ISSUE 22/SPRING 2022
V
FREE
CALISE
YOUR COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR: ST. PAULS, ST. WERBURGHS, ST. AGNES, MONTPELIER
APRIL - JULY
This is YOUR community magazine if you’d like to be involved get in touch!
Welcome!
info@vocalisemagazine.org vocalisemagazine.org
To the spring edition of Vocalise.
@vocaliseBristol
It's time to get those barbeques out and party! Play some music and dance. We all have lost time to make up with friends and family after all the covid restrictions and now the invasion of Ukraine. Keep an eye out for people, these have been difficult times for so many. Listen to each other, look out for the children. Bristol already has children from the Ukraine in the Children's Hospital cancer department. Hopefully the housing scheme for parents and other refugees becomes a decent reality quickly despite our housing problems. Quite a number of Bristol University students who speak Russian and/or Ukraine are in Poland helping the refugees. Some of us can do more than others for people needing help, but consideration and respect are mainstays for getting along. Let's be proud of ourselves as a community and share our ideas for building better and sharing more. Here's to some good weather in the weeks ahead! Hilary & The Vocalise Team
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Also, we have a favour to ask you! Could you please fill our survey? You can do it online by scanning the QR code or just drop the paper version in our office More info on page 19!
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Contents 2 3 4-5 6 7 8-9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Welcome Local Artist: Bexx Bristol Rainforest Community Partners Bristol Nights Sensitivity as Super Power Community Food Share Ziva Zena Frome Gataway Mrs Sandra Green Stokes Croft Land Trust Memorial Roses The Gangsta Gardener Chaya Veggies Fairfield High School
19-20 21 22 23 24-25 26 27 28-29 30 31
Vocalise survey Ukraine Thoughts From an Oldie Better Food Malcolm X Community Centre Mina Road What's On Puzzles and Sudoku You Councillors Say.../ Bristol Walk Fest Police Update
@vocaliseBristol Published by: Vocalise Bristol CIC Backfields House Upper York Street Bristol BS2 8QJ
Vocalise Bristol CIC
Co-ordinated and designed by: Julia Widz Thanks to all our volunteers and directors. Vandna Mehta (Founder) Hilary Finch (Director) //Kabbo Ferdinand (Director) Judit Davis (Director) Julia Widz (Project Coordinator) Lucille Smith Rhian Grant Ian Jones Judith McMullen Ingrid Devoux Sebright Printers Also special thanks to all our contributors. Front cover: Thanks to Chaya Veggies for letting us use the mural from the shop. Photo by Under The Wing Productions. Vectors and photos from: Vecteezy.com.
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LOCAL ARTIST
Introducing... “I gave up identifying with genre when I stopped identifying with gender” “I got to the point where I chose to be vulnerable and let people see the other sides to my story. That’s what the whole EP is about.”
Through teaching and facilitating, BexX has always lent their talent and music to those that felt insecure or too afraid to speak up.
BexX
BexX’s debut EP ‘On To Bigger Things’ is a collection of 4 songs exploring Vulnerability, Growth, Acceptance and Self-Love. The message being - You come first, despite the all-toocommon pressures of conforming to cultural, and societal beliefs. BexX releases music to encourage people to be themselves in the most true and authentic way, no matter how raw, by challenging stereotypes, breaking social expectations and helping people to overcome self esteem issues.
Now, with this new release, as producer, singer, songwriter, composer and multiinstrumentalist, BexX continues to inspire by taking you on a poetic journey with cinematic orchestral soundscapes in a collaboration with 28 other singers and musicians that crosses genre, culture and borders. The Debut EP ‘On To Bigger Things’ really is the opening of the door to their world.
Follow BexX on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube. instagram.com/bexx.me facebook.com/bexx.me
And, breaking the boxes to challenge common-held limitations of what is possible, believing that not conforming to genre is just as important as not conforming to gender. “Coming out as Non-Binary was a big thing for me. And, by the power of making music I found the freedom to express myself in the way that I’ve always wanted but was never able to.”
Do you want to promote your business or event? Vocalise reaches over 10,000 residents per issue.
Do you want to support your local area? Vocalise has the community at its heart
Website: www.bexx.me
Scan the QR Code for the newest single!
Get in touch...
info@vocalisemagazine.org
Advertise Here!
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
The Bristol Rainforest Written By Amrish Pandya
What is The Bristol Rainforest? The Bristol Rainforest is a group of volunteers that grow rainforest trees just for the love of them and share them, free of charge, with schools all over Bristol and beyond. We help children learn about our relationship with trees, rainforests and nature in general. We help them learn through presentations and practical sessions planting trees, sowing seeds for future trees and we show them how to look after them We have also built a complete Rainforest Room in St. Philips Marsh Nursery School in Bristol. This space gives the children a calm, healthy environment to learn and grow in. They experience firsthand the positive effects of living with plants in their school. With this experience they then get to take plants back to their own homes.
The animate element is a living being, a 27 year old strangler fig tree. The inanimate element is sculpted to represent the forms of a Temple Base, inspired by the Temples of Angkor Wat, the remains of the once all mighty Khmer Empire. As in many remaining Angkor Temples, the Temple Base is supplanted by a tree. A living Banyan tree, a primordial tree from the first rainforests that were the original homes of so much life including our ancestors. The sculpture evokes the hubris of the Khmer civilisation, the might of which changed the course of whole rivers, a civilisation that numbered over a million human individuals, that covered a 100 square miles with thousands of Temples. And yet a civilisation that outgrew its incredible resources and an Empire that inevitably collapsed leaving the rainforest and its trees to take over and hide all evidence of their existence. The sculpture is not just a warning to us, not to go the way of the Khmer. It is also a guide for us, showing the direction we must take. The Temple Base is shaped as a Mandala. A diagram of sacred geometry mapping the entirety of Space and Time. Each point on the Mandala has cosmic significance if we know how to read it.
We also run a biweekly group called The Friends of The Bristol Rainforest. This group helps to maintain the trees in the schools. We also run sessions for the larger community to learn about how to bring more plants into their lives and care for them. Future plans include setting up an urban, vertical farming project at a primary school.
The tree sits on a point of inflection in the diagram of Space Time. A point of many crossroads, the origin point of many different futures.
Living Sculpture – Trees As Our Temples We must learn to see trees as our real Temples. No matter what Creed or Colour or Race or Species we belong to, we can all hold trees to be sacred. The sculpture is part inanimate, and part animate. 4
Sculpture base with Banyan Tree in the background
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT The unique nature of a Banyan tree is to spread wide its great branches and according to its will, put down roots from those branches.These roots reach down and touch the plane of the Mandala touching points on the Cosmic Map that show the direction in which future must evolve. Each root, having reached the soil, grows thick and becomes a new trunk a new pillar showing us those things that are important and the branches arc over and avoid points that indicate futures we must avoid. The tree is a living a metaphor for Nature. We must learn to read what Nature is telling us. We need not be Masters at reading Cosmic Geometry, but through stillness we can hear our own intuition which in turn can read the silent but all-powerful signs from Nature.
Confident that if they created something beautiful, that their descendants would love it and look after it and pass it on to those that would follow them. Unlike that person we do need to have a thousand year ambition, to look after our planet, to keep it fit for all the species on it and for generation upon generation of their descendants and ours.
