SouthmeadNews&What’sOn
WHATMAKESA HOME?
EventhoughSpringisa�emp�ng tospringoutside,andthereare bitsofgreenshoo�ng,anddaffodils beginningtobloom,itcans�llbehard tokeepwarminsideourhomes.Even thoughmyhouseisnotthewarmest,I dos�llfinditcosyandhomey.Whatdo youthinkmakesahouseahome?
Formeitismyknick-knacksand picturesandfamiliarsmells.Forsome itisthepeopletheylivewith.For othersitcanbeaboutkeepingitnicely decorated,enjoyingindoorplants,and maybeoutdoorgardening(brrrr!).Iam
notverygreenfingered,butIam workingonit.Idoknowtherearelots ofkeengardenersinSouthmeadand wehopeeveryonewilljoininwiththe SouthmeadSeedSwaponSaturday 29thofMarchatGreenwayCentre (seepage9).
TheSouthmeadSeedSwapispart ofabiggereventatGreenwayon Saturday29thMarch-Bristol CommunityFes�val.Heretherewill alsobecookingdemosandfood tas�ngofferedbySouthmead residents.DidyoutrytheSudanese foodattheSouthmeadFes�val?This �metherewillalsobeChinesefood
P.3SouthmeadWindow Wanderland
P.4Southmead’sHome Sports
P.6EnergyatHome
P.8Southmead’sRepairCafe
P.9SouthmeadSeedSwap
P.10GlencoyneNews
P.13RememberingDear Friends
P.15Times,Places,&Info
P.16BristolCommunity Fes�valinSouthmead
<con�nuedfromfront
fromOneGreenKitchen,and TravellingKitchen’sSouthmeadBatch Cookinggangwillbeshowingoffsome tradi�onalBri�shdishestheyhave beenlearningattheirsessions.I cannotwaittotasteeverythingandto getsomeideastotakehomeand make.
Onthesamedaywewillalso launchthenewmonthlySouthmead RepairCafe(moreonpage8),tohelp usreusemoreofourbelongingsand toreducehouseholdwaste.And,of course,therewillbetheusual monthlyGreenwayMarketsellinga widerangeofaffordablehomemade madetreats,cra�s,andgi�sfrom localsellers.
Therewillbesomanygreatthings todoatGreenwayonthisspecial weekendandwecanguaranteea warmwelcomeandawarmbuilding! Butwillyoubereturningtoacosy home?Youmayhaveheardaboutour energyandclimateprojectshereat
Greenwayandtheteamwillalsobe aroundonthedaytochatwith residentsabouthowtofindhelpto keepwarmathome,andtokeepour energybillsdown–dohaveachat withthemandreadabout theirprojectonpages 6and7.
Manyresidents Ichatwithtellme Southmeadis simplyhome,but thattheymiss beingoutand abouttoconnect withothersoverthe Winter.Tocelebrate Spring,andge�ngoutand aboutmoreagain,wearesuppor�ng residentstoturncommunitystreets intoaSouthmeadWindow Wanderland.Theideaistoput-up home-madeartworkinourwindows overtheweekendof21st -23rd March sothateveryonecanhaveastroll aroundtoseethecrea�onsand
togetherlookforwardtothelighter, brighter,andwarmerdaysahead(all infoonpageopposite).
Ifyourhomeisnotsuitablefor windowdecora�ons,everyoneis welcometohelptodecoratethe windowshereatGreenway whichmanyresidents regardasasecondhome! Itiswarmand welcomingwithlotsof freeac�vi�es. Some�meshomeisnot everythingwewantitto beandourteamswould lovetohearwhatresidents needsupportwithtoimprove lifeathome.Sodocontactus,and popintoGreenwayCentreany�meto joininwithac�vi�esliketheones listedonpage12.Youwillalwaysfind awarmwelcomehere,acuppa,and goodcompanyinthishome-fromhomeonyourdoorstep.
ContactLucille,tel:01179503335, email:lucillesmith@southmead.org
PANTOCOSTUMEWINNERS
Itwasbrillianttoseesomanyof youatthecommunitypantoat GreenwayinJanuary,andwonderful toseelotsofchildrenincostume.The winnersarehereareontherightand havewonvouchersoftheirchoicefor prizes.
Youcanviewthefullpantopicture galleryonline:h�ps://southmead.org/ panto-gallery-2025
Cinderellawastheeighthshow hereatGreenway.TheTrustsponsors theperformancesothatall Southmeadfamiliesareabletoa�end anaffordableshowatChristmas.
Wehearfromsomeofyouthat M&MTheatricalProduc�onsoffersan extravaganzahereatGreenwaytorival anydown-townandmoreexpensive shows.
