BOOM! chool, details S d o o W ’s k c ason at Bado e s e th f o w o It’s the sh
TIME FOR A CUPPA By Shirley Neville SOUTHMEAD RESIDENT The Travelling Teapot held a coffee morning at The Woodnook on Saturday 20th October and it was a fantastic turnout. Many local residents, young and old, enjoyed a cup of their favourite hot beverage along with a slice or two of a delicious selection of home baked cakes, donated by one of our regulars Ali Fitton. There was a table top sale, a raffle and a game of Bingo! These events are always well attended and enjoyed. The tea mornings hold a raffle and the
profits are usually donated to a cause or a charity. We have on many occasions supported our friend Wendy's chosen charity 'Above and Beyond', as well as St Peters Hospice and The Poppy Appeal among many others. This time we thought we will support our local newspaper, The Mead, so we have raised £50 towards the printing costs of this month’s edition. Well done Suzanne and team, we all enjoy reading a copy of The Mead!
Turn to page 15 for more news on Wendy and The Woodnook.
on page 7
Greenway Centre presents
Beauty& The Beast Saturday 15th December Bringing the magic of Panto to Southmead! Tickets available at Greenway Centre Reception from Monday 5th November Ticket prices*: age 16 and under: £2.00 Adults: £3.50 *includes a drink & fresh popcorn 1st performance at: 11:00 AM 2ⁿd performance at: 13:30 PM Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Southmead, BS10 5PY tel: 0117 950 3335 email: info@southmead.org Greenhouse Café open Monday to Friday 08:30 AM - 19:30 PM Sunday 09:00 AM - 15:00 PM (closed Saturday)
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MASTERPLAN FIRST DRAFT IS READY By Regeneration Project Team SOUTHMEAD DEVELOPMENT TRUST
It has been a whirlwind few months for the Regeneration Team at the Southmead Development Trust (SDT), but all the hard work has paid off. The project team, made up of architects, planners, council officers, community volunteers, and representatives as well as trustees and staff from SDT, have worked tirelessly to create a masterplan showing the new regeneration for the area. For many weeks the team having been meeting Southmead Residents to find out what the community wants for the future of the area: your opinions, ideas and designs have been turned into a vision for a thriving and sustainable Southmead for years to come. Newly available on our website is the full Masterplan Report and drawings, there is also a summary of the Masterplan in case you don’t have time to read the full document. We have also made hard copies available for people to browse at Greenway Centre Reception, Southmead Library, Southmead Community Association and the SCART Shop. Over the next six to eight months we will move on to the next stage of consultation and engagement and look at detailed design options and proposals for the improvements to Arnside Road, pavements, parking and landscaping, as well as the Masterplan proposals for Glencoyne square. There is plenty more to do and we need your help. Please view the first draft Masterplan and keep feeding back to us as we work on the detailed design. The Masterplan gives an overview of the next steps and we advertise public consultation sessions via the community noticeboards and our website. Thank you for all your help so far. Contact: Lindy Morgan, telephone: 0117 950 3335, email: lindymorgan@southmead.org View the plan on the website: www.southmead.org/regenerationinfopack
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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY could do to return the wood to the lovely place it had once been. One local resident, Salim Allibhai, then organised meetings to bring together the Friends of Badock’s Wood with representatives of other local organisations such as Bristol City Council, Avon and Somerset Police, Avon Fire Brigade, BTCV, Southmead Development Trust. By 2004 the first Management Plan for Badock’s Wood had been drawn up. By Frances Robertson Tragically, in June 2004 Salim died SECRETARY FOBW before he could see much of the plans achieved (and his work is celebrated in Badock’s Wood has been woodland a small memorial to him within continuously for at least 500 years. The wood has many ancient trees and Badock’s Wood). The group carried on Salim’s work and vision and built on a recent study by Nicola Strange the relationships and fundraising work concluded that “Local people today, while strolling through Badock’s Wood, that he had undertaken. are walking in a landscape bearing the In 2005 the group was formally traces of hundreds of years of human constituted and in 2006 the group held relations with the woodland.” its first formal AGM under the This land was gifted to the Council by Chairmanship of Alan Aburrow Sir Stanley Badock (pronounced Bay(currently undertaking the very dock) in the 1930s for the community valuable role of group’s Archivist and to use for recreation and as a public keeper of historic documentation of park. However, by the late 1990s it the group). was in need of some care and At the 2006 AGM Alan reported that attention. English Nature had been consulted and The Friends of Badock’s Wood group Badock’s Wood had been assessed for was started by local residents who in its suitability for the award of Local 1997 got together to see what they Nature Reserve designation. This
