SouthmeadNews&What’sOn HELLO SOUTHMEAD SUNSHINE!
cra�sandgi�sfromthestallsat GreenwayMarket-nowafirmfes�val favourite.
Howhaveyoubeenge�ngon duringthesizzling temperaturesinSouthmead?Didyou managetofindsomecoolandshade? Itmightwellberainingwhileyouread this-whoknowswithourweather? Iamhopingyouhadawonderful �meatSouthmeadFes�valifyou came.AsIwrite,wearefinalisingthe programmeandthelineupforthe CommunityPerformanceStage.Itis suchadelighttoenjoythetalentsof ourlocalperformers,aswellassample localcuisine,andbrowselocallymade
Itisimportantthatyoutelluswhat youlikedanddidnotlikeaboutthe Fes�val,sowealwayslearnforthe followingyear.Also,howyoucanbe involved,byvolunteering,or performing,orselling,orse�ngupan ac�vityforeveryonetoenjoy,justlet usknow(contactdetailsattheend).
AswestepintoSummerremember thereissomuchtodoinSouthmead. TheRanchholidaysessionshavenow begunwithawonderfulrangeof ac�vi�esforchildren,youngpeople, andfamilies(seepage5).
INSIDE
P.2Joyce’sThrone
P.3GreenwayCarBootSale P.4OurYoungVolunteers P.5SummeratTheRanch P.7Connec�ngNeighbours P.8Togetherisbe�er <Pull-outsec�on> SouthmeadYearlyUpdate P.10Bert’sThankYouStory P.11RememberingDear Friends
P.12GlencoyneQues�ons P.15Times,Places,&Info P.16SummerBoxingClub
<con�nuedfromfront
Ac�vi�eskeeprunningat GreenwayCentreovertheSummer wherethereisalwaysawarm welcome,company,acuppa,andchat. Checkouttheweeklyac�vi�esat Greenwayonpage10,andremember therearemoreSouthmeadac�vi�es andmee�ngsonpage13 Ifyougoto groupsinSouthmeadwhicharenot shown,doletmeknow,Iamkeenthat everythinghappeninginSouthmeadis listedinTheMead.
ThisSummerwearecelebra�ng lotsofdifferentlocalanniversaries. SouthmeadFes�valisatleast50!We haveacopyofminutesfroma commi�eemee�ngin1975,butifyou remembertheFes�valbeingbefore thendogetintouch,wewouldloveto know.
SouthmeadDevelopmentTrust hasturned30!Itwasoriginally GreenwayTrustandrenamedin1995. Congratula�onstothoseresidents whosavedtheGreenwaybuildingfor
thecommunitya�eritwasclosedas GreenwayBoysSchool.Becauseofthe originalresidentvolunteergroupwho keptthebuildingopen,whichledto theTrustbeingfounded,wearehere todaysuppor�ngthecommunityand strongerthaneverbefore backedbyvolunteers.
Inthis30th year wewillbe celebra�ngthe refurbishmentof theoldschool dininghallat Greenway-itis thebuildingwith theroundendasyou enterthesitefrom DoncasterRoad.Nowitis abeau�fulsetofroomsforworking withchildrenandyoungpeoplewitha lovely,spacious,eventroomcalled GardenHall;itlooksoutontothetrees andhasarealsenseofcalmand tranquillityaboutit.Theboyswho oncequeue-jumpedfortheirpuddings
wouldprobablynotrecognisethe place!Ifyouwouldlikealookjustask andsomeonewillshowyouaround.
Anotheranniversaryistenyearsof theSouthmeadCommunityPlan,also agreatini�a�vebyresident volunteerstomakeanac�onplan forSouthmead.Theyknocked oneveryoneofourfive thousanddoorswithaset ofques�ons.We con�nuetoknockon doorstoaskresidents whattheythinkand whatac�onneedstobe taken,intheannual SouthmeadUpdate.Itis nowthat�meagainsodo lookoutforus.Youwillfinda drop-outques�onnaireinthecentre ofthisissue.Pleasedofillitinand returnitsowecancon�nueourwork togethertosupportbrighterfuturesin Southmead,thankyou.
