South Bristol Voice July 2022

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www.southbristolvoice.co.uk WIDEST CIRCULATION IN SOUTH BRISTOL - 12,000 COPIES OF THIS EDITION July, 2022 — Issue 79 FREE EVERY MONTH IN BEDMINSTER, SOUTHVILLE, KNOWLE, TOTTERDOWN, ASHTON, ASHTON VALE & WINDMILL HILL

Bedminster’s Secret Gardens celebrates 10 years PAGE 6

New developments for Mead Street PAGE 7

The Queen (ahem) comes to Hartcliffe

Bristol Lord-Lieutenant Peaches Golding OBE in the award-winning garden in Hartcliffe

PAGE 8

Charity blooms at Chelsea Flower Show LOCAL CHARITY Mothers for Mothers won a Silver Medal plus a People’s Choice Award at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, for its specially designed garden created to raise awareness about maternal mental illness.

Plants from the garden have now been relocated to Hartcliffe City Farm, allowing members of our community to experience the beautiful garden for themselves.

This includes two trees that will form part of The

Queen’s Green Canopy, a special project inviting people around the UK to plant a tree for the Jubilee.

The trees were planted by Bristol Lord-Lieutenant, Peaches Golding OBE. First established in 1981, Mothers for Mothers supports women and families affected by maternal mental illness and emotional wellbeing needs across Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. The charity provides a range of services Turn to page 3

Meet two of our local legends PAGE 13

How to keep your pets cool this summer PAGE 15

What’s on guide PAGE 21

Puzzles PAGE 33

We Sell and Let Property Like Yours Tel: 01179634373

Email: Southville@cjhole.co.uk

Web: cjhole.co.uk

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Contacts

Ruth Drury Sales Director 07590 527664 sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk Jane Williams Editor news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

Next month’s deadline for editorial and advertising July 13 is May 11, 2022

COMPLAINTS Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in the South Bristol Voice, contact the Editor using the details below. We aspire to follow the the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), nuj.org.uk/about/nuj-code.

Further details of the complaints process can be found on our website (below) or can be obtained by contacting the Editor by email: sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or by post: 111 Broadfield Rd, Knowle, Bristol BS4 2UX or by phone: 07590527664.

May 2022 2022 July,

HOW DO I GET IN TOUCH WITH ...

My MP? Karin Smyth MP By email: karin.smyth.mp@ parliament.uk By post: Karin Smyth MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA By phone: 0117 953 3575 In person: Call the above number for an appointment My councillor?

Post: (all councillors) City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR. Tessa Fitzjohn Green, Bedminster By phone: 07584182801 By email: Cllr.Tessa.Fitzjohn@bristol.gov.uk Mark Bradshaw Labour, Bedminster. By email: Cllr.mark. bradshaw@bristol.gov.uk By phone: 0117 353 3160 Tony Dyer Green, Southville By phone: 07584182862 By email:

Cllr.Tony.Dyer@bristol.gov.uk Christine Townsend Green, Southville By phone: 07584183843 By email: Cllr.Christine.Townsend@bristol. gov.uk Christopher Davies Knowle Community Party. Email: Cllr.

Christopher.Davies@bristol.gov.uk Phone: 07826917714 Gary Hopkins Knowle Community Party. Email: Cllr.Gary.Hopkins@bristol.gov.uk Phone: 07977 512159 Ed Plowden Green, Windmill Hill Phone: 07584184577 By email: Cllr.Ed.Plowden@bristol.gov.uk Lisa Stone Green, Windmill Hill Phone: 07584186535 By email: Cllr.Lisa.Stone@bristol.gov.uk

USEFUL NUMBERS Bristol City Council www.bristol.gov.uk 0117 922 2000 Waste, roads 0117 922 2100 Pests, dog wardens 0117 922 2500 Council tax 0117 922 2900

Housing benefit 0117 922 2300 Social services 0117 922 2900 Police Inquiries 101 Emergency 999

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From page 1 including a helpline, group trips, one-to-one support and home visits, and has seen demand for its services double since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden was titled ‘This Too Shall Pass’, with design and planting to echo the road to recovery for mothers experiencing mental health challenges. Created by designer Pollyanna Wilkinson, the garden was inspired by the theme of hope and reassurance.

As well as raising awareness around maternal mental illness, the project is aimed at drawing attention to the need for improved funding to support maternal mental health.

Steve Sayers, CEO at Hartcliffe City Farm, said: “Recreating the garden at the Hartcliffe City Farm site has made it a really iconic and beautiful addition to the gardens that local people can enjoy.

The site will provide a place of tranquillity and calm that can be enjoyed by anyone and a point of BRISTOL households being hit the hardest by the cost-of-living crisis will receive support from UK Government funding.

After a UK Government instruction, the Household Support Fund, which has been extended, must be stretched to support both low-income families and pensioners who are struggling with food and energy bills.

While this means low-income pensioners who are on the council tax reduction scheme will receive a top-up payment to the £150 rebate, the rest of the fund must meet the urgent needs of families during the school holidays who qualify for free school meals.

Guidance from the UK Government on how the Household Support Fund must be allocated means there is a reduced amount allocated for free school meals of £10 per week for the six-week holiday period, previously it was £15 per week.

Bristol City Council, which is responsible for distributing the funding, is urging those most in need to contact them if they need more help than what is available to them or if they are not eligible.

Councillor Craig Cheney,

The Mothers for Mothers garden has been relocated to Hartcliffe City Farm, pictured above left. Bristolian comedian Stephen Merchant (right) also visited the garden while it was at the Chelsea Flower Show. interest like an RHS garden is a real draw.”

Maria Viner, CEO at Mothers for Mothers, added: “The opportunity to have a garden at the Chelsea Flower Show has given us a platform to raise awareness about maternal mental illness, how it is so much more than simply post-natal depression and that families

need and deserve support with mental health and emotional wellbeing issues at such a crucial time.

“The theme of our garden is hope and reassurance. We would like visitors to walk away seeing that it’s possible to find your way back to yourself. For women who are struggling with their mental health and emotional

wellbeing during pregnancy or after the birth of their baby there is support and understanding available. There are people who have lived through this experience and recovered who have been trained to support you and will walk alongside you on your journey to recovery. With the right help and support you will get better.”

£4 million funding to help Bristol’s most vulnerable

Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for City Economy, Finance and Performance, said: “There are significant pressures on many households across the city in the face of the escalating cost of living. It has been taking a huge toll on many of our city’s most vulnerable residents and families. The first extension of the Household Support Fund earlier this year allowed us to provide more support and it is

extremely encouraging to hear that the Chancellor is extending it once again to March 2023.

“However the funding is not endless, and we have been forced to stretch it further to help more people. The decrease in funding available for free school meals will cause anxiety to families who are already struggling.

“While support is being provided for these groups, I know there are far too many

people not eligible in our city who need help. At the start of the year, there were over 38,400 people in Bristol claiming Universal Credit. We also have a rental crisis with rent prices increasing rapidly by 52% over the past decade with no sign of stopping. Our Quality of Life survey from earlier this year told us that at least 10% of people in the most deprived areas of the city have experienced food insecurity – that’s doubled from the previous year.

“If you aren’t eligible for this fund but are in financial difficulty and need help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We will do all we can to support you.”

There is no application process for the Household Support Fund and the council will contact you directly if you’re eligible. If you are not eligible and need financial support or advice, please visit the Bristol City Council website.

Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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Support available for South Bristol businesses THE South Bristol Talent Pathway Project (SBTaPP) aims to help local businesses grow, as well as supporting young people into employment.

This Bristol City Council led initiative was established earlier this year to help support small and medium sized businesses in south Bristol.

SBTaPP is open to Small or Medium sized Enterprise with less than 250 employees based in South Bristol wards. The scheme provides support to businesses to identify where they can make improvements, for example recruitment, apprenticeships, training packages and work experience opportunities, that will help bring students from some of the most deprived areas in the region into employment.

Councillor Asher Craig, Deputy Mayor with responsibility for Children’s Services,

From left to right: Cllr Helen Holland, Simon Green, Alison Hurley and Sam Porter at the launch. Photo: SBTPP Launch Photography Education and Equalities said: “We are currently working with over 25 businesses as part of SBTaPP, looking to understand how they can meet their current and future needs, but we would like even more to get involved.

We are looking to upskill and train existing employees or offer career opportunities to people through Bristol Works, which builds local partnerships and connections that reflect the different communities we serve.”

SBTaPP covers a wide range of sectors, including hospitality, retail and construction with 26 businesses having signed up to the project so far. The overall aim is to get over 100 businesses involved, before the project completes in March next year.

Steve Clymer, owner of the Steam Crane pub in Bedminster, has been involved in the project for five months and is keen to see his business grow while offering local people a chance to develop their careers within the hospitality industry.

He said: “Working with the South Bristol Talent Pathway Project has been a really positive experience. With their support we are developing new ways to build the business and I’m delighted that we have been able to get three members of our staff onto an apprenticeship programme.”

