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Welcome We can’t believe it’s spring already! Issue 14 is filled with promise and some beautiful stories from long time residents. We also have a couple of farewells but in this time of new life, we wish all those coming or going the best for their latest adventures even in these challenging times. Change is certainly happening around the area, I have watched the building outside my office window be slowly dismantled over the past weeks to make way for a new structure. Amongst all this we must stick together and celebrate the strongest part of Ashley- you! Please be aware that this will be the last issue delivered to your door- more information on page 12. Keep an eye on our facebook page and local notice boards for updates.

Hollyanne Schnieden Project Coordinator

Contents 3 4 5 6-7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Local Pictures Local Hero Red Cotham & The Network Community Spotlight & School of Activism Local Artist Brook The Maker Regeneration In Ashley Amicus Fostering Success & Tai Chi Resident story Hello, I am Krys Great Bristol High Street Important Info: Delivery Alert Thoughts from an Oldie Caring Support Imagine... Bristol Refugee Festival & Bristol Bike Project

Thanks to: Red Cottam, Tara Miran, Bev Headman-Fearon, PRSC, Brook Tate, Andy Hider & Amicus, Silivia Jimenez Cruz, Krystyna Studzinska, The History Press, Freya Jeffries, Bristol Bike Project, Dawn Thomson, Jeff Butterfield, Ruth Jacobs, Isobel McCleod, Anna Ruggiero, Lynn Mareno, Cllr Jude English, Cllr Mike Davues, Thangham debbonaire MP, Cllr Carole Johnson, Tom Tooth, and all our advertisers and distributors.

Published by: Vocalise Bristol CIC Backfields House Upper York Street Bristol BS2 8QJ

Co-ordinated and designed by: Hollyanne Schnieden

16-17 18 19 20-21 22 23 24-25 26-27 28-29 30

What’s On Poem- The Ballad of Shed 22 St Pauls Community Dark Rooms St Pauls Advice Centre- Money Troubles Wellbeing- Food And Feelings Sustainable Eating & Carnival Beaufort Pub & Councillors Councillors & MP Kids Activity Local Police- Tom Tooth

Thanks to Directors and Volunteers: Vandna Mehta (founder) Hilary Finch Tina Brown Lydia Latham MacQueen Lynn Mareno Carlos Casas Judith Davis //Kabbo Ferdinand Dave Holden Emmaus - fitting sentiment info@vocalisemagazine.org.uk vocalisemagazine.org.uk @vocaliseBristol

Vocalise Bristol CIC

@vocaliseBristol This is YOUR community magazine, if you’d like to be involved, get in touch!

Apology- in issue 13 we printed Curvy Girls Yoga as the business name rather than Curvy Girl Yoga. Apology- in issue 12 apology to Shula for her Kurdish Article where the text was incorrectly formatted. COVER: Brook Tate ‘Hanna’ vectors from Vecteezy and other images from Unsplash

Local Pictures

Photo by Hilary Finch

Artwork Dawn Thomson

Artwork by Brook Tate

Artwork by Oscar, from our last issue

Want to get involved? If you are interested in contirbuting to Vocalise in our July editon please get in touch to discuss your idea or advert.

info@vocalisemagazine.org.uk

The deadline for submissions is 1st June Articles surrounding carnival are especially welcome!

Local Hero

St Pauls Learning Centre Saying farewell to Red Cottam Red Cottam has left the St Pauls Learning Centre (SPLC) after four years in post as Centre Manager. She has done an amazing job since SPLC receives no grant funding and last year broke even (without Council subsidy) possibly for the first time since it opened in 2004. Gem Burgoyne has taken over as the new manager and will, no doubt, bring a fresh energy to the role. Red has been busy over the last four years extending the range and breadth of courses on offer. The sustainability of the centre’s facilities, such as the woodwork room, the creche, the cafe and the darkroom have been secured. The University of Bristol is now running a range of evening classes every term, one of which, Creative Writing, is free of charge. There are also free classes in Security, CCTV, and Business Admin. Adult Learning provides classes in pottery, printmaking and sewing. For more information on all of the other activities and courses, please check out the website (www.stpaulslc.co.uk) or find us on Facebook. Red has been working with the Adventure Playground and Talo on the St Pauls Greenway project. This project has been led by the Architecture Centre and has secured funding to connect up and strengthen three community hubs in the area, and to raise the profile of St Pauls Greenway which is an off-road route from Circomedia to the Adventure Playground. There will be an exhibition in Glen’s Café from March for you to find out more information. There are classrooms available for sessional hire at very competitive rates. Please check out the home page of the website for more information and availability. The Centre also has office space to let. If you are interested, please drop in to see Gem for a chat, or phone the office: 0117 9144416. Red is moving to West Wales but will still pop up in Bristol periodically as she is available for freelance consultancy work. Please find her on LinkedIn if you have any organisational development, funding applications, project development or evaluation type work.

The Network - welcoming Tara

Do you have an idea to make a difference in your community? Would you like someone to work with you to make it happen? I'd like to introduce myself to everyone in Ashley area, I'm Tara, a network coordinator at The Network. The Network project aims to connect people in Ashley, Easton and Lawrence Hill wards and to work alongside them to self-organise around issues and interests that matter to them and their neighbours. In the past two years we've worked with lots of local residents to bring their ideas to life - including cultural events, street parties, regular clubs, campaigns, direct action events and fundraisers. The Network is a partnership between The Wellspring Settlement, The Somali Resource Centre and St Werburgh's City Farm. We're passionate about sharing our skills and resources across the city. We have four Network Coordinators working across our three wards to connect local people. I love being based in Ashley ward, creating relationships and supporting residents and their ideas! I work Tuesday-Thursday and my contact number is 07707926381 if you'd like to get in touch.

If you have an idea, a passion, a skill or an initiative that you want to bring to life in your neighbourhood get in touch with us! Tara Miran: taram@thenetworkbristol.org.uk Lou Clark: louclark@thenetworkbristol.org.uk

Community SPotlight

Bev Headman-fearon Thank you and goodbye Written by Hollyanne Schnieden

It’s never easy to say good-bye especially when you’ve been so involved in the community, but for Bristol City Council’s Bev, it’s also a time to reflect and celebrate all the wonderful things she’s done in the community. As the Youth and Community Worker for East Central, Bev has likely been a familiar face around Ashley Ward in recent years. Bev has been involved with supporting and encouraging young people through various avenues, offering support to youth groups through funding application support and encouraging partnerships to individual mentoring with young people. Bev has kindly chaired St Pauls Partnership meetings and was involved in organising St Pauls Open Doors back in Summer 2019. A key achievement was setting up and supporting parents and carers group at Docklands. (1st Monday of each month.) Bev sees youth work as a priority and has enjoyed aiding the community and seeing how a more holistic family approach is changing the way things are run. Whether working with Imayla, Full Circle, City Farm, Babassa, TALO (to name a few!) young people are always at the centre of the work Bev has been doing. She will miss Bristol dearly as she moves to pastures new in Gloucester and encourages everyone to keep doing the good work and supporting youth and families within the area.

School of Activism 2.0 We define activism as ‘Active Citizenship’. The process of taking care of and taking part in your community. Don’t be a victim of circumstances. Change them. PRSC invites you to SoA 2.0 this Easter. Starting with the People's Comedy Friday April 3rd, and continuing until Sunday April 19, the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft is planning a programme of workshops, events and activities designed to empower and inspire. From planning a direct action, to how to cut stencils, the School of Activism will help you develop tools to change the world. Activists, influencers, and academics, photographers, poets and painters, campaigners, performers and street artists have come together to share their secrets at the School of Activism. Topics covered will include social media, the science of climate change, radical history, subvertising, technological change, squatting, labour struggles, poetry, rewilding the city, art for social change and anything and everything else we can think of. Dates are Friday April 3rd to Sunday April 19th. Come and paint, create and learn with us.