Na
The River Trym
ells in Ba tive Blueb
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od
The ‘Gree
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designation was formally awarded in 2008 so this year (2018) is also the 10th Anniversary of the Local Nature Reserve of Badock’s Wood. The group then built on earlier fundraising success gaining grants from the Lottery and more recently the City Council’s Neighbourhood Grants schemes and the European Green Capital 2015 grants. Over a number of years three wildflower meadows were seeded, the new Northern Gateway accessible entrance, avenue of trees, and mosaics were installed and opened (2011). A new wildlife pond was installed by
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to FRIENDS of BADOCK’S WOOD Avon Wildlife Trust which, after many years, is starting to achieve a balance. New bridges were built over the “waterfall” and the River Trym allowing for a full circuit of the wood to be followed by walkers. 2015 – Bristol’s European Green Capital Year – with the grants from the Council and Green Capital fund – saw Badock’s Wood Hidden Treasures project delivered. Sculptor Andy O’Neill returned to Badock’s Wood and made us the “Willow Bank Sofa” full of hidden treasures such as the owl, hedgehogs, and fungi sculptures. He then went on to make the Lake End Welcome totem, the spider and grass snake sculptures and, of course, our beloved (and beleaguered) Green Man. The totem includes golden oriole birds because at the time of making the sculptures these very rare visitors flew through. In 2016 the group was awarded the Bristol Green Volunteers for Nature Award which is awarded to volunteer projects that: help to make Bristol a nature-rich and wildlife-friendly city; bring people and nature together; and help communities conserve and restore nature in Bristol and beyond. Of course, it is not just about the natural history of the wood. There are a lot of man-made historical features. One of the wood’s most distinctive features is the Bronze Age burial
the Bronze Age burial mound or ‘Tumulus’
mound (Southmead Round Barrow) – a scheduled ancient monument. In 2002 the City Council commissioned Somerset artist Michael Fairfax to produce the art work and the poem inscribed on it was written by his father John Fairfax. Friends of Badock’s Wood hold litter picking groups, bird monitoring walks, conservation volunteer tasks, and walks and talks on a range of topics. Thanks to the hard work of the local community and the support and funding from other bodies, and the seemingly inexhaustible energy of our
the meadow of Cowslips
volunteers, Badock’s Wood has been transformed. All this is definitely something for us all to celebrate and a big THANK YOU to everyone who helps keep Badock’s Wood lovely and who values this hidden haven for wildlife as much as we do. For more information about the Friends of Badock’s Wood and to sign up to receive our monthly newsletter please visit our website: www.fobw.org.uk
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A NEW DIRECTION, THE SOAP OPERA By Oddva Lauritsen UWE History student working with Meadows to Meaders In July 2017 Local Learning organised the captivating Soap Opera ‘From Meadows to Meaders’ which was performed on Ascot Road by Southmead residents. With the help of Bristol Old Vic, and numerous Southmead volunteers, the many fascinating stories of Southmead’s past were brought to life through a script written by Bea Roberts. Since September 2018 Local Learning has been liaising with members of the local community to create yet another community soap opera script based on stories from Southmead’s past. Starting on October 2nd Southmead individuals have met up at the writing workshop at the Greenway Centre to partake in the making of the script. This is done in order to keep the stories, of which the play will be based on, as genuine and historically accurate as possible. These are stories that could otherwise have been completely lost in time. The workshop has already been incredibly informative, enlightening and stimulating, and the partakers have been very willing to share their memories of Southmead. Some of these stories have revolved around more obvious themes such as World War II, the Council Houses and the Southmead Hospital, but indeed more personal stories have also come to the forefront: stories about stolen vegetables, encounters with foxes, lively street parties and circus performances. Yet it seems that we have only just scratched the surface. Bristol Old Vic will begin rehearsals for local residents in January 2019 at the Greenway Centre. Meadows to Meaders: A New Direction will be performed at the Greenway Centre in March 2019.