Have you say on the Whitehouse Extension of Council Tax Reduction Scheme Street redevelopment approved for 10th year AS Bristolians struggle with the rising cost of living, the city’s Cabinet has authorised continued vital financial support for those who need it most.

Bristol is one of only a few councils in the country that provide a 100 per cent reduction on council tax, meaning residents who cannot afford to pay council tax, will get help. For the tenth year in a row, the council will fund low-income households to pay their council tax – this currently stands at around 34,500 households across the city.

Councillor Craig Cheney, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for City Economy, Finance and Performance, said: “Our fully funded Council Tax Reduction Scheme has been helping low-income households for nearly a decade. This commitment ensures vital financial support for vulnerable households each year as we remain one of the last councils in the country to continue this policy. We’ve fought hard to maintain a sound financial position in the face of growing costs and rising demand for services but have done so with the needs of the vulnerable and low-income households put first. I hope these proposals for the next financial year will offer some comfort in the face of the cost of living crisis and the financial uncertainties yet to come.

“There is advice, support and information available across our city.

We’ve been working on how we can provide additional help and while we have been able to provide several streams of support, including the Household Support Fund, council tax rebates and the local crisis prevention fund, I know there are far too many people not eligible in our city who need help.

“If you aren’t eligible for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme but are in financial difficulty and need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We will do all we can to help you.”

Anyone who believes they are eligible for a reduction to their council tax should visit the Bristol City Council website.

THE draft regeneration framework for the area around Whitehouse Street has continued to develop and the team is grateful for all the community feedback received over the last 18 months.

Two events are being planned where local people can hear more about the latest version of the regeneration framework, which sets out where new homes, infrastructure and public spaces could go, and the emerging approach to employment, which aims to find a successful balance between retaining jobs in the area while delivering the new homes Bristol needs. The team will be present to discuss the plans, answer questions and hear your feedback.

Those interested in hearing more can attend an in-person drop in event at Windmill Hill City Farm on Wednesday 6 July between 3pm and 7pm. Alternatively, you can join an online session on Thursday 7 July from 7pm until 8pm.

For more information on the Whitehouse Street regeneration, visit whitehousestreet.com

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Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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July, 2022

Tenth birthday for Bedminster’s Secret Gardens

By Matthew Symonds IN 2006, a few residents in Bedminster got together to open their back gardens for charity. Unlike most open garden schemes where the gardens are usually very large, Bedminster’s Secret Gardens was aiming to highlight the amazing green spaces that could be created in very small urban gardens.

Just nine gardens took part in the first Secret Gardens event back in 2006. Since then, 96 beautiful gardens have taken part in Bedminster’s Secret Gardens and the event has become one of the biggest open garden events in the UK outside London.

Last month, Bedminster’s Secret Gardens returned for its tenth event with more than 30 gardens open for people to visit.

The challenges of lockdowns over the past few years have shown just how important access to outdoor space is for people’s wellbeing. Gardens can help improve physical and mental health, and have helped many people get through the lockdowns.

That was true for Casey-Beth in Bedminster, her garden was developed during the lockdown. “Nestled between trees and climbers, this garden does a bit of everything, from growing veg and flowers, to a spot for cocktails and lawn for the pooches.

Born in lockdown, it was a lifesaver,” says Casey-Beth, who opened her garden for the first time this year.

City gardens are not just good for people, but they are vital for wildlife. Also opening their gardens for the first time were Sophie and Constance. Their gardens in Ashton and Ashton Gate are playing an important role in helping to reverse the decline in Hedgehogs.

The BS3 Hedgehog Project is a group of residents raising hedgehog awareness and making positive changes to help our hedgehog population in BS3.

“Creating ‘hog-houses’, hog-highways

by linking gardens and making other small changes to your garden can help protect our hedgehogs,” says Sophie. “Even in my tiny garden, we now get regular hedgehog visitors that we’ve captured on film,” says Constance.

Bedminster’s Secret Gardens is also part of this year’s Bristol Festival of Nature.

“Whether you’re interested in growing flowers, fruit or vegetables, creating a water feature or a green roof, encouraging wildlife, or simply creating a green space to relax, Bedminster’s Secret Gardens has something for you,” says Matthew Symonds, who helps organise Bedminster’s Secret Garden.

To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Ruth on 07590 527664

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July, 2022

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Developments planned for Mead Street PROPOSALS for the revitalisation of the area around Mead Street, near Bristol Temple Meads, have been published.

Mead Street forms part of the Temple Quarter and St Philip’s Marsh regeneration area, which is one of the most ambitious regeneration projects in the UK. Mead Street has the potential to deliver 1,500 homes and employment space for over 500 jobs, alongside improved public spaces, and new sustainable travel routes, linking the area with the city centre and the proposed new southern entrance to Bristol Temple Meads station.

The Temple Quarter project, which is being jointly delivered by Bristol City Council, the West of England Combined Authority, Network Rail and Homes England, aims to bring up to 10,000 new homes and 22,000 new jobs to Bristol in the next 20 years.

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “Our regeneration plans for Temple Quarter and St Philip’s Marsh are unashamedly ambitious as we plan for the homes, jobs and public spaces that Bristol needs.

“The proposals for Mead Street in this development brief represent the next stage of this exciting project and reflect the need to bring new homes and jobs to the city while tackling the challenges of the climate and

An aerial shot of the area due to be redeveloped. Image: Blurstudio.co.uk ecological emergencies. Mead Street is ideally located to take on these challenges, close to Temple Meads station and walking distance from jobs and leisure in the city centre.

“Temple Quarter will have an impact on the whole city as it becomes a world-class

gateway to Bristol over the coming years.”

He added: “We want people from across the city to have their say on the ideas set out here, so that we can create a new neighbourhood that meets Bristolians’ needs for the future.”

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July, 2022

New community cafe for wellbeing The Queen comes to Hartcliffe Nursery School THE School Room is the new community café run by local charity BS3 Community Development and is located inside the Southville Centre on Beauley Road.

The café will support the aims and objectives of the charity: to improve the lives, wellbeing, happiness and sense of belonging for those living and working in the BS3 area.

A warm and welcoming space for all, the School Room is a place to meet, relax, work, eat and drink.

The name is derived from the former use of the building because the space was an art room in the 1960s.

The menu is regularly updated and includes affordable options highlighted by the BS3 Community logo. You can start the day with tea and toast for just £2. The School Room offers a range of delicious fresh options from frittatas to toasties, nachos to soup along with classics like beans or scrambled egg on toast.

Throughout the renovation, reclaimed, restored and recycled materials were used including Victorian beams, parquet flooring and white ceramic tiles. In addition, local trades people helped us realise our vision including the installation of a bespoke birch ply centrepiece.

The cafe’s commitment to support and partner with local businesses includes working closely with Bristol-based Wogan, who provide the coffee (the house choice is La Bastilla, from Nicaragua), Essential Trading and East Street Fruit Market.

Opening hours are Monday to Thursday 8am to 5,30pm, and Friday 8am to 4pm. The School Room is available for private hire with catering options to suit all budgets. For more information, please contact info@bs3community.org.uk, or call 0117 9231039.

STAFF, students and parents at Hartcliffe Nursery School had great fun at their Jubilee picnic, where they were even joined by the Queen herself.

Well, sort of!

The Queen of Hartcliffe Nursery School, Rachael Carpenter, was on hand to lead the festivities and welcome all the families into the forest area for the picnic.

Teacher Kate Morris said: “This is the first family event we have had since before Covid so we were all very excited. Our SMSA (school meals supervisory assistant) Kelly-May had set up hook a duck, decorate a Jubilee biscuit and a craft stall. We had live music from Early Years music legends Rich and Bill. And local Police Community Support Officer Becky also managed to stop by.”

The school still has spaces for two and three year olds starting in September, so do get in touch if you are looking for a place.

Help is at hand in BS3

Summer fete at Nursery

BS3 Helping Others is a group which links people wanting to volunteer with local groups who need help. They have been meeting face-to-face back in the Tobacco Factory for a year and it’s been a great 12 months.

Since last summer they’ve had speakers from 25 different groups covering everything from parks and wildlife to befriending projects, from groups tackling food poverty to those working with refugees and asylum seekers.

They have recently updated their directory of volunteer opportunities, which contains the details of nearly 70 community groups and charities who need local help. They’ve had lots of interest from new volunteers and great success stories of people getting involved in their community, including Steve.

Steve has been attending BS3 Helping Others meetings at the Tobacco Factory on Tuesday mornings for nearly a year now. He made contact with Bridges for Communities which he found in BS3 Helping Others’ directory of volunteering opportunities.

Bridges for Communities helps connect people from different cultures and faiths by giving them the opportunity to build friendships and promote mutual understanding. Steve took part in a training session in March and was assigned to a refugee in May. He meets with the refugee once a week in his home and provides support through conversation, visits to cafes, libraries and galleries and, most recently, a concert at St George’s on Brandon Hill.