Bristol 1000 Year Project We are at a point in our civilisation where short term thinking just has to stop. We have to ask ourselves what perspectives we must take if we are not to go extinct. I once saw a picture of a bonsai tree, in fact there were several trees, fig trees, all grown in a dish as long as two men and as wide as one. The trees were as tall as a man sitting on the shoulders of another one standing. This was no small Bonsai. The word Bonsai is no indication of size, it is simply two syllables one for 'tree' the other for 'pot'. The size of this Bonsai composition wasn't what impressed me. My jaw dropped when I learned that it was a thousand years old. The person that planted a set of tiny trees in a small simple earthenware pot, probably didn't have a thousand year ambition, but they were planting them confident in the knowledge that their successors would be living in a habitable world.
Temples at Angkor Wat, Kingdom of Cambodia over taken by strangler fig trees
The City of Bristol must take on its own thousand year ambition. To help commit us to this ambition I am creating set of seven living sculptures to be placed in seven important Bristol public spaces. Each sculpture will echo and amplify the idea of Trees as our real Temples. As Bristolians move through their city they will be reminded, by beautiful living sculptures, that we must live as if we mean to be around as a civilisation for at least the next millennium. The tree sculptures will be a focus especially for all the children in Bristol schools that already have rainforest trees in their classrooms placed there through the work of The Bristol Rainforest. All children, especially the most disadvantaged, will be welcomed to visit these important Bristol venues to see the tree sculptures and learn that it is their city too. By Bristol dedicating itself to looking after the tree sculptures it will, in effect be dedicating itself to looking after the natural world and thus all of us for at least a thousand years.
1000 Year Old Bonsai Fig Trees 5
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Community Partners
BRISTOL WELCOMES NEW FUNDING TO BECOME THE BEST PLACE FOR PEOPLE WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY
Funding from Mencap aims to help our community become an even better place for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives. Thanks to local organisations SENDaWelcome and Step and Stone, Bristol is now one of nine communities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland that will benefit from funding received by Mencap from the Covid-19 Support Fund to help support some of the people hardest hit by the Covid-19 crisis. SENDaWelcome and Step and Stone were set up by north Bristol parent carers of young people with learning disabilities. They work towards full inclusion of people with a learning disability in all aspects of our community and celebrate the enrichment this brings to all our lives. Mencap’s vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives. This project aims to put people with a learning disability at the heart of Covid recovery planning and help develop new ways of working. Newly appointed ‘Community Partners’, Jess Garbett and Alice Cranston, will be working across Ashley, Horfield, Lockleaze, Bishopston and Ashley Down wards and supporting local people with a learning disability to work with local communities to lead social change. Community members with and without a learning disability will be involved in co-designing, developing, and implementing change initiatives that make their community a better place to live. Jess and Alice want to find out what ‘community’ means to you, what you think is great about your community, what you might like to change or make better, and how you may be able to contribute and make a difference. If you’d like to find out more or are interested in getting involved in the project, they will be out and about in the local area to chat to, hosting pop up Community Conversations or you can contact them at mycommunity.bristol@mencap.org.uk
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Jess
Alice
Ciara Lawrence, who has a learning disability and is the Big Plan Engagement Lead at Mencap, said: “This funding from the Covid-19 Support Fund is really great news! It will help people with a learning disability, like me, be seen and heard in their local communities. Many people with a learning disability have been forgotten during the pandemic. Mencap’s new community programme means they can take their place in society once again. It will also help communities to be more inclusive. It is great that people with a learning disability will carry out this programme because they know what changes they want to see to make their community the best place to live. It is about them and their voices.” Julie Matthews, co-founder of SENDaWelcome, said: "We are delighted to be partnering with Mencap to work toward our shared vision of making our community the best place for people with a learning disability to live. This is something we have been working towards for the last 5 years and we hope with the support of Mencap to really quicken the pace of this change and get many more local people involved in this exciting initiative for our area. " Edel Harris, Chief Executive of the learning disability charity Mencap, said: “We’re thrilled to receive this generous donation from the Covid-19 Support Fund for this ground-breaking new programme, which puts people with a learning disability in the driving seat to make positive changes in their local communities after the pandemic. People with a learning disability have been hit hard during the coronavirus pandemic. Many people have faced huge health inequalities and spent a year stuck at home, cut off from their family or friends. In many cases, they have been left with no support at all. As we come out of lockdown, we want to make sure that people with a learning disability are not left behind. This programme will help empower them to be part of rebuilding their local community in a post-COVID-19 world. I’m excited to see what changes people with a learning disability lead and deliver as part of this programme to help make the UK a healthier and happy place for them, their friends and family and wider community.”
LOCAL NEWS
Bristol Nights Bristol unites in zero tolerance of harassment of women with new Bristol Nights campaign.
The city demonstrates its zero-tolerance response to sexual harassment with expert training of Bristol’s night-time venue staff as well as Light Parade of unity through the city centre. A recent survey highlights that 100% of women in Bristol
Following a two-month research phase involving a range
have experienced sexual harassment in some form.
of Bristol audiences, this project will seek to improve
A new Bristol Nights campaign is set to tackle this type
public understanding of what constitutes harassment
of harassment head on.
and how often it happens. We know that many crimes against women at night go unreported but are widely
The project has an ambition to train 1,000 night-time
witnessed. This campaign invites bystanders to call
economy workers in dealing with incidents of sexual
out bad behaviour, while empowering those working
harassment. This introductory training has been specially
in the night-time economy to recognise and execute
designed in collaboration with the night-time economy and
a zero-tolerance response to harassment in their venues
VAWG agencies and delivered in partnership with Bristol
and workplaces.
City Centre BID. It has been developed by High Streets Task “Our nightlife communities care about the safety
Force Expert, Joanne Cox Brown,
and wellbeing of people enjoying our nightlife. This is This training will support venue staff to implement
such an important message. We need to let the people
a zero-tolerance approach in Bristol, while also promoting
of Bristol know that women deserve to feel welcome
the need for anyone witnessing any unwanted behaviour
in the city after dark and as such, we invite all Bristolians
in the city’s night-time economy to immediately call it out
to join our zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment.”
to staff. The project also includes a limited bursary for low-income and freelance night-time workers to be able
“Survey responses also demonstrate that the behaviours
to undertake the training.
which the public feel constitutes sexual harassment are also widely debated. This is telling of the complexity of
Night-time workers and businesses can sign up now to take
the issue and that a campaign highlighting what
part in training sessions throughout March.
constitutes sexual harassment as well as actions they should take when faced with an incident of harassment
The campaign from Bristol City Council utilises £282,000
is so critical.”
to improve women’s safety, following a successful bid for The campaign will feature ‘Shine A Light’ Parade. On
the Home Office’s Safety of Women at Night Fund.
the 24th of March, people from the night-time economy Carly Heath, Bristol Night-Time Economy Advisor, said:
in Bristol will lead groups through the city streets, dressed
“Improving the safety of women at night is vital,
in and carrying lights. The parade will end at Lloyd’s
and
achieved
Amphitheatre where speakers and artists will inspire
city.
the crowds with performances, poems and stories, inviting
a
without
challenge allies
which
cannot
throughout
be the
Bristol to join together in a zero-tolerance approach to the harassment of women in the city. To join the parade, join the Facebook event. More than 1,000 billboards and posters will be placed across the city, and content will be shared on social media to raise awareness and direct people to the campaign website for resources and support. 7
WELLBEING
Sensitivity as a Superpower? Written by Dominique Antonina Being a sensitive human can feel like you have no skin.