See next page: Meadows to Meaders diary dates for script-writing
The team swapping stories and ideas for the new script
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DIARY DATES FOR NOVEMBER Meadows to Meaders Tues 6th Nov - 12.30 Greenway Centre tel: 0117 907 0010
Dunmail Launch Fri 9th Nov - 9.30 Dunmail Road Site Enq: 0117 944 0590
BS10 Parks & Planning Meeting
Inclusion Southmead Mtg Tues 13th Nov - 11.15 Southmead Library Tel: 07867 690422
Meadows to Meaders Tues 13th Nov - 12.30 Greenway Centre tel: 0117 907 0010
Southmead Project AGM
Tues 12th Nov - 18.00 Greenway Centre Enq: 0117 950 3719 Fri 16th Nov - 11.00 at: New Brunswick URC Enq: 0117 950 6022
Single Parents Fair Sat 17th Nov - 10.00 Greenway Centre Tel: 0117 950 3335 Meadows to Meaders Tues 20th Nov - 12.30 Greenway Centre tel: 0117 907 0010 Team Southmead Mtg Tues 27th Nov - 11.15 Southmead Library Tel: 07790 426 609 Meadows to Meaders Tues 27th Nov - 12.30 Greenway Centre tel: 0117 907 0010 Christmas Fair Sat 1st Dec - 11.00 The Woodnook
Book your Christmas lunch at the Greenhouse Café
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WHAT’S ON EVERY WEEK BY VENUE - NOVEMBER 2018 GREENWAY CENTRE - tel: 0117 950 3335 MON
TUES
WED
THURS
09:15 AM 10.30 AM 14.00 PM 18.00 PM 19.00 PM
STRONG by Zumba Forever Active Staying Steady Circuits Cycle Burn
19.00 PM 09:15 AM 10.30 AM
Badminton Club Piloexercise Creative Writers Group
11.00 AM 14.00 PM
Tai Chi Staying Steady
18.00 PM 18.30 PM 19.00 PM 19.30 PM
Insane X (High Intensity) Zumba Boxercise TNT Gym (Circuit Training)
09.15 AM 10.00 AM
STRONG by Zumba Gentle Walking Group
10.30 AM 11.45 AM
Better Breathing Lunchtime Pilates
15.30 PM 17.00 PM 17.30 PM 18.00 PM
Reach After School Club Music Course for 11-16s Greenway Pool Club Legs, Bums & Tums
19.00 PM 19:00 PM 09.15 AM
Core & Stretch North Bristol Wellbeing Choir Morning Boxercise Imps Toddler Group Forever Active Gardening Group Insane X (high intensity) Skip Box Westbury Art Club Support for Mental Wellbeing TNT Gym (Circuit Training) Cubatone Better Breathing Knit & Natter Tai Chi (Improvers) Staying Steady Pilates Forever Active Circuits Community Church Service ST STEPHEN’S CHURCH - tel: 0117 950 7164
09.45 AM 10.30 AM 13.30 PM 18.00 PM 19.00 PM 19.00 PM 19.00 PM 19.30 PM FRI
09.00 AM 10.00 AM 10.30 AM 11.00 AM 14.00 PM 18.00 PM
SAT SUN MON WED SUN MON TUES WED
TUES FRI
WED
SAT
09.30 AM 11.30 AM 10.30 AM 09.30 AM 19.00 PM 09.30 AM 19.00 PM 10.00 AM 17.00 PM 17.00 PM 18.30 PM
Baby & Toddler Group **CANCELLED ON 26th** Southmead Girls Group **CANCELLED ON 26th** C of E Communion **CANCELLED ON 28th** Southmead Men’s Shed **CANCELLED ON 28th** C of E Service SOUTHMEAD YOUTH CENTRE - tel: 0117 377 3605 Open and all welcome Open and all welcome
OPEN:
LPW Friendship (ages 13-24) HENBURY & BRENTRY COMMUNITY CENTRE tel: 0117 950 3573 Coffee, Tea and Cake Drop In Coffee, Tea and Cake Drop In Art Group for Over 55s Soup Club SOUTHMEAD LIBRARY - tel: 0117 903 8583 Tues 11-5 pm | Wed 11-5pm | Fri 1-5pm | Sat 11-5pm
11.15 AM 11.15 AM 14.00 PM 12.00 PM 02:00 PM
Story & Rhyme - Baby Bounce Art Club on the Mezzanine (Adults) Southmead Shares Reading Junior Art Club Saturday Stitch (Adults)
10.30 AM 09:30 AM 10.30 AM 12.00 PM
MON
TUES
WED
THURS
FRI
SAT SUN
09.30 AM 10:30 AM 13.30 PM 05:30 PM 09.30 AM 12.30 AM 14.00 PM 14.00 PM 17.30 PM 19.15 PM 10.30 AM 10.30 AM 13.30 PM 14.00 PM 16.15 PM 17.30 PM 18.30 PM 19.30 PM 09.15 AM 10.00 AM 10.30 AM 10.30 AM 13.30 PM 13.30 PM 17.00 PM 19.15 PM 19.30 PM 10.30 AM 10.30 AM 16.15 PM 10.00 AM 10.00 AM 10.00 AM 14.00 PM 18.00 PM 19.30 PM
SOUTHMEAD COMMUNITY CENTRE - tel: 0117 950 1187 Slimming World 3 Trees Skittles Art & Sensory Slimming World Line Dancing GC Lunch Club (eat at 13.00) Ladies Club SCC Bingo Slimming World SCC Bingo SCC Coffee Morning & Bingo Southmead Young Mums SCC Sensory Session SCC Tai Chi Distraction Dance Bristol Keralites Association Christ Embassy Group SCC Sequence Dance Cubatone Brandon Trust Music Group SCC Knit & Natter Real Economy Southmead Harmony Bingo SCC Sensory Session Precision Dance SCC Bingo Precision Dance 3 Trees Walking Basketball Silvercare Skittles Distraction Dance Southmead Somali Association Southmead Somali Association Christ Embassy Group Senegambian Cultural Group SCC Bingo Irish Dancing SCART SHOP - tel: 0117 950 6823 Benefits Advice (Appointment Only)
MON
10.00 AM
TUES
10.30 AM 09.30 AM 13.00 PM
THURS FRI
10.30 AM 10.30 AM
MON
11.30 AM 18.00 PM 10.00 AM 18.00 PM 18.00 PM 11.00 AM
Keep Fit for Living (also 09.45 AM at Scout Hut, Tranmere Ave, Brentry) Aadra Kalaa Dance Southmead History Group Girls Brigade - 3rd Bristol Aadra Kalaa Dance United Reformed Service ACTIVITIES AT OTHER VENUES
10.00 AM 10.30 AM 17.00 PM 09.20 AM 09.30 AM 18.15 PM 12.00 PM
Activities for 60+ at Westbury Fields, tel: 0117 377 3700 Coffee Morning at Pentecostal Church, tel: 0117 987 1327 Wicketz - ages 8-11 at Bristol Free School, tel: 07398 211 598
WED THURS SUN M-F MON TUES WED THURS
09.00 AM 10.00 AM 10.30 AM 10.45 AM 11.00 AM 18.30 PM
Bristol Credit Union Job Club Stop Smoking Advisor Bristol Credit Union Bristol Credit Union NEW BRUNSWICK URC - tel: 0117 969 0294
Westbury Walkers - meets in W-o-T, tel: 0117 330 1194 Debt Advice appts - Greenway GP Surgery, tel: 0117 924 1930 BS10 Community Bingo, The Woodnook, tel: 07968 277 787 Chill & Chat, Bethany Baptist Church, tel: 0117 969 5672 SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES Catholic Mass at St Vincent’s Church C of E Service at St Stephen’s Church Community Church at Greenway Centre Bethany Baptist Church New Brunswick United Reformed Church Pentecostal Holiness Church