To get in touch with BS3 Helping Others, email bs3helpingothers@ gmail.com. BS3 Helping Others meets on Mondays at 6.30pm and Tuesdays at 10.30am in the Tobacco Factory snug. But they will be taking a break in August and there won’t be any meetings that month.

By Holly Alpren REDCLIFFE Nursery is having a summer fete on Saturday 2 July. It’s the first time we’ve been able to open our doors to the community for an event like this since before Covid and we are delighted to be able to run this popular event again.

We plan to have a barbeque and ice lollies as well as tea and cake combining the best of both worlds.

We will also have activities for the kids such as biscuit decorating, crafts and colouring as well as a houseplant sale which might be more for the grown-ups.

We have a new community kitchen garden at the back of the Nursery which we very much hope can be shared with the local residents to enjoy, grow their own fruit, vegetables and flowers and then harvest the produce.

Come along and take a look while supporting a very special early years nursery school.

Jeannette Hill, Redcliffe Nursery School Headteacher, says: “We are very much looking forward to being able to have our Summer Fete again this year. It is an opportunity for us to open our doors to the local community and welcome our families and children into our wonderful outdoor space.”

To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Ruth on 07590 527664

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July, 2022

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Bristol’s plan to get transport to net zero with 250 electric buses and 1,000 cycle hangars

By Alex Seagrove, Local Democracy Reporter LAST mile delivery services, rolling out 250 electric buses, and installing 1,000 cycle hangars will all be explored in Bristol’s plan to decarbonise transport.

Bristol City Council is aiming to get the city to net zero carbon emissions by 2030 to tackle climate change, and a big part of that push will be changing how people move around the city.

Council chiefs are now about to receive a huge boost from the Department for Transport.

According to the latest government data, a third of Bristol’s carbon emissions come from driving. Transport emissions in Bristol have reduced by less than 10% over the past decade, much slower than other sectors like industry, commercial and domestic energy use. In 2019, 494,100 tonnes of carbon dioxide were emitted from Bristol’s transport network.

But by 2027 council bosses hope to have installed 1,000 cycle hangars and introduced 250 electric buses to Bristol.

A ‘zero emission zone’ could be created in the city centre, covering the Old City, Broadmead, Cabot and Queen

Square. Freight consolidation hubs could see deliveries initially sent to buildings outside the city centre, with the last mile of the delivery then made on a cargo bike or a small electric van.

In a recent cabinet report, Jacob Bryer, team manager of transport policy, bidding and strategic projects, said: “The transport sector is the largest source of emissions in the city and nationally. For the city to be carbon neutral by 2030, it’s estimated we will need a 40% reduction in vehicle miles and 90% of our vehicles will need to be ultra-low emission by 2030.”

Mr Bryer added: “In our

most deprived communities a significant proportion of residents cannot afford the costs associated with purchasing,

operating and maintaining a vehicle. Promoting walking, cycling and public transport has been well evidenced to be hugely beneficial to health and wellbeing. This is particularly relevant in deprived communities with poor physical activity rates and ill health.”

A third of the grant will be spent studying how to decarbonise freight. A huge part of this is expected to be freight consolidation hubs, and the council is already backing one in Bristol. Green logistics service Zedify operates a hub in St Judes, and uses cargo bikes to deliver to businesses across the city centre. The company received a £100,000 grant from the council last year, and similar ‘last mile delivery’ services could soon be rolled out across the city.

NEWS! Email us at: news@southbristolvoice.co.uk Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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BCfm joins the National Beer Festival Line-up Revealed Radio Archives THE British Library is recognised as the home of the nation’s radio archives and it has chosen Bristol community radio station BCfm to form part of the collection.

The current radio archive comprises around 250,000 hours. However, of the estimated 3 million hours of radio broadcast in the UK each year from 700 stations, the Library is acquiring a mere 20,000 hours.

BCfm Station Manager Patrick Hart said: “This is another validation of our position in the city. For over 15 years we’ve been representing and amplifying the voices of our everyday and underserved communities, I’m so proud of our team”.

It is estimated that 92% of current UK radio is not being properly preserved, with only 2% being made available for potential future use and research.

To address the gaps in their recordings, the National Radio Archive project plans to create a digital radio archive that will preserve a representative proportion of ongoing UK radio output.

Their first step is to build a pilot radio archive, covering up to 50 stations from across the UK, with the potential to develop this into a long-term service.

SOUTH Bristol’s newest beer festival has announced an array of entertainment for the event on Saturday 9 July. The acts and activities will make the event appeal to more than just beer-drinkers with two sessions of distinctly different flavours.

A daytime session from 11am-4pm is jam-packed with activities for all ages. Circomedia will be running tightwire and juggling workshops, Forest School workshops will hone your bushcraft skills and you can choose your exertion level with either sports and games sessions or the more leisurely arts and crafts tent. Music comes in the form of a silent disco tent where you can choose your own groove, as well as a stage full of ‘not-so-silent’ bands including South Bristol Ukes, Lakedown and bands from Access Creative College.

The evening session from 6pm-11pm is for the over-18s to get their dancing shoes out. SMäLL will be playing a range of favourite covers from The Clash to the White Stripes. To follow that, the George Mambuza Group’s horn-driven Afro-Latin dance music can’t fail to put a smile on your face. DJ Scrimshank will keep the party going and provide the perfect end to the evening. For the shy and retiring, the silent disco will still be on hand.

If all that sounds a little over-exciting, you can just sit on a straw bale, gaze out over Ashton Court with drink in hand, munch on a locally-sourced burger, and bask in the warm glow of knowing you’ve helped to buy a much-needed new school minibus.

Brewers on the menu are all local and include Bristol Beer Factory, Dawkins, Moor Beer, New Bristol Brewing, Good Chemistry and B&K. They’ve promised a mix of favourite tipples and some new brews. If beer’s not your thing, try the Iford Cider, wine or Pimms.

For information and tickets, go to www.ashtonbeerfest.org

Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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July, 2022

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Bowled over by Samera

When we heard that Dr Samera Bhatti, who plays for Knowle Cricket Club, had recently been named one of the top five league bowlers, we knew we needed to catch up with her to find out more about this great achievement.

Q - Well done on being one of the top five league bowlers. What does this mean?

A - Thank you! Being a fast bowler, my aim is to block as many runs as possible and take as many wickets as possible. To be a top league bowler means that the player’s bowling average must be low which is the number of runs conceded per wicket taken, thus determining the player’s performance in comparison with other players.

Q - What is it about cricket that you love so much?

A - My brothers play cricket, so I guess it’s in the family. But I love being outdoors and it’s a great

physical activity that improves endurance and hand-eye coordination as well as helping with team building skills.

Q - How important is it to you to encourage women to play sports?

A - Sports and physical fitness in general help with physical and mental health and wellbeing. But I believe sports is a great way of encouraging women to get involved in social groups and activities which will help build their confidence, team working and self-resilience.

This will ultimately promote women’s advancement as professional athletes,

making them inspiring role models.

Q - What’s your next cricketing goal?

A - To top the league in bowling and batting Q - What do you do when you’re not playing cricket?

A - I am a qualified chiropractor, radiographer and a lecturer, and am in the process of studying for my masters degree in musculoskeletal diagnostic ultrasound. As a chiropractor, I am involved in promoting mental health and wellbeing, and cricket is a great way of breaking the busy working week with some quality fitness.

Teen fundraiser Charlotte is honoured Teenage fundraising shero Charlotte Geraghty, who turns 17 this month, has quite rightly just been decorated for her phenomenal efforts on behalf of others.

Charlotte, who lives with her family in Knowle, has just received the Lord Mayor’s Medal in recognition for her generous fundraising for the Cots for Tots appeal in Bristol.

And this is the second time she has received such an award because in 2015, when she was just nine years old, Charlotte received the Lord Mayor’s Young Person’s Medal for the same reason.

The teen, who is studying hairdressing at college, has been raising money for the Appeal since the age of five, and has raised well over £13,000 to help the babies and their families at St Michael’s Hospital Special Care Baby Unit.

Charlotte with her awards, pictured with Lord Mayor Alistair Watson in 2015, and more recently with Lord Mayor Steve Smith earlier this year Proud mum Claire Geraghty explained: “Charlotte first saw a poster for the Cots for Tots Appeal on the wall of the hospital ward when she first came in to meet her new baby brother. Gromit caught her eye and she asked what it was, so I tried to explain that some babies when first born might need

some help and these special cots help them.”

Ever since, Charlotte has completed many events and challenges to continue raising money including sitting in 13,000 seats at Ashton Gate Stadium to help celebrate turning 13. She also sat in every seat at the Bristol

Hippodrome in just over an hour, and became the first person ever to ride her bike round the pitch at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

One of Charlotte’s next challenges involves her favourite football team, Bristol City. Starting on the first day of the new football season, Charlotte will be cycling the distances from Ashton Gate Stadium to the football stadiums of all the teams City will play away on an exercise bike. This will be a total of 3,751.3 miles.