ContactLucille,tel:01179503335, email:lucillesmith@southmead.org
JOYCE’STHRONE
RememberourJoyce,Queenof theMead?Sheabsolutely lovedSouthmeadFes�valandwould sitoutsidetheRugbyClubwitha drink,singingalongandtalkingwith everyone.
ButourbestmemoriesofJoyce areofhersatonthechairinthe picture,outsideherhouseonPenPark Road.Thisiswhereshewouldgiveyou a‘Joyce’swelcome’!Carswouldbeep toherandshoutout‘hello’asthey passedby.Shewasfamousandgiven thenameQueenoftheMeadby residents.
WhenourJoycepassedaway,I managedtosaveherchairfromgoing totheCouncil�p.Iwouldreallyliketo tryandpreservethispreciousitemof Southmeadmemorabilia.Theques�on is,howasacommunitydowedothis? Wherewoulditgo?Shouldwedip itinresinandinstallitinapark?How muchwouldthiscost?Iamreally lookingforhelpandideas!
Pleasecontactmeifyouhaveany sugges�ons.Call:01179503335,or email:sherfowler@southmead.org
OURYOUNGVOLUNTEERS
OurSummerHolidayplay sessionsarenowinfull swingatTheRanch.From12–4PM onTuesdays,Wednesdays,and Thursdays,wehaveapacked programmeforSouthmeadchildren includingmusic,tree-cra�,clowns, cooking,games,cra�s,arts,bikefun andbikerepairs.Mostimportantly, forallchildrenwhousuallyreceive freemealsatschool,therewillbe hotfoodatallsessions.
TheSummerholidaysareoneof ourbusiest�mesoftheyearandwe loveitwhenourCitypartnersvisitto putonac�vi�es.SteveEngland, Bristol’swildforager,usuallytakes familiesonatripintoBadock’sWood togathergarlictocookonTheRanch firepit,orblackberriestoturninto delicioustreats.LifeCycleUKjoinus toleadridesandtohelpchildren repairtheirownbikes.Thewonderful TravellingKitchenhelpustofeed everyoneandtoshowusfuncooking skills.
Butourteamcouldnotdo withoutouramazingyoung volunteerswhohelpoutatourplay sessions.Ratherthanbeinggluedto theirphones,theygetinvolvedinlife hereattheRanch.
Theseyoungpeoplehavemostly a�endedplaysessionswhenthey
wereli�leandarenowgivingback theirown�me.
Saliou(onthele�below)and Jessehavebeenafixtureonthe footballcourts-encouraging, coachingandrefereeingmatches. Paige,Maddison,andEzra(onthe rightbelow)havebeenplaying gamesofManhunt,Uno,and generallyhelpingoutonourmassive site.Theyfitrightintoourstaffteam, andmaybetheyhaveafutureinplay work,socialcare,oreduca�on?We lovetosupportchildrenastheygrow upandtransfertoourYouthsessions andbeyond,weareheretosupport theirfutures.Youthsessionswillrun onWednesdayandFridayevenings duringtheSummerHolidaysasusual.
IfyouarebringingchildrentoThe RanchthisSummer,pleaseremember eachonemustberegisteredwithus–manyofthemarealready.Youcanfind theregistra�onlinkonourFacebook page(TheRanchAdventure PlaygroundandYouthSpace)orfind oneofuswhenyoucomeandwecan helpyou.HappySummerHolidaysto everyoneandwehopeyouenjoyour sessions.
Ifyouorsomeoneinyourfamily wouldliketobeoneofouryoung volunteersthenpleasegetintouch, email:ma�caldwell@southmead.org, orcall:0117950335andleavea messageforme.
CONNECTINGNEIGHBOURS
Neighboursreallydoconnect Southmead.Ourcommunity hasastronghistoryofresidents lookingoutforeachother,cha�ngat theshops,overgardengates,andin thestreets.
However,some�meswhen people’sliveschangetheycanbecome disconnected;notgoingoutasmuch orseeingfriendsasfamilyasmuchas theyoncemighthave.
Beingamongstotherpeoplehasa provenhealthbenefit,andhereat NeighboursConnectourfocusisto bringpeopletogetherandoffer companytohelpresidentsenjoythe thingstheylikedoing.