Local Artist

Brook the Maker Brook Tate our local artist Written by Carlos Casas

Brook the Maker When I knew I was going to interview Brook Tate I immediately thought of the first question I wanted to ask him: What do you call yourself? This man is a relentless painter, musician, writer, performer, and so much more, but his response was packed with humility and lightness. “I’m a maker”, Brook says showing his perennial smile. “I think the word artist usually becomes a wall for people who want to be creative, it creates this sort of hierarchy”. For him, painting was just a hobby, and writing stories was just a way for him to bond with his two nieces. “I would then record these stories as audiobooks, so they could listen to them in the car and could get used to my voice”, he explains. One of the stories Brook wrote for his nieces went on to become his breakthrough in theatre, Mr. Maglump. He decided to send his work to the Bristol Old Vic (Brook admits it was “just for a laugh”) and they loved it. Mr. Maglump, a musical that he considers one of his most personal works so far, made it to the Old Vic’s stage last year. I start to suspect that Brook has a secret formula to succeed in any platform, and I want in on this secret. He just says that what people refer to as “talent” can be achieved by having the time, the love and the materials to explore your art, whichever it might be. I choose to believe him (there’s not much more I can do), while he tells me how he never saw this artistic explosion coming. “Before moving to Bristol some years ago I didn’t have a style, I didn’t even know who I was, but living in such a fun and friendly city allowed me to be honest with myself”, this change reflected on his art, especially when painting his friend Hanna, now the cover of our issue. Brook says that this painting was where “absolutely everything” started, and now he’s been living mostly from his artistic projects for the past three years.

~ Brook explains that with his art he tries to fight the harsh world he faced growing up, by bringing to life the exact opposite: love and generosity. ~ 6

And then came Martha It wasn’t all fun and games for this maker. After putting so much in every project, he couldn’t help but feel burnt out, wanting to leave the city and feeling generally lost, but in these hard times the help came from above… only a couple of feet above. Brook had made a puppet giraffe after being inspired by a short poem he wrote, but never used it very much. Like many discoveries, Martha the Giraffe came almost accidentally. “I didn’t have a costume for Shambala and I decided to just walk with my puppet giraffe instead, and the reaction of the crowd just blew my mind”, he recalls. “People were coming up to me to kiss and stroke the giraffe, lifting their kids up the ground so they could touch her, it became some sort of excuse for people to show their kindness and their love. Personally, I wouldn’t have lifted myself up if it wasn’t for that energy”. Martha made such an impact in Brook that it was developed into another musical, currently in production with the Old Vic, My Great Giraffe.

Current projects You can see Brook’s on-going and past works on his website, brooktate.com. Brook will be exhibiting his paintings in Ollie Quinn (Park Street) for all of April. You can also listen to the music he’s recording alongside his friends Eva Redman, Tom Bonson, Samuel Fox and Jack Jowers on Spotify and iTunes, as “Brook Tate”.

Artwork and photos provided by Brook Tate

Local News

Regeneration in Ashley Updates on all the building work Written by Jeff Butterfield

Ashley Ward Regeneration Watch March 2020 Ashley Ward regeneration continues with two major schemes being delayed due to timetable and legal issues.

The Lakota – Upper York Street

The Lakota Club and former Coroners Court Housing Remodelling project continues following significant public consultation, and support from many residents and local planning groups. The scheme proposes 46 dwellings, up to 20% affordable and 300 m2 of new business space. This large site has a varied history with The Lakota being a former ‘Malt House and Bottle works’. Both building are located in The Stokes Croft Conservation area, the Coroners Court being Grade 2 listed and The Lakota being ‘identified as ‘Unlisted Building of Merit’. The regeneration proposals have reached the limits of what can be accommodated within the footprint and envelope of the current listed and of merit structures. Controversy continues as some objectors to the scheme maintain that The Lakota should remain a ‘Loud Music Venue’. The final re-modelling iteration is expected to go before Bristol City Council Planning Committee for decision in March 18th. There is a possibility that if this Housing Regeneration proposal fails to get final planning permission that the site could fall victim to further upmarket student housing.

Westmoreland House – Stokes Croft

The Westmoreland House and The Carriage Works developer, the PG Group, with the exception of the Carriage Works frontage have completed demolition and remediation of the site ready for construction of 112+ residential, some affordable a market square, and 13 business units. PG have lodged a new planning application for an additional 7 apartments on the Ashley Road frontage to improve viability and buildability on this costly and difficult site. Westmoreland House site lies within the Stokes Croft Conservation Area and the former Carriage Works is listed as Grade 11* and at risk. The community needs to consider wither the amended proposal for additional apartments should go ahead or possibly see the scheme collapse then be likely reallocated for Student Housing by another developer. There are considerable ‘organised objections’ to the current proposals mainly from non-residents and some international commentators. The new Westmoreland House proposal may be considered by Bristol City Council Planning Committee in April 2020.

Other Stokes Croft minor improvements include:

· Change of use to Mixed use Café and shared Music Production and work spaces at 26 Stokes Croft. (formally Niche Framers) · Change of use to mixed use café and take-away with pavement seating at 54 Stokes Croft, junction of Stokes Croft and City Road. (Burger Theory) · Application for proposed change of use to 5th Floor of Hamilton House Block C for residential (Connolly & Callahan) · A new ‘porridge’ and coffee bar has opened at 88 Stokes Croft Regeneration confidence in the Ashley Ward area continues from smaller mixed –use developers and retail operators.

Important Info! Page 12

We’re going to be changing the way we deliver for Issue 15 July-September. Rather than a door to door service we will have magazines located at key drop off points across Ashley Ward for you to collect.

Fostering Success

Local News

Andy Hider awarded MBE Written by Hilary Finch

Amicus Foster Care is a small, independent organisation based in St Werburghs Community Centre. Last year they celebrated their 10th birthday. They have an excellent record having received 3 outstanding OFSTED awards. Now, one of their wonderful foster carers, Andy Hider, has been awarded an MBE for her services. Over 35 years she has fostered more than 100 children and brought up her own three sons as a single parent at the same time. Her home is in Keynsham, but she recognises the wonderful support and research that the Amicus team provides. We’d like to congratulate and thank Andy for her dedication. Nasareen Ahmed founded Amicus as her experience with other organisations fell short of what she expected. Andy found similar weaknesses and after using several agencies has found Amicus to provide the initiative and help with kids needing extra support invaluable. Amicus provides trained staff to help with autism and other particular problems. They have a co-operative ethos and hold shared activities for the families and provide holiday accommodation for those necessary breaks. Currently they support 35 families who care for 41 children from 8 to 18 years old. There are rolls for youth workers too so care can be refined for the different age groups. Amicus also cater for mothers and babies. Enquiries can be made on 0117 9555039 and by email: enquiries@amicusfostercare.com

Tai Chi

Free training for over 50s Written by Silvia Jimenez Cruz Friends Ageing Better is once again, offering FREE training to over 50s, to learn a basic sequence of Qigong Shibashi Tai Chi to then teach to others in the community. Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi is designed to help to improve mental health and physical wellbeing. Qigong means ‘energy exercise’ and Shibashi means 18 movements. This exercise can be done sitting or standing, which makes it very accessible, and its benefits have been well researched. This form of Tai Chi is found to improve health and wellbeing and is a discipline that involves the mind, breath and movement to create a calm, natural balance of energy. It can improve balance and cognitive function as well as aid with pain management. Tai Chi is recommended by the NHS as helping to improve balance and coordination. The training involves attending a taster session, and weekly home practice before attending a weekend workshop. The training is likely to start in May 2020 at a Bristol Central venue to be confirmed. Mary Kroeber, Instructor, trained in 2019 with FAB says: ‘I love teaching Tai Chi, it makes me feel good and I know people are enjoying themselves because they keep coming back’. Mary currently leads a free weekly class for over 50s at the Ardagh on Kellaway Ave every Tuesday from 10am. Friends Ageing Better is a project by Age UK Bristol providing opportunities for over 50s to get together, meet other people and enjoy discounts and special events from local shops and venues in the city. To become a FAB member please visit www.ageukbristol.org.uk or call 0117 440 4301. To find out more about how to become a Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi instructor, please contact Friends Ageing Better on email fab@ageukbristol.org.uk. or by calling 0117 440 4301.

RESIDENT STORY

Hello, I am Krys!