Claire adds: “Charlotte’s never gone looking for any thanks or praise, so is always surprised when she gets told that she’s been nominated. She’s a doer rather than a talker and is just happy when she can raise money for the Appeal. We’re so proud of what Charlotte’s done to raise money, her enthusiasm when doing a challenge or event, she just captures people’s attention and they just want to help her.”

Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

8

May 2022

southbristolvoice

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

To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Ruth on 07590 527664

southbristolvoice

July, 2022

n NEWS

Photos support Ukraine A MOVING photo essay has been created by Bristolbased photographer Henry Kenyon showing local florist Anna Grzegorczyk as she gathers together aid for refugees from her war-torn home country of Ukraine.

The essay will be shown on the main screen at the Royal Photographic Society at the Paintworks in Bristol to remind visitors that the war is far from over, ‘Rice and Pasta’ and ‘Van packed up…’ and provide them with Photos: Henry Kenyon an opportunity to donate money via a QR code.

It was commissioned by international awards company The Food Awards Company as the first in a series of photo essays that will tell important food stories, to mark the company’s tenth anniversary.

As the world grapples with food poverty, food security and famine, these are the stories that must be told.

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Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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16

July, 2022

n NEWS

New £13m boost for south Bristol shopping street on the cards after decade of delays

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporter A RUNDOWN shopping street in south Bristol could soon get a £13-million regeneration after a decade of delays.

Filwood Broadway, Knowle West’s main shopping centre, has been earmarked for a huge regeneration project since at least 2012. Now Bristol City Council is asking the government for money from the Levelling Up fund to help get the project off the ground.

But residents and councillors are concerned about the regeneration masterplan being a decade old, and the council being “extremely dismissive” of local views in recent consultations.

Council bosses have promised to visit the area to hear their views.

If the bid is successful, the government would pay £12 million towards the project, and the council would chip in £1.2

million. But it’s not certain the bid will succeed, potentially leaving the regeneration project without funding and facing further delays.

Bristol’s cabinet signed off the bid for money on Tuesday, June 7, when residents and councillors raised their concerns.

During the cabinet meeting, mayor Marvin Rees said: “Filwood Broadway is within the top 1.5% most deprived areas in England. The number of people claiming unemployment related benefits is 60% higher in Filwood than in Bristol on average.

“Only 66.7% of local residents were satisfied with their local area. We hope this investment will support an important local high street to flourish after the pandemic.”

But as the masterplan for the regeneration was drawn up in 2012, a decade ago, residents are now calling for new plans to be

set out, with fresh consultations carried out. One councillor criticised recent consultations as dismissive and even asked: “What is the point, other than to tick a box?”

Michelle Tedder, of the Filwood Broadway working group, said: “We’re disappointed that there is no support for a new masterplan. We fear the piecemeal approach may miss some vital opportunities. We call on the council to review its decision and work together with us on this.”

Labour Councillor Zoe Goodman, representing Filwood, added: “We’ve been very disappointed in the responses of some council officers, particularly on pre-planning consultations. They have at times been extremely dismissive of our responses, telling us it’s too late to make changes. What is the point of these consultations,

other than to tick a box?

“We have been told the masterplan, developed a decade ago, is sufficient. But things have changed in the past decade. I call on the council to work with the local community on the codesign of the Filwood Broadway, so that residents get the centre they deserve and not a rushed, piecemeal development.”

The masterplan includes knocking down a former cinema and building housing, community and commercial space. Cllr Tom Renhard, cabinet member for housing, said he understood the local concerns and promised to visit the area.

He said: “I’ve offered to come out to Filwood to meet with the groups to go over their concerns.

I’m aware they’re largely about access to the cinema site and trying to get a supermarket there, which I know has been a long held ambition.”

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July, 2022

17

ADVICE FROM A PHARMACIST with Ade Williams

Do you need advice from our Bristol Travel Clinic? We are here to help you!

The recommended time to seek health advice is eight weeks before your trip, but if it is late, don’t panic; get in touch with Bristol Travel Clinic on 0800 7723575.

Travelling is a beautiful experience, but it is crucial to do so safely. Different countries may have health risks that you require vaccinations to protect yourself from, hence why our free travel health consultation is so important.

Discovering another country’s health system as a patient when you are a long way from home is no holiday maker’s dream. The additional cost and anxiety all form part of what could be an endless nightmare. Well-

travelled, award-winning NHS-regulated professionals run our travel clinics. They can provide you with expert NHS advice that you can rely on through your local pharmacy.

We will always tell you if the vaccine required is available free from your local GP surgery. Our same-day/flexible hours and multiple locations mean that if you need same-day, multiple doses spread over several weeks, we will make it convenient.

We are always conscious that price should not be a barrier to accessing any health service. Our guaranteed low-cost with a price-

match promise means we keep to this ethos.

We also have an increasing number of people travelling across the bridge from Wales to access our services, so Bristol Travel Clinic is a destination for affordable protection.

Alongside travel vaccinations, we also offer treatment to delay periods while on holiday and help with altitude treatment, including heavily discounted Covid PCR travel tests.

If you are not travelling but need vaccinations to protect from chickenpox, Meningitis B and also any work-related risks, we can help.

Are you taking a gap year, school trip, holiday, religious pilgrimage or planning a business trip? If you need travel medicines and vaccinations, whether you need it as part of your job working with animals, in healthcare, waste management and recycling, cleaning or air conditioning. Bristol Travel Clinic guarantees the lowest prices, a price match promise and an award-winning service with a free health assessment and advice available at Bedminster Pharmacy. Call us Free on 0800 7723575or come in today.

By using the services offered by the Bristol Travel Clinic, you are also supporting our community-focused work, including donations to our partner charities.

Quick & Easy Prescription Ordering Bedminster

Repair works to the iconic bridge are long overdue

Work resumes on landmark bridge WORK to refurbish Redcliffe Bascule Bridge, a major bridge on Bristol’s floating harbour, will start up again in June 2022.

This will involve significant repairs to the structural, mechanical and electrical elements to allow the bridge to open properly and let larger boats through. It will also protect the structural integrity of the bridge, reducing the need for future repairs.

The first stage of the project will see alternate footpath closures, with one side of the footpath available for pedestrians throughout this phase.

This will lead up to the second stage of the works programme later in the summer that includes repairs to the machinery which opens and closes the bascule bridge. As the bridge will need to remain in the upright, open position while the work is carried out, the whole bridge will close to pedestrians and all traffic for around 10 weeks.

Throughout the closure, people will be diverted across Bristol Bridge, which will temporarily allow access to all traffic while the repairs to Redcliffe Bascule Bridge take place. Advance notice and diversion routes will be promoted nearer the time.

The work is expected to be completed early in 2023.

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18

July, 2022

n PILATES

n ADVERTISING FEATURE

Sona Pilates with Leanne Copley

Age UK Bristol is recruiting in South Bristol!

IN healthy living for the long-term, consistent participation is going to bring out a greater outcome than a passive response of only taking a pill. Movement is medicine. But how do we make it just as easy?

Start by boosting your current routine. Do 20 squats while the kettle boils or take a brisk walk on your coffee break. At your desk try seated tricep dips or single leg balances while you brush your teeth. You can add in one minute stretches on waking up and before sleeping.

Key here is to keep it simple, make it fun and tie it to something you already do to ensure it happens. Partner up for accountability or add Post-It note reminders to mirrors and coffee containers so the habit builds.

We have a choice to adjust our behaviours and create positive experiences (in sleep, movement, our diet) which in turn encourage further positive action. Movement is a privilege that shouldn’t be wasted. So why not start today?

Join me for mindful Pilates movement online or at Wells Road Osteopaths. www.sonapilates.com, leanne@sonapilates.com

WE’RE looking for caring Bank Support Workers to join our Home Support service. Experience of working with older people or in the care sector is not essential, it’s more important that you enjoy working with people, have an empowering attitude and are reliable.

Age UK Bristol supports older people to be as independent as possible; they are kind and take proactive steps to enrich lives.

The role could include light household tasks, preparing light meals together, companionship and more. Our Support Workers do not provide personal care or administer medication. The service runs Monday-Friday from 9am to 5pm.

We offer you the opportunity to enjoy rewarding work and make a difference to people’s lives, and we offer flexible hours to fit around the right applicants’ busy lives.

If you’d like to find out more about working with us, please visit our website www.ageukbristol.org.uk, email homesupport@ageukbristol.org. uk or telephone us on 0117 987 8399 for an informal chat. We hope to hear from you soon!

Memory Connections We run groups in Henleaze and Withywood for people with mild to moderate memory loss. Groups include a variety of activities proven to maintain cognition, independence and well-being. Each session costs £25, or £8 for those on pension credit. The first session is free as a taster.

Call Jo Youde on 0117 929 7537 or email MCST@ageukbristol.org.uk

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southbristolvoice

July, 2022

n SPINAL COLUMN

Why Chiropractors take x-rays There are many things that set Chiropractors apart from other healthcare professionals, but one of them is their ability to take and study x-rays.

Much like a mechanic can’t just listen to the engine of your car, they need to lift the bonnet and see what’s under the hood. X-rays give us a great way to see what’s happening under the skin and give us a deeper understanding of what may be causing your problem.