Aswellasprovidingaone-to-one volunteerbefriendingservicewhena residentisreferredtous,wealso arrangegroupmeet-upsatGreenway, includingac�vi�esandourLunch Club,aswellasdaytripsout.
Joininginwithagroupdependson howeachindividualfeels,andwehave beenalongsidepeoplewhohave startedoffnotbeingconfidentenough tobepartofgroup,toitthen becomingoneoftheirfavouritethings todoastheymakenewfriendsand connec�ons.
Wearenowcelebra�ngseven yearsofNeighboursConnect Southmeadandwehaveseenmany changesovertheyears;fromhelping peopleduringtheCOVIDpandemic collec�ngshoppingandprescrip�ons, tobringingpeoplebacktogether
a�erwardsbystar�ngCoffeeMorning andLunchClubatGreenwayCentre. Wehavelaunchedpilotprojects suchassourcingdigitaldevicesfor peopletoaccesstheinternetwhen theyareconfinedathome,tobook sharing.
Ourpopularday-tripsthis yearincludevisitstoAvon ValleyRailwayatBi�on, BristolCathedral,asiteseeingtripalongthe riverAvon,adayat Clevedonseasidefor FishandChips,anda tourofthebeau�ful BristolBotanicGarden (picabove).Wealso recentlyheldan a�ernoonSummertea partyoutsideatGreenway, withgameslikecroquetandboules (picsbelow).
volunteers,manyofwhomhave beenwithusnowformanyyears. Wewouldnotbeabletodothe greatworkwedowithoutour volunteers,soahugeshoutoutand thankstothem!
OurVolunteerCoordinatorAlex con�nuestorecruitandcelebrateour
Arecentevalua�onby UniversityofWestof EnglandPublic Health Department showedhow uniqueour serviceisand howitsaves coststohealth services.We hopeto con�nuefor manyyearsto Pleasedocontactmeif youwouldliketofindoutmore abouthowyoucanconnectwith NeighboursConnect!Telephone: 01179503335andaskforSimone.
TOGETHERISBETTER
OurCommunityEngagement teamiscelebra�ngthat morethanahundredpeoplehave completedthesurveyabouthomesin Southmead,aspartoftheTrust’s TransformingEnergyTogether project. Wewanttofindouthowresidents havemanagedtoreduceenergyuse, installnewtechnology,orjustmade homeanicerplacetobe.
Wes�llwanttohearfrom everyone,orifyouhavemoreornew informa�ontoshareyoucancomplete ourques�onnaireagain(details below).
Dotellusifyouhave:changedany habits;whathashelpedtokeepyour homecoolerintheheat;whetheryou haveinstalledsolarpanelsoraheat pump;ifyoudrawtheblindsor curtainsbeforeitgetsdarktokeepthe heatin;andwhetheryouloveyour electricblanket,hotwaterbo�le,and draughtexcluders.Weareallears.
Wehavealreadyheldsevenpopupstallsaroundthecommunityto chatwithresidents,andhavemore plannedsoon.Sodostopforana�er, andtakeoneofourleaflets-themore responseswereceivethemorewecan understandwhatSouthmeadneeds fromfutureenergyprojects
AmyandIhavealsobeenknocking ondoorstounderstandthetrialsand triumphsofowningorren�ngahome inSouthmead,withagreatmixof responses.Wehavebeenblownaway bypeople’sposi�vity,and�methey havebeenabletoofferus.Ifyouhave stoppedtospeakwithus,thankyou, werecogniseyourcontribu�ontothis projectandthecommunity’sfuture. Allinforma�ongatheredwillbe compiledtocreateprojectideasfor residentstobenefitfrom.Wehave learnedgreatthingssofarsuchasthat residentslovethecommunityfeel,and accesstogreenspacesinSouthmead. However,thatsomehomesdosuffer withdampormouldandcanbechilly inthewinter.
Throughourworkwithchildren andyoungpeopleatTheRanch(thank youtoeveryonewhohastakenpart),
TheRanchhasnowwelcomedthe BlueInfluencersprogrammerunby StudentsOrganisingforSustainability. Theyhavebeenworkingwithyoung peopleatplaysessionstotake surveys,andgathersamplesfromour pondandtheRiverTrym.