But it is a gift to feel, to intuit. Imagine the times that you felt
Like there is no buffer between you and the world. Do
intense emotions. Imagine having the worst day of your life,
you ever feel like that? If so, this article is dedicated
and then being met with an insensitive, oblivious, tactless,
lovingly to you sensitive souls. If you have no idea what
unfeeling, or ruthlessly unconcerned person in that moment,
I’m talking about, you might understand by the end the
how would that have impacted you?
blessings and burdens of being a sensitive person in an insensitive world.
Maybe you’ve had a taste of that. You’ve been going through something brutally hard and you’ve walked into your
So, who qualifies as a sensitive person?
local shop, or gone to work and people have been utterly
We all bear some level of sensitivity. And we all have
unconcerned, insensitive, or unaware, and there was no
blind spots and can be staggeringly oblivious too. Some
safety for you to whisper “I’m struggling right now,
are sensitive to criticism, some are empathetic enough
I just need a minute.” So, you retreated, a husk of yourself,
to feel other people’s emotions close to the bone. Some
convinced the world was a tough and ungenerous place.
are overly concerned with the pain of the world. The
In those husk states, we can turn mute. Vocalizing needs can
Germans call this weltschermerz and Francis Weller
be beyond our triggered capacity, and it is a blessing,
refers to it as the third gateway to grief.
a game-changer, if someone notices you, and shows you a little tenderness. This is what sensitive folk do well. Sometimes they know before you do. They see you a mile off, and before asking, they know already you’re not okay. Think of the times when someone has, without request, made you a cup of tea, covered for you at work, or listened to you even when they were tired and it was late. Because you, your feelings, and your experience matters. Sensitive people are needed. How much better would the world be with more sensitive, empathetic, loving humans in it? Think of some inspiring, sensitive people and their
Some of us are sensitive to coffee, drugs, sex, porn,
contributions to art, music, therapies, science, technology,
loud noises, or scary films. We’re not all made the same,
playfulness. Deep joy and vulnerability comes from the same
thank goodness, and there are levels of sensitivity that
visceral place – the inner child. The inner child stays
can mean we do quite well in this hectic life. But being
in tune with sensitivity, play and vulnerability. It doesn’t give a
sensitive can quickly lead to being overwhelmed, and
shit about deadlines, rules and scowls at jobsworths.
the need to escape into a fantasy land or lean into
It has a different set of priorities, valuing compassion, care
addictions.
and expression above all else. Existing sensitively and being connected to our inner kid is an imaginative and potent way
My rough definition of empathy is to experience a
of living and connecting with the world.
deep level of sensitivity and concern for other people’s
“But it’s so harrrrrrrd”, I hear you sensy souls purring. Yeah it
emotions and well-being, sometimes to the degree that
is! Sometimes it is just incredibly hard.
other people’s moods and needs can trump your own, or you struggle to set boundaries if you feel it could cause
I'm sorry if you thought this article would tell you how to
harm or upset. With a heart made of tissue paper in a
make it easy, I can't do that. Being sensitive to the pain of
world with many sorrows, how can we see sensitivity as a
the world and others will take up time, space, change your
superpower and stay centred?
plans, demand your attention... My advice? Find the stillness, the solidness of you within the sensitivity. You might feel like
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Firstly, remember sensitivity is a gift.
you’re made of tissue paper, but you’re not. You’ve survived
It might be an expensive gift, one that you wish
this long being sensitive in this ferocious world, so I’d wager
sometimes you could return & get a refund.
you can hang on in some more.
WELLBEING Pay attention to when and how your sensitivity is in service
other, so there’s no shame in being in need. You don’t
or in sabotage to yourself and others. Notice you’re not
need to carry the heavy weight of collective emotions on
responsible for other people’s processes or emotions or life
your shoulders. Nobody’s shoulders are that big. Make
story. It’s nice that you give a shit, but try to stay with you.
sure you have nourishing people to keep you uplifted, because sensitive people are also highly playful children
Give others your support, love, presence, but keep most
inside. And share your sensitivity like a manual everyone
of your attention with yourself. Give yourself a task to
is welcome to read. Let it ripple out.
refocus your energies. If your empathy is high, take a
How can you maximize the gift? Take a minute to
second to pause, breathe, and remind yourself that’s not
reflect on times in your life where your sensitivity has
what you’re there for. Although it is a beautiful gift to notice
been helpful. Maybe it steered you away from danger,
how other people are feeling and be available to support
made someone feel safe, or helped de-escalate a
them, it’s not your job to breathe for people. You might
volatile situation. Your superpower might be diffusing
think that I’m saying, “it’s not safe to be sensitive. Run!
chaos wherever you go without you even knowing
Hide!!” Rest assured, I’m not. I’m saying, use it wisely and
it! It is useful and no doubt it’s a strong survival skill.
channel it.
Many of us become highly sensitive because we
Let your gift of sensitivity have purpose. Imagine it as a
grew up in environments that were full of
mansion. It’s a BEAUTIFUL PRISTINE PALACE, but if it’s just
unspoken explosives or had families that
sat on some land rotting away, no one is benefiting from
communicated like they were military spies.
this marvellous gift that you have. Share your alertness and
We learned to read people’s moods, faces,
generosity in ways that are useful. Bring the wisdom of your
vibrations and sounds to understand which
sensitivity and empathy and allow it to be a superpower
way the current was going and act accordingly. Many
that benefits people. Be the one that instigates tricky
sensitive people are great at meeting other people’s
conversations because you picked up on the vibe. Be the
needs because they read emotions like braille.
person who notices someone else’s emotional state and responds in a kind and loving way.
If you feel open and paper-thin to the pain, then you
Develop self-care practices. Think of them as emotional
probably feel open to the joys of the world as well.
hygiene. You don’t brush your teeth once a month and
Where in your life does the positivity seep in? Where do
expect good oral health. A sensitive spirit needs a bit more
you get caught up in a collective buzz of triumph, hope
time to regulate. Creating rituals that you enjoy and look
and celebration? Your sensitivity could be a legal,
forward to is a wonderful way to stay sane. Crystals, Black
feel-good drug with no side effects, given the right
Tourmaline and onyx are good for re-balancing. Smudging
context. Where can you let in ecstasy?
and asking for rejuvenation/protection from any support you
Maximize the good stuff and monitor where you go out
have (be it spiritual support, friends, therapists or nature)
of balance, and with whom. This is a token that you can
taking time out for yourself, meditation, journaling, going
use in relationship to others. It can buy you intimacy, but
for a run, having a long, warm bath, eating nourishing food,
you can also gain debt if you overspend and don’t hold
a good giggle, dancing are all useful ways of being in good
your boundaries. The people that get it will support you,
energetic health.
and the people that push up against your boundaries may not be helpful folks to be within your inner sanctum.