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WHAT’S ON EVERY WEEK BY VENUE - NOVEMBER 2018 GREENWAY CENTRE - tel: 0117 950 3335 MON
TUES
WED
THURS
09:15 AM 10.30 AM 14.00 PM 18.00 PM 19.00 PM
STRONG by Zumba Forever Active Staying Steady Circuits Cycle Burn
19.00 PM 09:15 AM 10.30 AM
Badminton Club Piloexercise Creative Writers Group
11.00 AM 14.00 PM
Tai Chi Staying Steady
18.00 PM 18.30 PM 19.00 PM 19.30 PM
Insane X (High Intensity) Zumba Boxercise TNT Gym (Circuit Training)
09.15 AM 10.00 AM
STRONG by Zumba Gentle Walking Group
10.30 AM 11.45 AM
Better Breathing Lunchtime Pilates
15.30 PM 17.00 PM 17.30 PM 18.00 PM
Reach After School Club Music Course for 11-16s Greenway Pool Club Legs, Bums & Tums
19.00 PM 19:00 PM 09.15 AM
Core & Stretch North Bristol Wellbeing Choir Morning Boxercise Imps Toddler Group Forever Active Gardening Group Insane X (high intensity) Skip Box Westbury Art Club Support for Mental Wellbeing TNT Gym (Circuit Training) Cubatone Better Breathing Knit & Natter Tai Chi (Improvers) Staying Steady Pilates Forever Active Circuits Community Church Service ST STEPHEN’S CHURCH - tel: 0117 950 7164
09.45 AM 10.30 AM 13.30 PM 18.00 PM 19.00 PM 19.00 PM 19.00 PM 19.30 PM FRI
09.00 AM 10.00 AM 10.30 AM 11.00 AM 14.00 PM 18.00 PM
SAT SUN MON WED SUN MON TUES WED
TUES FRI
WED
SAT
09.30 AM 11.30 AM 10.30 AM 09.30 AM 19.00 PM 09.30 AM 19.00 PM 10.00 AM 17.00 PM 17.00 PM 18.30 PM
Baby & Toddler Group **CANCELLED ON 26th** Southmead Girls Group **CANCELLED ON 26th** C of E Communion **CANCELLED ON 28th** Southmead Men’s Shed **CANCELLED ON 28th** C of E Service SOUTHMEAD YOUTH CENTRE - tel: 0117 377 3605 Open and all welcome Open and all welcome
OPEN:
LPW Friendship (ages 13-24) HENBURY & BRENTRY COMMUNITY CENTRE tel: 0117 950 3573 Coffee, Tea and Cake Drop In Coffee, Tea and Cake Drop In Art Group for Over 55s Soup Club SOUTHMEAD LIBRARY - tel: 0117 903 8583 Tues 11-5 pm | Wed 11-5pm | Fri 1-5pm | Sat 11-5pm
11.15 AM 11.15 AM 14.00 PM 12.00 PM 02:00 PM
Story & Rhyme - Baby Bounce Art Club on the Mezzanine (Adults) Southmead Shares Reading Junior Art Club Saturday Stitch (Adults)
10.30 AM 09:30 AM 10.30 AM 12.00 PM
MON
TUES
WED
THURS
FRI
SAT SUN
09.30 AM 10:30 AM 13.30 PM 05:30 PM 09.30 AM 12.30 AM 14.00 PM 14.00 PM 17.30 PM 19.15 PM 10.30 AM 10.30 AM 13.30 PM 14.00 PM 16.15 PM 17.30 PM 18.30 PM 19.30 PM 09.15 AM 10.00 AM 10.30 AM 10.30 AM 13.30 PM 13.30 PM 17.00 PM 19.15 PM 19.30 PM 10.30 AM 10.30 AM 16.15 PM 10.00 AM 10.00 AM 10.00 AM 14.00 PM 18.00 PM 19.30 PM
