WARM& WELCOMEIN SOUTHMEAD
By:LucilleSmith CommunityDevelopmentManager SouthmeadDevTrust
CanyoufeelWinterontheway? Autumn’s‘mistsandmellow frui�ulness’neverseemstolastvery long,doesit?Beforeweknowit,we areheadingtowardsChristmas�me.
Butaswesayeveryyear,thereisa warmbuildingandawarmwelcomeat Greenwayforeveryone,noma�erthe temperatureoutside.
Thisyearisa‘MastYear’which meansabumpercropofnuts,fruits andseeds.Thishappenseveryfew years,especiallya�eraveryhot summer,andmeansthatalltheli�le
creaturesgetanAutumnfeast.Hereat Greenway,weareusingthisas inspira�onandthereisabumpercrop ofac�vi�esforeveryonetoenjoy. BeginningwithourAutumn Connectevent(p.3),ourHalf-term children’sshow(p.5),ourSpecial Saturdays(p.7),andWinter Celebra�onWeekendingwiththis year’spanto,SnowWhite(p.16).In between,thereistheSingleParents Fair,andTheRanchwillbeinfullswing intheholidays.GreenwayMarket, SouthmeadRepairCafe,andGreenway BootSale(weatherpending)willallbe keepingtheirdoorsopen.Inthissuper
INSIDE
P.2WinterCelebra�onWeek
P.3AutumnConnectevent
P.4SingleParentsFair
P.5Half-termKidsShow P.6NewSpacesforYoungPeople P.7SpecialSaturdayevents
P.8GlencoyneStoryUpdate <SpecialPull-outsec�on> HealthyHomes,HopefulPlanet
P.10SummerFunforKids
P.11WeNeedyou-BeaTrustees
P.12HorizonsforAddic�on
P.13JoinTheConversa�on
P.15Times,Places,andInfo P.16ChristmasPanto
<con�nuedfromfront
Autumn/Winteredi�onyouwillfind detailsofalltheseeventsandmore.
Thereisalsoapull-outsec�on fromourCommunityClimate andNatureAc�onteam whichfocussesonall thewaysyoucan takeac�onsto stayequippedat homeforthe winter.
Overthe Summerwe wereoutand aboutwiththe YearlySouthmead Update.Thisisour shortsurveytoask peoplewhatitisliketolive, workandvisithere,andwhatwe wouldallliketomakehappen.The stand-outfeedbackfromresidentsthis yearisthatourcommunityhas changed.Somechangesarewelcome, andsomepeoplefindthemunse�ling. HereatGreenwayweprovidespaces forpeopletokeepconversa�ons going,webelievethatthisistheonly waytomakechangelessdaun�ngand
forpeopletofeelmoreempowered duringchange.Opportuni�esfor conversa�oncomingupinclude mee�ngournewDrugandAlcohol supportteam,Horizons,on Thursday20thNovember (p.12),andourJoinThe Conversa�onwith DiverseAr�sts Networkeventto talkaboutlocal andna�onal socialdivisionand unrest(p.13).
Ifyoumissed yourchancetofill inthisyear’ssurvey, orhavefurther thoughtsyouwouldlike toshare,docontactmeany �methroughouttheyear.Iloveto hearresidents’ideas,especiallyfor thingstheywanttogetgoing.Ifyou haveaskillyouwanttoshareor somethingyouwanttotry,whynot offeratastersessionaspartofour winterCelebra�onWeek(below).This ishowmanyofourregulargroups havebeenstarted.
Anotherthemethathascomeout ofthisyear’ssurveyisli�erandsome
peoplearetakingac�ontotackleit. Seepage7foranewKeepSouthmead Cleanprojectandhowyoucanbe involved.
Idonotjustworkhereat GreenwayCentre;Icansupport anyonedoinggoodthingsinthe SouthmeadCommunityandIwork closelywithotherorganisa�onsand groupshere.Therearelotsofplaces youwillfindawarmwelcomeinour community,soyoudonothavetofeel coldoralone.Youcanfindmore informa�onaboutothercommunity hubsandac�vi�esonpage15.Ifin doubt,popintoGreenwayandwecan helpyoufindwhatyouarelookingfor; wewouldlovetoseeyou. ContactLucille,tel:01179503335, email:lucillesmith@southmead.org
SingleParentsFairisBack
CommunityChurchatGreenway
ParentFairisback!Community Churchhadadesireandavision 16yearsagotohostawonderful dayofloveandkindnessfor thosewhosingle-handedlyraise theirchildren,andsowehave runthisyearlyeventeversince!