Be discerning and create a strong support network. Monitor
Lastly, feeling like you have no skin can sometimes be a
whether you’re always in the role of caregiver, because of
bummer. Like when it’s raining outside or if you get too
your propensity to hold space or be alert to people’s needs.
close to an open fire. But feeling like there’s no buffer
Make sure you have friends who provide that role for you
between you and the world when it is glorious, when life
and respect your boundaries when you can’t be available for
is loving and magical and fun and spectacular… is quite
support. We all have wounding and medicine to bring each
heavenly.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Community Food Share St Werburghs Community Food Share project, set up in response to the global pandemic,
Donations of non-perishable food items and bathroom/ kitchen essentials can be dropped
has supported over 70 families through this
off at St Werburghs Community Centre in
unprecedented time in history.
the donation boxes provided. To find out more or
The community in and around St Werburghs has shown what can be
if you’re interested in volunteering, contact reuben@stwerburghs.org.uk
achieved when we work together.
or visit
Although some of the challenges
www.facebook.com/BFCFoodshare.
facing these families has changed since Covid-19 restrictions were
If you are a local family and you are
lifted, the issues are by no means
struggling with money you can sign
solved. Bristol families are still experiencing the struggles of rising food and energy prices. With the generous help of Burges Salmon, we are proud to be able to continue the food share project with the aim of tackling the root issues surrounding food insecurity. To support our Food Share Project, you can contribute to our GoFundMe campaign - all donations will help to secure the food parcels these families still very much need: www. gofund.me/90401615.
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up to The Food Share by calling us on 0117 955 1351.
LOCAL ARTIST
Ziva Zena
Živa is a mother, a room decorator and an intuitive artist with a base in socio-cultural anthropology. She combines her poetic writing with fine art and sometimes adds to it movement. Živa's artwork heals, honors and celebrates womanhood with a emphasis on early motherhood themes. Živa is deeply interested in native cultures, mythologies and archetypes. Neverthless most of her inspiration comes from the inside. For Živa, to create is to reach above the boundaries of the rational mind and experience the higher self. The creative process also enables her to enter the realm of the subconscious, where she discovers the old collective wounds as well as the ancient wisdom. Through artistic expression she is able to see it and work with it. Živa also offers Women's Sharing Circles with the elements of art therapy that are newly opened for public (see the poster). There will be also special monthly gathering just for mothers and pregnant women. Please get in touch for more info, inquiries or comissions: zivaazena@gmail.com or find Živa on social media: instagram: ziva.zena FB: Živa Žena Etsy: CreateShareNourish
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COMMUNITY ACTION
Help shape the future of Frome Gateway Bristol City Council are working on a project to guide the long-term transformation of the land either side of the River Frome in St Jude’s, known as Frome Gateway. They have been speaking to local residents, businesses, and landowners about their aspirations to create new homes, jobs and public spaces that better meet the needs of the city and the local community. Over February and March, they hosted three in-person community workshops at Riverside Youth Project and one community walkabout nearby. “It was great to speak to so many local people at our recent events. We’ve really enjoyed learning what people value in the area and what their ideas for change are. At this early stage in the project local people have the best chance to influence the long-term vision and strategy for change in the area. That’s why we’re encouraging anyone interested to get involved now”, said April Richmond, Community Development Practitioner at Bristol City Council. In the coming months the Council will be reaching out to the community again to discuss and build on the outcomes of the first stage of engagement. This will include a new round of events to begin scoping early options for regeneration plans in the area.
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You can learn more about the project and keep up to date with future opportunities to get involved at www.fromegateway.co.uk. You can also contribute online by adding your ideas and comments to the interactive map. Any questions are welcome by email at info@fromegateway.co.uk
LOCAL SHERO
Mrs Sandra Green Written By //Kabbo Ferdinand
Introducing Ujima Radio’s First Female Station Manager and Freelance BBC Radio journalist, coordinator and broadcaster Mrs Sandra Green. 8th March is universally celebrated as International Women’s Day. I believe we should celebrate our women everyday while many others don’t, judging by the damning statistics reported in the latest Women’s Aid report on domestic abuse; The Domestic Abuse Report 2022: The Annual Audit, Bristol: Women’s Aid published in March 2022. I thus feel it’s fitting to celebrate one of our local Sheros, whose voice and influence has had a dynamic effect on staff and listeners over the airwaves these past couple of months. Introduce yourself and describe your role at Ujima Radio.
Greetings! My name is Sandra Green. I’ve worked in radio since 2008, starting out as a co-host on Omega Radio. A black-owned community pirate station in London. Let’s just say the broadcasting bug bit and I started self-producing and presenting my own shows. Then Bristol called and a new home was found for my show on Ujima’s Saturday Breakfast Show each week. Combining my passion for social justice, community activism and interest in the history of black music, art and poetry. Having so much more to offer with my experience in middle management in large media organisations I felt equipped with the knowledge to further Ujima’s cause. I became the Station Manager that required me oversee the day-to-day running of affairs and to produce and curate over 50 programmes weekly whilst managing over 60 volunteer presenters and producers. Sales and advertising, content creation, training, audio recording, editing and scheduling are some of my daily responsibilities. I also freelance presenter and producer at BBC Radio Bristol and Somerset. . What is your motivation and what drew you to radio broadcasting?
I’m a people’s person. Always amazed and inspired by the incredible women and men in
However, their stories largely go untold. I use my platforms to celebrate their achievements. It is vital that the Black community has independent media resources that deal with issues specific to us. I’m motivated above all else to play my role in realising the importance of this to the African and Caribbean communities. Radio is pivotal in shaping our civil rights awareness. Movements like #Black Lives Matter and #MeToo have had a profound impact in their push for positive social change. Radio is a male dominated industry. Many women, myself included have had to navigate through aggression, misogyny, gaslighting, sexist and bullying behaviour. I hope my presence in my current position acts as a positive motivator to other Black women entering the industry. It is only through positive encouragement, support and reinforcement that we will build a representative and inclusive industry that values and respects all people. How is Ujima Radio's planning to maintain and deepen its connection to its audience?
We will continue working closely with our external partners like Kuumba, Malcom X, Rose Green, St Paul's Carnival and others. We will continue to foster a feeling of collective identity, pride, and purpose by offering strong factual news and addressing themes like racial discrimination, social, economic and educational marginalisation. Bringing our communities closer together will help us combat social ills like gun, knife and other crimes. What is your dream as station manager for Ujima? We want to continue producing engaging and factual based features, and encourage more young Black talent on their career journeys through training, mentoring and connecting them to opportunities. How do people get involved? Contact us at ujimaoffice@gmail.com or find me on Twitter @Nyah2000 or Instagram @Sandra_Gr33n, listen to previous shows on Mixcloud. Also coming soon is my new podcast Carry-gobring-come.
our community who plays an integral role in our continued cultural development. 13
COMMUNITY NEWS
The Stokes Croft Land Trust written by Rhian Grant
Community action against gentrification ‘Regeneration’. ‘Development’. Don’t we want this for our
The SCLT directors are clear that the
community? But there are important questions to ask first.
share offer is not a business investment,
Who makes decisions about developments? When land
since the goal of the land trust is stew-
and property is owned by corporate developers and distant
ardship, not speculation. But since the
landlords, with no ties to the area and no interest in the
SCLT is getting a cheap deal on the land,
local community, who benefits?
Cowling points out that “this is a pretty safe share offer, as community share
The Stokes Croft Land Trust (SCLT) intends to bring parts of
offers go.”