When we take them we are looking for a few things in particular. Firstly, we are assessing the alignment of the spine and pelvis. Is the pelvis rotated causing the spine to curve incorrectly? Is the head sitting forward of the shoulders and causing a loss of the natural curve of the neck? Is the spine curving to the side causing a scoliosis?

Next we are looking at the bones and joints. The main thing we see here is ‘wear and tear’ or, more formally,

arthritis. Thinning of the discs that sit between the vertebrae and any extra bone growth from the body trying to stabilise those joints.

Although not always associated with pain, the level of arthritis or ‘wear and tear’ shows us the areas of stress there body had been under and for how long it’s been there.

Then, among other important things to check, we rule out any of the nasty things that might be found on x-rays. Very rarely do we find any unwanted surprises but it’s been life changing when we have.

So, x-rays are a great way to see what your body has been through and the toll that has taken.

That then helps us to formulate the correct treatment plan and approach to get you back to 100% in the quickest and most effective way.

We have a state of the art digital x-ray machine in both our clinics in Southville and Clifton.

Although it’s important to add, we only take x-rays if it is clinically indicated that x-rays are necessary and beneficially to your case.

Charles Herbert The Chiropractic Centre in Bristol Telephone: 0117 9741 501 www.thechirocentre.co.uk

19

n NEWS

M Shed loans reflects on effects of migration TWO high-profile loans from the British Museum will go on display at M Shed this summer, encouraging conversations and reflection on migration.

Made from the remnants of a boat carrying refugees wrecked near the Italian island of Lampedusa, close to the coast of Tunisia, the Lampedusa cross carries poignant messages about kindness, community and the indifference faced by many refugees.

Alongside the cross will be a display of 12 tiny boats (pictured) made from repurposed bicycle mudguards tightly packed with burnt matches to represent the fragile vessels used by refugees to make their perilous voyages across the Mediterranean.

To accompany the display, M Shed has commissioned a series of audio interviews from five refugees and migrants living in Bristol to explore the motivations, joys, sorrows and complexities that migration can involve. Visit the M Shed website for more details.

Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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20

July, 2022

n PET HEALTH

How to keep your pets cool in the hot

By Bristol Animal Rescue Centre TEMPERATURES are expected to hit the mid 30s this summer in parts of the UK, so our animal welfare experts are urging pet owners to keep their beloved animals safe.

Here’s our checklist for keeping animals safe in summer: · Make sure they have access to fresh drinking water at all times · Make sure all your pets have access to shade · Never leave them in cars, outbuildings or caravans on warm days (even if only for a short while). It can be fatal · Use pet safe sun cream on exposed parts of your pet’s skin, such as the tips of their ears and nose, to avoid sunburn. This is especially important for pets with white or light coloured fur, as they can be more vulnerable to getting burnt · Fill a paddling pool or spray a hose for your dog to play in, but do supervise them around water

· Put ice cubes in your pet’s water bowl or you could also freeze a Kong with treats and water · Stay on top of your dog’s grooming during warmer weather – this can help brush away any dead or excess hair and leave them with a less dense coat, which is good for staying cool · Buy a cooling mat, wrap an ice pack or frozen water bottle in a tea towel, or use damp towels for your pet to lie on – never wrap them in a damp towel, however, as this can trap heat · Check your pets every day for flystrike – this is particularly a risk if your pets are ill, have open wounds or are unable to clean themselves properly Watch out for burned pads Walking your dogs in hot weather can put them at risk of burned pads, so try to walk them in the mornings and evenings when it’s cooler and do the five second test – if the pavement is too hot for your hands, it’s too hot for paws!

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The signs your dog might be struggling include: · Limping or refusing to walk · Licking or chewing at their feet · Their pads have turned a darker colour · They’re missing a part of their pad · Blisters or redness Dogs get heatstroke, too Just as with humans, too much exposure to heat can affect dogs.

Here are some signs to watch for if you suspect heatstroke in your four-legged friend: · Heavy panting and laboured breathing · Excessive dribbling · They are lethargic, drowsy or uncoordinated · Collapsed or vomiting If you suspect your dog has the signs of heatstroke, it’s essential to act quickly by moving them to a shaded and cool area and seek veterinary help.

Dr Damian Pacini, Principal Vet at Bristol Animal Rescue Centre said: “During the hot

weather you should think twice before taking your dog out with you as they can struggle out and about in the heat – it’s often best to leave them at home and then walk them in the cooler parts of the day. And please, please don’t leave them in the car, even for a few minutes, even if the windows are open - just don’t do it.”

Dr Pacini adds: “Keep an eye on pets who may be struggling during this time. It’s much harder for them to communicate how they’re feeling so pet owners will need to be more intuitive and try to offer them ways to keep cool where possible.”

Look after your fur friends!

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July, 2022

n WHAT’S ON

southbristolvoice

21

Theatre, comedy and more for all the family 2 July, Withywood Centre (also 8 July, Greenway Centre), Hard Evidence. Jan, a survivor of an abusive relationship, finds her confidence grows when she is invited to join an advisory group where her story matters and is valued. Can her friend, Christine, feel the benefits too? Written and performed by two women with direct experience of domestic violence, Hard Evidence tells the story of friends supporting one another to overcome abuse and the various forms it can take.

Age guidance 15+ as this piece discusses domestic violence 4 to 9 July, Bristol Hippodrome, The Play That Goes Wrong.

The Cornley Drama Society are putting on a 1920s murder mystery but, as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does! As the accident prone thesps battle on against all the odds to reach their final curtain call, hilarious results ensue! Hailed “a gut-busting hit” by the New York Times, ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’, now in its seventh year in the West End, has won a host of celebrity endorsements from the likes of Joanna Lumley to Ant & Dec. 7 to 9 July, Tobacco Factory Theatre, Light Falls. A woman wakes up with a stranger beside her. A student argues with his lover.

A single mother fights to feed her baby. A married man flirts with two younger women. And far away, one devastating event is about to change all their lives forever.

Simon Stephens’ latest play, ‘Light Falls’, is a richly layered homage to family and identity; an intensely moving play about life in the face of death and how our love survives us after we’ve gone.

9 July, Hen & Chicken Studio, Stand Up For The Weekend

Bristol South Taekwando Tuesday and Thursday 18:00 to 19:00hrs St Paul’s Church Coronation Road Bedminster BS3 1AS Tel: 07951 456407 Email: bristolsouthtkd@hotmail.com

‘Treasure Island’ is coming to Bristol Old Vic this month and will be a rip-roaring show. Photo: Matt Austin with Jayde Adams and Guests.

Award-winning comedian and proud Bristolian, Jayde Adams is an uncut gem. It’s safe to say that when Dawn French says “Jayde Adams is the third funniest woman in the world. Fact,” she might just be onto something. Jayde’s debut Edinburgh Fringe hour ‘Jayde 31’ was nominated for Best Newcomer in 2016, whilst her hugely successful, critically acclaimed 5 star Edinburgh Fringe show ‘The Ballad of Kylie Jenner’s Old Face’ was filmed and released worldwide on Amazon Prime and was renamed ‘Serious Black Jumper’.

12 July to 6 August, Bristol Hippodrome, Les Misérables.

Set against the backdrop of 19thcentury France, ‘Les Misérables’ tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. This brilliant new staging has taken the world by storm and has been hailed ‘Les Mis for the 21st Century’. With scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor

Remania Productions presents The One and Only The story of Marie Lloyd, Queen of Music Hall The Hen and Chicken, Cow Shed July 28-30 at 8pm.

Tickets £12/10 available on EventBrite.

Search ‘The One and Only’.

Hugo, the magnificent score of Les Misérables includes the songs ‘I Dreamed a Dream’, ‘On My Own’, ‘Bring Him Home’, ‘One Day More’, ‘Master Of The House’ and many more.

14 to 16 July, Tobacco Factory Theatre, Shakespeare In Love.

Young Will Shakespeare is having some problems keeping his quill up, plagued by debt and badly in need of finishing his new play which seems impossible… until he discovers a muse. A noble woman betrothed to another, inspires him to write the greatest love story of all time. But the course of true love never did run smooth and to top it all off, the Queen demands a funny bit with a dog!

19 to 30 July, Bristol Old Vic, Treasure Island. Escape to Treasure Island with Le Navet Bete

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and their swashbuckling smash-hit comedy for all the family. Featuring dastardly pirates, tropical islands and a mermaid you’ll never forget, set sail on the Jolly Todger with Jim Lad, Long John Silver and a whole host of other characters for a hilarious voyage across the seas. But will they get there in one piece? Is everyone who they say they are? And does ‘X’ really mark the spot?

South Bristol Yoga The Elephant House, 1 Dean Street, BS3 1BG. Tue 6-6.50pm Beginners yoga. 7-8pm Hatha flow. Wed 6.30-7.45pm Pregnancy. Friday 9.30-10.30am Hatha flow. My website is www.southbristolyoga.co.uk The price for all but pregnancy is £10 drop in, £50 for six consecutive classes, and you can book with MoveGB. Pregnancy is £13 drop in and £60 for six consecutive classes. I’m an advanced yoga teacher and I’ve been teaching since 2005 and have over 400hrs of teacher training.