A conversation with Dr Krystyna Studzinska Written by The Hollyanne Schnieden On one of the rare sunny days we had in February Tara from The Network and I headed to City Road to meet a long-time resident of St Pauls, Krys. At 82 1/2 years young, Krys has a lot to tell me and as she enjoys reminiscing about her past, no detail is unforgotten. Krys was born in Poland during a time of great unrest. Her Grandfather tragically died in Auschwitz. With the 75th anniversary of the camp’s liberation still fresh in our mind’s we must remember that these atrocities are still in people’s living memory. Krys’ father was a doctor and was assigned to a hospital in Perthshire, Scotland. Allthe family, including Krys,lost contact with him for seven years. Bravely, her mother sought contacts with the Polish underground and Krys, her brother George and her Mother managed to escape the dangers of Poland. Krys was eventually reunited with her Father and followed in his footsteps to study BioChemistry and become a doctor in her own right. While studying she met her husband, an Hindu Brahmin Indian from Calcutta with whom she had a son Marek. Krys moved to Bristol alone in 1987 and started out in a hostel in Berkley Square before settling in St Pauls- a place where others at the time feared to go. She chose Bristol because her only living relative- her son Marek- had married a Bristolian. ‘I had money I inherited and bought my maisonette on City Road on April 17th 1990. To be near the city centre and walking distance to offices,shops and church. I moved to a place that was not colour prejudiced. I survived the war so I am not afraid of people of any colour, nationality or creed. My masionette had a public phone near by as I had no phone back then. There was also a bus stop so I could travel to Eastfield Park and lake as I love the open country walks.’ When speaking of the area she said: ‘I never felt unsafe.’ Krys continued her studies in Bristol and spoke fondly of the Wills Memorial building and of sneaking into other subject lectures out of curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. Once settled she also embedded herself in the local community by attending her local church each morning and getting involved with what was then the Bristol Drug Project. She also attended groups at the Malcolm X centre and helped some nurses. She spoke about ‘the pleasure from helping people’ and her belief in living saints and people doing good for their community and others. Krys is now surrounded by friends from all walks of life she does not see people for anything but the goodness in them. An attitude we sadly don’t see enough of in the wider world. Just as we were leaving Krys left us with the perfect parting words which I’m sure will resonate with many members of this wonderful community. ‘I chose to live here, and I’m glad I did.’

If you are or know a long time resident of Ashley Ward please get in touch. It’s stories of people like Krys that we have a real passion for sharing here at Vocalise. Contact us via email: info@vocalisemagazine.org.uk

Or write to us: Vocalise Backfields House Upper York Street Bristol BS2 8QJ

Local News

The Great Bristol High Street Glorious Gloucester Road Written by The History Press

Following the success of the first book Stokes Croft and Montpelier a new book by Bristol street photographer Colin Moody will be in all good bookshops from 30th April.

The History Press "Traders are the heart, soul and backbone of our high streets. Their shops provide a focus for community, a friendly face and in hard times a helping hand. This project recognises the personalities and services we rely on and which add to the layers of history already laid down with Gloucester Road as the Great Bristol High Street. Following a single first photo post on social media, dozens of people who run, or know people who run, indie businesses have come forward to tell Colin their stories. Now a major project promoted by Visit Bristol and Destination Bristol, this project tells the community story of local heroes and showcases Bristol’s indie spirit to a wider field."

Colin Moody “I’ve been helped, fed, guided, advised and welcomed by so many who wanted to share their thoughts on the road and what makes it tick, or been nudged on social media to look here and there. Never just a referral but often a back story and a reason why. This has shaped the project in a profound way and it has guided the way I have chosen to take the images. I am not seeking to add elegant touches, light it up and snap it to package it to you in a glossy way. I believe in good documentary to boldly capture what is there, offering here and there a glimpse of something deeper.”

Dan the Fish Shop Man

Safyia outside her shop Fabulous Vintage

Fred Brodnax and Martina Blacksmiths

Melissa Chemam, Writer, Reporter, Radio Producer “Stores and pubs held by people from the neighbourhood, making it come alive, working with passion, from the Gallimaufry to the vintage clothes shops. I like that people smile and greet each other when they cross path. I love that they strive to make their neighbourhood stay alive and fight to preserve their independence and connectedness. This street is to me a reflection of Bristol’s recent social changes. Gloucester Road looks to me like an English mini-Berlin, edgy but genuine, with its own ‘Kreuzberg’ and its historically-charged vibe in the architecture, heritage of the colonial times. This is why my itinerant self keeps coming back to this place but more importantly to its special, generous, open-minded people. You might look for them on Bristol’s curviest streets, where new twists in culture luckily seem ever possible.”

Important Info! Delivery

Weâ€™re going to be changing the way we deliver for Issue 15 July-September. Rather than a door to door service we will have magazines located at key drop off points across Ashley Ward for you to collect. Drop off points include most local shops and these places: St AgnesBaba Ganoush Adventure Playground St WerburghsCommunity Centre City Farm Duke of York The Victoria Better Food Co

St PaulsSt Pauls Learning Centre Docklands Malcolm X Cosies- Portland Sq Circomedia MontpelierHealth Centres Star and Garter Old E Pub

If you would like to be included as a drop off point please email us by 1st June:

info@vocalisemagazine.org.uk We also appreciate that some of you may be less able to go out and collect a magazine for yourself. If you would still like the magazine delivered to your home please write or email us.

Vocalise Bristol, Backfields House, Upper York Street BS2 8QJ Or perhaps ask a neighbour or friend to collect an issue for you. Weâ€™ll update you of any further drop off points by facebook, and community notice boards.

By delivering in this way means our magazine will be even better and brighter each issue!

Regular Feature

Thoughts from an Oldie Spring Thoughts Written by Hilary Finch

So, what have we got to look forward to? Magnolia blossom, cherry and apple too. Fresh green leaves, bees buzzing as we sit outside and see plants return and birds nesting. I am trying to tempt birds to nest in my garden. No luck so far. Woodpidgeons, sparrows, blue tits, magpies, blackbirds, robins, jays and even the odd dunnet all enjoy the food I put out for them, but certainly the sparrows prefer nesting and chatting in my neighbours’ trees and bushes! I love watching them bathe in the bird bath, shaking themselves and preening as they prepare their feathers. I have seen a squirrel about recently, something I haven’t seen for several years, though there was a regular when I first moved in 10 years ago. Foxes have been known to mate in my garden but more recently use my side entrance at night to bring their findings, takeaway dinners, leather boots and all kinds of detritus and spread them about the place. Our local foxes have a taste for jerk chicken among most anything else. With such a relatively mild winter, my lavender is looking good. The bees love it. Last year at least 30 bees were constantly flying around the larger plant that is in full sun. I put some water with landing places for them to drink from too. Yes, bees like a drink! I am not going to cut my grass until they have had a chance to enjoy the dandelions, clover, buttercups and daisies that grow in it. These come up before many of the other plants offer their flowers. Climate change is altering our gardens, changing growth patterns and doing odd things to nature. My large yukka has been trying to flower since December. Odd, usually it does that in September or October. The hebes have been making an effort to flower since early January and the peppermint sage, a type of salvia, was flowering at Christmas and well into January. It’s small changes like these here in the northern hemisphere that make me appreciate not living in the equatorial zones! They have it hard, drought, hurricanes, fires. Here in Bristol we haven’t even had a major flood warning for decades. We can take it relatively easy and look forward to barbecues and summer outings. It’s time to flex my muscles again. Gardening but also getting out and walking. I am going to get to grips with the bus routes to get from here (Ashley Road) to the Downs, Brandon Hill and places with big skies and greenery. Severn Beach is good for those too. The train from Montpelier station offers great views along the way. I might even venture through the allotments in St Werburghs to Muller road to do my shopping. I haven’t explored Eastiville Park for a while where I used sometimes see Kingfishers and certainly lots of dogs and their walkers there. Oldbury Court is waiting to be visited with a great childrens’ play area and the stroll down to Snuff Mills with the Frome river running through. Let’s enjoy the Spring and get moving but take are to leave a very small carbon footprint and certainly not leave rubbish about.

Community

Caring Support Offering advice and aid Written by Freya Jeffries

Do you care for someone? Did you know you have a right to a Carer’s Assessment? Do you look after someone? Or perhaps you know someone who does?

Photograph: Elmas and Joan

Families, friends and neighbours often provide crucial care for someone who couldn’t manage without their help. You could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems. If you are a carer, you have the right to a carer’s assessment. Carers Support Centre, a local charity, can help you with this. In your assessment, you can talk about the impact caring has on your life. This will give you some space to think about how caring affects your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing and how this may change in the future. An assessment also often leads to a small one-off payment that will give you the chance to take a short break or do something for your own wellbeing.