SOUTHMEAD COMMUNITY CENTRE - tel: 0117 950 1187 Slimming World 3 Trees Skittles Art & Sensory Slimming World Line Dancing GC Lunch Club (eat at 13.00) Ladies Club SCC Bingo Slimming World SCC Bingo SCC Coffee Morning & Bingo Southmead Young Mums SCC Sensory Session SCC Tai Chi Distraction Dance Bristol Keralites Association Christ Embassy Group SCC Sequence Dance Cubatone Brandon Trust Music Group SCC Knit & Natter Real Economy Southmead Harmony Bingo SCC Sensory Session Precision Dance SCC Bingo Precision Dance 3 Trees Walking Basketball Silvercare Skittles Distraction Dance Southmead Somali Association Southmead Somali Association Christ Embassy Group Senegambian Cultural Group SCC Bingo Irish Dancing SCART SHOP - tel: 0117 950 6823 Benefits Advice (Appointment Only)
MON
10.00 AM
TUES
10.30 AM 09.30 AM 13.00 PM
THURS FRI
10.30 AM 10.30 AM
MON
11.30 AM 18.00 PM 10.00 AM 18.00 PM 18.00 PM 11.00 AM
Keep Fit for Living (also 09.45 AM at Scout Hut, Tranmere Ave, Brentry) Aadra Kalaa Dance Southmead History Group Girls Brigade - 3rd Bristol Aadra Kalaa Dance United Reformed Service ACTIVITIES AT OTHER VENUES
10.00 AM 10.30 AM 17.00 PM 09.20 AM 09.30 AM 18.15 PM 12.00 PM
Activities for 60+ at Westbury Fields, tel: 0117 377 3700 Coffee Morning at Pentecostal Church, tel: 0117 987 1327 Wicketz - ages 8-11 at Bristol Free School, tel: 07398 211 598
WED THURS SUN M-F MON TUES WED THURS
09.00 AM 10.00 AM 10.30 AM 10.45 AM 11.00 AM 18.30 PM
Bristol Credit Union Job Club Stop Smoking Advisor Bristol Credit Union Bristol Credit Union NEW BRUNSWICK URC - tel: 0117 969 0294
Westbury Walkers - meets in W-o-T, tel: 0117 330 1194 Debt Advice appts - Greenway GP Surgery, tel: 0117 924 1930 BS10 Community Bingo, The Woodnook, tel: 07968 277 787 Chill & Chat, Bethany Baptist Church, tel: 0117 969 5672 SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES Catholic Mass at St Vincent’s Church C of E Service at St Stephen’s Church Community Church at Greenway Centre Bethany Baptist Church New Brunswick United Reformed Church Pentecostal Holiness Church
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INVITATION You are warmly invited to attend our next Annual General Meeting on: Friday 16th November 2018, 11.00 am (with lunch at 12.30 pm) venue: New Brunswick United Reformed Church, Wigton Crescent, Southmead, Bristol, BS10 6DY. It is the 24th AGM in the history of the charity so I do hope you can come along and join us in the celebrations. Best wishes, Mike Peirce We are pleased to confirm the keynote speech will be delivered by Dr Kieran McCartan, Associate Professor in Criminology and Leader of the Social Science Research Group at the University of the West of England. I
On show will be some of the items that make up the 'Amazing Resilience' exhibition of art that has been produced in conjunction with victims and survivors of child abuse who have previously accessed our services for support. This exhibition has proven to be an enormously inspiring demonstration of the courage, conviction and determination of those who have faced enormous odds; it is indeed a privilege for us to work alongside them on their road to recovery.