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Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

22

n WHAT’S ON

southbristolvoice

New Artistic Director at the Old Vic BRISTOL Old Vic has announced that Nancy Medina will be the company’s new Artistic Director as of next Spring, when Tom Morris steps down after 12 years in the role.

Following the announcement, Nancy said: “I feel a great sense of awe and excitement to be embarking on a journey that will contribute to the great legacy of leading England’s oldest working theatre. I feel gratitude to be joining the amazing team at Bristol Old Vic and to further the outstanding work that Tom and Charlotte have initiated for excellence in creativity, innovation, artist development and engagement with the wider city of Bristol.

“I have lived in Bristol for 14 years, have grown as a person, as an artist, and I am happily raising my children here. It will be a great honour to listen, reflect, and engage with the people of Bristol and together imagine what the future of

Bristol Old Vic’s Nancy Media. Photo: Manuel Harlan theatre and the arts can be in this shining city of the South West.”

While Tom Morris added: “This is a brilliant appointment made by an outstanding board through a groundbreaking and incisive process.

“Nancy is a landmark director at the height of her powers and a visionary creative leader.

Through her own rehearsal rooms and the extraordinary achievement of setting up the Bristol School of Acting, she

has established an unmatched reputation in combining radical change with artistic excellence. This combination is precious and rare.

“To survive and flourish over the next decades, British theatre is going to have to change and that will need outstanding leadership. Through this appointment, Bristol Old Vic has put itself in the best possible position to be in the vanguard of that process.”

July, 2022

Bad news for our balloons CAMERON Balloons in Bedminster has been working on a project to build a balloon that can fly around the world non-stop... twice.

It is a larger version of the others they have built that have flown around the world once. It has a pressurised gondola to give life support at altitude for more than 40 days. This would be the longest crewed flight ever made.

But the project is Russian sponsored and has Russian pilots, led by the famous Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov who has already broken records using Cameron’s balloons.

Sadly, the project has become a casualty of the Russian aggression in Ukraine.

All work has stopped in accordance with the regulation that no aeronautical product or service can be sold to Russia. Unfortunately, Cameron Balloons do not know when, if ever, work can be resumed.

To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Ruth on 07590 527664

July, 2022

n WHAT’S ON

southbristolvoice

The Theatre and Entertainment Luvver

An exciting time of change for us THIS is a big and exciting time for change in the Bristol theatre scene with the appointment of the wonderful Nancy Medina as artistic director at the Bristol Old Vic. I wonder what other changes are around the corner for Bristol theatre and also importantly and certainly a big question to ask: can theatre and the creative arts really change your life?

I would say ‘Yes!’ For me, theatre can be so impactful in so many ways. Everyone has had a different journey with acting, drama, plays, TV and film.

It can start with a child joining their local drama club and suddenly having the confidence to put their hand up in class, making new friends, learning how to express their emotions more easily in a safe environment, being silly and having fun.

The journey continues maybe with a film or play that leaves you in tears, fits of laughter or shock. A story so powerful that it changes the way you view or feel about a situation. Enabling you to see inside someone else’s life or thoughts, experience different perspectives and empathise in ways you are not expecting It’s capable of bringing different generations and people together whether it be Stranger Things providing a uniting conversation topic to be had at dinner time between teens and their parents, or a Shakespeare play done well and linking you with a story touching you and millions of others over hundreds of years, to watching a pantomime and laughing along with others at local references and familiar jokes Local film, TV and theatre companies are providing jobs, opportunities and introducing the world to the many sights and smells of Bristol So yes, I think theatre and creative arts can change your life and be a change for good as Terrance McNally, playwright, said: “Theatre changes the heart, then it changes the mind, and that makes people get off their asses and do something!”

So join me, watch more theatre in Bristol and let’s help change the world for the better!

Jacqui Ham

23

Experimental show CREATORS of experimental Shakespeare, Apricity Theatre, are bringing another adaptation to the stage as part of the Bristol Shakespeare Festival 2022. Under the direction of Matilda Dickinson, Apricity is tackling As You Like It with an all-woman and non-binary cast. The adaptation is breathing queer joy, live original songs, and the celebration of human nature into this ‘As You Like It’ will be performed much-loved classic. by an all-woman and non-binary The show has been a long time cast. Ettie Dickinson is pictured. coming after the company started planning in February 2020. With the added time spent refining and reimagining ideas of what the show could be, its return promises to be more exciting and more magical than ever, infused with the sense of togetherness we all need after the past few years.

Apricity have teamed up with Echogenic’s Finn MacNeil to adapt original songs directly from the play and are supported by Arts Council England to deliver Shakespeare and Voice workshops for performers and directors who want to develop the confidence and creativity to make Shakespeare’s words their own.

As You Like It is performed at The Elmgrove Centre on 15 and 16 July, 7pm. www.bristolshakespearefestival.org.uk

Hit show ‘The Bodyguard’ is coming back to Bristol.

Photo: Paul Coltas

The Bodyguard is back BRISTOL Hippodrome is delighted to announce that hit musical ‘The Bodyguard’ will be returning from July 17 to 22 next summer.

Based on the hit film of the same name, the stage show features a whole host of irresistible classics including ‘Queen of the Night’, ‘One Moment in Time’, ‘I Have Nothing’, ‘Greatest Love Of All’, ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ and one of the most popular hit songs of all time, ‘I Will Always Love You’.

Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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southbristolvoice

July, 2022

25

n NEWS

St Nick’s pop-up museum has opened THE Market Story Shop has recently opened in St Nick’s Covered Market, which showcase some of the market’s rich history.

From its early beginnings to the present mix of gifts, fashion and food, the market’s Story Shop museum includes memories of the flower market, the fruit market and music nights at The Exchange.

Visitors will have the opportunity to get involved in activities including printing workshops and guided tours to help paint a picture of the changes and life at the market over the last 280 years.

To help build on the collection, working in collaboration with visitors, the museum is inviting people to come along and share their own experiences and memories of the market to add to the display.

Established in 1743, St Nick’s is now home to the largest collection of independent retailers in Bristol. The historic indoor and outdoor markets house more than 60 stalls, selling a range of unique gifts, quality crafts, clothing and fashion, accessories, books, records and food.

Councillor Craig Cheney, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet member for Finance, Governance and Performance, said: “We are delighted to be able to celebrate the rich and vibrant

history of St Nick’s market. The new museum is a window into the past reflecting the continued success of Bristol’s much-loved market in the present.

“St Nick’s is a great place for all the family.

There’s something there for everyone whether

you want to shop, eat and drink or just soak up the atmosphere and enjoy its history.”

The museum will be located opposite Treasure Island Sweets within the Covered Market, open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11am to 4pm.

Generation Care – Is it time for a change?

Careers in care are diverse and rewarding We’ll provide award-winning training and all the With the recent challenges in the care sector behind us, now is the time to start building the next mentoring you’ll need to build a fulfilling and successful generation of care workers – our Generation Care. career within the environment of an ‘outstanding’ care home.

Working at John Wills House 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.

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?

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Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

southbristolvoice

26

July, 2022

n NEWS FROM BRISTOL SOUTH MP KARIN SMYTH

Trying to help you manage the cost of living

AS the cost of living crisis worsens, I know many people are feeling increasing financial pressures as prices rise faster than wages and inflation spirals out of control. With energy costs set to rise again in the autumn, I’m keen to support constituents in any way I can with any money concerns or troubles they might be facing.

I want to ensure my constituents are in the best possible position to cope with the cost of living crisis, and are equipped with all the information they need to take advantage of the payments and benefits they may be entitled to. That’s why I have arranged a ‘Money Matters’ event to take place at St Augustine’s Church in Whitchurch on Friday 14 July from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.

This event is free to attend for

all residents to drop in and talk to an expert about any money questions from tax credits, to pensions, benefits, Universal Credit and other Government schemes. Local experts from groups such as South Bristol Advice Services and Bristol City Council’s Welfare Rights Service will be on hand to talk in person.

At past events I’ve held, it’s common to have people come along with a bundle of letters and forms which have overwhelmed them. My ‘Money Matters’ event is the perfect opportunity to sit down with an expert over a cup of tea who can help make sense of it all and guide you through the process.

Too often now people are expected to complete online forms with little guidance, often experiencing difficulties seeking the right help, so this is

an opportunity to sit down with someone who can answer any questions and provide guidance in person. Rules over money entitlement do change from time to time and it can be hard to stay up to date, so this event is a relaxed environment where you can get the most up to date guidance you need, with past events have helped people claim tens of thousands of pounds in support they were entitled to but not receiving.