Bristol carer, Elmas, looks after his wife, Joan, who has a terminal illness. When Jan Mussi of Carers Support Centre first visited them, Joan was bedbound and declining fast. Elmas was under a huge amount of stress.When Jan helped Elmas with his assessment, she realised his wife wasn’t claiming her entitlement to benefit. She helped him complete the paperwork and they were awarded the highest rate of Attendance Allowance. Before Elmas’ assessment, they received a daily visit from home care to help Joan wash and dress. This gave him chance to do a weekly shop but it didn’t give him any time for himself. He even had to cancel his own health appointment because he didn’t have anyone to sit with his wife. After his assessment, Elmas was awarded a one-off payment to pay for a sitting service. Then his niece offered to come and stay for three months to help take care of his wife. Jan contacted the council on his behalf and they agreed the payment could be used to pay for the travel. Elmas’ niece is now staying with them and caring for Joan.

Elmas said: “I am so happy how things have worked out. I have more help and it has made such a difference. I lost weight with all the stress and now I am putting weight back on. Joan has benefitted as well because she is getting such good care from my niece.” Get in touch with CarersLine at Carers Support Centre to find out more about carer’s assessments. If you care for an adult who has a support package from Bristol City Council, you can call the Integrated Carers Team at the council on 0117 352 1668. If the person you care for does not receive support services from the council, or if you are a parent carer or a young carer, Carers Support Centre can provide advice and guidance. CarersLine: 0117 965 2200 carersline@carerssupportcentre.org.uk www.carerssupportcentre.org.uk

Important Info! Page 12 14

Imagine...

South West Refugee Conference Written by Hollyanne Schnieden Braving the winds of Storm Ciara in mid-February people from across Bristol and the UK met at The Trinity Centre for the South West Refugee Week Conference. Bristol was proud to host the event as a chance to discuss the concept of Refugee week and how refugees and displaced peoples want to and should be represented in our communities. Bristol hosts an entire month of events in June surrounding refugees - some are listed on our whatâ€™s on section. The conference opened with an address from Deputy Mayor Asher Craig and then an interactive icebreaker in which attendees were encouraged to learn a New Year song in Kurdishlead by Taban, without words, in order to represent the feeling of struggle moving to another country without access to language. People were then encouraged to discuss key words written on tables on themes surrounding refuge- home, ommunity, welcome, language to name a few. Opening words from Jules Olsen, director of Bristol refugee festival, followed by an informative speech from Emily Churchill Zaraa (refugee week UK coordinator) and Hafza Yusuf (leadership project) who co-ordinate festival activities across the country. Then the main part of the conference began in which people split into groups to discuss more specific topics- language, arts, media and journalism, community, environment and creative writing. These sessions were led by an expert on the topic and allowed for voices of both refugees and locals to be heard. The theme for 2020 is Imagine, so ideas were discussed in each catergory around how the word and concept can be translated into talking about Refugees and Asylum seekers. The day was designed to raise awareness and share ideas and their was an real feeling of positivity across the day as people discussed issues. Delicious vegan lunch was provided by Moveable Feast a catering social enterprise by Bristol Hospitality Network (BHN). They provide food at various events and help members to gain culinary skills for large events, working as part of a team. The day concluded with a moving story from Anwar through The Voice Project a wonderful end to this conferencethe first of its kind!

Volunteer at The Bristol Bike Project! Fancy learning bike mechanics, being part of a great team and giving back to your community in the process? Come and volunteer with us! We have a wonderfully diverse team of volunteers of all ages, genders and backgrounds. Everyone at BBP works together in a supportive environment focussed on inclusivity, skill-sharing and empowerment, which helps build our community and create lasting friendships. We always welcome new volunteers, whatever your background or level of experience, and have a range of different tasks that you can get stuck into throughout the week depending on your interests and availability. To find out more visit www.thebristolbikeproject.org In particular we are looking for folks to help out at the following workshops: Womxn's Night - every Monday 6-9pm. A weekly workshop where womxn share knowledge and skills in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. No experience necessary! Friday afternoon After-School-Bikes workshops (3.30 - 6pm). This is a drop-in repair session for 8-18 year olds from deprived parts of Bristol. It's a lively and fast-paced session, but there will be support from our coordinators to help you find your feet, and plenty of opportunity to build your bike repair skills!

What's on Back to Black Blues Dancing

Star and Garter Every Sunday 1715 (£3/5 fee apply) Bring your partner or come alone and sway to some blues grooves!

BS2 Therapy Rooms

Womens only Day on Tuesdays Discounted Wednesdays from 1130 Booking essential!

Docklands

Ping Pong Mondays and Fridays young 1830-2000 older 2000-2200 Fencing Wednesdays young 16.30-18

4th Learning Festival 1130-1530 Greenway Centre BS10 5PY

11th Vegan Fest

Passenger Shed BS1 6QH www.southwestveganfestival.com Ticketed event

11th Hazard Exhibition

Snuffy Jack’s Ale House BS16 3TE

2nd /3rd Eat, Drink Bristol Fashion Fest Castle Park Ticketed Event

www.eatdrinkbristolfashion.co.uk

16th South Bristol Arts Trail

Free event across South Bristol

16th Zion Jamaican Night

1930 onwards BS13 7JW Ticketed event 18+

Womxn’s Night

Mondays 1800-2100 at The Bristol Bike Project (7 City Road, BS2 8TN) Bring your bike to fix or for a simple check over at this weekly workshop where womxn share knowledge and skills in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. No experience necessary!

Councillor Drop in

1st Friday of the Month 1300-1400 St Pauls Library All welcome to discuss any issues to do with your community If you run a regular event and want to be featured email info@vocalisemagazine.org.uk

25th Dawta- musical

April

1530 Zion BS13 7JW Tickets start at £9.21

4th St Pauls Riot 40th Anniversary 1930-2200 Cube Cinema BS2 8JD

16th Intro to Stencil Art

29th Living with a chronic Neurological condition 0930 start BS1 6BP Free Talk

MAY

All day Bedminster area

16th Stokes Croft Block Party

10th Garden Party

1200-2100 Trinity Centre BS2 0NW Free Event

4th Easter Bonanza 1030 onward ScrapStore BS2 9LB

19th Upfest

1330-2330 Stokes Croft Area Ticketed event

1400-1500 Hamilton House BS1 3QY £15 per ticket

23rd-24th Love saves the day tbc Eastville Park Ticketed event

17th Foodies Festival 1100 onwards Clifton Down

25th-29th 55th Anniversary Malcolm X Fest 1600-1900 Malcolm X Centre BS2 8YH

What's on 2nd Meet Make Mend 1830-2130 Bristol Textile Quarter BS2 0LF ÂŁ4

4th Open Day

1200-1500 St Werburghs Comm BS2 9TJ

3rd-7th Comedy Garden Various events College Green Ticketed events

June 13th Afro Fest

1200-2100 Trinity Centre BS2 0NW See website for updates

14th Celebrating Sanctuary 1300 Queens Square BS1 4LH

Repair Cafe 1030-1300 St Pauls Learning Centre 18th April 16th May 20th June

Free

20th -21st Dog Fest West 0930 Ashton Court Estate BS41 9JN ticketed event

1st-30th Bristol Refugee Festival, Various events across the city See Website for details www.bristolrefugeefestival.org/

1-14th July Bristol Pride Events See Website for details

4th July St Pauls Carnival See Website for details

Adventure Playground - Volunteers needed St Pauls Library Regular Activities Mondays Shared reading: 1400-1530

No prior reading needed, a leader will read aloud stories and poems and you can relax and chat.

Creative Writing with Akulah: 1700-1900 Free sessions for creativity

Tuesdays Baby Bounce & Rhyme: 1400-1430 Arts and Crafts with Carol 1700-1900 free sessions

Wednesdays DIY Kids Craft and Colouring 1000-1200 Thursdays DIY Kids Craft and Colouring 1300-1500 Poetry/Creative writing 1000-1200

Poetry Open mic (monthly)

for more info contact bristolfriendsofsaintpaulslibrary@gmail.com

Volunteer Cook to cook during our open access play sessions The open access sessions Thur and Fri 1515-1815 Saturday 1300-1700 The volunteer can contribute the hours they are available, once a week for one session or more depending on their availability. It would be desirable if the cook is able to cook meals to to reflect the community of St Pauls and Vegetarian, the ingredients are delivered from Foodshare on Thurs mornings so we plan once we know what has been donated and then we can top up the ingredients by shopping elsewhere. Volunteer Bike Mechanic assistant 2hrs a week, 1200-1500 days available Weds Thurs OR Fri. Data inputter. The data inputter is to put all the confidential information on paper into an electronic filing system. 3hrs a week. Weds, Thur or Saturday. Musical Playwork Volunteer: 3hrs a week: Thur, Fri or Saturday. Skills required: play piano, tune and string guitars, singing with the children and teaching them to pluck strings or improvise on piano. Apply by email: Fran Volunteer Coordinator Email: volunteeers.apeproject@gmail.com

With worries around CoronaVirus some events may be subject to change so keep an eye on websites and facebook pages. However, weâ€™re hopeful most events will still be running.