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RESTART A HEART AT ORCHARD SCHOOL FROM ORCHARD SCHOOL For the second year running, Orchard School Year 7 pupils have learnt how to perform CPR as part of the “Restart a Heart Day” campaign. Restart a Heart Day is a Europe-wide initiative developed by the European Resuscitation Council. It was launched in 2013 to teach members of the public how to help restart the heart of someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest. The South West Ambulance Service spent the whole day at Orchard School and over 200 Year 7 students have learnt life-saving CPR. Pupils watched an interactive DVD and learnt all the skills required to undertake CPR. The Y7 Orchard pupils learnt about how to keep a healthy heart – through sport, exercise and diet. They also learnt what a cardiac arrest is, and how to recognise the signs. “It was such good fun – I learnt loads and I now feel really confident about what to do if I see somebody in need of help,” said one Year 7 Orchard student. “The Call-Push-Rescue phrase will really stick with me.” Every year, around 350,000 Europeans suffer an out-of-hospital
cardiac arrest (OHCA). OHCA can occur anywhere, for example in the street, at work, or while exercising or doing other strenuous activity. Unfortunately, the vast majority happen at home, where family members are the only witnesses and the only ones with the chance to save their loved ones.
If you’d like to find out more, or have CPR training at your school or place of work, you can visit www.resus.org.uk or telephone: 020 7388 4678
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DISABILITY HISTORY MONTH I N C L U SI ON SOU THM E AD U P DATE By Mike Steel BRISTOL DISABILITY EQUALITY FORUM Disability History Month runs from 22 November to 22 December, and the theme for 2018 is 'music.' In partnership with Drake Music and The M-Shed, Bristol Disability Equality Forum is bringing a celebration of music and performance by Disabled people.
We have also been working with the Council on improving access to Doncaster Road Park. Currently, the entrances are not accessible for Disabled and older wheelchair and scooter users. As well as performances by local Disabled musicians, including the Electric This has meant some residents are excluded from using the park, and from Storm Ensemble, there will an opportunity to learn how about the past, joining family members in the play area. After discussion, our group proposed present and future of Disabled people’s that council funding for the area should music and performance. There will be used to open up two of the park information stalls and more. The event is free, but places limited. The entrances. This was agreed in September, and we have been reviewing venue is wheelchair accessible and BSL interpreters will be available, but please designs that included a removable let us know about any other access needs. Also at the M-Shed there will also be a chance to visit ‘Rest Room’, a new piece about resting spaces by Rachel Messeguer, one of the UK’s (and Bristol’s) emerging Disabled arts activists. To book a place, or for more details, contact Bristol Disability Equality Forum, email bristoldef@gmail.com or call 0117 914 0528 or visit: www.bristoldef.org.uk and www.drakemusic.org It’s been a busy month for Inclusion Southmead as we continue our efforts to bring Disabled and non-Disabled residents together. As well as working with Bristol sports organisations to get more inclusive activities for Southmead residents, we have had an article in the Bristol Cable about our campaign for access to the McColls shop and post office at Arnside. After the latest plans from McColls for a ramp and accessible entrance were withdrawn because they were not as agreed, we have been working with Lucy Empson from the Arnside Regeneration team. We hope to have good news soon about plans that will be better for everyone.