There will also be information on hand to raise awareness about the dangers of fraud. When people are financially stressed they can be more vulnerable to scams. Scams can come in all sorts of forms as fraudsters come up with ever more inventive and realistic ways to get people to part with their bank details, or make a payment for a non-

existent service. It’s important to know the signs of a scam and the techniques used to help spot a scam and avoid getting caught out.

During these really challenging times, as people’s budgets are stretched to the limit, it’s important to ensure people are getting all the support they need and are entitled to.

I hope this event can be of help to anyone in south Bristol who may be struggling with the cost of living crisis.

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southbristolvoice

July, 2022

27

n NEWS FROM LOCAL COUNCILLORS

The Green Party is campaigning for a roadmap to decarbonising Bristol by 2030 because the same old story and narrative is still echoing around the council’s departments and the Mayor’s Office - expanding airports, building more roads, and building tall buildings that are not carbon neutral. The Clean Air Zone is further delayed, yet another example of how little progress is being made to decarbonise and clean up our city. Our strategy will fight for social justice as well as looking after the environment that supports life.

The roadmap towards 2030, is a much-needed campaign which will focus on the actions that are required to fight climate change and social justice. We want to hold the council to account for their dither and delay on decarbonising the transport system and

retrofitting our homes to make them efficient and warm.

Birmingham has a new tramway which is a delight to our ears, because when you are in the heart of the city you are able to hear yourself think. Birmingham is becoming a progressive modern cosmopolitan city and we are sure Bristol will yet follow this path with her hopes and dreams.

Not only do we want this roadmap towards a brighter future but we want an administration that will listen to the citizens as we campaign for more local democracy. The citizen’s assembly which was a progressive alliance between Greens and Labour, has not yet delivered concrete actions and we will strive to make sure its suggestions are taken forward.

Well, the decision to get rid of the post of Bristol mayor was pretty decisive, with the local vote in Knowle being nearly 75% for. Gary will be part of the cross-party commission that is charged with setting up the new structure and rules for 2024 onwards. All parties will be represented and, with a draft expected by the end of the year, there is a lot to do and consider. We will obviously aim to get as many of our principles into the structure as possible.

We must have wider and earlier sharing of information to Councillors (we eventually got the Bristol Energy info, but cabinet had voted through millions of extra spending without even seeing all the facts). What disasters are still hidden? Although key decisions will be made by all-party committees, a separate scrutiny

function will still be needed to give a different view when required. Decisions have become ridiculously centralised, and local area committees, and possibly local parish councils, should return.

These will actually be cheaper than the present ridiculous spin and PR machine, and can harness the local effort and commitment far more effectively. It is no accident that in our area the best results have come from community led organisations. What we must also do is to prepare the officer structure for change, which, although difficult, might help us avoid some of the disasters that loom over the next year or so.

This includes front line officers being able to get on with the job instead of having to refer everything up through the layers to the mayor’s office.

Funding for East Street The council has announced that it will be bidding for Safer Streets funding from the government. The fund has been set up to improve the safety of public spaces with a particular focus on ASB, crime and safety of women at night and will focus on East Street and nearby areas. We are supportive of the proposals and Christine spoke in favour at Bristol City Council’s Cabinet on July 7.

We also continue to support the East Street Vision and Tony spoke at Cabinet to express concern that the vision had not been put forward for Levelling Up funding.

Gaol Ferry Bridge Closure As we write this, Gaol Ferry Bridge remains open to pedestrians and cyclists alike. We are told that this is because the initial works are able to proceed while keeping the bridge open. However, the expectation remains that the bridge will close before the end of June so that full repair and

maintenance can take place.

Clean Air Zone delayed again The Clean Air Zone was originally due to start last October, was then delayed until this September, and we now understand it may not start until the end of the year. We will be asking for a clearer update on the reasons for the delay given the impact it has on so many of our residents.

Changes to street cleaning and new recycling centre Starting at the beginning of June, a new approach to street cleaning has been introduced called the ‘Village Approach’. This will see ‘beats’ assigned to specific teams who will take responsibility for addressing issues within their particular beat.

In addition, on June 21, the new Hartcliffe Way Reuse and Recycling Centre will have opened.

Remember, you now need to book a slot to visit, details are available on the council website.

I’ve been delivering our Green newsletter to some of the high rise developments in Bedminster, such as Gaywood and Winterstoke House. It’s usually very quiet, no one about and little noise from the closed doors – it was like that during Covid and it’s like that now.

I worry some residents might be alone, possibly isolated. I really hope not, and if that’s the case, I wonder what we can do to help, particularly as we are building more high rise housing. I notice there is plenty of land around the base of these buildings. With the rising cost of food and our concern for nature, perhaps there is an opportunity to create a community garden, grow vegetables and plant fruit trees, create beds full of pollinating flowers? It would definitely be good for health and a lovely way to get to know your neighbours.

There’s a new fund called The Bristol Climate and Ecological

Emergency Grant Fund which has been created to encourage more land to be managed for the benefit of nature, as well as reducing our carbon emissions by using our cars less, and encouraging re-use and repair rather than always buying new products. There is some info here - quartetcf.org.uk/grants/ bristol-climate-and-ecologicalemergency-community-grant/. So if you like the idea, please get in touch for more details.

With supporting wildlife in mind, do leave your lawns to grow a bit longer, you’ll be amazed at the insect life that appears. Just putting water out for the birds and making a pond (even a very small one made from an old sink) will bring wildlife into your garden.

Meet your councillor walks and talks will be starting in July once a week at different locations. You can check out my Facebook page for more detail and look out for posters. Hope to see you there!

Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

southbristolvoice

28

July, 2022

n MAYOR'S VIEW

£95 million for Temple Meads and Temple Quarter WAITING for your train to arrive is something all too familiar to many of us. Waiting for the money to reinvigorate Bristol Temple Meads and Temple Quarter, and kickstart the development of the surrounding area, is something all of Bristol has been eagerly waiting on for more than a decade.

I remember the first Temple Quarter Strategic Board meeting way back in September 2017, where I, along with colleagues from Network Rail, Bristol University, the Homes and Communities Agency (now Homes England) and the West of England Combined Authority met to outline our vision for Bristol, its relationship with Temple Meads and the potential to create a world class gateway to the city and region.

It’s thanks to the success of this partnership and the hard work of all those involved from the beginning, who have represented Bristol at the highest level and presented a clear vision for the city and Temple Quarter, that we are now at this exciting moment where I am delighted to say that the long-anticipated £94.7 million investment from government in Bristol has arrived, as announced by Neil O’Brien MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department

for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, on his visit to Bristol on 10 June.

This will represent a new phase for Brunel’s historic station.

Opened in 1840, and expanded in the 1870s and 1930s, Bristol Temple Meads is set to double its capacity to 22 million passengers per year. It will support three new or significantly improved station entrances planned to the north, south, and east of Temple Meads and crucially, a new public transport interchange on the Friary on the northern side of the station, becoming a new transport hub with easy connections for pedestrians, cycling and the bus network.

Although we are improving suburban rail in Bristol, with the first new station in almost a century, we know that these other public transport connections are essential to link everyone with the jobs and homes at this transport interchange. This will improve connectivity for people across the city region and reduce carbon emissions, particularly as we bring forward the mass transit system Bristol needs to manage this growth in the most sustainable way.

Importantly, it will further unlock the area around Bristol Temple Meads as a new residential quarter, with up to

22,000 new jobs and 10,000 new homes in 130 hectares (equivalent to about 182 football pitches) in a sustainable location. The first phase alone looks to build 2,500 homes and provide at least two thousand jobs. This combines with the investment the University of Bristol are making in the area, with its Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus programme, and the council’s plans with Legal & General to invest in the mixeduse site at Temple Island, with a conference centre, new affordable homes, and retail space.

Plans are already underway in Temple Quarter, with a development brief for Mead St, part of Temple Quarter which could provide 1500 new homes and 500 jobs, out to public consultation.

You can read the proposals for Mead St and complete the survey online by 4 July.

The Government’s own Levelling Up agenda emphasises that “Mayors have already shown how strong local leadership can enhance economic and other opportunities in urban areas”.

By unlocking homes and public service infrastructure, Temple Quarter exemplifies this vision, transforming a vast area of Bristol into a thriving, new urban quarter which will contribute an estimate

The Mayor’s View Each month Bristol mayor Marvin Rees shares his views with South Bristol Voice

£1.6 billion annual boost to the local economy.

This long-awaited green light can help support our recovery from the pandemic and lay the foundations for Bristol for the next century; a city which has a world class transport network, quality, affordable homes and accessible jobs at the heart of the city. We will continue to work with partners, businesses and communities already in the area to manage this huge change in a way that will benefit as many people as possible.

It is great to finally get this development in train.

n NEWS

The Summer Reading Challenge returns How far does your ‘Voice’ travel?

Last month, we asked you to send us photos of your copy of South Bristol Voice out and about, and Guada Brockman of Brockman Accountants sent us this photo of her magazine in Wadhurst, East Sussex. Has yours travelled even further?

Send your snaps to Jane at news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

Young readers across Bristol are being challenged to read six books over the summer holidays in a free annual event beginning on Saturday 9 July.