TheSingleParentFairwillrun throughouttheGreenwayCentre from10:30AMto12:30PM,itis freetoa�endandthereisno needtobook.A�erawarm welcomesingleparentscanenjoy ahugerangeoffabulousthings. Thisisbestdescribedbythe experienceoflocalsingleparents:
Single Parents Fair FREE EVENT!
Saturday8thNovember2025,10:30am-12:30pm GreenwayCentre,DoncasterRoad,Southmead,BS105PY
“Bothofmydaughterswere pamperedwithbeau�fulhaircuts ...myeldestdaughtersaidshe hadn’thadahaircutsinceher youngestwasborn(twoanda halfyearsago!).Itwasamazing forthemalltohavephotographs takenandtheyverymuchlook forwardtoseeingthem.
IncludesPortraitphotography, advicestalls,hairdressing,face painting,crafts,inflatables, cookingdemonstrations,gift bags,raffle,refreshmentsand homemadecakes!
“Wele�withmanytoysand booksfortheboys,somemuch neededclothing,fulltummies andsmilesallround!Itwasareal delightformetoseemy grandsonsanddaughters receivingsuchagenuinewarm welcomeandacceptedjustas theyare.Itwashelpfultohave theserviceleafletwhenwele�, whichcon�nuedthefeelofbeing welcomedback.”HannahT
“MyexperienceoftheSingle ParentFairhasbeenthatof welcome,valida�onandlove.It’s morethanjustanevent;it’sa placetobeseen,knownand acknowledged.It’saperfect illustra�onofGod’slovein prac�calways.Drawingin parentswhoareotherwise overlookedandjudgedinsociety.
“Manymomentsstandoutto me,fromawarmwelcometothe generousprovision,butforme whathasalwaysstoodoutthe mostwasarrivingforthefirst
For more information please visit: www.thecommunitychurch.net
�me,overwhelmedand�red,and havingsomeonewhosawitclearly, arrangedacrechehourandgotme acoffee,whichtookthepressure rightoff.Noonewasthereforme daytodayasasingleparentbutat thatmoment,Iwasseenandcared for.”ChanelleP
Socomeandjoinusontheday andletuswelcomeyouandgive yousome‘you�me’anda�en�on. Thereislotsforthefamilytodo whileyouexperienceafewthings foryourself–wehavegotyou covered!
Ifyouwouldliketospeakwith someoneabouttheSingleParents Fair,leaveamessageforusat GreenwayRecep�on,tel:0117950 3335,andwewillcallyouback.If youareonlineyourcanvisitour webpage: www.thecommunitychuarch.net GreenwayCentreisfully accessible-justaskformore details.
NewSpacesforYoungPeople
By:VickyWall,Managerfor Children&YoungPeople’sServices SouthmeadDevTrust
Thankyoutoeveryonewho joinedustocelebrateour brandspankingnewspacesin Southmeadforchildrenandyoung people,andtocelebratetheamazing workofourchildrenandyoung people’steams.Butmost importantly,tocelebrateouryoung peoplethemselves.
Overthepasttwoyears,thanks tofundingfromYouthInvestment Fund,wehavebeenworkinghardto: buildanewBoxingZoneforyoung people;renovatetheoldGreenway BoysSchooldininghallintobeau�ful andcalmingspacesfortherapeu�c work;andmakehugeimprovements toTheRanch,includingare-vampof themusicstudio,andaddingsolar panelstohelpuskeepmaintenance costsdown.
Thebuildingworkisnow completeandisabigmomentto celebratethemassiveamountof workthathashappenedandallthe amazingpeoplewhoworkedsohard.
YouthambassadorandexbasketballplayerPierreFontaine joinedusforthecelebra�on.He spokeabouttheimportanceof communityrevival,youthclubs,and inves�nginyoungpeople.A�erthe officialopeningspeechesPierre visitedTheRanchtoseethenew facili�esandplaybasketball!
Ourmissionisveryclear.We wantchildrenandyoungpeoplein ourcommunitytohaveaccessto opportunity;opportuni�estoplay, makefriends,buildconfidence,be ac�ve,andlearnnewskills–all thingsthatwillhelpthemberesilient whenlifethrowsitsinevitablecurveballs.Wealsowantthemtohave accesstomorespecialisthelp,like mentalhealthsupport,whenthey needit.
Weareveryproudtoofferthese kindsofservicesourselves,atThe Ranchandnowfromthenewly openedGreenroooms.Butthese spacesalsomeanthatwecaninvite inouramazingpartnersfromacross theCitytodowhattheyeachdo best,butnowclosertohome.