IfyouwereatCinderellathis�me itwouldbegreattohearyour thoughtsabouttheperformance,I wouldlovetoknowmoreaboutwhat youthink-OHYESIWOULD! Contact,Mark,tel:01179503335 email:marklemon@southmead.org
SOUTHMEAD’SHOMESPORTS
Southmead’sDoncasterRoad ParkBasketballCourtissetfor amuch-neededupgrade,with renova�onsbeginningonMonday March17th.Asayouthbasketball coachandcommunityadvocate,Ihave beenworkingalongsideBristolCity Counciltosecurefundingforthe project.
IliveonDoncasterRoadandcoach BristolBrickersBasketball-ayouth outreachprogrammerunbyThe CommunityChurch,andIhaveseen firsthandtheimportanceofthecourt. Ourprogrammehelpssecondary schoolstudentsgrowasathletes,both onandoffthecourt,andinsummer thesessionsmoveoutdoorsto DoncasterRoadPark,a�rac�ngnew youngpeopletothesport.
Theupgradestothecourtwill includenewgoalendsforboth basketballandfootball,withplansto addextrabasketballhoops.Iamnow
Ourfamilyfriendlyrugbyclub, basedintheheartofour community,haspartneredwiththe StarSchemeCharitytobenefitlocal children.
Ourclub’shomeisatGreenway Centre,andweareopentoeveryone ofallabili�es.Wearenowrecrui�ng forallagegroups.Wekeepjoining costsaslowaspossibleandalways helpfamiliesinanywaywecan.Our newpartnershipwithStarmeanswe cannowhelpevenmorefamilies.
StarSchemehelpschildrenwho haveAdverseChildhoodExperiences (ACEs),includingpoormentalor
lookingforlocalbusinessesand individualstohelpfundayouthdesignedcourtsurface,whichwillbe paintedbyalocalar�st,soplease contactmeifyoucanhelp.
Formoreinforma�onorto supporttheprojectemail:
ma�@barastudio.co.uk.Tolearnmore aboutBristolBrickersBasketballgoto www.thecommunitychurch.net/ basketball.Ifyouprefertocall,please leaveamessageformeatGreenway CentrewheretheCommunityChurch meetsonSundays.
emo�onalwellbeing,and/orwhoare financiallydisadvantaged.Star providesthemwithsupportedaccess torugbyandhelpsremovebarriers suchashelpingwithtransport,costof fees,andessen�alkit,andoffersa friendlyfacetotalkto.
Playingateamsporthassomany advantagesforchildren,especially thosewhoaresufferingwiththeir mentalhealth.Wedonotwant financialhardshiptobeabarrier,and alongwithhelpingwiththis,Star Schemehavealsoprovidedextra trainingforcoachestobeabletohelp childrenfacingchallenges.
Wehavealreadywelcomednew playersofdifferentagegroupsthanks totheschemeandthefeedbackfrom thefamiliesinvolvedhasbeen heartwarming.Wehaveseen incredibleimprovementintheplayers confidencelevelsbothonandoffthe field,andwelookforwardtomore joining.
Ifyouwouldliketoknowmore informa�onortrialthesessions, pleaseemail: srfcminisandjuniors@gmail.com. Formoreinforma�onaboutthe StarSchemepleaseemail: info@starscheme.co.uk
ENERGYATHOME
HiIamElla.Iamleadingthe TransformingEnergyTogetherproject wherewearetalkingwiththe communityaboutdesigningenergy, retrofit,andskillsprojectsfor Southmead.
Sofar,wehavebeentalkingto residentsthroughaques�onnaire,via interviews,byvisi�ngcommunity groups,andcha�ngtochildrenand youngpeopleatTheRanch- picon therighthere→
Wearefindingoutwhateveryone thinksabouthowwecanimproveour homesandstreets,whatwethinkof differenttechnologies,whywewould wanttomakechanges,whatis stoppingus,whatwewanttolearn moreabout,andhowenergyuseand ourhomesaffectourlives.
Weareonlyjustge�ngstarted butwehavealreadyheardsome impac�ulstoriesandgreatideas. Youngpeoplewanttolearnskillsand wouldlikemore‘green’ac�vi�esat TheRanch.Communitycarparksolar panels,plantersandstreettrees,and insula�onareprovingpopular.Some
peoplehavealreadymadechangesat homethroughgrants.Andsome peoplearetusslingwiththeir landlordstomakebe�erchoicesfor theirhomes.Changescanbe expensiveandcomplex,butsomecan beDIYjobs.So,wearelearninglots.
Butwewanttohearfrommore residents.Belowyoucanseethe differentwaysyoucanuseyourvoice toshareyourthoughtsand
experiences.Ifyoumeetusforan interview,thenyouwillbegivena£10 voucherforyour�me. Wearealsolookingforfuture involvementtoguidethedevelopment ofprojectsandbusinesscases. Ifyoudonotknowmuchabout energy,orareatechnicalenergy wizard,yourviewsarevaluablesodo takepart(surveyandcontactdetails below).