This year, The Reading Agency has teamed up with the Science Museum Group to offer a science-themed challenge called Gadgeteers.

Gadgeteers encourages children to have fun reading and discover many aspects of science engagement, including food, fashion, music and sport.

There is something for all young readers to enjoy in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, which will feature inspiring books and rewards to keep children entertained.

Councillor Ellie King, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Health and Communities, said: “The Summer Reading Challenge is a wonderful way to encourage young readers to get excited about books and reading that’s engaging and fun.

We are delighted to be working alongside the Science Museum Group to offer a science-themed challenge this summer.

“The Gadgeteers-theme aims to show our children that science is all around us, as well as to inspire children to think creatively about science.

“It will be great to see children and families making the most of this fun and free initiative which is both stimulating and educational over the summer holiday.”

To take part in Gadgeteers, all children need to do is sign up at their nearest library, where they will be given a collector folder to keep a record of their Summer

Reading Challenge journey. As children read library books, they will receive special stickers, and will be rewarded with a medal and certificate at the end of the challenge. Young readers can also take part online with the digital challenge, with fun online games and rewards.

There are lots of events and activities planned at Bristol libraries for families over the summer to celebrate the Summer Reading Challenge, including interesting children’s author events, and arts and crafts.

Library staff have also been attending school assemblies across the city to promote the challenge.

Children can find competitions, challenges, author interviews, news, and the book sorter, which recommends what children might like to read next, on the Summer Reading Challenge website throughout the year.

To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Ruth on 07590 527664

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southbristolvoice

30

n NEWS Splashtastic!

Jubilee Pool has been saved THE Friends of Jubilee Pool have been awarded the Community Asset Transfer of Jubilee Pool and will take control of it on 30 September 2022.

The Friends of Jubilee Pool say: “We have a lot of work to do between now and September to make this a reality and finalise all of the new arrangements but the future of Jubilee Pool has never looked more exciting!”

This is an amazing achievement, that has taken a huge amount of work from a dedicated team of volunteers.

Thanks go out to Bristol City Council, Jubilee’s amazing community, the staff at Parkwood Leisure, all those organisations and individuals who participated in our community consultation or provided pro bono support, and Locality, Sport England and City Funds for their guidance.

July, 2022

StoryTrails - a free immersive experience for Local and Community History Month In celebration of Local and Community History Month, the immersive storytelling experience StoryTails is coming to Bristol this summer.

StoryTrails will use the latest multimedia technologies so people can see their town’s past, present and future collide.

Bristol will host StoryTrails for a two-day live event from August 20-21 starting at Bristol Central Library.

There will be fun for all the family with a bespoke augmented reality story trail and a unique, immersive virtual map of the town created using the stories of local people, and showcasing 3D scans of Bristol’s beloved buildings and iconic places in each location, such as the Hindu Temple in St George and the

Boxing Gym in Knowle West.

Marcus Smith and Lucy Fulford, who worked on the project, have been uncovering a myriad of stories and personalities across Bristol, highlighting the city’s diverse and unique community, many of which will feature in the final experience. These include Priyanka Raval’s connection to the Hindu Temple, and Chris Winters talking about the boxing gym he took over and its importance to the community.

Further ‘time travel’ will be guided by television presenter David Olusoga, in an AR experience that will let visitors travel back in time by turning a dial on a virtual giant radio. As they turn the dial, their virtual neighbours’ stories and fashion

will change with the era, from Beatle-mania and the flares and haircuts of the swinging sixties to dancing to the end of the millennium and Y2k in crop-tops from the 1990s.

Professor James Bennett, Director of StoryFutures and StoryTrails, said: “Local and community history month is the perfect time to release more information on the magic of StoryTrails. We can’t wait to immerse the people of Bristol, in the untold stories of their own communities and beyond. This is about living and breathing local history and connecting with it in new ways. Get set for a summer of discovering the past and the future and some genuine surprises, all while having a fun day out!”

Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

Monica Wills House Set in the heart of Bedminster, stylish one and two bedroom apartments offer all the advantages of independent living with a vibrant community scene.

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For available apartments please visit www.stmonicatrust.org.uk Registered Charity 202151

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July, 2022

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southbristolvoice

Exploring along the Malago

By Ben Barker

lists of insects, birds, mammals and fish. There’s a surprising range still, but numbers are low. Two or three times a year somebody reports a kingfisher. We’d like to make that an everyday expectation.

The Wildlife Groups will be working with Bristol Avon Rivers Trust to develop improvement proposals. These are bound to include an expansion of existing river support groups and the creation of new ones. Existing groups, already doing good work, are shown on the map.

River improvements are just one of our aspirations.

Bristol’s Wildlife Groups (bristolwildlifegroups. wordpress.com) are working with individuals, Park Friends, Allotment Associations and others to move our city from ‘Wildlife Hostile’ to ‘Wildlife Friendly’. Everyone can help by wilding domestic gardens; letting some grass grow in the park; planting flowers in a churchyard; deploying bird feeders at work places and more.

For more information, please contact mywildbedminster@ virginmedia.com

² 0

0.1 0.2

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South Bristol’s Malago/Pigeonhouse river system isn’t quite the Mississippi/Missouri, but it’s ours. Potentially, it could be an important human walking route linking the Dundry Hills to the New Cut and also a significant wildlife corridor rather than the neglected, fragmented, partially tunnelled and polluted route that it is today.

A high quality route for people and animals is the dream of some local people in the BS3, BS4 and BS13 Wildlife Groups. A network of individuals and organisations along the five-mile stretch are collaborating to identify creatures already using the rivers, either in the water or along its banks. They are compiling

July, 2022

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southbristolvoice

July, 2022

35

n WICKED WITCH

In witch I talk to the wall I DO not want to adult anymore.

My Dad is in hospital, I am sitting next to Mum in their retirement flat far away from Bristol. “You can go home now” she tells me, every hour. Mum has dementia and I can’t leave her. I’m sleeping in their bed, on my Dad’s side, it’s very weird.

There is something badly wrong with Dad, the doctors are perplexed. His right arm randomly flies upwards and his right leg does a little jig. He’s having trouble swallowing and speaking. When we went to visit earlier, he was having a meal and his arm remained stable but the leg was still having its own little party. It’s very odd.

The ward is full of elderly men.

God is in the bed next to him. Long white hair, a matching beard, big nose and large ears. While my Dad was eating, God proclaimed in a thunderous voice “I have emptied my bowels”. “Amen,” whispered Mum. Opposite him is a chap called Alan. I know this because a couple of nurses spent five minutes trying to rouse him. “Is he dead?” questioned Mum loudly, just as Alan sucked in a large gulp of air

and shot up with grunt. It was dramatic.

I slept over for a second night.

In the morning, when Mum was in the bathroom, a loud alarm started blaring through the flat. I flung open the bathroom door to a startled naked Mum and scolded her for pulling the emergency alarm cord. She vehemently denied this. I ran around desperately trying to make the deafening noise stop.

I pulled the cords of all the alarms, even opening the front door and yanking the cord in the corridor.

Just as my ears started bleeding, it stopped.

I sped down to the office where the immaculate manager was staring at a control panel in puzzlement.

She glanced up and with a barely discernible flick of her perfectly made-up eyes, absorbed my attire. Jeggings, an oversized Bob Dylan t-shirt with a dribble of toothpaste down the front and socks that were obviously not a pair (in my defence, I’d had no time to pack).

I quickly explained what had happened. She immediately concluded that I was completely mad. In slow clipped words she explained that every Wednesday the fire alarm was tested. By running around pulling all the emergency cords, I’d clogged up the system. The fire brigade was probably on its way but she would sort it. Of course she would. I was ordered to get back to the flat as the team who monitors the emergency cord hotline would be trying to make contact.

I scurried back to the flat. Mum was looking at the wall. “Did the wall talk to you Mum?” I asked.

“Yes,” she replied in awe. Oh Gawd.

Then I heard a tinny voice coming from the corridor. I rushed out and shouted “Hello” to the corridor wall.

The corridor wall asked if I was OK. I quickly explained that I was an idiot, this wall agreed, had a laugh and stood down the cavalry.

“I think you should go now,” reiterated Mum, still nude, standing in the open doorway. “I agree,” said the wall.

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Metro Mayor Dan Norris on a recent visit to a local food bank

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The number of food bank parcels given out in the West of England has soared by 85% over the past five years, with Metro Mayor Dan Norris branding the figures “scandalous”.

In Holly’s New figures released by the Trussell Trust show that in the past tummy,year to March 31, its food banks handed out a total of 37,649 food parcels in the region, including 15,230 to children. there was The numbers have been driven by the 134% jump in numbers using food parcels in Bristol, although there are increases across the region.

There has been a 35% increase in food bank users in Bath and North East Somerset and a 3% upsurge in South Gloucestershire.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris warned of an accelerating crisis as the cost of living continues to soar as he laid the blame squarely at the door of the Government.

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It should be a matter of shame for this Government that food banks have become an accepted reality in our region”.

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