Keep an eye on our facebook page for more events throughout the coming months. To share an event we've missed email: info@vocalisemagazine.org.uk Deadline for article and advert submissions for the July issue is 1st June.

Poem

The Ballad of Shed Twenty-Two Written by Dawn Thomson

A poem from Dawn’s e-book Palette. The collection is newly published but this particular poem was written a while ago – and in fact shed 22 no longer looks like that – it has been rescued! It has also already been published before in the Bristol Review of Books and in Shedfest anthology.

At the heart of Ashley allotments I find shed twenty-two; more than the sum of its parts and the wind can whistle through. It has withstood the raging winds, an instinct to survive and shared with me a love of all things visually alive. Peep through empty knot-holes radio, biscuits, chair, share space with tools, seeds and twine was he happier here than there? Outside the broken window a blossoming cherry tree, which fragrances and frames this microcosmic sanctuary. See the stagnant scummy bath by leaning leeward wall it gives support and company ensures it will not fall. As do the brambles that engulf shed number twenty-two and a missing piece of roof reveals a sky of cobalt blue. Oh, what a magic tardis no verticals in sight rectangular no more a parallelogram- delight. 18

Community news

St Pauls Community Dark Rooms News and update from the learning centre team Written by Ruth Jacobs

The Real Photography Community Interest Company have been managing the Darkrooms at St Pauls Learning Centre, for three years and are going from strength to strength. We are establishing this amazing resource as the biggest and best Darkroom in the South West, we have a low-cost membership scheme, free inductions, and are open to the public seven days a week. Photographers from as far away as West Wales and Derbyshire come to use our excellent facilities. We programme regular workshops and courses for anyone who wants to find out more about black and white photography and experience the magic of the Darkrooms. See our web site for details: www.realphotographycompany.co.uk/events-courses

Community Projects

The past year have been busy fundraising and implementing free photography workshops, courses, exhibitions and events for Over 50’s, refugees and asylum seekers, people recovering from addictions, primary schools and local families. We held several photographic exhibitions at Glen’s Café at the Learning Centre, and celebrated the UNESCO International Day of Light in May 2019 by creating a pinhole camera image using a wheelie bin which is now proudly displayed at St Pauls Learning Centre. In Summer 2019 we held a high-profile exhibition of black and white images made at the Darkrooms by refugees and asylum seekers at City Hall Vestibules as part of Bristol Refugee Festival. Over the last year we took part in Bristol Open Doors with family cyanotype and pinhole printing workshops, and also programmed a series of Lunchtime Lectures by local photographers at Bristol Central Library. We mounted an exhibition by local photographer Garfield Mackenzie in the Library foyer for Black History Month 2019, and recently held a Darkroom Members exhibition at Hamilton House, showing off the talents of photographers using our Darkroom facilities. This year local primary school groups from Evergreen, Cabot, St Werburghs, St Barnabus,and Glenfrome have visited the Darkrooms to learn about the chemistry involved in making photographic images, and created cyanotypes and pinhole camera photos to take back to their schools.

Work with Artists

We like to push the boundaries of technical possibility in the Darkrooms, and we were pleased to assist local artist Libita Clayton, helping her produce massive black and white prints (2m x 1.5m) for her exhibition, Quantum Ghosts, at Spike Island last July.

Darkroom as film location

We are in demand as a film location – most recently was Curator of the Queen’s Collection, Lucy Worsley, who visited our Darkrooms with a BBC film crew to create footage for a forthcoming programme on the abdication of Edward VII. The Darkrooms have also been the location for a music video, and we have worked with the One Show who recreated an alien autopsy in the Darkrooms! www.realphotographycompany.co.uk facebook.com/stpaulsdarkrooms Find us on Instagram @Realphotographycompany Email us with any enquiries - stpaulsdarkrooms@gmail.com With thanks to the Big Lottery Community Fund, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and Bristol Ageing Better for supporting recent projects.

Regular Feature

Money Troubles?

Debt doesn’t have to be scary Written by Isobel McCleod We Can Help

Life is expensive! Bills mount up and suddenly and finding yourself in debt can be overwhelming. Fortunately, you do not have to carry this burden on your own. St Paul’s Advice Centre can help ease some of the stress. Debt can be a scary and isolating experience but it’s important to know you are not alone. People all across the country find themselves in debt, whether that be from rent, council tax, utility bills or other life events. We have specialist debt advisors to help you, offering comprehensive advice and case work. We can help you assess your options and come up with repayment plans that are realistic and manageable for your personal situation. If repayment is not an option, we can still help. There are other options including Debt Relief Orders and Bankruptcy; although these sound intimidating, our advisors are able to take you through each step, guiding you along the way to get you back in control of your finances. There are always options, don’t let debt take over your life. Drop in to see us or call in to make an appointment. Debt Drop-in times: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am-1:30pm Confidential money advice line: 24hr line, leave us a message and we will call you : 0117 9405406 Or email: moneyadvice@stpaulsadvice.org.uk

Don’t Bottle it up

There is increasing research and evidence showing the relationship between debt and mental health problems is a real and serious one. People with debt problems are at a higher risk of depression and suicide. As debt issues and mental health problems often arise when you are at your most vulnerable, they induce great amounts of stress and anxiety. This is why it is so important to talk about your issues, rather than keeping it to yourself and enduring the sleepless nights. There is always a solution. If you’re struggling with an issue, big or small, don’t hesitate to book an appointment with one of our advisors.

Get in Touch

Drop in 146 Grosvenor Road, St Pauls, BS2 8YA Call us: 0117 955 2981 Open: 10am-2pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 2pm-4pm Wednesday

Other Useful Links and Numbers

Money Advice Line: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en 0800 138 7777 (Monday to Friday: 8am-6pm) Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org 116 123 A free call anytime day or night, 365 days a year There is always someone to listen.

Step Change: Online debt advice charity, useful information and tools to help understand your situation https://www.stepchange.org

The Debts you shouldn’t ignore

If you find yourself falling behind on what are called ‘priority bills’ like mortgage, rent or council tax it is important that you talk to the creditor immediately to try and arrange a repayment plan as these debts can incur serious consequences fairly quickly. Before making contact it is useful to make a household budget of all your incomings and outgoings, so that you have a realistic idea of the amount you would be able to pay back on the debt (We will help you with this at the advice centre and it is useful whether you have debts or not).

Mortgage

It is vital that you contact your mortgage lender to arrange a repayment plan. If that’s not possible, many lenders have schemes like payment holidays (break from paying mortgage), interest only (no capital payments, just interest) or extending the term of your mortage. The government also has schemes that can help reduce your mortgage for hard times (support for mortgage interest).

Rent

If you have fallen behind on rent payments, call your landlord to arrange a repayment plan – you don’t want to risk eviction. Using your household budget, you need to factor your normal rent payments on top of an extra amount for arrears, so that you can meet the arranged payments reliably. If your landlord does not agree or reply, then it is important to keep making the payments anyway and seek advice.

Council Tax

If you find yourself in council tax arrears, it is important to contact the council and to get debt advice as soon as possible. We will help you arrange arrange payments which is important because the Council can and will take action to recover the debt.

We can advise you on these common debt issues: Benefit Overpayments

The benefit office may have contacted you because you have been paid too much, either due to a clerical error or because you didnâ€™t tell them about a change in circumstance. They should give you a full written reason why you have been overpaid and if you have evidence to show that this is incorrect, you should dispute the decision. The overpayment can be retrieved through deductions from your benefits, taking funds directly out of your wages or through a court order for debt recovery. If the benefits office is unable to recover the overpayment from your benefit or wages, then you will be expected to pay in full or arrange a repayment plan to avoid court action.

Housing Benefit

There are many reasons why you may have been overpaid housing benefit. You will have to repay the overpaid amount if it was caused because the wrong information was provided or if they made an error, which you did not notice. The council can make deductions from your ongoing benefit payments to avoid rent arrears. If these deductions are causing you hardship you can ask to reduce these deductions, but if the council refuses then the best option is to seek advice. Similarly, if the housing benefit overpayments leave you in rent arrears, seek advice before the arrears mount up.