Ouryoungpeopledeservetobe investedin.Theydeserveour�me, pa�enceandcare.Theydeserve placeslikeTheRanchwheretheycan enjoybeingyoung,theGreenrooms wheretheycanbesupportedmore
closely,andtheydeserveopportuni�es tobuildhappy,brighterfutures. Forinfoaboutvolunteeringwith us,email:info@southmead.org,or tel:01179503335
ALongHotSummerofFunforKids
AtTheRanch
By:Ma�Caldwell PlayManageratTheRanch SouthmeadDevTrust
Duringoursixweeksof playsummersessionsmore than1500childrenandyoungpeople joinedusatTheRanch.Everyone enjoyedloadsofdifferentac�vi�es includingbikerides,afootball tournament,atriptoacommunity farm,andafabuloustriptoBurnham; twocoachloadsofuswentforan amazingdayoutbythesea.
WearrivedatBurnhamjustasthe �dewasgoingout,sowecould paddleinthewaves,build sandcastles,collect shellsandseaweed, andgetcoveredin thatessen�al playstuff–mud!
BackatThe Ranch,Steve Englandledus foragingin Badock’sWoodto bringbackfoodto cookoveraroaring fire.Onotherdays musiciansandorchestraleaders
AtStStephen’s
From:Children’sTeam
OStStephen’sChurch
verthehotsummerholidays, StStephen’sChurchprovided ac�vi�esforlocalfamiliesonsix Wednesdaya�ernoons. Youngerchildrenenjoyedleaf prin�ng,makingcressheads,water play,pain�ng,naturalcollage,plus woodendollandwoodenboat construc�on.Oneboyenjoyedicing biscuitsun�lwewereaboutto sprinklesomegreensweetsontopheexclaimed“nopeasonmine!”The ac�vi�esforolderchildrenincluded makingHammabeaddesigns,pencil casedecora�ng,games,football,and tabletennis.
helpedthechildrentomakebeau�ful sounds.BristolTreecra�showedus howtomakemul�coloured jellyfishtohanginthe trees-theyares�ll theresodotakea look. TheSummerwas akaleidoscopeof funandthesun shoneonusnearly everyday;onthe ho�estdayofthe year,weallcooledoff withtheslipandslide. Therewasahotmeal everyday,including,ofcourse,the
Therewascrea�veplaytoo,with shops,trains,andsmallworld ac�vi�es.Oneparentwastryingto relaxwhileinthepretendhospitalun�lherchildshockedherbyusinga cold-watercompressonherlegto mendit!
Thedramagrouphadlotsoffun ac�ngoutstoriesfromtheBiblewith par�cipa�onfromthechildrenwhen possible.Abigshoutouttoallthe volunteers,par�cularlyBrendaDrake fromNewBrunswickURCwho helpedusruntheevent.
Thefeedbackincludedcomments suchas,“Ireallyappreciatedallthe planningandorganising.Itwasfun”. Onemumsaidshewas,“reallyhappy togetoutofthehouseandnotneed tothinkofthingstodo”.
Itwasimportanttousthatwe wereabletoofferfreeac�vi�esover
twofavourites-mac‘n’cheeseand curry.
Wecouldnothavemanaged withoutourfournewholiday workers,whoareallsixteenand fromoureveningyouthgroup-soa bigthankyoutoDiop,Ezra,Jesse andPaige.Thesummerwassobusy, andTheRanchteamwere absolutelyexhaustedattheendof thesixweeks–butwhataSummer toremember.
Ifyouwouldliketoknowmore aboutTheRanchorvolunteeringto helpout,pleasecontactme,email: ma�caldwell@southmead.org,or tel:0117950333.
theSummerholidaystogiveparents achancetorelaxandconnect. Formoreinfoabouttheworkwe dowithchildren,contactus,email: childrensoutreachssc@gmail.com,or tel:07967976110
HelpforSubstanceUse at Greenway
By:RobWatson PeerandCommunityDevelopment Co-ordinatorHorizonsand SouthmeadDevTrust
Addic�oncanbea lonelyplacebut thereishelphereat Greenway.Backin November2021, whenIstopped drinking,COVID meantIhadto a�endrecovery groupsonline.Ionly spoketomykeyworker onthephone.Lockdown andmyaddic�onhadle�me isolated.
changeandhelpyoudealwith cravings,manageyourthoughtsand feelings,andeventuallyliveamore balancedlife.
