Issue 19 - Summer 2021

Vocalise Summer 2021

Your free community magazine for St Pauls St Werburghs St Agnes Montpelier 1

>Welcome< Summer season greetings and welcome to another edition of Vocalise!

We hope you, our valued readers, are safe, healthy and enjoying the much needed contents warmer weather.

Our summer edition is loaded with positivity, heartwarming stories, community updates, free events like my 7-week storytelling course at Boiling Wells, our new Storytelling section and other juicy bits for you to enjoy.

It has been a very long year, all of us are just a little worse for wear. Yet, things are slowly starting to look like they are returning to something resembling normality.

Summer could not come at a better time. Please enjoy safely and remember to be kind to yourself, those who care about you and others outside of your immediate care.

As usual we always welcome feedback. Get in touch with any comments and for advertising by emailing to info@vocalisemagazine.org 1 Love //Kabbo Hue Ferdinand Artivist Storyteller and Director

Copy deadline for October-December issue is 3rd September

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Poetry & Tribute Local Artist- GAGE Ebay Results St Pauls Learning Centre St Pauls Nursery Green in the Community Sustainable fashion week Windrush Community Project Puzzles Travellers & Trespass

contents 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24-25 26 27

How often do you notice your breath?

Local Library/ Thoughts from an Oldie Fairfield Mural St Werburghs Community centre Better Food Story Time Docklands/ Full Circle Succesfully Launched Councillor Welcome & Assured Mentoring Police Update

Disclaimer: due to lockdown things may have changed, please contact the relevant organisation if you are unsure. Please keep sending us pictures and articles and keep an eye on our online platforms. info@vocalisemagazine.org vocalisemagazine.org @vocaliseBristol @vocaliseBristol This is YOUR community magazine, if you’d like to be involved, get in touch!

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

Co-ordinated and designed by: Hollyanne Schnieden printed by Sebright

2 Vectors from Vecteezy.com and some photographs from Unsplash

Vocalise Bristol CIC

A Tribute to Barry Anderson & Reynold Duncan

Poem by Laila from Welcome to Takayama a summer river being crossed how pleasing with sandals dangling Summer butterfly A still pond of water that defines mew Poem by Chloe from Holdings attention needed... crisis calamity devastation destruction attention needed... ruin wreck demolish decimate attention needed...

ACT NOW SPEAK UP HELP OUT attention needed ...

ACT NOW Thanks to: Ollie Gillard/GAGE, Sophie Cooper, St Pauls Nursery, Torkwase Holmes, Malcolm X, Radical radicel, Sustainable Fashion week, Real Photography company, Azia Tobin, Alice Powell, FOSPL, Fairfield school, St Werburghs Community Centre, cables & cameras, Better Food, Full cirlce, Docklands, The local councillors, Carole Johnson, Benjamin Harrison-Roye, Sgt Serena Serjeant, Felix Fix Up, Lightbox Theatre Thanks to Directors and Volunteers: Vandna Mehta (founder) Hilary Finch Judith Davis Anna Ruggiero //Kabbo Ferdinand Lynn Mareno Dave Holden Lucille Smith Leah Lecaime

A few days apart, the Afrikan heritage community of Bristol lost TWO iconic men in June 2021.

Both independently helping to put the city on the map in more ways than one.

Both from the Caribbean, their vision was always, to educate, up-lift and share.

Reynold Duncan lived and worked in St. Pauls and was the founder of AOT (Arts Opportunity Theatre) which was responsible after the St. Pauls Bristol uprising of 1981, for creating opportunities for disadvantaged youth in the area and across the city.

AOT spread globally and he instilled a sense of pride throughout the community.

Many saw Reynold as someone who helped them gain more confidence through theatre and to go on to achieve greater things.

The Anderson Family moved into St Pauls in the 1960s with their home on Argyle Road, famously remembered by many as one of the traditional Blues house parties. Barry’s love for music began at an early age coming from a creative musical family.

Barrington Anderson (picture above)who lived and was raised in St. Pauls, founded EKOME in 1976.

EKOME was formed by Barry alongwith family members and friends with a vision of bringing the Afrikan diaspora to this country. It was the first of its kind set up in the UK. The group toured across the world performing before politicians, dignitaries and at festivals EKOME were awarded countless accolades for their contribution to Afrikan creative art through music, dance and drumming including recognition from Buckingham Palace.

Playing at festivals before it was so common to see Afrikan heritage creatives as supporting acts to people like Peter Gabriel at Glastonbury in the early days, the vision and focus was to teach and educate people from all cultures and classes that Afrikan music, dance and theatre was for everyone to enjoy.

Opening the hearts of many with the pioneering vibrancy of dance and drumming, Bristol has a lot to thank Barry and other members of EKOME for (including his sisters, Angie, who is now a master drummer and teacher in London), and Pauline.

They both can Rest in Peace knowing their legacy lives on in the heart of the community.

Written by Lynn Mareno

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Local Artist Ollie gillard

Ollie Gillard otherwise known as Gage, is a street artist and graphic designer based in Bristol UK. For over fourteen years he's been painting large, intricate murals onto buildings and creating custom artwork and branding for interiors and businesses. Gage's work often incorporates colourful plants, animals, surreal landscapes and playful stories but he also aims to address environmental issues. His love for street art began in the South of France, near Toulouse, where he grew up painting graffiti art, skateboarding and finishing a Baccalaureat there. On his return to Bristol as a 19 year old and more specifically in Totterdown where he was born, opportunities to paint large murals became increasingly possible. After a few years studying graphic design and then working for creative agencies Gage set out to paint murals and interiors full time, a profession and a passion he enjoys to this day.

The cover story!

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The Bristol based artist Gage was selected out of nine others to work alongside Upfest Ltd and client Nido Student to add some energy, creativity and a local feel to the new Wilder Street developments of 345 student accomadations built by Watkin Jones developers.

Inspired by a public engagement with the local community, the mural celebrates the iconic St Pauls carnival, the vibrant music scene, multiculturalism and circus.

Written by GAGE

HOw to get results buying or selling through eBay written by Sophie Cooper

In October 2019 I thought I’d try eBay as a way to top up my coffees with friend’s budget. I did well with selling some older guitar footpedals which I no longer used. And a Paul McCartney tour brochure sold enabling me to get some practice on how to weigh, package and buy postage for my items.

When the pandemic led to a lockdown, I remember hearing Matt Hancock urging small businesses on eBay to provide essentials for people and not to excessively charge on things like hand sanitiser. Because the restriction leads to my employed income reducing, and a job offer falling through, I decided to get more serious on eBay. In 2020 I had an average of £1000 gross sales every 90 days. I kept two accounts active with a total of around 200 items listed. Many, many items sold and I received all positive reviews from customers, except for Sophie is a St Pauls resident and online a tent which ‘smelt worse than described’. journalist- you can find more of her work at sophiecoopers.com

Some of the most successful businesses based in Bristol on eBay were exporting Banksy collector’s items internationally and a vintage knitted jumper shop with adidas wool retro wear.

A top moment was recycling a Freesat box which was dumped in the bin area. It went for 70 pounds even without being able to test it and no leads. I used some of the money to pay for some refreshments which some of us had in the outdoors whilst we were allowed in summer 2020.

There have been some changes to the way eBay works for sellers. Now you will receive your money the next working day, which can mean if you sell something on Friday you won’t get paid for it until Monday.

It’s a good idea to have a strategy about how to post your parcels because customers expect speedy delivery. On the way to work or school is a good option. Hermes were generally the cheapest and you can post in some local newsagents.

A few bad moments, including several fragile items which split when in transit. I had to try to request a courier refund but Hermes and Royal Mail didn’t make it easy, you had to show evidence that you had packed the item sufficiently for it to have been safe from breaking.

Final best bits…. Winning a bid on jeans (£1.62) & having a massive ASDA trip.

Fancy writing for us?

Email your articles to info@vocalisemagazine.org Deadline 3rd September 5

St Paul's Learning Centre

Who remembers St Paul's back in the day, as we say, before the St Paul's Learning Centre on Grosvenor Road was built? Maybe as far back as the 50's and 60's even when the population was largely a mix of Bristolians, Irish, Welsh, Asians and Jamaicans. The start of the Carnival in 1968, then called the St Paul's Festival and in 1991 re named the St Paul's Carnival. Following the riots in 1980 there have been many changes in the area.. The arrival of Somalis, the ever changing population but a core of people have remained faithful to the spirit of the area and helped make the changes that we see now.