Stokes Croft under community ownership, to steward the buildings; support local economic activity & employment;
SCLT operates on a democratic, one member, one vote
continue offering inexpensive workspace for local artists,
system. So, no matter how many shares a member has,
musicians, designers, and craftspeople; and promote local
whether 10 or 10,000, they get an equal vote, and any
people’s engagement with Stokes Croft’s future.
member can stand for election to the board. Directors are volunteers, and they stand down every three years. As
To encourage local participation, the SCLT made a special
Cowling says, “All members are treated the same whether
community share offer of 10 shares for £10.00 to residents.
they are corporate or individual members. It’s good for us
Director Keith Cowling says this is important because,
to have a big influx of new members because we’ll benefit
“Stokes Croft is
from their energy and ideas.” So, if you don’t like the way
an area of small
the SCLT is being run, the best way to change it is to get
businesses,
involved!
cafés, venues, artists, and those
The roots of the Community Land Trust (CLT) go back to the
people have
civil rights movement in the USA, when Black Americans,
turned the Croft
including Slater King and Bob Swann, developed CLTs to
into what it is over the past 20 years. But almost none of them are owner occupied. So,
build economic and residential independence. And the model of community ownership is gaining popularity in the UK today. Here in Bristol, the Cube Cinema Complex was
when the land is traded, and speculation occurs, they will
purchased with community donations in 2011; and in 2018,
all be displaced. All the people who created all the value,
the Exchange in Old Market raised £250,000 in community
all the art, all the music, all the footfall, will lose everything
shares to secure their future.
they’ve created. That’s why it’s important to give them a tool for hanging on to the value of what their work has produced.”
Learn more on SCLT’s website and socials at: stokescroftlandtrust.org/about/ https://twitter.com/CroftTrust https://www.facebook.com/stokescroftland
14
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Memorial Roses Interview with Judit Davis Written by Rhian Grant
Tell us about the Memorial Roses planting event in February? On Saturday we planted the roses! About 15-20 people turned up and planted 13-14 rose trees along Grosvenor Road. We had help from the Bristol Rainforest. The Manure on the roses came from St Werburghs City Farm for free. It was a tremendous session of joy and connection. We’re going to plan another session for young people, it’s about the legacy as well. We also found out names for roses in different languages.
What is the Memorial Roses project? It’s about remembrance, celebration, acknowledge-
Where else will you plant memorial roses?
ment, connecting, and honouring the past, present,
We’ve got roses on the Seventh Corner by Winkworth
and the future. So that we don’t forget, throughout
Place. I’m planning to put more roses in areas where
the pandemic and beyond, our history as black
they’ll flourish best. I want to make sure it’s safe,
people, hundreds of years of enslavement and
beautiful, and practical, and find out if the Council
trauma. I also wanted something that was beautiful
can support us to make the roses along Grosvenor
here. There’s Portland Square just up the road with
Road protected, and to maintain them.
roses which are protected. That area is maintained to such a high level. I can’t say there’s anywhere in St Pauls that has that same care given to it. We’ve got enough beauty and enough history that the same entitlement is for us. You can have beauty and connection happen everywhere. We’ve had a dream, and we need the community now to say what they would like it to grow into. Where did the dream come from? The idea came about during Covid, and there was so much grief, sadness, confusion, isolation. I was lucky enough to take up some gardening. There were so
What are your future hopes for the rose bed on
many funerals and we couldn’t go. And if I went out
Grosvenor Road?
somebody would tell me about someone else who
Every child deserves to live in a beautiful place.
had passed. Some were people I knew, but I couldn’t
There’s lots of beautiful areas but everywhere should
even remember their faces because I’d not seen
have the same standard. Why are we accepting
them for a long while. From that, and conversations
rubbish and thinking that it’s ok? If the council doesn’t
I’d had with people in the community, and reading
have the manpower, we as a community do. We take
about black roses. People have connotations with
the fork, we take the spade and we get on with it.
black, but I don’t have those connotations. It’s a gift,
Each rose on Saturday was planted by a different
from a new-born child you come through a dark
individual. And Dr Flex said, “Each one of these trees
womb into this beautiful world. And death, for some
is going to be beautiful because they’ve been planted
people it’s a passing on into the next life, it’s our
with love.” My future plan is that it is blooming lovely.
ancestors. I thought if only there could be something
Flourishingly lovely. Better than Portland Square all
to remember them by, and people who have gifted
the year round, and it’s in St Pauls!
so much to our community. We’ve suffered a lot, in different ways. With black roses we can
To contact Judith for more information, or to donate,
memorialise that, and show that things will carry on
or help out, email Judith_v_davis@outlook.com
15
COMMUNITY NEWS
The Gangsta Gardener
written by Rhian Grant
Introducing Barley, local ‘Gangsta Gardener’, and one of a growing number of local people brightening the corners of St Pauls, cultivating vegetables and flowers in our community. Tell us a bit about yourself… I’m from a Caribbean background. I live locally and I’m always around. I’ve got my own little security company. I drive a bit of Taxi for Dad’s Cabs. I do delivery work, and I’m now just acquiring my HGV licence as well. Do you do your gardening alone? I do the project with Wayne, and then Judit hopped on as well. It was Wayne’s idea from the get go, ‘cause he put some pumpkins down two years ago, and they come during the lockdown. And we were hiding from each other and stealing (Barley laughs, disarmingly,) and then we just decided now, we’re gonna turn it into a garden.So then I started ploughing his bit, and then he finished it, and then Judit came, and we said can we do a bit for her. So I ploughed that up for her and then do my bit, and tell them to stay away from it! So what I’m gonna do is put some pumpkin in, I’ve got the seeds. I’ve got scotch Bonnet pepper seeds. I’ve got callaloo, it’s like spinach. And I’m gonna start planting the seeds this week some time. Some call it Guerrilla Gardening, and some call it Gangsta Gardening, after Ron Finley’s urban growing projects in LA. What do you call it? Well, I will have to go with Judit’s name, ‘cause she says ‘Gangsta Gardening’. So I’m rolling with the name. She gave it, so we keeping it! What’s your background in farming and growing? Put it this way, growing up in Jamaica, you can’t help but to have background in farming, so I take that to here. My Grandparents was farmers. I grew up seeing them farming coffee, cocoa, sugar cane, coconut, banana, plantain, yam, oranges. 16
They was big farmers. So I watched them and I learned from them. That’s how I get the yam to grow. Put it down, and it does it: spring up! A lot of people ask me, “How do I germinate the seeds?” It’s not hard to do. All I do is just put down the soil in a little plate or a little pot; put the seeds in a cup, put warm water, leave them there for a couple of days. When they break out I put them in the little pot with the little soil and they just start popping up. That’s how easy it is for me. Then you transfer them to where you want them to go. I guess it’s natural ‘cause they grow. Never fail me. I also have cho cho growing in my house on the tenth floor and I’ve grown yam in there, which I put in my soup. Everyone wants to know how I do it, but I haven’t revealed that bit yet. I’ve seen my grandparents done it in Jamaica, and I’ve done something similar. I ain’t giving that up! What made you decide to start farming on the corners of St Pauls? We ain’t got nowhere else! So we thinking of putting the whole green into a farm! It’s just there, it’s not doing nothing! They might as well let us plough it up and plant things in it. Potatoes, onions, scallion, even some mint. We’re not gonna cut the trees, because we need them. I’ve always wanted to do farming, ‘cause it’s something that I have a passion for, but just never had the source or the land. Can local people join you if they want to get involved? Yeah! I was a bit surprised the other day, the amount of people who showed up from the community and was helping. So there is a bit of community togetherness when it comes to the gardening. There’s a lot of people offering to join in when I’m gonna do my bit. I’m just waiting until the right days come, when it’s nice and dry and clear to start. If they wanna come and give a hand they can. I’m open!