Council Tax Reduction

An overpayment of council tax reduction may be called a reversal. If the council says you have been overpaid and you disagree, you can challenge the decision within one month of receiving notice. If the council reviews the decision and does not change it, you can appeal through the Valuations Tribunal, which is independent of the council. Before, you do this it is best to seek advice.

Water Schemes

If you are with Bristol or Wessex Water, they have a number of schemes that can assist you in times of financial difficulty. The sooner you get in touch with them, the sooner a solution can be found.

Flexible Payment plans

These are great for short-term financial difficulty, where you can pay less on your bill for an agreed period and catch up on your payments at a later date.

Water Direct

If you have fallen behind on your bill, and receive income support, income related job seekers allowance or employment support allowance, pension credit or universal credit then they can take payments directly from your benefit, arranging an amount each week to cover the bill for the year and a small amount towards any debt.

Restart

This is a 2-year scheme designed for those with significant water debt, if you qualify, a payment plan can be arranged based upon your financial circumstances. Your payments will cover part of your current bill, and where possible an additional amount towards your debt. To apply, arrange an appointment with one of our debt advisors.

Assist

This is a low rate tariff for customers in extreme financial difficult to reduce your bill in line with your financial circumstances. It can also be used alongside the restart scheme, but to apply you have to apply through a debt advisor. Contact Details Bristol/Wessex Water: https://www.bristolwater.co.uk/get-help-with-payingyour-bill Call: 0345 600 3600 (Monday to Friday: 8am-6pm, Saturday: 9am-2pm) Email: customer.services@bwbsl.co.uk Quote your customer number and telephone number

Wellbeing

Food and Feelings

How food can impact your mood Written by Anna Ruggiero Anyone that knows me well will tell you that food and I have a wonderful relationship. It’s the one thing I can’t get enough of. Food brings families, lovers, friends and strangers together and debates, dates, arguments and laughter are all shared around dinner tables all over the world. Not only does food unite people in many wonderful and special ways, it also fuels our minds and emotions. I can tell how my mood and energy levels change if I’m not mindful of eating a balanced diet. On the flip side, if I fill my diet full of artificial additives, colourings and flavourings, I find my mind is less clear and I can feel lethargic. Personally, I think a little bit of what you fancy, every now and then, is generally a good ethos to live your life by and food is no exception. However, if you are looking for genuine ‘mood-boosters’, there are certain foods and vitamins that are guaranteed to add a little extra sprinkle of happiness to your day. Salmon and fish in general, is good for your mood as it contains omega-3 fatty acids which can improve your mood and alleviate mild depression. This is science! Oily fish contains high levels of vitamin B12, which can help in the production of serotonin in your brain – the happy chemical. However, if you’re vegan and /or don’t eat oily fish, you can find some great supplements. Emma Dawson, a qualified nutritionist, says: “Use flax oil in salads or smoothies. Grind your own flaxseeds and keep them in an airtight container. Include a variety of nuts and seeds in your diet and consider vegan omega 3 supplementation.” You can read Emma’s full blog post on the Better Food website, https://betterfood.co.uk/food-and-mood. If you are enjoying a plant-based diet, foods like avocado, cabbage, green beans, artichokes and lentils are all full of vitamin B6, which is said to improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression. Another way of toping up your vitamin B is by including whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, amaranth, millet, bulgur and wild rice into your diet. For some tasty recipe ideas, visit https://wholegrainscouncil.org/recipes. Good news alert! You can add dark chocolate to the list too. Eating dark chocolate releases endorphins - a chemical released in the body to relive pain and stress. So to conclude, if we really are what we eat, today I’m an M&S pancake with maple syrup. I did also mention that having a little bit of what you fancy every now and then does wonders for your mental health and I can’t think of a better way of spending a Sunday morning than with a good friend and tucking into something naughty and sweet. Being good can wait until tomorrow. Happy eating readers x 22

( F c t c S c m n O h t i W w W c n S f P

Community news

Easy Ways to Eat More Sustainably Being Healthier for you and the environment

Make an effort to try and eat seasonal vegetables. They are often tastier. Also vegetables grown out of season are often imported from abroad which uses a lot of energy Supporting your local grocer is a great way to eat better and look after your community.

Add chia seeds and flax seeds to your morning cereal porridge or smoothies. They’re super healthy and full of wonderful nutrients to start your day the right way!

Trying to eat a little greener? Use oat milk in your smoothies or hot-chocolate. It’s just as creamy and much better for our world.

If you are eating eggs, meat or fish, as with vegetables, try and source local produce or animals that are raised ethically. Supporting British Farmers and sustainable fishing is important. It’s worth paying a little extra for free range or maybe a neighbour keeps chickens and you can buy their eggs.

Oat milk is also a great alternative to yoghurt when you’re making a curry. Just thicken with a little cornflour!

Carnival is Coming Towards a Greener St Pauls Carnival for 2020, or not? St Pauls African Caribbean Carnival is happening in 2020 or is it? That is the question on everybody’s minds, ever since the onset of the Covid-19 coronavirus epidemic. An eerie calm seems to persist in Bristol. People are doing their best not to panic, going about their lives as normally as possible, until somebody coughs... I’m not sure if this is commendable or silly. I mean my hands are chafing from all the washing and I’m a drummer, so maybe I’m not the best person to form an opinion just yet. Well on the point of being a drummer I did perform at the ‘Towards a Greener Carnival National Conference’ at the Malcolm X Community Centre on 13th and 14th March 2020. The event was well attended (surprisingly) by carnival representatives of all over the UK and Ireland. For some strange reason I felt very proud of everybody who attended and how we all interacted. Representatives of the different carnivals all universally felt that theirs were either being postponed or cancelled it all together. This was saddening to hear, but in the light of developments expected. Everybody present put up a brave face and presented their different attempts at making their carnivals more environmentally friendly. Some interesting and surprising approaches, experiments, studies and theories were shared. From natural dyes, fabrics, softened cardboard feathers, etc. as feathers is one of the number one polluters emerging post carnival. All the information about the new methods that can be tangibly adopted by St Pauls Carnival will be posted on the website and other media outlets, as soon as things normalise. On St Pauls Carnival; I briefly spoke to LaToya McAllister-Jones, Executive Director of St Pauls Carnival CIC Bristol. This is what she had to say; “ We at St Pauls Carnival CIC board have and continue to put, in partnership with the community, funders and partners, together an infrastructure to support a safe and successful carnival on the 4th July 2020. It’s up to all of us to keep it safe and make it happen, but we are facing an unprecedented threat this coronavirus outbreak. We fully intend to proceed with preparations for the event, but in all honesty, everything is a bit fluid now. We are keeping up to date with the government’s handling of the situation and will adhere to all of their guidelines and directives. We will remain hopeful, yet remain vigilant as we do not wish to comprise the well being of our community, nor the integrity of our carnival. So yes, things leading up to carnival will change and we might even have to move carnival to a later date in the year, but for now we are still hoping that it will be on the first weekend of July, as this is our tradition since 1968.” So, St Pauls Carnival 2020 might or might not happen. Not the most pleasing news, but it is what it is. Please everybody, stay safe, follow the government’s guidelines and let’s get through this challenging situation with our humanity intact. One last thing, don’t PANIC BUY!!! Let’s think about everybody and not our individual selves only…

Written by //Kabbo Ferdinand

Community News

Beaufort Pub

Patsy talks community and change Written by Lynn Mareno If you’re walking down York Road, Montpelier on a Friday or Saturday night you can hear the sounds of Ska, Reggae, Soul, and the nostalgic old crooners music as well as the current, dancehall and lovers rock. Apart from the Criterion pub in Sussex Place, St. Pauls, the Beaufort is only other the pub in the area run by first generation immigrants from the Caribbean. People who came to Bristol wanting to keep the community together. The Beaufort is reminiscent of days gone by when landlords and ladies were the people you called family. Constance Patricia Higgins or, Patsy as she is known, has been running the Beaufort since 1983 when she and her husband Delroy decided to become landlord and lady of the pub that they once managed for Sonya and Denzel Burgess. Delroy died in 2007 and since then, Patsy has run the pub on her own. Coming from her native Guyana in 1960, Patsy tried her hand at most jobs but found working in and managing pubs, she was able to connect directly with people with the passion she has when meeting anyone from anywhere. Presently, she is vulnerable to the Brewery’s increasing price rises with small Freehold pubs like hers, constantly under threat.