Before the Learning Centre became a fact Big Time, a youth arts festival, was running assisted by Deasy Bamford and Circomedia to offset the drug dealing when the Black and White Cafe on Grosvenor road was still the scourge of the neighbourhood. Did these events kick start your creative ideas? Were you one of the children who learned to light fires with Spider? Have you stories to tell us about events and developments in our area? What difference has it made to your family with the growth and development of the St Paul's Ad venture Playground also still growing and developing at the time plans were being developed for the Learning Centre which was eventually opened in 2004. Do write them down and send them to us at info@vocalise.com with photos if possible.

Stella Quinlivan came to Bristol from Watford to run the learning centre that existed at the time near King Square to teach English to the many migrants who spoke English as a second language. She was employed by Bristol City Council who then asked her, while still at that centre, to coordinate the plans for SPLC. She coordinate the financing groups, contractors, the security company and individuals who all played their part in its creation and she became the first person to run the centre once it was built and opened in 2004.

Grants from the EU, BCC and several other organisations enabled so much to be done. There are offices for community groups, the Carnival Committee included. The library has run various events for the community including children.

The Cafe was set up as a learning kitchen built to accommodate wheelchairs and initially run by Esme Davies and has since become Glen's Kitchen. Currently Glen is serving his meals as takeaways or to eat outside on the benches. The crèche was for anyone and part of the learning plan so immigrant mothers and refugees could have time to learn English.

Barbara Disney has been involved from the beginning – still is involved – with printing and art work and took time to make the colourful mosaics outside the main entrance. Look up as you walk towards SPLC along Grosvenor Road from town and you will see the three dimensional brick art work achieved by Valda Jackson helped by her husband. Chris Trow made the stain glass above the entrance . All these ideas came from the community.

Now we have the additional colourful frontage painted by Rob Wheeler.

As I write this the library and the Centre are closed for most classes but hopefully by the time you read this things will be back on track for people to hire rooms, go back to their classes whether its art, photography, pottery, community development courses or language classes. Spaces will no doubt be available for other courses or events once pandemic restrictions are further lifted.

For further information you can contact the current site manager, Gem Burgoyne at splcinfo@ethicalproperty.co.uk. Or phone 0117 914 5470. written by Hilary Finch

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News from St Pauls Nursery School and Childrens Centre It’s great to have a chance to introduce ourselves to those of you who don’t know us, and celebrate all the things that go on at on at St Pauls Nursery School on little Bishops St. It is your community service.

We have been working with children and families on this site since 2007, when the old Nursery School on Halston Drive relocated to this building to develop a much wider offer for our neighbourhood. Since then we have grown so much, in so many ways.

St Pauls now provides: • Free Nursery Education places for 3-4yr olds ( stpaulschildrenscentre.co.uk) • Additional charged places for 3-4yr olds from 8.30am – 5.30pm, all year round • Free and charged daycare places for babies and 2yr olds We are also: • The lead for the Central Bristol Childrens Centre, offering varied support programmes for parents through e.g. drop ins, groups, training, parenting programmes, and one to one support (see centralbristolcc.co.uk) • A designated National Teaching School, which means we run our own Teacher Training Programme, have developed a National Training Programme for anyone working in Early Years, and have a team of Early Years specialists, who work out and about across Bristol and beyond to improve the quality of early years provision (beytc.co.uk) Some of our leaders here are National Leaders and have local and national influence.

All this means that St Pauls has a high profile in the world of Early Years. We have had many visitors to our fantastic learning community, and are often asked to share our expertise beyond our own setting.

Only last month we had the Department of Education here filming for their website, and we were asked as experts to write training materials for the country.

St Pauls has been consistently judged outstanding by Ofsted for the last 12 years, and this is partly down to the brilliant and diverse community, and the support from our local families who access services here. We can’t thank everyone enough, particularly during this year.

Emotional wellbeing is central to all our work here and we are really committed to creating relationships and spaces in which everyone feels safe and are able to thrive, we hope all our families and partners can sense this in the work that we do.

What everyone might not realise is that we also have an amazing outdoor area here, an oasis of calm (sometimes!) right in the inner city. We are so lucky to be able to have the space to grow vegetables, build fires, cook on fires, climb, swing, explore waterways, and dig in immense sandpits with our children. We are starting to think about sustainability with the little ones, wanting to promote social conscience.

There is so much more that I could share, I have been the Head here for 20 years and am still bursting with pride for the incredible team we have built, our capacity for continued improvement and the exceptional partnerships we have with other services. I love this place.

St Pauls Nursery School and Community Centre is your local resource, please arrange a visit or check out the websites/Facebook/Youtube accounts to see if anything is of interest to you. We are also always wanting to recruit from our community, so watch out for job vacancies or other voluntary roles on our websites.

Thanks for reading Lucy Driver Headteacher and National Leader of Education

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The Need for more Blood Donors from the Black Community Sickle cell is a genetic condition, which means it is passed on from your parents and you are born with it; you cannot catch it from other people. Sickle cell disorders causes your normally round and flexible blood cells to become stiff and sickle shaped, stopping the blood cells, and the oxygen they carry, from being able to move freely around the body and causing pain.

This can cause episodes of severe pain. These painful episodes are referred to as sickle cell crisis. They are treated with strong painkillers such as morphine to control the pain.

Sickle cell disorder and blood donation come hand in hand.

1 in 76 babies born in the UK carry sickle cell trait Approximately 15,000 people in the UK have sickle cell disorder.

Approximately 270 babies with SCD are born in the UK every year.

Many of those with sickle cell require regular blood transfusions or blood exchange, this is similar to those who suffer with Thalassemia. Some need up to 3-4 if not more pints a time, we only give one pint. Each time they receive a transfusion, if it is not coming from their own ethnic back ground it can cause antibodies which build up over a period of time and can be detrimental to a suffer.

There is also an increased demand for some rare subtypes, such as Ro, that are more common in people of black heritage, Subtypes are important when someone has regular transfusions as they need blood that matches their own as closely as possible. We need people from all communities to give blood to make sure there’s the right blood available for everyone.

The NHS needs black donors to continue to provide life-saving blood transfusions to sickle cell patients. Ethnically matched blood is better for people who receive regular transfusions.

My aim is to try and change the mind set of black people who won’t and don’t give blood? You can’t force someone to do something they don’t want too, but you can plant that seed which gets them thinking. We need to start educating from a younger age like in schools and colleges. Talk to your friends and family about Sickle Cell and Organ donation where the waiting list are high for those of black heritage.

We know that patients are living longer and such need more blood, if we as a community continue to ignore the call for blood donation many sickle warriors who are not getting the correct blood type face excruciating pain and some may even die.

For years ACLT (African, Caribbean Leukaemia Trust) and the Sickle Cell Society have been campaigning for more black people to become blood, organ and stem cell donors. It is not just the brutality on the streets we are facing, many are dying due to not being able to find a match for a transplant, and those fighting Sickle Cell are not receiving the right blood type, which needs to come from their own ethnic background for them to have a better quality of life.

For more information on giving blood go to www.blood.co.uk or contact 0300 123 23 23 Torkwase Holmes Stem Cell coordinator/Events and Out Reach Officer NHSBT

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Bringing the Green to the Community We believe that community enrichment is like a runner plant. You gently embed one healthy strawberry plant and before you know it a whole new cluster of thriving new plants have sprung up. Flourishing in St Pauls started out a year ago from one community plot which we reclaimed from its former life as a dumping space. A few people donated their old gardening tools, a few plants, and time. Before we knew it, more plots had been offered to us -including at Malcolm X and at The Learning Centre. We planted thousands of daffodils and tulips and springtime in St Pauls was colourful, to say the least. We are keen to have accessible spaces where great food is just there for the picking, and where people from all our rich communities in St Paul come together to share their gardening know-how, work side by side and honour the earth.'Beerteenna is one word in Somali meaning 'Our garden' .

Let it grow.