COMMUNITY NEWS
A word about our cover... written by Alex Lucas Tom and Martin at Chaya Veggies approached us to paint a “psychedelic” themed mural on the outside of their shop. Their logo was a monkey and it seemed fitting to roll with these as the main characters.
We knew they sold pink and yellow oyster mushrooms and felt there was nothing more psychedelic than monkeys on mushrooms!
We had a team of four painters including Sarah Dicks, Bob Lawson, Paul Fearnside (aka mr lucas Antics) and Alex Lucas (Ms. Lucas Antics.) The mural took about 4 weeks to paint dodging the downpours!
2 Most Eggcellent
Massive thanks to Chaya Veggies for trusting us with their concrete canvas and supplying us with the most delicious and very healthy carrot and veg juice.
9-24 April 2022
You can keep up with our painty antics through our Instagram @Lucas_antics
Easter Family Trails
Big thanks to: Bob, Sarah Dicks, and Paul Fearnside the authors of the mural!
Book tickets bristolzoo.org.uk and wildplace.org.uk Registered charity no. 1104986
And the credit for the photo of the mural to Under Wing Productions! 17
LOCAL NEWS
Fairfield High School Pro-active ‘AIM’ students raise money & supplies for Ukrainian refugees A pro-active group of Year 10 students named AIM (All In Mind) from Fairfield High School (FHS) have been busy putting their latest plan into action; to collect a minibus of essential items for the Ukraine refugees. This latest initiative follows a string of matters close to the students’ hearts as they seek to make change, plus educate the school and wider community. For this latest mission, AIM created a powerpoint and made sure they visited all students in classrooms to raise awareness. As a result, an impressive number of boxes containing food, toiletries, sanitary products, blankets, sleeping bags, toys, gloves and hats were donated, soon to be delivered to those in desperate need. In addition to this, a non-uniform day has raised £650 in funds for the crisis. AIM has had an impressive year by identifying issues they feel passionate about, before putting in place an action plan; often involving meeting members from the school’s leadership team. Past examples have included International Women’s Day celebrations, implementing staff training to understand students’ experiences regarding gender, action related to the Palestine conflict, plus changes to the schoolwide uniform and behaviour policy. Did you spot any typos or errors? Fancy proof reading for Vocalise? if so please get in touch... your support would be appreciated. info@vocalisemagazine.org
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Amanda Bridgewater, Vice Principal at FHS comments: “The AIM group are a passionate, dynamic group of students driven by issues on a global, national and local level. They never cease to amaze me. In just under a week, they’ve generated a huge number of essential items identified on the British Red Cross website and suggesting a nonuniform day to raise money for Ukraine refugees. This, in conjunction with their other projects this year, speaks volumes for their bright futures ahead.”
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A word about Ukraine.... written by Hilary Finch
The Russian invasion of the Ukraine, Vladimir Putin's play for power is cause for huge concern. Bombing homes leading people to flee for their lives meaning there are thousands of people needing help. Refugees need help, the population needs help. The situation is developing from day to day and I can't say what will be happening by the time you read this, but please do keep abreast of the war, it's cause and effect and help where and when you can. Keep your eyes open for a volunteering opportunity, ways to donate especially medical equipment. Groups are popping up in different places with collections. Cash donations are best given through accepted channels such as the Red Cross Ukrainian Crisis Appeal, The United Nations Refugee Agency, Save the Children, Care and the International Medical Corps are some of the many opportunities to donate. We can only hope that this will not be a long protracted war, that some kind of solution will be found to make peace sooner rather than later.
How can you help written by Julia Widz Things in Ukraine are changing everyday, so it is important to keep up to date by regularly checking charities, news and social media to see what sort of help is currently needed. We've prepared a short guide on where to find information on how to help. Here is the list of a few local and national charities organising help: Bristol: Stand with Ukraine Bristol is raising funds and organising collection points around the city. UK: The Disaster Emergency Comittee is coordinating 15 UK aid charities and set up a Ukraine to aid Ukraine efficiently. The Brisish red cross is cooperating with the Ukraininan Red Cross. UNICEF is working to help children affected by the conflict. Another great way to find out how to help is by joining various Facebook groups. They have the most current infromation and news on various events, initatives around the city as well as the UK.
There was a number of groups set up such as: OFFICIAL Help from Bristol to Ukraine UK Acommodation for Ukrainian Refugees Rooms/Accomodation for Ukrainian Refugees among others. The easiest way to find those groups is by searching: "Help Ukraininan Refugees UK" or "Help Ukraininan People UK". The UK government has also set up a website with latest updates and information: https://ukstandwithukraine.campaign.gov.uk/ The UK government has also set up a "Homes for Ukraine" Scheme, where you can apply to become a host of Ukraininan individual or family. Thanks to this they will be able to apply for a visa and get admitted to the UK. There is £350 support for households hosting refugees under this scheme. There isn't much guidance on the Homes for Ukraine website on how to find refugees to help, however, it is advised to contact charities like Refugees at Home, Room for Refugees, Shelter 4 Ukraine, Reset. You can also find people to host on Facebook groups. Once you find someone to host you should be in touch with them directly, and fill visa applications with their and your details together. If you know ukrainian or russian and you would like to help, Bristol Childrens hospital is looking for translators. You may also wish to contact other charities like Stand with Ukraine or Bristish Red Cross and see if they need your help. Again, social media as well as newspapers are a good source to see who needs your help currently.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Thoughts from an Oldie Spring is on it's way and as I write I have a few tiny crocuses popping up amongst the daffodils now showing their leaves. I am looking forward to the sky blue of my forget-me-nots that grow without any effort from me. The various storms fortunately have done little damage to my garden. Even when the weather is awful and I am hunkered down in my front room, flowers and nature are a backbone of my various art efforts. The sense of connectedness, growth, the colours, the stretching open of leaves, minute movements all play a part in my approach to handling a pen or a brush. I am not a professional artist, I would call myself a dabbler who occasionally comes up with a piece to feel proud of, that to me has a clear image or successful expression.
Written by Hilary Finch
Like so many of us I need change, a trip, an outing, just seeing something fresh to feel stimulated, to keep going rather than just ticking along. Now with free movement back on the map I am being a proper oldie and going on a 5 day coach trip to South West Wales in late March. This, I hope, will be a bit of an adventure and provide me with companionship too and possibly even new friends! Luxury coach, food provided and a bed to sleep in all sounds good to me plus the fabulous views in that part of our nation. I will take some sketching tools with me. Perhaps following this I will actually come up with a decent painting on canvas. I hope this will prove more exciting that the regular scribbles I have taken to doing while listening to the BBC!