BEAHOMEENERGYCHAMPION
runworkshopsIsigneduptothe EnergyChampionsprogramme.
Hi,IamTom,oneofthenew Climate&Community EngagementWorkershereatthe Trust.IworkontheTransforming EnergyTogetherprojectwhereweare talkingwithresidentsaboutideasand experiencesofhomes,energy,and whatwecandotoretrofitourhomes (takeac�ontomakethemmore energyefficient).
RecentlyIhavebeentakingmore �metounderstandmyownenergy useathome.Iwantedmyhometobe morecomfortable,lessdraughty,and havelessofacarbonfootprintonthe planet.IliveinSouthmead,inmy parent’shome–anditisquitehardto trackwhereourenergygoesandwho usesit.
IhadheardaboutBristolEnergy Network(BEN)andtheiraimtohelp residentstoincreaseenergyresilience, makeenergymoreaffordable,andto empowerandsupportwiththe developmentofskillstobeableto takeac�on.WhenIfoundoutthat theywerecomingtoSouthmeadto
AsaChampionIwasgivenafree ‘EnergyTrace’forourhome.Robert, whoworksforBEN,isalovelyman whocametosurveyourhomefor aroundthreehours.Heuses atoolcalleda‘heat camera’whichshows whereenergyand heatarebeinglost, likegapsaround windowsandvents.
Youcanseein theimageofour doorherethedarker areasaredraughts!→
ThenRobertmade sugges�onsforhowproblems couldbefixedquicklyandaffordably. Sofar,wehaveputinsula�onfoil behindourradiatorstoreflectheat backintotheroom,addeddoorframe draughtexcluders,andexpanding foamandcaulktofillinsomecracks andholes.Ithasmadeano�ceable differencealready.Itwasempowering andencouragingthatthereweresmall fixeswecoulddoourselvesandthey
werenottoobigorexpensive,or involveourlandlord.
IalsotookpartinBEN’sEnergy ChampionworkshopsatGreenway CentrethroughoutFebruary.They wereinforma�veandprac�cal sessionswhichtaughtus moreaboutretrofit, draught-proofing, tacklingdampand mould,andhowto takemoreac�onin ourcommunity.It wasgreattomeet otherpeople interestedinthesame thingandtoshareour personalstoriesaboutour homesandhowtomake thembe�erforus.
Ifyouwouldliketoshareyour storyaboutenergyorretrofit,and contributetotheTransformingEnergy Togetherproject,contactus, tel:01179503335oremail: ellatainton@southmead.org.To arrangeanenergytraceforyourhome visitBENonline> bristolenergynetwork.org.uk,orwe canhelpyou.
MeonrightataBENChampionWorkshop,withEllafromtheTrustonthele�,andFaithfromBENinthemiddle.
REPAIRINGOURHOMEWARES
Iwouldliketointroduceyouto thelaunchofSouthmead’svery ownRepairCafé,hereatGreenway Centre.OnSaturday29thMarchthis firstRepairCaféisincludedinabigger dayofevents–Southmead’spartin thewiderBristolCommunityFes�val.
Youmaywellask,whatisaRepair Café?Well,itiswhereeverything centresonmakingrepairstothe thingswebringalong.Volunteer repairexpertsareonhandtohelp makerepairspossible.Fromsewingto bikecare,wecanbringourbroken itemsfromhomeforsometender lovingrepair!
Thepicontherighthere→ isfromourvisittotheRepairCafeat theUniversityoftheWestofEngland; mycolleagueLucilleandIwere inspiredbywhatwesawthereandare keentogetthisgoinginSouthmead.
Itwouldbegreattoreduceour homewaste,up-cycleitems,andsave ourselvesmoneyfromnothavingto buynewequipment.Andperhaps thatbrokenmugkeptforsen�mental reasonsjustneedsatouchofglueto bringitbacktolife.Andas�tchin �meonatorngarmentmightreally savenine!
Onthe29th DrBikewillbehereto treatyourwheels,sopleasebringany bikesalongtothiscyclesurgery!
A�erthelaunch,theSouthmead RepairCaféwillbemonthly,andwe wouldloveyoutohelpout.Weare lookingforrepairersandfriendly volunteerstohelpruntheeventsand welcomeeveryone.So,whetheryou aregoodwithtools,sewingor electrics,youmayhavethepowerto helpkickstartthisexci�ng opportunity.
RepairCafédateswillbeon Saturdays:26thApril,31stMay,28th June,26thJuly,27thSeptember,25th October,29thNovember.