Q: Patsy, what inspired you first to want to manage pubs? A: I loved the social side of the business. Running the Lord Nelson in Barton Hill first and then here, it is the community connection. You feel you have the family around you and it’s rewarding. Not like a job. An old fashioned boozer where people can feel comfortable, mix and make friends.

Q: Where did you live initially on coming to Bristol and what is it about community to you, which is so important? A: Living in Clifton was different. There wasn’t so much of an immigrant community when I lived there on arrival. The old communities of Bristol like Montpelier, St. Pauls, St. Weburghs, Barton Hill...always felt like home with the mixture of clientele you have.

Q: What clientele do you have now and how has times changed as a landlady in Montpelier? A: I have all sort’s of people come in especially on a Friday or a Saturday. We used to have a darts team but, most people of that generation are either now sick or passed on. Those were the good days when the pub would be packed. Students, nurses, travellers the old and new Caribbean heritage people mixed in altogether. It’s still a bit like that now . I still hear from a couple of old customers who write to me or drop by when they are in Bristol. People that grew up in the area and a lot of the Carribean community still pass through now and again.The community atmosphere has changed a lot though.

community news Q: What have been the challenges in recent years as a pub in Montpelier? A: Well, I’m not affected so much by the new posh pubs in the area really. In Stokes Croft newer pubs are charging high drinks prices, is where a lot of the young people go and there’s a high disposable income some people have to spend on their nights out. The brewery now has made it hard for social pub drinking especially for those who cannot afford a lot of the pubs prices. I have to pass the charge from the brewery onto the customer to make ends meet, that’s the sad thing.

Q: As a freehold, are you able to mark up your own prices? A: Yes, and that’s why a lot of people come here on a weekend. I try to keep my prices as low as I can so it brings people back.

Q: What else attracts people to come to the Beaufort? A: The music! We have DJ Foxxy on a Friday and Saturday night who has a catalogue of music from way back in the day to current music so it brings in a variety of people with a taste for the old and new music she plays. DJ General plays once a month, he has his own following so there’s a mixture with something for everyone.

Q: When are you going to retire Patsy? A: Me? (She laughs) I don’t want to talk about that. I’ll keep going as long as I can! The Beaufort 21 York Road, Montpelier BS6 5QB Tel: 01179555216

Cllr Jude English A small but happy message about the St. Paul’s library from Green councillor Jude English St. Paul’s library is a small but well used part of the St. Pauls learning Centre and has been providing books, computers and vital digital access to residents for many years. It has also hosted the councillor surgeries (on the first Friday of the month 1-2) since 2016. It’s not all been plain sailing though as in recent years libraries in Bristol have been under threat of closure, particularly small libraries like ours. Local Residents and Jude English your Green Party councillor were horrified when massive cuts to library budgets were suggested by Labour in 2016 and for the last few years it has felt like our lovely library was under threat of closure. Like Jude many local people filled in the council consultation to demand our library be saved. The friends of St Pauls Library group (FOSAP) formed, raised additional funds and has held some fabulous events including poetry, dance and storytelling. Many thanks to Akulah, Julie, Judith and Ollie and everyone else involved for their brilliant work volunteering in the library, raising funds and running the events. Now for the best bit of good news, the library is saved until 2025. Green Cllr. Jude English is pleased to let residents know that the library has been thrown a lifeline and now has a new lease at the learning centre for five years. There will be some changes. Along with trained staff on duty we will probably see self scan terminals installed. This should lead to longer opening hours which will be great news for families and students.

Politics

News fromCelebrating your local Councillors & MP successes in Ashley This will be the final article I write for you as your councillor, as I am stepping down at the local election in May. It’s been a great honour to serve as councillor for Ashley ward, and as a democratic representative for the city I was born and grew up in. Ashley is a very special set of communities. Its spirit of radicalism, compassion and creativity has been a constant source of inspiration to me. I’d like to thank you for letting me have this opportunity, and for your kindness and support over the last four years.

It has been a politically eventful period, with the Brexit referendum, the creation of the metro-mayor, two general elections, and two new prime ministers. What has been enduring over this period, however, is austerity. Local government has had to deal with the most severe cuts of any department, losing 60p in every £1 of funding. It has been sad to see the effect this has had on staffing and services in the Council, and it has made dealing with problems as a councillor more difficult. Despite this, I feel I have made a contribution on some issues, in particular (aside from dealing with many hundreds of pieces of individual casework) I have: • Convinced the Council to do a consultation on having Residents’ Parking in St Andrews; • Was part of the decision to do a Community Asset Transfer of St Agnes Lodge to the Green House sexual abuse counselling charity; • Helped to save ‘The Criterion’ pub in St Pauls from closure; • Made decisions about Community Infrastructure Levy funding, including funding St Pauls Adventure Playground, Full Circle Docklands Youth Centre, and a new play area for Mina Road Park; • Worked on planning and development issues on the planning committees, including approving developments with affordable housing in Ashley (e.g. Brooks Dye Works and Dove Lane) and refusing inappropriate development (e.g. student accommodation on Blue Mountain nightclub); • Got the Council to take legal action against the landlord of the Kernow Building on Mina Road; • Been the Council ‘Autism Champion’ and chaired the Autism Forum; • Ran weekly door-knock sessions and have run monthly advice surgeries. In many respects, Bristol is doing well. But we know that across the city, and in our own area, a lot of people are dealing with real struggle. We are faced with entrenched inequalities, a callous and divisive government, and global challenges like climate breakdown. It is easy to be despondent. But what we do have, amidst all this turmoil, is the strength of the local community. It is through our communities, and the power of our democracy, that we will weather the storms ahead, finding the resilience to resist the cold hand of the state and the destructive commodification of capitalism. So don’t give up hope: the future is yours to make! Written by Cllr Mike Davies

Most of us enjoy the freedom and opportunities the internet brings. But many of us are also concerned about the drawbacks and potential dangers. Law changes could help make the internet a safe and productive space for us all. It comes down to making sure that laws protecting us in the ‘offline’ world, also protect us online. Bullying, threatening and stealing are all against the law in the offline world. Some of this is partially covered in laws about the online world, but much of it is not. For example, musicians and other artists can be cheated out of money for their work if it is shared unofficially online. This even extends to our personal information and photographs. Once uploaded, some internet platforms use of them without our fully informed consent – our rights are usually hidden away in long complicated consent forms most of us haven’t read. Online, anonymity means that many people feel OK to threaten or bully others in ways they would never use face to face. I’m also concerned about websites promoting often misleading or false information about health. This is particularly dangerous when it is given as expert advice, which would not be allowed offline, without a recognised medical or research qualification. The consequences of this inconsistency between online and offline worlds can cost us financially, or damage our mental and physical health, or make us feel unwelcome and unproductive on the internet. In some cases, online behaviour can lead to real-world violence or fraud. The internet creates wonderful opportunities to share information and debate ideas, disagree constructively and develop solutions to problems old and new. I want a sensible system which is open, transparent and fair, and which non-technical people (most of us!) can understand. In Parliament, I’ve suggested that we ensure any activity which would be covered by law or regulation offline, should be similarly covered online. I’d welcome any views, particularly if you have experience or expertise on this topic.

Written by Thangham Debbonaire MP

Updates on CIL in Ashley Ward

Politics

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 allocation Bristol City Council invites people to nominate projects that could improve their local neighbourhoods and that includes us here in Ashley Ward! As part of the planning process, developers give money to the council to pay for improvements in the area that they are developing in and on. This is through a planning charge, the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and also sometimes through a planning obligation called a Section 106 (S106) agreement. A proportion of this money is made available for local decision making by councillors we then invite community projects to apply before deciding how this should be spent. CIL and S106 money can only be spent on infrastructure (capital spend) rather than on services (revenue spend). So, for example, CIL/S106 could pay for the construction of a playground, but not on wages for a play worker. Infrastructure basically means things you can see and touch – CIL/S106 could be spent on, for example, improvements to parks such as lighting and paths, public realm improvements such as paving or cycle racks, or highways improvements such as speed bumps or bus shelters. CIL/S106 can be given to local charitable/third-sector/non-profit organisations, or allocated to council departments, to be spent on their land or buildings. Last year we were very successful in securing funds for four very worthy projects within Ashley Ward, £210, 081 for the redevelopment of Mina Road Park providing more improved play and will increase the usability of the green space.