Montpelier and St. Pauls Art Trail It has been quite a few years since Montpelier had it's own art trail so I am getting another one going to include St Paul's. The dates that have been decided by a small group of us who met last year at the Old England pub are the weekend of September 24th and 25th. The usual routine for these events is for people to exhibit in their homes along with a friend or group of people. Cafes and pubs might also be interested. The Cafe at St Paul's Learning Centre could also be available. I talked to Jem the manager at SPLC who feels it might be possible to use the big hall there too, but this would need negotiating by anyone wanting to. Costs are involved, but a good idea for the community might see a way to minimising these. We have a Facebook page but I think it is time I had email addresses for people who want to take part so I can easily keep in touch with progress. Ideas are of course welcome as we will need to print a map of participants in due course that I will need 22
Written by Hilary Finch someone good with graphics and the internet to deal with. Printing will involve some cash and the amount will partly depend on the numbers of people taking part. My email address is hilarypfinch@yahoo.co.uk or I can be reached through Facebook messaging. I am wary of getting a WhatsApp group as the constant pinging of it drives me nuts! The area will involve streets between the M32 and St Andrews Road in Montpelier and Ashley Hill and Stokes Croft/Cheltenham Road.
Recipe for:
Halloumi grain salad Prep: 10 mins Cook: 15 mins Serves: 4 Ingredients: 200g halloumi, chopped 1 packet of tenderstem broccoli 1 apple, chopped into small squares 240g bulgar wheat 1 tbsp honey 1 tsp wholegrain mustard ½ tbsp balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp olive oil Method • • • • • • • • •
Preheat the oven to 210C/190C Fan Place the sweet potato on a tray and drizzle with oil, roast for 20 mins or until soft inside. Put some oil in a large pan and add the onions. Fry for 5 mins. Add the spices, tomato paste, and garlic. Stir well. Add the tinned tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and peppers. Simmer for 10 mins. Add in more water, kidney beans, and lentils. Leave to simmer for 20 mins. Once the sweet potato is cooked, add to the pan with a tsp of sugar for an extra kick of flavour. Meanwhile, cook the rice according to package instructions. Once everything is ready, place a tbsp of rice into a bowl and top with a ladle of chilli.
Better Food has partnered with Nommm to deliver sustainable recipes for you to follow at home. Scan the QR code to view this recipe digitally and find out more about it's climate impact label.
23
COMMUNITY NEWS
Malcolm X
Community Centre
11 Employees arrived at the Centre to provide General help with maintenance at the centre – painting, cleaning, DIY projects. All of the team had a great time and it was great to see the positive impact that they had on the centre. And most importantly they will be working with MXCC on a regular basis in the future to hold Employability Skills workshops and also a Careers Fair.
MXCC recently hosted Turner & Townsend employees at the centre under their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) policy. They believe that it is vital to support local communities, especially those that are near their offices in Castlepark Tower Hill, Bristol BS2 0JA. One of the ways they give back is to provide office staff an away day with a difference by volunteering for a good cause. On Friday 25th February,
GET INVOLVED! Vocalise is always looking for members of the community to get involved with the magazine. We are always on the look out for: Writers/Poets Artists Editors Distributors Advertisers Photographers Get
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Front cover submissions are also welcome! And don't forget to send in your local photos!
in touch...
Summ er issue deadli ne 2nd of June
E M M A R G PRO Mondays - Malcom X Elder, 10am - 3pm. Main Hall Tuesdays - Play Wooden, 4pm - 5pm. Evon Berry Room Tuesdays - My Space After School Class, 5pm - 7pm Tuesdays - Cubatone, 6pm - 7:30pm. Main Hall Tuesdays - Capoeira, 8pm - 9pm. Main Hall Wednesdays - Cubatone, 8pm - 10pm. Main Hall Thursdays - My Space After School Class, 5pm - 7pm Maya Angela Room Thursdays - Harambee Chess Club 7pm to 11pm. Evon Berry Coming Soon... Room Bingo Once A Month Computer Clubs, Jobnetwork Bristol, Thursdays – Extinction ion, Rebellion, 6pm-9pm. Main Hall Accessible IT, Job Preparat Qualified Tutor, Tablets. Sundays - Bethel Church Starting Wednesday 9th March. Sunday School, 12pm - 2pm. 2pm – 3.30pm. Evon Berry Room. Outdoor Cinema Project, Evon Berry Room June - September 2022
ZZZ
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Mina Road Action Group
Written by Kathe Jacob
A fledgling new campaign group has been set up in St Werburghs to achieve the transformation of a street environment – eliminating cut through traffic along Mina Road and returning the local High Street to social, neighbourhood use. After years of discussion, consultations and unsuccessful plans from the Council, the community is taking a lead on bringing about change and Mina Road Action Group has been born. Recent traffic counts demonstrate that over 700 motor vehicles pass through the street in a 2.5 hr period and its clear that the majority of these vehicles are not residents from the area. In a day, we can expect that to be around 1500 vehicles – generating noise, pollution, fast and reckless driving behaviours. All over the UK, communities are shifting their priority from polluting, dangerous vehicles to safe space for walking and cycling. These positive and healthy forms of transport improve rather than harm our community and its time Bristol got behind this campaign. Strangely, most of Bristol’s bid to the Department of Transport Active Travel Fund Tranche 3 is due to be spent on central Bristol projects in affluent areas: “The headline scheme will be improving and making permanent the pedestrian and cycle infrastructure on Upper Maudlin/Park Row/Colston Street and Queens Road.” Additional schemes will be Cotham Hill and Old Market and the total cost for these projects is £4.67 million (Decision Pathway Cabinet Report, BCC - 14th September 2021)
Following the streetscape improvements on Whiteladies Road, one has to wonder how bad things need to get where we live before we get Council support. There is apparently no money and no plan to improve St Werburghs. So what are we asking for? Firstly, the chance to triall the closure of Mina Road at the M32 end. With a quick, cheap and easy Experimental Traffic Restriction Order, we can monitor traffic over 18 months to see how it responds – and how the community benefits. During the trial, nearby roads which are impacted negatively can install additional measures – its as simple as a planter, a “no entry” sign or a bollard. We can measure if levels of cycling increase along the street and collect feedback from residents before its made permanent. Secondly, less whitewash and more honesty in our dealings with BCC Transport team – led by the Mayor’s office. After raising the hopes of local residents in 2020, they have backtracked on their own proposals for closing Mina Road and are instead offering us a “handbook”! The evidence of traffic volumes, speed and road danger is there and patently unreasonable for a tiny C road to carry main road traffic, so Bristol City Council need to follow through. We call on the people of St Werburghs and Bristol to support our traffic triall, join our Mina Road Action Group and sign our petition on change.org. https://chng.it/fqPhZHSH For more details contact Kathe at kathecakey@ outlook.com. We are planning a poster campaign across the area and attending Council meetings to raise our point in person. All welcome!
26
LOCAL EVENTS
What’s on...
Running an event? Let us know and we'll help promote it!
Blood, Blackbeard and Buccaneers at The Golden Guinea
29 Mar to 27 Sept
Extraordinary new revelations about Blackbeard, the world’s most famous pirate, are promised in Show of Strength’s new walking tour of Bristol docks – just in time for the 300th anniversary of his death. The tour lasts 2.5 hours, visiting dockside hostelries and landmarks along the way.
The Meaning of Zong at Bristol Old Vic
2 Apr to 7 May
Dream the impossible: a story of one man's belief in the value of humanity, and his fight to defend it.
