of their two slides, Jackie had actually soared up the table to win gold – her first ever medal – and Kimberly weighed in with the silver, making it perfect preparation for the Beijing Games. Understandably, the Olympics
presents skeleton competitors with the toughest test of all. They face four slides in two days, a huge challenge of their mental toughness, courage and skill. I was so excited by the prospect that I woke up early to see the result of the first session that took place in the middle of the night UK time. I found that Jackie had kept her winning form going and was in first place with Kim well placed in 6th after a tricky first slide. There was not such good news for the GB team, who have become synonymous with skeleton in recent years. They ‘blew up’ and finished way down the order, citing problems with slow sleds. The irony here is that super-fast Jackie and Kim are on British-manufactured sleds made by former GB skeleton athlete Kristan Bromley, who is married to Olympic silver medallist Shelly Rudman. Kristan is Kim’s coach and is probably the best sled technician in the world – he adapts the sled to track conditions, sometimes before each slide.
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In the second race, Jackie went first and enjoyed a good run but was quickly overtaken by a supreme effort from young German star Hannah Neise. However, Kim had a good run to get up to fourth place, with Jackie second. We were left with the nervetingling final slide and an exciting end to a four-year dream of Olympic glory. One mistake and it would be all over – the pressure was immense. With the athletes competing in reverse order – the highest placed going last – Kim pulled out a really fast run to snatch top spot with three of her rivals still to go. Then a big mistake from German Tina Hermann left Kim still first with just the last two women remaining, which meant a guaranteed bronze. I was jumping up and down with excitement, much to the amusement of the kids. Jackie was next with me imploring her to make it down cleanly… the tension was unbearable as Dom Parsons, her
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husband and coach, my friend and GB Olympic skeleton bronze medallist, shouted her off from the top. She took a couple of knocks on the way down… the commentator thought she had blown it... but no... she finished well to take first place – a guaranteed Olympic silver! By this time, I was jumping around and crying at the same time, with the kids wondering what the heck is going on. I had to explain that these were ‘happy tears’. To cap an emotion-charged day, the wonderful Hannah Neise shocked the world with an astonishing gold medal winning finale. But all I could think about was that Jackie and Kim, who are also best friends and our patients, would be on an Olympic podium together. It was such a shame that, because of Covid regulations in China, Cleve Chiropractic couldn't go to Beijing as part of the athletes’ support team. But I was in contact with Jackie, Kim, Dom and Kristan throughout and they know how much we love them. On a different subject entirely, I managed to get through ‘dry January’ and enjoyed my first beer again watching Bristol Bears thump Newcastle – a good day. And I promise the next blog won’t be about skeleton.
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n SPORT
Kickboxing comes to the Harry Crook Centre HIS month we are delighted to announce an addition to activities at the Harry Crook Centre. Titan Warriors kickboxing club are affiliated to the World Ring Sport Association and will be joining Downend Boxing in what promises to be an exciting partnership. Joanne Trusselle is head coach of Titans and is a black belt with 32 years’ experience in the sport as a competitor, coach and judge. Additionally to this Joanne has a
proud family tradition in the boxing ring, as daughter of boxing stalwart Jim Hill. Joanne will be assisted by coach Ashley Henry, who is to complete his brown belt later this year. Joanne said: "The aims of the club are to increase confidence and learn self-defence. "We train our students to the highest standards and accept people from beginners to black belts. "More advanced fighters are
welcome to join our fight team and take part in local and National tournaments." The club will join with Downend Boxing Club in an open day featuring demonstrations of both codes on Saturday March 5, from noon until 4pm. Training commences at Harry Crook on March 6, and regular training will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, at times to be confirmed. Craig Turner
Joanne Trusselle of Titan Warriors kickboxing
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We would be pleased to help you with your
Boiler/Heating systems installed Unvented Cylinders, Electric Boilers Underfloor heating Boiler repairs Boiler servicing Gas & PAT safety testing
UP TO 10 YEAR FINANCE PLANS AVAILABLE Contact us via:
0117 9600296 or 07970122137 info@blueflameservice.co.uk www.blueflameservice.co.uk FULLY ACCREDITED WITH
PLUMBING
CREST HEATING & PLUMBING
BOILERS, BATHROOMS AND GENERAL PLUMBING
OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE HONEST & RELIABLE
TEL: 07765 250816 To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870
Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk
56746
Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377
Rajani Superstore WWW.RAJANIS.CO.UK
Maggs Lane, Fishponds Trading Estate, Bristol, BS5 7EW www.rajanis.co.uk Tel: 0117 965 5201
Everything for the Home & Garden this Summer
FERTILIZER BAGS
TOP SOIL & GARDEN TRELLIS
PLANT SEEDS
GARDEN EQUIPMENT
A RANGE OF EASTER GOODS/ITEMS
HUGE RANGE OF PUFF BARS
VISIT OUR INSTORE CAFE WHICH SERVES SANDWICHES, LUNCHES, FULL ENGLISH BREAKFASTS HOT AND COLD DRINKS
OPENING HOURS:
Monday to Saturday 9am - 6pm Sunday and Bank Holiday 10am - 4pm