We wish to continue planting happiness to continue brightening up 7+ urban areas in St. Pauls.

Have you got any of perennial plants going spare in your garden?

Do you have any spare time to give Malcolm X Secret Garden specialist support for memorial planting of a variety of Black roses?

Any spare strawberry plants we could use on 7th Corner ( Winkworth place estate - City Rd ) We would like young people picking them as they go to school or on their way to a summer holiday activity.

We need people to support, donate, or give planting time to manage and maintain 7+ green areas especially two of the great seven saints' murals Barbara Dettering and Roy Hackett. The Bloy St residents are currently watering the blubs and plants donated to this area.

From July till September, we currently meet on Friday Malcolm X secret garden 2- 5pm ( focus on Malcolm X Secret Garden) Saturday 2- 6pm 7th Corner City Rd BS2 8XS ( opposite the roundabout on the corner) weather dependent. To contact email flourshinginst.pauls@gmail.com or Tel 07498483426 We must also say thanks to the multitude of residents, volunteers , young people who have given so graciously as well as The Bristol Rainforest, Imayla, Friends of St. Pauls Luxuriance , Black Radical Radicel, St. Pauls Learning Centre, Malcolm X Community Centre and friends of St. Agnes Park In June we were delighted that Bristol Rainforest, showed a short film on UK’s biggest public celebration of the natural world! Bristol Festival of Nature, take a look https://www.facebook.com/festofnature

Walking is “the nearest activity to perfect exercise” said Morris and Hardman Walking Works Radikal Radicel was formed in 2019, and successfully received Travel West funding in 2021 which will allow us to enable a deeper connection for people (Black* and other disadvantage communities) with nature Through practical projects such as walking, rambling, bicycle riding, gardening, healthly eating and Arts projects, using under- appreciated aspects of nature as our stimulus.

Have a permanent focus on mental health and well-being promoting the vital role of nature in maintaining our balance During Covid we have been delivering Mix It UP, in St. Pauls. Enriching people over 60's by going on weekly a socially connected walk ( 30 - 90 mins) and Pick and Go: One to one walk with a trained walk leader (30 - 60 mins), for socially isolated people 60+. They pick where and we go. Why ! The effects of Covid are felt deeply by many. For some elders the social networks that kept then feeling connected to others and their community has weakened “I rarely go outside because of COVID-19. “I’m just afraid of being around people.

We also have attended walks organised by stepping sistahs out, which was fantastic and a great way to connect with more women of colour to walk and to keep our mental, physical health and wellbeing grounded. https://www.facebook.com/groups/223891986148385

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Top tips for having a more sustainable relationship with clothes…

Bristol has been declared the most eco-friendly city in the UK (GoodMove, 2020), and the cities access to sustainable fashion is no exception. Emma Gorton, designer and once Fashion Editor at Bristol 24/7, told Beyond Retro: “The city is brimming with creativity and there are really no rules in the way people dress here… I would say nearly all the local brands and designers are trying to become more sustainable and support slow fashion, which is really inspiring.”

The evidence is clear with so many ethical and sustainable clothing organisations currently running out of Bristol: Mabboo, Found Hea, Chaos and Colour, That Thing, Duvet Days, Carny Valley, Antiform, The Good Wardrobe, Yala Jewellery and Trash Planet (to name only a few).

Since it is estimated that we have until 2030 to prevent runaway climate change, and with the fashion industry having such a significant impact both socially and environmentally, there has never been a better time, or place, to engage in sustainable fashion.

Georgia Smith, Communications Lead for Bristol-based Sustainable Fashion Week UK, shares some tips on changing your relationship with fashion for the better.

1. Learn from what you already own To avoid buying things that you won’t wear, it’s helpful to get a clear idea of what you wear dayto-day. For a month or so, separate out your clothes as you wear them, keeping what you wear each day separate from what you don’t. Which pieces do you wear multiple times? Which ones do you wash because you can’t wait to get them back? Which ones didn’t you touch or think about at all? If you do this with friends or family, organising a clothes swap at the end of the month can be a great way to get your han ds on new items from your friends and/or family, and gift the ones you don’t wear to someone else.

2. Be realistic about your lifestyle It’s estimated that UK adults own 6 billion items of clothing, with 25% of these items never leaving their wardrobe. It sounds simple, but being honest about your lifestyle can change the way you shop and help reduce waste. We might have an idea of what our lives could be and the clothing we might need, but if that’s not your reality, you end up with a pile of clothes you never wear. Buying fewer, everyday things that suit your day-to-day life serves you better.

3. Research and look for certifications There are tonnes of good apps and websites out there that can breakdown the ethics of a brand or make it easy to find brands that align with your values. You can make informed choices based on whatever matters to you, from a brands environmental policy, whether they pay fair wages, are black-owned, or are independent. Some useful ones to start off with: 1. Goodonyou.eco 2. Labourbehindthelabel.org 3. Lovejamii.com Certifications are another great way to tell if a garment has been made under a set of ethical standards. Some key ones to look out for:

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1. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is recognised as the world’s leading processing standard for organic textiles 2. Soil Association Organic: based here in Bristol, the Soil Association is the UK’s leading membership charity focussing on sustainability in food, farming and land use.

They also have their own certification system.

4. Borrow, loan or thrift When buying something new, consider whether it’s something you’re going to wear more than once. If it’s not, could you borrow something from a friend or sibling? Alternatively, there has been a massive rise in rental platforms that enable you to rent an item (or several) for a period or an occasion. If you are looking for an outfit for a particular event, or perhaps something for a holiday, loaning can be a great option. Check out byrotation.com and onloan.co for inspiration. If you’re looking for something longer-term, consider buying second-hand rather than brand-new to reduce waste.

5. Mend , upcycle and alter Mending, upcycling and altering your clothes, or those that you find second hand, are great ways to keep clothes out of landfill and an affordable way to get a new item. If sewing isn’t your thing or you don’t have time to learn, try something like Sojo (@sojo_app), the UK’s first clothing alterations and repairs app. If sewing is something you’d like to try, but don’t know where to start, there are tonnes of resources and workshops online and across Bristol.

Search #memademay where you’ll find an incredible online sewing community, or visit sustainablefashionweek.uk to find out more about upcoming workshops and events.

6. Test before you buy There are a few key ways to tell if a product is of good quality before you buy it. They aren’t a guarantee, but they are a good place to start. a. Check the labels and attachments such as buttons and zips.

Labels from quality makers should provide info on the fabrics used and how to care for them. Ideally, they will also tell you where the fabric was sourced, or who made your clothes, too.

For attachments such as zips and buttons, check if the buttons are attached with multiple threads and whether the button holes are bound. Exposed zippers (which are incredibly common, are more likely to snag on materials and break, so look for invisible zippers and test them before you buy. b. Look for tight seams. Tighter seams with more frequent stitching tend to indicate higher quality. To test, pull lightly at the seam to see whether the seams are loose or there are gaps in the stitching. If the stitches separate, the garment is more likely to tear.

Image courtesy of @ c. Check everything is stitched, not glued: this is particularly relesojo_app vant if you are buying footwear, where glues are often used as a cheap alternative to stitching. Just take a quick look at where the seams should be to check.

Sustainable Fashion Week is the UK’s first fashion week of its kind, being held here in Bristol in September 2021. For more tips, check out Sustainable Fashion Week’s four themes below.

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DANCE MUSIC ARTS COLLECTIVE UK Newsletter #2 June 2021

In this months newsleter

Unlocked project

Classes

New website

Looking for new home

But first... who are Dmac uk? Meet the directors.

Bernadette, 5 Rhythms teacher, Mother of cats and peacocks.

Kirby well being drummer, parent and recent puppy mama.

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Bob, Capoeira Angola teacher, parent, and our videographer

Remi Dancer, actor, Parent, and our website designer

Victoria, Mother of young adults, cats, fusion bellydancer and visual artist.

Kabbo, Storyteller, mystic, writer, community liaison.

Rubba African dancer, teacher and Parent,

WINDRUSH COMMUNITY PROJECT We are pleased and excited to announce that The Real Photography Company have been awarded a Windrush Day Grant to commemorate and celebrate the arrival and contribution of the Windrush generation in Bristol.