barrier, if needed. With the support of Councillors Brenda Massey and Helen Godwin, and Nic Ferris from the Neighbourhoods Team, we have spoken to residents living near the park. Everyone we have talked to so far agrees with the idea and we hope that works will start next year. There are also lots of ideas about getting more residents to use the park. To find out more, or to get involved, please join us at our next meeting: Tues 13th November from 11.15 am to 1.15 pm at Southmead Library. Contact: Mike Steel tel: 07867 690422, email: bristoldef@gmail.com
THE MEAD 14 From Lifecycle UK Following the shocking report on the urgent climate-change situation, we are all wondering what we can do to tackle the problem. In the UK, transport is one of the only areas where dangerous emissions and pollution levels are actually increasing. However, we can make small but effective changes to our travel habits. For example; reducing the number of short journeys we make by car. Things are already starting to move – with Clean Air Zones being established in Bath from the end of 2020, and possibly Bristol too. There will be time to adjust, but the sooner we get started, the cheaper and easier it will be. Luckily it’s not all doom and gloom: Life Cycle is here to help – offering smart, low-cost solutions to individuals and businesses. We would like to invite everyone to try cycling just once a week. With the right support from us, you may be pleasantly surprised at what you can do, and how much you enjoy it! If you’re an individual, we have everything you need to get cycling safely and confidently. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a confident cyclist looking to boost your road skills we offer free cycle tuition. We can help you find quiet routes away from busy roads, and those without a bike can purchase highquality, refurbished bicycles from our ‘Bike Back’ project. If you’d like to explore the fantastic possibilities of ebikes, we can offer taster sessions on electric bikes for people who live or work in Bristol. If you’re a school, business or community centre you can encourage and facilitate cycling. Install our free cycle stands so your staff and customers can park bikes safely on the premises. Booking a ‘Dr Bike’ surgery for your staff team, serviceusers or customers is a great way to incentivise cycling – ensuring their bikes are safe, smooth-running – and don’t end up abandoned in the garage due to an unfixed puncture! Our fully qualified mechanic will come to you and carry out standard repairs for groups of people. Life Cycle warmly invites you to take the plunge and cycle once a week. Pick a sunny day, a quiet cycle path and enjoy the sights and sounds of Bristol. If it feels daunting, don’t be afraid to ask for help – that’s what we’re here for.
BIKE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
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WOODNOOK WONDERS
Dear Woodnookers. We’re so glad to hear you love The Mead, thank you for you support.
Our faithful readers at The Woodnook
confined in an isolation room where she made a slow recovery. The By Shirley Neville doctors and nursing staff were worried SOUTHMEAD RESIDENT that she wasn't strong enough to pull through and were amazed at her Wendy who lives at The Woodnook in strength and positivity. She isn't free Southmead has been fundraising for from cancer, it is managed by the past 18 months for a charity very treatment and medication. Yet, close to her heart. In April 2015 Wendy Wendy always wears a smile, never was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid moans and has an infectious laugh! Leaukaemia and what followed was a gruelling schedule of treatment. Many of you probably know Wendy or have read about her battle in a previous article printed in The Mead.
GRAND WENDY!
In August of this year, Wendy was rushed into the oncology centre after suddenly feeling poorly with chest pains. She was critically ill with pneumonia and the following 48 hours was crucial. Many of you may think it strange that pneumonia can actually kill, but in Wendy's case she has no immune system due to the extensive treatment she has received over the past two and a half years, and still receives to this day. Wendy remained in hospital for just over a week, Wendy’s hit her £1,000 target
She has the ability to find the positive in a negative situation and a great example of this is her fund raising efforts while battling this awful disease. Wendy has now raised her target of £1000 for the 'Above and Beyond' charity at the Bristol Oncolgy Centre. She is one very special lady with a heart of gold, well done Wendy.
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The Mead messages For donations this month to -
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Friday 16th November