Docklands

We secured £99,766 for Full Circle @ Docklands youth centre. A Youth provision service that has been operating in St Pauls since 1980 and in 2015 took on a CAT on behalf of the local community. Currently providing a multifunctional space that includes a Sports Hall, Community Kitchen Lounge Area, Computing Room, Community Garden and 1 on 1 mentoring room. We are delighted to support this project which was established to develop their physical, mental & spiritual capacities. Promote their confidence & self-esteem. Advance their education by providing: Information, education, training and provide and which runs regular clubs & social opportunities.

Circomedia

We have secured an additional £16,714 funding for Circomedia which will provide the installation of 14 ground anchors at the East/St Pauls Church end of Portland Square allowing fast, safe and secure rigging of circus equipment that are compatible for use with most aerial disciplines, including flying trapeze. Enabling aerial activities within the square to promote local ‘pop-up’ events, community days and classes! Refurbishment of old anchor points located in St Pauls Park will also be carried out.

Green Architecture

Several groups have come together in St Pauls to collaboratively work together. The is hugely inspiring, co-designing a project that brings added value across St Pauls, celebrates cultures, supports social enterprise and encourages walking and cycling through a cleaner, more visible green way. Collaborators include, St Paul’s Adventure Playground (supported by Friends of St Agnes Park and St Agnes Park Neighbourhood Watch). Also, the St Paul’s Learning Centre (supported by current Kitchen tenant Glen’s Kitchen) and TALO (Somali Women’s Advocacy and Empowerment Group) community group users of Halston Drive Community Room and Bristol City Council, Landlords, Halston Drive Community Room, St Pauls Learning Centre and caretakers of Parks. Very innovative in its approach, we look forward to seeing it come to fruition and have secured £95,937, to help this collaboration succeed. The Architecture Centre is Bristol’s centre for design and will take a lead on this project. Promoting sustainability, connectivity, community and creative placemaking for all ages, with current projects including Green Horizons Shape my City and My Place Our Place. A meeting was held on Wednesday 19 February, 6.30pm – 8.30pm, at St Pauls Adventure Playground, where a number of projects shared their thoughts new ideas for 2020. We would like to invite community projects to further engage with this process and to make applications. If you would like to know more please check the website https://www.bristol.gov.uk/planning-and-building-regulations/community-infrastructure-levy Or contact me at Cllr.carole.johnson@bristol.gov.uk

Written by Cllr Carole Johnson

Kids Activity Lots of exciting things happen in Spring. Lambs jump around, chicks hatch and flowers blossom. Around the world people celebrate different flowers blooming.

Photo by Eric Muhr on Unsplash Photo by Yu Kato on Unsplash

In Japan people celebrate all the cherry trees blossoming. People go outside and have picnics under all the beautiful pink trees. Why not find a pretty tree near you and have a picnic!

In Holland and the USA there are thousands of tulips. They grow in massive fields and all bloom in May. Maybe you could plant your own tulips.

Itâ€™s nearly the holidays! Check out Childrens Scrapstore page for a range of crafty events over the Easter break https://www.childrensscrapstore.co.uk/events

April

Egg Hunt- Blaise Castle 6th 1400 Easter Treasure Hunt- Queens Sq 13th 11am Easter Fair- Long Ashton Community Centre 2pm-5pm

Kids Activity

Flowers

Have a go at our flower themed wordsearch. If you find them all send us an email info@vocalisemagazine.org.uk

Flowers

h j c f r o s e i j

hi s j cd a f rf of so d e ii jl

io su dp aa fn fs oy db i b l h

oh ho ot t i i r r l l hh un nf f l lo owwee r r pd do ot t f fooyy l l aa ar ry yd dppkk f f ni ic ch hy yz zcc f f ss sh hb bn nggcc f f yy yi it tu u l l i i pp br rd dr rmml l ee t t bl lo os ss soommdd he es si is sy yuucc

sunflower daffodil blossom orchid

sunﬂower sunﬂower

tulip tulip

daﬀodil daﬀodil

tulip

rose

roserose

blossom blossom

daisy daisy pansy daisy

CAN YOU FIND ALL THE TULIPS WE’VE HIDDEN IN THE MAGAZINE? COUNT THEM ALL AND WRITE THE NUMBER HERE.

orchid orchid

pansy pansy

DID YOU KNOW? In Victorian times you could use roses to send secret messages. Different colours meant different things.



Friendship

Thanks

Build your own custom worksheet at education.com/worksheet-generator

Love

Secrets

Magic

Fun 29

Community News

Police Update

Checking in with our local Sergeant Written by Sgt Tom Tooth As we move into Spring and away from some of the wettest winter months on record, I imagine many of you are looking forward to longer days and shorter nights. I hope you might have seen members of my team out and about over the winter in their high vis jackets, cycling or walking the beats where you live or work. But we should be even more visible to you as we move into the summer. Please take the time to stop and talk to us when you do come across us. Our mission is to listen and respond to your queries and concerns, whatever these might be. Where we can help directly we will take your problems forward, and where other agencies are better placed to lead we can engage and support them. Recently we held a successful ‘meet the beat team’ event in Halston Drive, St Pauls, where we were pleased to meet with several members of the local community, and hear about the things that matter to them. We plan to make this a regular occurrence. Meeting dates will be published on our internet pages in due course. Likewise, officers in the St Werburghs and Montpellier beat have also designed a schedule of meetings for the rest of the year and we will be visiting locations across their area in the coming months. I wrote an article for Vocalise recently regarding knife crime and some of the resources and support services that are available to communities. Officers across Avon and Somerset will be focussing more attention to the issue during ‘Knife crime week’, which starts on Monday 23rd of March 2020. This national initiative aims to raise awareness of the many issues that surround the use of knives, to provide support and direction for those at risk of becoming involved as either victims or perpetrators, and to engage the community in co-ordinating a community-wide response to this pressing issue. Knife crime is impacting on all areas of Bristol and beyond as you are no doubt aware. Reflecting on the tragic incident which took place in St Pauls last summer, we want to do everything we can to prevent another knife-related death within our communities. To that end, we will be visiting local schools and community groups to talk to young and old alike (and everyone in between!) to establish a dialogue on the issue, going forward with community-orientated solutions that move beyond simple police enforcement. If you would like to be part of these conversations, please do get in touch with me to share ideas or experiences. I would really like to hear from anyone with thoughts on the myriad issues involved. Until next time, Sgt Tom Tooth – thomas.tooth@avonandsomerset.police.uk

Want to get involved? If you are interested in contirbuting to Vocalise in our July editon please get in touch to discuss your idea or advert.

info@vocalisemagazine.org.uk

The deadline for submissions is 1st June Articles surrounding carnival are especially welcome!

Check out the courses on our website to ﬁnd out what you could learn this Spring! Free* Community Development Free* Ads ESOL (with childcare) Free* Security and CCTV Free Construction CSCS Free* Business Admin & Accounting Free* Enterprise Skills Free English Conversation Club Free Over 50’s Film Club *for free courses some eligibility criteria apply

For all the latest news and information ﬁnd us on Facebook @StPaulsLearningCentre

the

d e h s r e k Ma au @ St P

ls Lea

rning

Centre

• KickBoxing • Reiki • Printmaking • Traditional Photography

• Stained Glass • Sewing • Woodwork • Upholstery • DIY

The University of Bristol

will also be running three evening classes: Ways into History, Reading English Literature, and Creative Writing with Billy Kahora

stpaulslc.co.uk

A creative space for making & learning new skills

WORKSHOPS & COURSES IN ST. PAULS

DO IT YOURSELF

WOODWORKING

FURNITURE MAKING

PALLET WORKSHOP

ECO UPHOLSTERY

LE GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILAB

Visit our website today!

www.themakershedbristol.co.uk

Sat-Sun 16-17 May 2020 1pm-5pm

BristolGreen Doors2020 Ads

Reduce your home’s environmental impact ...

Homes across Bristol are opening their doors on 16-17 May, to show how they’ve been made greener, more comfortable and cheaper to heat.

This weekend is your chance to see what can be done in a home like yours, and hear from people who have already made their home kinder to the environment.

Drop in to participating houses over the weekend and be shown round by friendly homeowners who will share their knowledge and experience of installing a huge range of energy saving improvements. Draughtproofing•heat pumps•insulation battery storage•electric cars•whole house retrofits. Whatever your home or budget, you’re sure to discover something that could help you save money and energy!

So keep an eye out for the event map, which will be published at www.bristolgreendoors.org/events and 32handed out across the city so you can plan your visit.