The Grant has been awarded through the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), which is being administered by Near Neighbours (NN).

The Windrush Community Project at St Pauls Learning Centre will run from June till December 2021, based around a series of portraits of the Windrush generation, taken by Bristol-based photographer Garfield McKenzie, which we will exhibit, and publish in a commemorative book. We are also commissioning new music from Bristol Reggae Orchestra celebrating the Windrush arrival in Bristol.

Garfield McKenzie’s photos entitled ‘The Pioneers,’ make visible a generation of intrepid individuals, who left their homeland to make the journey to a new life. These elders paved the way for the generations of black British communities living in the UK today. Bristol-based photographer Garfield McKenzie has documented these pioneers as a way to pay respect and show admiration.

‘The Pioneers’ exhibition was originally shown by Wendy Leocque on behalf of the Real Photography Company, at Bristol Central Library in October 2019 for Black History Month. In October 2020, featuring new portraits, we brought it to St Pauls Learning Centre. As lockdown restrictions meant people were not allowed into the building to see the exhibition, we created a projection of the images which were beamed out to the local community from the Café windows every night, receiving a warm reception.

The 2021 Windrush Community Project builds on this work, and on Windrush Day, Tues 22nd June we re-launched the Pioneers exhibition with new images by Garfield McKenzie at St Pauls Learning Centre Café - now open to the public seven days a week (Covid restrictions permitting). We kicked the project off with a Windrush Celebration Day on Sat 26th June, but it’s not too late to get involved as more exciting events and activities are planned! ~ Look out for a series of five free photography workshops led by the Real Photography Company where we invite you to explore some vintage photographic processes in the Darkrooms at St Pauls Learning Centre, to be programmed from Sept to December 2021. These workshops will have a strong emphasis on family portraits, documenting memorabilia and connecting us to stories of the past, for future generations to learn from. ~ We will hold a Black History Month Celebration event in October (date tbc) launching the book of ‘The Pioneers’ and premiering new music celebrating the Windrush arrival in Bristol by Bristol Reggae Orchestra, and asking residents of St Pauls for nominations to a new St Pauls Hall of Fame.

Wendy Leocque said “The Windrush generation contributed so much and their contribution is often over-looked, I’m really pleased that we are able to commemorate them in this way and we will have this to build on each year and every Windrush Day. It is so important to be able to share the stories of this generation for their families, communities and new settlers that continue to come to Britain from all over the world.”

With events planned up till December 2021, you can keep updated via the Real Photography Company website, Facebook and Instagram. www.realphotographycompany.co.uk www.facebook.com/realphotographycompany/ @realphotographycompany www.youtube.com/c/realphotographycompany We hope as many people as possible from the community can come and get involved, Covid restrictions permitting.

For more details please feel free to email us at realphotographycompany@gmail. com Photographer Garfield McKenzie with Roy Hackett standing in front of his portrait at the exhibition in St Pauls Café.

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Local Events Bristol Cathedral Museum of the Moon Various events 12th-30th August Tickets available online

Black 2 Community Star and Garter 7th August 12pm-9.30pm info@starandgarterbristol.co.uk Family and Kids day Star and Garter 14th August Hosted by the Star and Garter in conjunction with Bristol Got Talent.

Bristol Pride Various events 3rd-16th July Including cabaret and comedy tickets available online Bristol Balloon Fiesta 1st-15th August Online viewing only

Bristol film & food fest 5th-8th August tickets availble online Upfest - graffiti festival 28th-29th August Free event Foodies Festival Durdham Downs 10th-12th September Free event Scribble & Sketch RWA 17th July Free family event Medals with RWA 27th July Free family event Butterflies with RWA 28th July Free family event Brave Bold Drama and Bristol Improv Theatre Summer School Primary age children2nd August Tickets online

Tribe of Doris Festival 4th-8th August Stanford Hall www.tribeofdoris.co.uk St Werburghs Community Centre Cafe opening from 6th July Picnic in the park 12th September

Want to volunteer? we need: writers delivery team photographers editors

email us

info@vocalisemagazine.org

Magazine deadline 3rd September for all adverts and articles

Word Ladder- change one letter per line to get from same to cost!

SAME

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CoST

World flags Can you name the country that each flag belongs to from the jumbled letters?

ANcaDA

BRLiZA

ACHIN

MAGERYN

PANJA

TianBRI

NACRFE

EEcRGE

MERiACA

IANSP

CODE WORD Can you find all the carnival dancers hidden in the magazine?

Write how man you find here!

!

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Travellers and Trespass: The Eviction of the Glenfrome Nomads Azia Tobin

You may have noticed, over the previous month, the appearance and disappearance of a cluster of anarchist artwork adorning the gates of a previously disused plot of land on Glenfrome Road in St Werburghs. Placards emblazoned with messages like ‘Don’t Take A Fence!’ as well as a tripod flying the Palestinian flag high in solidarity stood against the bricks and fences of the old gasworks. That is, until the travellers who had made their home on the site were unable to resist eviction, drawing attention to the looming effects of changes in legislation and policing which promises to make their ancient nomadic way of life difficult to impossible.

On my previous visit to the site, I was met with friendliness, abustling atmosphere where people of all ages and walks of life were living and working. Eating together and resting on rescued furniture and tables made from recycled industrial spools. To me, it seemed a community within a community.

Upon my return however, the picture was vastly different. Temporary cabins and security vans filled the small patch of land, one hi-vis clad official agitatedly coming out from his van to shoo me and my camera away, another sat comfortably scrolling on a sofa painted with swirls, a relic of the site confirmed by former resident to have been ‘bloody well heavy!’

I was told this in the weeks following their eviction, when I was drawn over to a beautiful Romany style wagon parked near the mound in St Werburghs.

The owner of which, a former resident of the Glenfrome site, agreed to chat with me. So, I sat down on the rug he had laid out in the sunshine while he relayed to me the shocking story of the site’s sudden eviction and their treatment by some 2-300 reported bailiffs and police.

‘We got a notice and they said we had ‘til the first of the month (June), but they were sneaky tactics. They came on the Wednesday (18th May) and said they’d come back on the Thursday so we can negotiate. Thursday morning, 6 O’clock in the morning, they’ve come up before the bailiffs and decide to start trying to cut the lock off. You’ve got a chap in a wheelchair who had his arms handcuffed. The bailiffs came through the other side (of the walled site) as well with all their little shields and that, and they decide to chuck hot tea over him right in his face, hot cup of cha! Whilst they’re on the other side, chopping up the fence.’

‘They were ruthless man, when this (his wagon) got pulled out, they managed to slam the gate on it, bash the chassis, they mysteriously sliced all the top as we’re coming out, where we could have gone straight through… Bailiffs being childish, slicing it. Loads of caravans got their windows broken and their tyres popped when they were getting dragged out and they’re saying: “You can’t leave them (the vehicles) on the side of the road”. All they had to do was let us know and we would have left. Instead, we blocked up all the roads.’

‘They blocked off all the main roads because there were people that were going to come down and support us, but the police weren’t letting anybody in. Anyone who was trying to get through who had cameras or anything, they were literally just knocking them out of their hands saying: “Oops, I accidentally trod on your camera phone”. The Bristol Live News writer didn’t mention half of that (the violence and damage) because they couldn’t get in.’ I found this story too poignant a reminder of the underhand tactics used by police in the so called ‘battle of the beanfields’ in 1985, to limit coverage of the entrapment, abuse and excessive force used against the travelling Peace Convoy on their way to Stonehenge, which has its anniversary on the 1st of June.

When I asked about the alternative sites that legislation in parts 3 and 4 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Public Order & Unauthorised Encampments) allegedly provides for No Fixed Abode Travellers, he replied: ‘Alternative sites, yeah they want I think £25 a week and all of your details so everyone is logged.’ An idea which seems contrary to the freedoms and respite from the structures of mainstream society that a nomadic way of life can offer and represent. ‘Is there anything the community can do to offer support to travellers?’ I asked, his response, simply: ‘Just let us stay where we are. Once we’re in a compound where we’re all plotted up just let us be’.

Before I left him to finish carefully applying another coat of paint to his wagon, he handed me a mission statement and information sheet from ‘nfATs’ or ‘No Fixed Abode Travellers and Supporters Campaigning against the Criminalisation of Trespass and for the Right to Roam’.