Ifyoucanprovideaskillorlenda handwithrepairs,pleasecontactour CommunityDevelopmentTeam,tel: 01179503335,oremail: info@southmead.org.
IfyouuseFacebookdokeepan eyeoutforupdatesonourpage @greenwaycentre.
GETTINGCLOSERTONEWHOMES
Workbehindthescenesfor theGlencyoneSquare developmentneverstops.Although wecannotyetseeanybuildingworks beginning,theprojectteamare constantlyworkingontheplanfor newhomesinSouthmead.
LastJulytheplansalreadygiven planningconsentwereupdatedand resubmi�ed,andonceagaingiventhe goahead.Followingthishasbeenan intenseperiodofconsulta�on,design anddetail,par�cularlytomakesure thebuildingsarefullyaccessibleby workingwithourpartnersWECIL (WestofEnglandCentreforInclusive Living).
LastDecember,mee�ngsabout planningthenewSouthmeadLibrary began.Wecanalllookforwardto morenewsonwhatthebrand
spankingnewoneisgoingtolooklike withinthecommunityareaonthe groundfloorofthenewGlencoyne building.
Earlythisyeartheprojectteam againsubmi�edafurthersetofplans toapplyforpermissiontoreducethe levelofthebuilding,andthenumber offlatsbeingbuilt,tomakethe schememoreaffordable.TheCouncil sentle�erstoresidentstoinvite commentsonthesenewplanswhich setouttoreducethetotalofflatsbuilt from187to177.Wearewai�ngfor newsonthisapplica�onandexpectto hearfromtheCouncilbytheendof March–wearehopefulforapproval.
Ournextbigstepistoforma partnershipwithatrustedand experiencedsocialhousingprovider; theywillfundandoperatethehomes onGlencoyne.Wearehopefulthat oncewehavefoundtheright organisa�ontoworkwithusto
providehomesinSouthmead,building canbegininearly2026.
Recentlyweweresentsomebrick sampleswhichwasveryexci�nganda greatwayto‘feel’thatbuilding Glencoyneisge�ngcloser.Tople�in thepictureoppositeyoucanseetwo ofthecommunity-ledteam,Deana andJohn,lookingatthesamples.The mainillustra�onhighlightsthe project’smostrecentsteps.
Itwilltakethousandsofsmall stepstomakethedreamofnew homesonGlencoyneareality,butstep bystep,brickbybrick,wewillget there!Pleasekeepfollowingthe projectupdatesonourwebsite www.southmead.org.Ifyouneedhelp toreadournewsonadigitaldevice, wecanhelpyouwiththat,orwecan giveyouprintedcopiesofstories. PleasedocontactusatGreenway Centre,tel:01179503335,oremail: info@southmead.org
SouthmeadLibrary OpeningTimes
Friday:1PM-5PM Saturday:11AM-5PM
Sunday:Closed
SouthmeadCommunity Centre
TeamSouthmeadMee�ngs
StStephen’sChurch Forinfo,contactDeana tel:07790426609
InclusionSouthmead Mee�ngs 11AM-1PM
Thursdays: 13thMarch 10thApril 8thMay 12thJune 10thJuly 11thSeptember 9thOctober 13thNovember
CommunityLinkNorth(Lanercost Centre)
Forinfo,contactDeana tel:07790426609
BS10Neighbourhood Forum
Bi-monthlyonThursdays, 6:30-8PM Henbury&BrentryCC/ GreenwayCentre
NEXT→ 20th March:Greenway 15thMay:H&BCC
PentecostalCoffeeMorning 10:30AM-12:30PM Mondays
PentecostalHolinessChurch Forinfo,contact: 01179871327
Joinusforacuppa,company andachat.Allwelcome!
StStephen’sChurch FriendshipCafe
10AM-12PM Wednesdays
Baby&ToddlerGroup 9:30-11AM Mondays(term-�meonly) Forinfo tel:01179591250
*Pleasenote:TheMeadis wri�enen�relybyhumansand sowedoguaranteemistakes!*
YoucangetTheMeadstoriesstraighttoyouremailinbox. Visitthewebsiteatwww.themead.organdregisteratthebo�om ofthepagewithyouremailaddress.
Whenstoriesarenew,youwillbethefirsttoreadthem! Onthewebsiteyoucanalsoself-publishyourownstories. Justregisterforanaccount.
SouthmeadDevelopmentTrustatwww.southmead.org proudlysponsorsTheMead.Contactusby email:themead@southmead.org,ortel:01179503335.
Tofindoutwhenthenextedi�onisdue,andthedeadlinefor contribu�ons,visittheTheMeadwebsite:www.themead.org orcallintoGreenwayCentreandchatwithourCommunity DevelopmentTeam.