So,whensomeonesuggestedIgo toaface-to-facemee�ngIreallydid notwantto.Ijustdidnotfeelreadyto seeotherpeople.Butintheend,I knewsomethinghadtochange.Iwas notcomfortablebeingsober,andI couldfeelmyselfslippingbackintoold habits.
Imadeasnapdecisiontoa�enda SMART(Self-Managementand RecoveryTraining)mee�ngone TuesdayeveninginStPauls.WhenI walkedinandsawtwentystrangers si�ngthere,Iturnedaroundand walkedout.Luckily,theperson runningthemee�ngspo�edme.They cameoverandgentlypersuadedme tostaymakingitclearIdidnothaveto sayanythingifIdidnotwantto.
Intheend,Ididspeakali�le,but mostlyIjustlistened.Somepeople weres�llusingalcohol.Othershad beenabs�nentformonthsoreven years.Buteveryone,noma�ertheir background,hadbeenthrough somethingsimilar.Itwassucharelief tohearotherstalkaboutthesame strugglesIhad.Andthentheyshared theskillsandstrategiestheywere learningtohelpthemcope.Forthe first�mesincemydetox,Ifelt connectedtoothers.
SMARTRecoveryisallabout connec�on.Itisagroupofpeople whohaveallexperiencedaddic�on, comingtogethertosupporteachother andgetwell.Itgivesyouatoolboxof strategiesandskills.Ifyouprac�ce them,theycanhelpmo�vateyouto
Themee�ngsare welcoming,relaxed andfriendly.We talk,andweshare ourchallenges andour successes.Weare freetodisagree, butwealways treateachother withkindnessand understanding.
A�ergoingtoSMART foreightmonths,Iwasaskedtotrain asafacilitator.Sincethen,Ihaverun twomee�ngsaweekinStPauls.I havemethundredsofpeople
throughSMART.Itrulyadmireevery singleoneofthemforthecourageit takestowalkintoaroomforthevery first�meandadmittheywantto changetheirlivesforthebe�er. Takingthatfirststepintoa mee�ngcanbedaun�ng,butIhope mystoryshowsitcanalsobethe startofrealandlong-las�ngchange. Ifyouarelookingforsupportanda communitythatunderstands,thereis aSMARTmee�ngon Wednesdaysat 2pmatGreenwayCentre.Thisisrun byHorizonsinpartnershipwith SouthmeadDevTrust–Horizonsnow hasabaseatGreenway Formoreinfocontactme,email: robwatson@horizonsbristol.co.uk,or call:01179503335andleavemea message.
SouthmeadLibrary OpeningTimes
Monday:Closed
Tuesday:11pm-5pm
Wednesday:11am-5pm
Thursday:Closed
Friday:1-5pm
Saturday:11am-5pm
Sunday:Closed
SouthmeadCommunity Centre
Monday
4-6pmTaeKwonDo
Tuesday
12-2pmLunchClub
6.30-8.30pmNewStarJudo
Wednesday 10am-1pmCoffeeMorning
Thursday 11am-12pmSilvacare 12-2pmChill&Chat
1-3pmPakistaniWelfareGroup (womenonly)
7-9pmBingo
Friday
2-4.30pmSequenceDancing 7-11pmMembersBar
Saturday
12midday-11pmMembersBar Sunday
12midday-11pmMembersBar
7.30-10.30pmIrishDancing Forinfotel:01179501187
TeamSouthmeadMee�ngs 11am-1pm Tuesdays: 28thOctober 25thNovember 27th January 24th February
StStephen’sChurch Forinfo,contactDeana tel:07790426609
InclusionSouthmead Mee�ngs 11am-1pm
Thursdays: 13thNovember
CommunityLinkNorth(Lanercost Centre)
Forinfo,contactDeana tel:07790426609
BS10Neighbourhood Forum
Bi-monthlyonThursdays, 6.30-8pm Henbury&BrentryCC/ GreenwayCentre
NEXT→ November: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’sChurchDates includingChristmas
FriendshipCafe 10am-12pmWednesdays
Baby&ToddlerGroup
9.30-11amMondays(term-�me)
Monday27thOctober 4-5:30pmLightParty
Monday3rdNovember
9.30-11amSponsoredToddle
Sunday7thDecember
10.30amBlueChristmasservice
Sunday14thDecember-7pm Tradi�onalCarolService
Wednesday24thDecember 4pmChris�ngle
Sunday25thDecember10.30amChristmasService Forinfo tel:01179591250
*Pleasenote:TheMeadiswri�enen�relyby Humansandsowedoguaranteemistakes!*
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.