‘That sort of explains.’ he said, ‘That’s our thing: nfATs’. Since their formation in 2016, they have been ‘a diverse collective of people who have come together to highlight the current issues that affect all Travellers and the nomadic way of life.’ As well as the right to choose such a life, cherished by many throughout history and dating back to our roots as early humans.

Their mission, amongst campaigning against the laws and legislation which threaten this way of life, is to engage with those outside of Traveller communities. To educate people about the history and current situation of New Travellers, reducing prejudice, ignorance, and misunderstanding. Creating a united force of people campaigning and networking together around a common cause: freedom. To be, to roam and to live.

Although the traveller community and those with No Fixed Abode are most pressingly affected, changes to legislation regarding trespass and unauthorised encampments contradicts the human right of everyone in this country to the freedom of a family and personal life. The nfATs Collective urge the wider community to get involved, through their ‘Horsebox Action Club’ which travels around the UK participating in festivals and events, their multiple 2021 campaigns as well as their crowd funding appeal. More information can be found on their website www.nfats.info and the nfATs Facebook group.

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How often do you notice your breath?

It may sound a very simple question but one not all of us are usually aware of. Your breath is the most powerful tool that you can use and it costs nothing!

Take a moment now while reading this..

Put this magazine down.

Close your eyes.

Take a big breath in through your nose and then breathe out through your mouth.

By using your breath in situations where needed, it can massively help the feeling or emotion you are experiencing. A huge part of mindfulness is about breath. Mindfulness is essentially becoming more aware and conscious of you and your surroundings, so by incorporating the physical breath we can then draw our attention back to the present moment - you guessed it, by using the breath.

In the ancient practice of Yoga, we use the breath as a way to move from one pose to the other. In meditation we use the breath to ground and come back to our body.

In everyday life we can use it for many things, such as stress, anxiety or tension - which as we all know, are very common in this day and age.

The breath teaches us to slow down and take a moment to become aware of what is going on in the body. We constantly live in the masculine energy, which is very fast paced and always feeling the need to be doing something or consuming something. Almost like we are scared to actually sit with our own thoughts in our bodies. Which, let's face it a lot of us probably are?

But it doesn’t have to be such a daunting process.

The stigma around meditation promotes the same image always. Sitting crossed legged, fingers and thumbs touching, which is of course a way of inviting breath and presence in, but it doesn’t always have to be that way. It can be done anywhere.

Walking.

Running.

Eating.

A moment in time where you can just acknowledge your surroundings, your mind and your body by using your breath. Inhale and exhale, simple as that.

The breath can be a way to evoke healing, calm anxious thoughts and teaches us the simplicity of what the body can provide for us.

Daily Practice: I would love to share with you a very simple daily practice that incorporates breath.

This can be done at any point in your day when you get time, but best recommended in the morning.

-Take yourself somewhere that has little distraction & find a comfortable position -Close your eyes and become aware of any sounds around you & feelings in your body -Repeatedly breath in through nose and out through mouth -Once you have finished, write down 2 things you experienced (doesn’t have to be profound) This is a beautiful discipline to get into the habit of.

Enjoy!

I am a local yoga teacher here in Bristol, I offer group & private classes of Yoga + Meditation.

Please head to my website for more info: www.alicesyoga.com Instagram - @alicesyoga Facebook - @alicesyogauk

‘Hatha Restore’ Mondays 7.30 at Yoga on the Square

Written by Alice Powell

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Local Library News Following the delivery of an acclaimed national conference targeting friends of libraries groups nationwide, Friends of St Pauls Library formally disaffiliated with Bristol Library Service the following day.

More importantly, Friends of St Pauls Luxuriance was born. We are pleased with our achievements for St Pauls community as Friends of St Pauls Library but we know that we are destined for far greater outcomes. Our objective is community consolidation, community revelation. What do we mean by community revelation? We plan to deliver 'growth' opportunities so that each member of our community will have a clearer sense of their talents and gifts and the ways in which, together, we can build a stronger, luxuriant St Pauls.

Current projects : Afrika Homecoming - an inspiring creative writing course for women - working on our second volume of outstanding poetry scheduled for Black History Month 2021 Youth Writes Rites - creative writing - we have just released two more pamphlets of stirring writing by young people Flourishing in St Pauls - community gardening - reclaiming unloved land and planting food and flowers for all Moving Words - dance project for over 50's Open Mic Night - last Thursday in the month with guest poets and participants from all over Bristol and beyond We would love you to contact us and get involved. Please email FOSPLuxuriance@gmail.com

Thoughts from an Oldie

It's June, blooming June with more flowers opening their buds as summer starts to take over from Spring. Bees are buzzing about as we acclimatise to more freedoms, visiting pubs and each other, having barbecues as life takes on a more normal look. Chatting, laughing and seeing old friends. In so doing myself I have also been told how this Vocalise magazine has helped some people through difficult times and helped them feel more connected during their various levels of isolation. It also helps us volunteers to know that what we produce is appreciated!

Fabulous weather here for the last Bank Holiday which I enjoyed in great company. It's at times like these that it is a lovely feeling sharing my garden with its wild and organized planting. My guests stop chatting sometimes to notice all the birds visiting the feeders and checking out plants and bushes for edibles. It is amazing how all the daisies in my grass bounce back after being squashed by so many feet. I am not one to venture onto the motorways during holidays – the traffic spoils the journey. I'd rather wait until the rush for the sea or country walks and holiday trips has abated and travelling does not take hours of hanging about in traffic jams.

I don't plan on going abroad, much too complicated and expensive at the moment and just seems like a daft thing to do. There is so much of the UK I have never seen and hope at some point to take myself to somewhere I have never been before where the architecture is pleasant, the views big and new inspiration might touch me. Lockdowns, winter and the dark have killed off my urge to paint, but hope that in due course I might feel for it again. Currently there is scaffolding over the building I live in which makes my front room even darker and more chilly. No sitting around in my sunbathing clothes in doors!

Some of my family did have the dreaded Covid 19 but not badly. We all still have to take care despite the opening of many attractions lest we forget the variants are out there and quite happy to catch us off guard. Here's hoping June will continue to be a great month with lockdowns easing and not being repeated.

by Hilary Finch

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FAIRFIELD REVEALS STUNNING BAME & LGBTQI+ STREET ART THEMED MURAL Fairfield High School (FHS) is delighted to unveil a colourful and stunning mural in a pivotal area near the Sports Hall, enjoyed by hundreds of the school’s community, thanks to local artist Rosie Caley. Rosie was tasked with designing a BAME and LGBTQI+ street art themed mural, addressing sport engagement issues often witnessed at Fairfield and echoed across the country. The aim also being to engage groups of students often disconnected from the subject.

This was a project Rosie undertook with great gusto and pride, as she decided on the best way to visually convey the challenge. The decision: to feature a number of famous athletes and role models, namely Nicola Adams, Mo Farah, Hedaya Wahba, Ade Adepitan, Tom Daley and Simone Biles whilst reflecting FHS’s vibrancy and passion in the form of a huge rainbow.

Creator of the project and Assistant Director of PE at Fairfield Lauren Gibbons comments: “The area leading to the Sports Hall was cold, blank and clinical looking which did little to inspire our students on their way to PE. It was literally crying out for life and colour. This coupled with the fact Physical Education and Sport are still facing many cultural barriers and harsh stereotypes linked to ‘gender specific sports’ and ‘masculinity’ led to a negative view of the subject with low participation rates.”

Armed with sketches, paints and her own natural positive outlook, Rosie set to work to put her radical ideas into reality. Over the course of just 11 days, the mural was complete. The finished product has received much praise on social media platforms and the most important audience… the students!

Rosie comments: “My experience lies in fine art and landscapes. Mural wise I have completed a few scenery based pieces including a café in Easton and a pub in Redland which I thoroughly enjoyed. This was a whole different ball game, though, as it relied on my portrait skills which was a rapid learning curve. Luckily it paid off and I can’t deny I’m proud of the finished result and what it stands for.”