Already,theyhavefoundthatthe waterintheTrymhasaloweracidity thanourtapwater.Also,theyhave iden�fieddifferentspecieslivinginour pond.Wehopethiswillsparkan interestinchildrentocareforthese spacesandequipthemwithskills, passion,andexperiencetobecome well-informednatureadvocates.
Ifyouareinterestedinsharing yourthoughtswithus,thendo completeourques�onnaireonline> bit.ly/SouthmeadIn2030.
Orwecanmeetyouinpersonto helpyoutocompleteaques�onnaire, pleasecall:01179503335andleavea messageformeandIwillcallyou back.Youcanalsoemail: tomsollars@southmead.org
SOUTHMEADYEARLY UPDATE
AttheFes�valwelaunchedthe annualSouthmeadYearlyUpdate. Thisiswhenweaskeveryonein Southmeadwhatitisliketobehere, whatisgoingwell,andwhatac�on peoplewouldliketotakenext. Inthecentreofthismagazine youwillfindaques�onnairetofillin. Theques�onsareanonymous. Whenyoureturnthispaperformto GreenwayCentre,youcanpostitin theupdatepostbox,andalsofillina separatepostcardwithyourcontact detailstobeenteredintoaprize drawfora£50shoppingvoucher. YouwillseestafffromGreenway withAmyandmearound Southmead.Wewillalsobe knockingondoorstohelpresidents tocompletetheupdate.Wewantto captureasmanyviewsaspossibleso thatwecansupportthecommunity withanyac�onpeoplewouldliketo take.
Youmayremembertakingpartin theSouthmeadCommunitySurvey in2014,wherevolunteersvisited everyhomeinSouthmead,knocking on5000doors.Fromtheinfo gathered,thetenyear Southmead CommunityPlan waslaunched.The SouthmeadYearlyUpdatenow con�nuestheworkofthePlanto makesurethatresidentscantake ac�ontoshapethecommunity’s future.
TomandAmyfromtheCommunityEngagementteam
THANKSTOGREENWAYFROMBERT
IwasborninSouthmeadin1951. IwenttoGreenwayBoysSchool from1962-1966.Iwenttoworkat Bri�shAircra�Corpora�on(BAC) workingonConcordeformanyyears.I metandmarriedaSouthmeadgirl a�ertwofailedmarriages,butGrace Arpinowasdifferent.Wewerevery happyformanyyears.
In2005Gracewasdiagnosedwith breastcancer.A�ermajorsurgeryshe camehomewithaposi�vea�tude andlivedlifetothefull.In2016she gottheall-clear,butfouryearslater shewastoldshehadbonecancer,and itwasaffec�ngherorgans.Again, Gracestayedposi�veandwasmy rock!Shelostherfightforlifeon19th January2022,andthat,myfriends, wasthedateIthoughtmylifewas over.Iwouldnotleavethehouse unlessitwasdark,anddidnotwantto talktoanyone.
Then,a�ertwoyears,aflyercame throughmyle�erbox.Itwasaboutthe WalkandTalkgroupatGreenway.I phonedthenumberonitandwent alongthefollowingweek.Inearly bo�ledoutbutthewalkleader,Ben, metmeinrecep�on.
Thatwalkchangedandsavedmy life.Thankyou,Ben.Ihavebeenon everywalksinceandmademany friends.Then,afriendofmywife,who knewthatIwassuffering,invitedme totheGriefCafé.SherFowler,the leader,isamagicperson.Ihavesince joinedSouthmeadMen’sSpaceand HorizonDisabilityFriendGroup.Ialso doBatchCookingwithTravelling Kitchen,LungHealthgroup,Coffee Morning,andevenBe�y’sPom-pom makinggroup.OntopofallthatIam nowaTrusteefortheSouthmead DevelopmentTrust.
Mylifenowmeanssomething,and Gracewouldbeveryproudofme.I wouldliketothankthestaff,the members,andeveryonewhouses Greenway.Itsurelysavedandchanged mylife.InowbelieveImakea differencetootherstoo.
PleasedonotdowhatIdidandgo intoashell,therearepeopleoutthere thatcanhelpyouaswell.