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience at Propyard
9 Apr to 4 Sept
A 360º digital art exhibition to step into the universe of the Dutch genius. .
We Will Rock You at Bristol Hippodrome
18 Apr to 23 Apr
The worldwide smash hit musical by Queen and Ben Elton returns to the UK. The multi-million-pound show dazzles all the senses in breath-taking style. Guaranteed to blow your mind, this musical phenomenon is not to be missed!
Free reduce, reuse & recycle webinar From bristol Waste
20 Apr
Have your primary school children expressed an interest in wanting to protect the environment, but felt they didn’t know how to help? Join the Bristol Waste Community Engagement team, for a free fun filled online session, to inspire your little ones on how they can help Bristol #WasteNothing.
NEw Roots
24 Apr
New Roots is an established community allotment. We are looking for new members – preferably with experience and interest in growing a wide variety of produce. Come and meet us on our lovely allotment at the corner of Ashley Hill and Briavels Grove
Bristol Folk Festival
29 Apr to 1 May
The UK’s best-loved folk artists take to stages across the city alongside a taste of the world, and the best of the west.
City Nature Challenge with the Festival of Nature
29 Apr to 2 May
City Nature Challenge is an epic, global mission with over 400 cities around the world taking part to collect as much wildlife data as possible over a specific four days.
Low at Trinity Centre
30 Apr
Over the course of their constantly evolving career, Low's exploration of minimalist soundscapes and divine harmonies have garnered high praise from critics. The indie rock group's music is characterised by slow tempos and minimalist arrangements, topped with distinctive vocal harmonies.
BRISTOL WALK FEST
1 May to 31 May
Bristol Walk Fest returns this May offering digital excursions via the Go Jauntly app, signposts to a variety of walking routes and activities, step-counting incentives and, it is hoped, a choice of guided and themed walks catering for all ages, interests and fitness levels.
Bristol New Music
5 May to 8 May
Bristol New Music proposes an adventurous exploration of the city through sound, with artists from across the radius of contemporary music gathering for four days of newly commissioned works, sonic responses to rarely used spaces, landmark concert hall programmes, club nights, gallery exhibitions and film programmes.
Bristol Refugee Festival
6 June to 26 June
Various events happening around the city. Healing through community. For further details go to: bristolrefugeefestival.org
Bristol Beacon Record Fair
18 June
The biggest Record Fair in the South-West, spread over all five floors of the Bristol Beacon Foyer building. 27
KIDS ACTIVITIES
PUZZLES Spring has finally sprung! This time, we have a great outdoor game for you! Find the most beautiful flower or tree in your area. Draw it and/or write a poem about it. Best sumbissions will be featured in the next edition!
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SUDOKU
SUDOKU Difficulty level: EASY
Difficulty level: MEDIUM
Difficulty level: HARD
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Your Councillors say... Since I was elected in May last year (thank you!) it’s been a rollercoaster. Apart from the occasional success helping someone with some individual casework
Dan Norris was sympathetic but without a lot of lobbying from a lot of people it probably would not have got anywhere. But now we have ended up with the No 5 being reinstated.
it can, frankly, feel like you are banging your head against a wall. But I have a couple of recent examples where I can see the results of positive community action, linked up
The second example was residents highlighting a ‘rogue ‘ developer who was basically sitting on a property in St Werburghs allowing it to go to ruin. Local residents have raised it for many
with local councillors where we can
years. Local councillors helped champion
see some real impact.
and the officers of the councils used it as The first is the Number 5 bus.
a test case to take the owner to court for
First bus made the decision to
breech of improvement orders. In the scale of things the fines were not that much nut if
cut out the evening and weekend service. A Young mum came to our councillor surgery about it
they fail to comply they will be in contempt of court. I think we will see some action and good on the officers for taking a punt.
highlighting how it would impact her life as she didn’t have access to a car. We had a great conversation and she went off to organise a facebook page and petition. It quickly reached over
So the message is this: whilst it is frustrating, keep on vocalising; keep on being tenacious and eventually you will get results.
600 signatures which helped me to go to a West of
Tim Wye
England Coalition meeting and ask the metro mayor directly about whether they could consider the No. 5
Councillor for Ashley Ward
as one of the public funded contracted bus services.
Bristol Walk Fest... The city’s hugely popular, annual walking festival – Bristol Walk Fest is back! The month-long celebration of all things walking throughout the city will take place from 1st to 31st May 2022, we look forward to being able to promote a wealth of in-person walking related events and activities, self-guided walking routes and challenges, and much more throughout the national walking month of May. Events and activities will cover a wide range including walks, tours, talks, workshops, family events and taster sessions and will be around the themes of art, education, food, sport, history, architecture, wildlife and nature, or anything else a walk could cover! The full line-up for Bristol Walk Fest 2022 is due to be unveiled around the start of April where you will find a packed calendar and details of how to book. In the meantime keep up to date via BWF social media pages or visit www.bristolwalkfest.com 30
COMMUNITY NEWS
Police Update So, we are now a few months into 2022 and things are starting to pick up on the Ashley ward as we ease towards the spring and it’s a welcome sight indeed. As we start to adjust to living alongside Covid, there will no doubt be individuals who are still struggling to deal with all that has occurred in the past 2 years. Please come and speak with your Ashley Neighbourhood team, we are on hand to signpost you in the right direction for any issues that you may be facing, from mental health, addictions to money worries. There is help out there, and we really don’t want anyone in our community to struggle without the necessary support.
We have had lots of neighbourhood policing work going on in the last few weeks: we have held successful events at St Pauls Learning Centre, where we were joined by our Mounted Police. We marked over 30 bikes at this event and engaged with many members of the community, thank you for stopping by and saying hello. We also attended St Agnes and St Andrews Park along with our young aspiring police cadets, where we spoke to community members about ongoing issues in their local areas and conducted knife sweeps using our brand new metal detectors. Knife sweeps are something that we do across Bristol and which help us to deter and disrupt knife crime, something I know we all feel strongly about. We have also conducted schools visits at local primary schools and also set up weekly sporting events.
Written by PC Serena Serjeant We have been really listening to what local residents have been telling us and increased our visible patrols around Stokes Croft, Grosvenor Road, Ashley Road and residential blocks to help tackle and reduce noise complaints, anti-social behaviour and local drug dealing. We also went on a walk around with the TALO community and spoke to local residents in person about issues that were affecting them. We are working hard to help eliminate the issues you told us about which ranged from speeding vehicles (something our community speed watch PCSO Beth Chadd will be helping to resolve) to anti-social behaviour and drug taking within the residential blocks which we are now routinely patrolling. The team and I also had a continuous professional development day where we were lucky enough to visit the local Mosques, Sikh Temple, Greek Orthodox Church and a Jewish Synagogue. This really helped us to understand our diverse local communities better and we thank each of them for welcoming us on what was a really interesting day. There is light at the end of the tunnel and we may have even reached it with all the restrictions now gone! We are very much looking forward to the summer events that are coming up and will no doubt be soon upon us! Take care, Serena
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Get ready for Bristol’s Clean Air Zone
Summer 2022
Bristol is introducing a Clean Air Zone to reduce harmful pollution. Older and more polluting vehicles will be charged to enter the zone. Check your vehicle online and find out how we can help you prepare for the zone.
bristol.gov.uk/cleanairzone
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