Speaking about the journey ahead, Lauren comments: “This mural, as wonderful as it is, will not be enough on its own to change perceptions. It is a gradual process whereby students’ everyday experiences will need to be highlighted including language, activities, facts, role models and terminology whilst in lessons and clubs. This powerful and visually appealing piece of artwork is a fantastic starting block for unleashing a whole manner of conversations and actions.”

Rosie concludes by stating: “The long-term goal of PE is to educate pupils on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, physically, socially and mentally. This is a matter very close to my heart, as three years ago I was on the London commuter belt, working as an Engineer and putting in long hours. This took its toll on my physical and mental health. I still feel passionately about pursuing Engineering, so I’m in the process of finding the balance between the two.”

www.madebyrosiecaley.co.uk

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St Werburghs Community Centre We are so excited to be seeing the centre becoming busier again. We have really missed seeing the community as a bustling hub.

Just in time, as we are celebrating our 50th Anniversary this year and we would love to hear from you.

Are you interested in local history? Are you a great storyteller?

We are collecting stories, photos and memories to get a real sense of the journey that St. Werburghs and the people have seen in that time. If you have something to share and add to this little piece of history then please get in touch with jess@stwerburghs.org.uk .

We are also very excited that Neck of the Woods café will finally being reopening soon, spo watch this space!

We are continuing with our courses and classes we have here for free: Raking & Baking on Thursdays (a cooking and gardening course) Easy-PC (computer classes) on Mondays, Stay & Play (baby and toddler group) on Wednesdays and Tai Chi for over 50s always welcomes new members on Fridays.

Plus of course the countless different courses and classes run by our members which you can see on our website.

If you would like to get in touch then email office@stwerburghs.org.uk or ring 0117 955 1351

Diversity in farming

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Gary Thompson and Bashart Malik from Cables and Cameras have started production on a film to encourage diverse communities to get back to planting seeds and reconnecting with the natural world.

The inspiration for the project started with Humphrey Lloyd who is a sustainable farmer and part of an alliance of growers trying to promote diversity in UK farming. Humphrey found out about the amazing work that C&C are doing in inner city Bristol.

Gary Thompson who is producing the project is connecting with upcoming POC filmmakers to gain valuable experience on high end productions and provides a platform to showcase work made by people of colour.

Gary connected with Bashart Malik to become a key player in C&C’s long-term vision.

Bashart has over 16 years of experience working on features, dramas, music video and commercials and now directs his own work.

Bashart has become known for directing grassroots ideas, developing new talent and by working closely with him they get a firsthand look at how to use high-end kit.

The documentary will uncover and explore if the farming community is diverse. We have been speaking to traditional Gardner’s and growers from the local community, and will find out about their heritage and culture. The culture of growing your own food is a tradition that has been forgotten for diverse communities in inner city Bristol due to a fast paced and very developed society. The misconception that food is cleaner when purchased in plastic packaging is also an issue.

When diverse communities first arrived in the UK post second world war they faced financial difficulty, poor housing, often damp and cramped living conditions and on a daily bases faced racism. However, they planted seeds as a way to stay connected to the earth.

Fast forward to the revolution of a new digital age, the sharing of information and misinformation, corporate ideas of living standards, careers, 4k, 5k, 6k tv’s, 5g, plastic packaging to store food for longer. Food available on demand, giving the false idea that it is never going run out.

Is the need to become self-sustainable a must for future generations?

Through the creation of a documentary film the team plan to seek out trailblazers who are actively leading the way to become sustainable in urban Bristol.

Are you one of the unheard voices trying to revive the tradition of growing?

Get in touch. cablescameras@yahoo.com

VEGAN CURRIED VEGETABLE PASTIES Makes 8

Ingredients

For the pastry: 225g plain flour 100g vegan butter, diced Pinch of salt For the filling: 300g potato, peeled and cut into 1cm chunks 100g frozen peas 2 tsp olive oil 1 onion, diced 1-2 tsp curry paste 1 tsp mustard seeds Juice of half a lemon Handful of coriander, roughly chopped 1 tbsp oat milk

Method

Sift 225g plain flour into a large bowl, add 100g diced butter and rub in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Stir in a pinch of salt, then add 2-3 tbsp water and mix to a firm dough.

Knead the dough briefly and gently on a floured surface. Wrap in beeswax wraps and refrigerate while preparing the filling.

Into a large pan, add the chopped potatoes. Cover with boiling water and cook for around 8 mins, or until soft, on a medium heat.

Add the peas in 1 min before the potatoes’ time is up.

Drain and set to one side.

Next, into a frying pan, heat the oil. Add the onion, gently cooking until slightly brown. Follow with the curry paste and mustard seeds, stirring everything to make sure it doesn’t catch too much.

Stir in the potatoes and peas, being careful not to mash them. Finish with the lemon juice and coriander, then setting aside to cool.

Pop the oven onto gas mark 6/200C. Roll out the chilled pastry onto a lightly floured surface.

Cut the pastry square into quarters, and then into eighths. Into one rectangle, add a quarter of the curried mixture laying another pastry rectangle on top and pinching the ends to close. Dash with a fork along the top and repeat the process for the rest of the pastries.

Finish the pastries with a little brushing of oat milk, before placing them into the oven and cooking for around 20 mins, or until golden.

Perfect finger food for any celebration!

Better Food, St Werburghs

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Story Time: Koré and the Hyenas Our story emerges from an ancient memory in a mythical place called //Hui !Gaeb, Hoeri!kwagga, Camissa, Mar. It was a troubling time filled with angst and fear that it was the end of days. Remorseful that their ways have angered the gods. In difficult times human beings either grow closer together or drift further apart. As true today as it’s been for thousands of years.

There was flooding and drought, crops failed and people hunted more. The chain reaction forced carnivores animals to hunt closer to human settlements. Rumours of disappearing people being eaten started surfacing, with man-eating Hyenas being a particularly nasty tale. There was to say, an ominous feeling in the air...

Brothers turned on each other, sisters gossipped about another, chiefs acted like politicians of today. Promising one thing, but doing another, the people unable to hold them accountable. In amongst the turmoil, there was a drummer called /Koré with a dream to bring a little joy to the people and hopefully appease the angry gods.

Every day he’d find a tree to sit under and drum. Sometimes under a Mango tree, other days under an apple tree or so he guessed. All the trees were now barren. Whilst playing a lamentable tune, an urge popped into his mind, “Go to market! You’ll find your way.” unsure of who’s it was?

Nwatas a known mischievous spirit planted the idea. In floating by it was moved to cast ‘a feeling a bit sorry for the people spell’ after hearing /Koré sad song. Causing mischief amongst so much hardship and sadness was not proving to be too much fun.

The market was a way away and he needs a plan. Troubled and on the brink he falls asleep. The route emerges whilst dreaming. He wakes invigorated, packs his instruments and sets off. To survive he’d have to get creative about everything.

How? When? Where? Who? Why? He shrugged to himself, not knowing, yet knowing the urge meant something. All /Khoré could do was trust, a now rare state of being.

The Plan came! He decided to sleep high up in trees at night and play music in villages during the day for alms and thrived as he went along creating joyful music, other musicians connected and accompanied him. They were an eclectic lot, all of a similar heart and mind. They wanted to bring a bit of joy to the people or maybe they were touched by the ingenuity of Nwatas, all led there with the same urge.

All at once, they realised that this is it. This is how they will satisfy the urge they were all feeling. This is how they can bring joy to the people and appease the gods. They ended up growing from village to village that by the time they reached the biggest bustling, most splendid market place they were well known.

Timbuktu was the last big thriving village and marketplace that people from all over the world met, traded and bartered their wares all sharing similar bad luck, angry god stories. Word of the musicians’ arrival spread and a joyous spirit enveloped the land. People started ushering the musicians to the marketplace in great anticipation. /Koré struck up a rhythmic drum call to attention and instead of Ngom Gom with the talking drum answering the call.

However, the first to join in was a surprise, enchanting flute player, Iris the Celt who answered. Ngom realised that /Koré’s hypnotic drumming enchanted her. Like it did all of them.

Iris, in fact, had just got off a ship from the Isle of Avalon, heard the utterings about musicians, curiously walked straight into the heart of the commotion, got enchanted and unwittingly started playing. Then Ngom Talking Drum Wiseman joined in followed by Rich the Arawakan percussionist, Sarangi Raj the Enchanter and finally Khoi Gnawan on Guembri guitar.