QUESTIONSABOUTGLENCOYNE
Wehavebeenbusy con�nuingconversa�ons withthedifferenthousingproviders whocouldbuildthenewflatson GlencoyneSquare.Wehavealsobeen workingwithBristolCityCouncilon dra�ingtheirnewlibrarylease; SouthmeadLibrarywillbere-located tooneofthegroundfloorcommercial unitsatGlencoyne.
Whileweworkonthese nego�a�ons,wehaveupdatedour websitewiththeques�onsthat residentsfrequentlyaskusaboutthe project.Wehaveincludedthe ques�onsandanswersthatresidents havebeenaskingusthroughout2024 and2025(sofar).Oneofthemost frequentques�onsweareaskedis answeredhere-
Whyarewelosinggreenspacefor thedevelopment?
MorethanhalfofGlencoyne Squarewillremainaspublicgreen space.Inthisgreenspacethenumber oftreeswillbeincreased,andthere willbenewwildlifefriendlyplan�ng, batandbirdboxes,andbughotels.
Currentlythereare32treeson GlencoyneSquare.Although12will needtoberemoved,wewillbe plan�ngtoreplacethem.Bytheend oftheprocesstherewillbearound58 treesinthepublicareas,plus12trees
ineachprivatecourtyard,tomakea newtotalofaround82treeson GlencoyneSquare.
Therewillbeongoing opportuni�esforresidentstoshape andlooka�erthegreenspace, buildingonthefounda�onsthat BristolCityCouncilareabletoprovide andmaintain,tomakeitaneven be�erplaceforSouthmead.
Manyresidentshavesaidthat GlencoyneSquareisnoto�enusedfor leisurelikeothersquaresintheCity.At thesame�me,thereisahugeneed foraffordablehousingintheBristol. Southmeadpar�cularlyneedssmaller proper�es,likeoneandtwo-bedflats, forolderpeoplewhohavelivedin Southmeadalltheirlivestodownsize to,andforyoungpeopleandfamilies toaccesstheirfirsthomes.
Asweareblessedtohave plentyofbeau�fulgreenspacein Southmead–withBadock’sWood, DoncasterRoadandFonthillParks, andTrymside–BristolCityCouncil andthemembersofthecommunity whohavepar�cipatedinthis projectovertheyears,agreethatit isreasonabletousethesquarefor thedevelopmentofneededhousing andnewservices.
Toreadalloftheup-to-date frequentlyaskedques�ons,please visitwww.southmead.org> GlencoyneSquare.Ifyoudonotuse adigitaldevice,pleasedonot hesitatetocontactusatGreenway on01179503335,sowecan arrangeapapercopyorforoneof ustotalkyouthroughtheinfo.
Monday:Closed
Tuesday:11AM-5PM Wednesday:11AM-5PM
Thursday:Closed
Friday:1PM-5PM
Saturday:11AM-5PM
Sunday:Closed
SouthmeadCommunity Centre Monday
4–6PMTaeKwonDo
11AM-12PMSilvacare 12-2PMChill&Chat
1-3PMPakistaniWelfare Group(womenonly)
TeamSouthmeadMee�ngs 11AM-1PM Tuesdays: 30thSeptember 21stOctober 25thNovember
StStephen’sChurch Forinfo,contactDeana tel:07790426609
InclusionSouthmead Mee�ngs 11AM-1PM
Thursdays: 11thSeptember 9thOctober 13thNovember
CommunityLinkNorth(Lanercost Centre)
Forinfo,contactDeana tel:07790426609
BS10Neighbourhood Forum
Bi-monthlyonThursdays, 6:30-8PM Henbury&BrentryCC/ GreenwayCentre
NEXT→ September:H&BCC contact,email: Cllr.Kaz.Self@bristol.gov.uk
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
Wouldyouliketosetupanew ac�vityormee�nggroupin Southmead? Ifyouwouldlikesupporttodo this,contacttheCommunity DevelopmentTeamat Greenway. Call:01179503335 Oremail: lucillesmith@southmead.org
*Pleasenote:TheMeadis wri�enen�relybyhumansand sowedoguaranteemistakes!*
Youcangetnewsstoriesstraighttoyouremailinbox. 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.