Creating a harmonious cacophony of sound. Feelings of happiness, excitement, belonging and healing absorbed the now celebrating people. Playing for hours on end, till and beyond the point of exhaustion until everybody collapsed into a splendid, joyful, contented bliss...

Emotion got the better of them and they went on longer than usual. It was the final time for a while that they will play together. The market season was now over, with everybody now saying their goodbyes, the musicians receiving and sharing their offerings for their musically healing offering, merchants packing away and handing out what they no longer needed or would perish on their journeys back to whoever lucky enough to be close by. A sense of hope and change was in the air, for the musicians it was bittersweet as they knew it is the last time they’d be playing together for a while, it felt like a great ending that’s just beginning has come to pass.

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They said their last goodbyes and each went their own way until /Khoré noticed as he was about to leave that Iris the Celt was hurrying across the square looking for her travel companions, realising that they left a long time ago and that she’d have to find her own way to the next village while not knowing where or how to get there. On realising the situation and all the emotion that went before became just too much to hold and as she tripped while toppling over in despair /Khoré reached out and grabbed the falling, fainting flutes and just held her firmly, telling her: “It’s ok! I’ll take you, It is a bit late to travel there, gather yourself and belongings, if we hurry, say a few prayers and with a bit of luck we’ll get there, intact, hopefully.” She just smiled, questioningly and said: “Thank you! Intact, Yes! Hopefully!” released herself from his arms, straightened herself out, gathered what she had and off they went into the setting sun’s light.

HeheheheheheheheeHHHHHEEEEEhhhheeee!!!

The two travellers were making good progress, until out of nowhere and at the same time everywhere they heard this eerily sounding hissing giggle. Startled by the realisation that they were surrounded by a pack of hungry hyenas, they both just burst out wailing tears of utter despair, dropped their stuff, hugged, screamed, cried, knowing that it will be their last moments on Earth and that they both will be sharing it with virtual strangers that connected across many divides through music. And as if in a strange trance they both calmed as the hissing, coughing, eerily laughing hyenas started closing in, closer and closer.

The pair in sync sat down, took out their instruments and /Koré instinctively started playing the heartbeat on the drum as an attempt to his own down as it was beating so hard. Iris followed solemnly to the rhythm as it evolved. While they were playing they noticed something strange happening to the hyenas as they started slowing down one for one as they were now in about one bite’s reach of taking a meaty bite from the two musicians. As each one came close enough however it was like they were about to open their jaws to take a bite, they would just freeze mid-bite, become dizzy and fall over one after the other until every one of the sixty hyenas were all sound asleep snoring away, snsnsnnnkkk! Snsnsnnnkkk! Snsnsnnnkkk!

The two musicians kept playing, managing to pick up all their bits, even moving in and out in between the hyenas to make sure they took all their belongings, gingerly sneaking off to the nearest town, while Nwatas could be heard giggling off into the night as he now was quite fond of his tricks, for he knew as soon as the people are in a happier state he will have so much more fun and opportunity to play his tricksiest tricks on his favourite peoples to tease…

Full Circle & Docklands

On Tuesday 25th May we hosted a small event in St. Pauls park. We were asking the public about their thoughts and feelings on the community and Docklands. The purpose of this was to get inspiration and ideas for decorating the outside of our building.

Unfortunately, due to the weather we had to end early, however we may rearrange soon. If you have any ideas you'd like to send over to us on our social media pages or email then please do, we'd love to hear from you. marketing@fullcircleproject.org.uk Also, a massive thank you to the community for supplying such amazing food and conversations!'

1. We attended the local community's Eid celebration - picnic and sports day on 1st June. There was sun, music, sports, games and face paints; overall it was a very successful day. Members of Full Circle attended to ask the community about Docklands Centre. They were given a selection of building images to choose from and vote for on how they would prefer Docklands' external building to appear. We had great feedback from parents and children.

2. We have also conducted an online survey to discover who will create our mural for our sports hall and entrance. The young people chose the final three, then the public voted from these. We had over 120 responses, and they chose Jasmine Thompson! We're very excited for this project to begin.

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Successfully Launched Magistrates Black Asian Ethnic Minorities & Allies Support Group My name is Carole Johnson. I was sworn as Adult Magistrate in 2010. It soon became apparent that there was a lack of diversity amongst magistrates, but this was very rarely spoken about at that time . My skills as a Magistrate further developed and I joined the Family Court in 2014 which I enjoy immensely.

In 2016 my public service further expanded as I was elected city councillor in Bristol council and immediately began forging a working relationship between the judiciary and city council with regards to matters of diversity and diversifying the Magistrates bench.

In 2017 I became the first ever BAME Magistrates Deputy Bench Chairman in Avon & Somerset residing over 620 Magistrates across the region.

In 2018 working together with the judiciary and alongside the Mayor Marvin Rees as local councillor and appointed Deputy Cabinet Member for Equalities Communities and Public Health, we promoted and developed a BAME Magistrates Recruitment Programme which became extremely successful, which I will outline.

As a result of this success I received an award from the Magistrates Association (MA) at the changing the face of the Magistrates conference for Inclusion and Social Value in 2019.

It is clear that Magistrates play a vital role in our criminal justice system, hearing cases in criminal or family court. As Justices of the Peace, we are sworn in to do right to all manner of people without fear or favour, affection or ill will.

These are therefore extremely exciting developments as in 2016, out of 621 Magistrates across the Avon & Somerset region there were just 20 magistrates who identified themselves as being Black and 11 who identified as being Asian: there were no other BAME categories identified at that time. These startling statistics highlighted the high level of underrepresentation of BAME Magistrates in the region and it was clear that this needed to be addressed.

So in 2017, I was delighted to be appointed as the very first Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic (BAME) Deputy Bench Chairman for Avon and Somerset Magistrates and one of the seven deputies.

Following on from this in 2018, after running the awareness raising campaign in conjunction with the BAME Magistrates recruitment programme we succeeded in recruiting 33 new Magistrates of whom 11 were from BAME backgrounds. This was a recognised major improvement and success.

As a sitting magistrate of Jamaican descent myself I was then delighted that in 2021 two new Deputy Bench Chairmen for Avon and Somerset were inspired by these developments and applied for and were also appointed to the senior team, who are both also from BAME backgrounds. Joining the team and officially taking up their posts on 1st April 2021 and, for the first time ever, three of the seven Deputy Bench Chairmen are self identified BAME Magistrates. That is progress.

This takes on increased importance when realising that Magistrates sometimes sit for 10 - 30 years, dispensing justice. We hope that we will continue to learn from these valuable lessons of diversity as the judicial face our Magistrates continues to become more reflective of the communities that they so valiantly serve.

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Our criminal justice system is all the better for these interventions. In order to achieve equality in the dispensing of justice, there is also a need to ensure that there is also equality within the ranks of those involved in law and order.

Before our interventions it had taken decades to appoint just 31 BAME Magistrates, but in just a few years we have already added another 11 new Magistrates and added to this the BAMEMagistrates voice into positions of leadership. It is well established that more diverse teams can perform better, so I am full of renewed hope that our Magistracy can continue on this journey of improvement in 2021. As we continue to diversify, I believe it is time for other strands of the criminal justice system to follow suit and take action to address other equality gaps, and work together proactively to deliver.

Back in 2017 I proposed that the judiciary organise and set up a supporting structure within the Magistracy for BAME Magistrates, although our numbers were low. I was aware of the need and the positive impact increasing diversity on the Magistrates Bench

would have. Although it remained under discussion for 4 years!!! I am once again delighted to have being able to develop the next step in the journey of diversifying the Magistrates Bench here in Avon & Somerset region and across the UK. I am therefore pleased to announce as the founder and chair that the very first ever BAME & Allies Magistrates Support Group was launched in the UK and took place on the 22nd APRIL 2021.

This is exciting and an appropriate response within the Magistracy at this time in history with all the distress of the killing of George Floyd, the uprising of Black Lives Matter, the inequalities further highlighted by Covid and the historical and current impact of institutional and structural racism. We clearly need more BAME Magistrates seated at the tables of criminal Justice decision making tables.

The BAME Magistrates & Allies Support Group will continue to meet quarterly responding to the current needs of the changing face of the Magistracy to better reflect and respond to the diverse needs of the communities that we are serving as Justices of the Peace and will keep you updated as we progress.

I would like continue to inspire and encourage you all to apply to become Magistrates and to support similar endeavors in the future, our communities need you.

As for me I am so glad to say ....We did it!

Successfully Launched the very first Magistrates Black Asian Ethnic Minorities & Allies Support Group in the UK! Long may it continue to be the valuable support to the judiciary and users of our service, that I know it has all the potential to be.

Dr Carole A Johnson JP Founder of BAME Magistrates Support & Allies Group Deputy Bench Chairman Avon & Somerset Bench Award Winner, Magistrates Association, Inclusion and Social Value , 2019. http://carole-johnson.co.uk/2423-2/ http://carole-johnson.co.uk/magistrates-association-award-2019/

Did you know that Bristol currently has a BME underrepresentation in civic duties such as Magistrates?

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees wants this to change. The HM Courts and Tribunal Service would like to increase the representation of its Magistrates so it represents the community it serves The Mayoral Commission on Race Equality and HM Courts and Tribunal Service would like to invite you to an online event that will support your journey to become a Magistrate Alongside speeches from the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and special guest Peaches Golding OBE, you will have the opportunity to hear about the role from existing Magistrates and the process involved in applying The recruitment window is now open and closes on 20th October 2020.

The event will also provide you with an opportunity to have your questions answered and there will be also an opportunity for support to help you write your application W/c 28th September if you wish.

If you are interested in applying please register your interest before Sunday 13th September‬ to attend the online event, you will be sent a zoom invite nearer the time.

Please register your interest using Eventbrite For more information on the event please email equalities.team@bristol.gov.uk Speakers o (Guest Speaker) - Peaches Golding OBE Lord Lieutenant of Bristol the County and City of Bristol o Bristol Mayor, Marvin Rees o Deputy Mayor, Councillor Asher Craig o Her Magistrates Court and Tribunal Service representatives Presiding Magistrates 25

Hello to our new councillors We just wanted to introduce ourselves briefly to you as your new councillors for Ashley. But firstly, a massive thanks for all who voted, whoever you put your cross against. Ashley had a 48% turnout which is excellent for a local election. And secondly a vote of thanks to Carole Johnson and Mike Davis, the outgoing Councillors.

You will already know Jude English who was re-elected for the Green Party. Jude has already been working in Ashley for five years and been really involved in a number of community initiatives including a trustee at the City Farm and highly involved in St Paul’s Adventure Playground.

The newbie, for the Green Party is Tim Wye. Again, a long-term Local resident and involved in numerous community activities such as organising Picton St Fayre. Amongst other things Tim has a background in health and Social Care and will be looking to champion that in his role.

Amirah Cole is a first time Councillor for the Labour Party. Amirah is committed to making a difference in Ashley where she grew up, lives and raises her children. She aims to empower residents and has been a community organiser and activist for many years, with a wealth of experience in campaigning to protect community and environmental assets i.e. Malcom X Community Centre, St. Paul’s Afrikan Caribbean Carnival and Save the Maples campaign.

Whilst we are from different parties we want to work together for Ashley. We have already met and will be co-ordinating our efforts (for example we have agreed to hold joint surgeries) and will work together on core issues raised with all of us throughout our campaigns: Traffic; pollution; rubbish and community safety being the main ones we will be pursuing.

Council CONTACTS Your local councillors are available to support residents with queries relating to Bristol City Council services such as planning, adult care children and schools, waste and other community issues.

Here’s how you can contact them.

Cllr Jude English (Green Party) Email: cllr.jude.english@bristol.gov.uk Call: 07584 151 099

Cllr Tim Wye Cllr Amirah Cole (Green Party) (Labour Party) Email:Cllr.Tim.Wye@bristol.gov.uk Email:Cllr.Amirah.Cole@bristol.gov.uk Call: 07584 370 414

Assured Mentoring Training & Coaching Services

Delivers one-to-one employment support to individuals with a range of disabilities.

If you want to work but have a disability or long tern medical condition that makes working a problem; and you meet eligibility criteria. Assured Mentoring Training and Coaching Services provide one-to-one support, created to just do what is says. Bringing the skills individuals need to help them make successful progression in work.

Practical advice and support are provided for you to overcome employment related obstacles.

Angela has 25 years’ experience within the world of UK business and not for profit organisations – working within both strategic and functional business management, innovation and change management and delivering clear leadership and effective management.

During this time, she learned her craft as a leader, agent of change, a team and individual coach and a group facilitator covering areas in the West of England and South Wales.

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Mobile: 07884305129 Email: amtscoaching@gmail.com

Website: www.amts-coaching.co.uk

POLICE UPDATE My name is Benjamin Harrison-Roye and I have been given the rewarding opportunity to be the Ashley Ward’s Acting Sergeant until Serena Serjeant our full time replacement starts.

I have been a police officer for 14 years, starting off in Shepherds Bush in London as a probationer and then later moving to CID where I spent time in the main office and a specialist domestic abuse team called the Community Safety Unit. I transferred to Avon and Somerset in the summer of 2016 and haven’t looked back since.

Since holding the reigns for the Ashely Ward for an interim period my team have worked on a problem solving plan for Grosvenor Road to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) and drug dealing. I have just had charges authorised for a suspected drug dealer for possession with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of drugs and possession of criminal property. I will also be going back to the CPS with another file for another individual and I anticipate similar charges.

We have also responded to residents’ concerns around unlicensed street parties by creating a problem solving plan where we will work with our partners and the community to resolve issues caused by these events.

As my time in this role comes to an end I am very much looking forward to working with Serena in her new role.

You may have heard that Sergeant Tom Tooth has moved on to pastures new and that a new Sergeant has been appointed for the role!

Hello, I am Sergeant Serena Serjeant, no, that’s isn’t a typo, that is my real name!

I will be joining the Ashley Neighbourhood Policing Team in mid-June and I am absolutely thrilled and excited to be doing so. Acting Sergeant Benjamin Harrison-Roye has been doing a fabulous job in the interim and will be continuing his role into August alongside me. A little bit about me: I have been a police officer in Avon and Somerset for the past 18 years working in a number of departments such as priority crime, response and investigations, however more recently I have been working on the Inclusion and Diversity Team at Trinity Road and The Bridewell alongside the Outreach Team, where we have been trying to improve diversity within Avon and Somerset Police by encouraging people from under-represented groups to consider working for the police. This role is one that I am really proud of, it’s so important to me that communities have trust and confidence in the police and we know that we can only do that by reflecting our communities. We are getting there but there is still much work to be done.

I am really looking forward to working in the Ashley Neighbourhood Team and feel so privileged that I have been given this opportunity. I hope I can be a role model and influence change with the support from the community. Now that lockdowns are coming to an end, I look forward to meeting with as many of you as possible and have faith that we can work together to make Ashley not only a great but a safe place to live for everyone.

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Felix Fix-Up Aged 16-25?

Interested in cycling & bikes and want to learn more about them?

Looking for help finding a job or training or just need information?

We are launching a new project on Tuesday 18th May run in partnership with Lifecycle UK who deliver cycle maintenance workshops & Bristol Horn Youth Concern At the session you will have the opportunity to learn the basics of cycle maintenance & repair so feel free to bring your own if it needs looking at. If you don’t have one we will have some you can practice on.

There will also be a staff member there who can help with job searches, application forms and careers help.

Football & basketball facilities will also be available.

The session is free and will be held weekly on Tuesdays from 1-3pm at Felix Road AP, Felix Road, Bristol BS5 0JW For more information contact us - info@freestylebristol. com or sign up here

TODAY I FOUGHT A TIGER is our new promenade show making it's way to St Paul's in Bristol for a limited run on weekend of 17th/18th July 2021.

So whilst the Carnival is off this year, we hope to bring some fun and magic with this vibrant show which is inspired by real stories of finding hope amid life's battles.

GET INVOLVED! We have a range of production, front of house and backstage opportunities on this show and would love to involve you.

Saturday 17th July: 3pm Sunday 18th July: 12noon; 3pm 28

Tickets £3