ISSUE 26/SPRING 2022
VOCALISE
FREE
YOUR COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR: ST. PAULS, ST. WERBURGHS, ST. AGNES, MONTPELIER
APRIL - JUNE
This is YOUR community magazine if you’d like to be involved get in touch!
Welcome!
info@vocalisemagazine.org
Welcome to the spring edition of Vocalise, the community magazine for St. Pauls, St. Werburghs, St. Agnes and Montpelier. Just a quick Hello to introduce myself briefly. My name is Bob Lawson and I am new to the Vocalise magazine team. I spend my time bouncing between Bristol and Uganda. Painting and decorating in Bristol and volunteering with Softpowereducation.com in Jinja, Uganda. Thats where I am right now sitting on the bank of the River Nile enjoying the start of the rainy season eating the juiciest of pineapples. Softpower is an non-governmental organisation based in the UK, we build Primary schools, education centers and health clinics throughout the region. This time round I am focused on long drop toilets- replacing full ones and building new to help improve quality of life. Imagine a school with over a thousand kids and no loo! Yep, it's grim. So, if you're interested in supporting us, either by donating and/or coming and getting involved yourselves, do it! Thanking you. Catch up when I am back. Bob.
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Welcome Local Artist: Beth Richards Bristol Refugee Festival Earth Day The Coa Gallery RefuLingua Tigerstripes Fitness & Wellbeing Womens Day Kuumba Center St Pauls Carnival Update Bristol Emergy Fuel Fund Thoughts from an Oldie Mencap
@vocaliseBristol @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) Judit Davis (Director) //Kabbo Hue Qua (Directors) Julia Widz (Project Manager) Laila Garzón Deguer (Project Assistant) Ian Jones Lucille Smith Hilary Finch Aidan Bristow George Dunn Bob Lawson Also special Thanks to all our contributors.
Contents 2 3 4 5 6-7 8-9 10-11
vocalisemagazine.org
21 Jikonia East Africa 22 Poetry Group 23 What's On 24-25 Puzzles and Sudoku 26 You Councillors Say 27 Duke of York
Front cover: Mural by Wei aka 'Silent Hobo,' and Cherie Ford. Thanks to the artists and Parkway Methodist Church. Vectors and photos from: Vecteezy.com. Photo on page 8 from Unsplash.
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LOCAL ARTIST
Introducing... I can try to it myself but I might need your help, it’s just a disability, that’s me reality. You are being unkind, with the words on your mind, so change your attitude, 'cause your life ain’t like mine You just seem to stare, it isn’t very fair, I’m just like other people, we all need some care. Be ashamed of yourself, with the things that you say, we’re equal & we’re perfect at the end of the day Chorus Whatever you think of me, Don’t assume it’s me, I’m perfect as I am, I’m perfect as me x 2
Respect by Beth Richards from Bristol Poetry Group more info on page 22.
Respect! Chorus x 2 Your disrespecting me, cause of my difficulty Don’t focus on the negative, try positivity Because that’s what I do every single day I focus on the positive in every way I’m perfect as me Chorus x 4 Come on respect, please respect me, YEH!
I live on my own, and I am independent, I can think for myself, look after my health, I take every day just as it comes I can’t change who I am But you can change your attitude, your attitude, You can change your attitude My life is mine To be included in the next issue send your photos to info@vocalisemagazine.org Deadline is the 17th of June. The best submission will be used for our front cover!
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Bristol Refugee Festival 2023 There was a buzz of excitement at Bristol Refugee Festival’s packed planning meeting on 22nd March, with over 50 people from across the West coming together to discuss ideas and collaborations for the 2023 festival. Each year in June the Festival invites people to host events, big and small, that encourage local communities to get to know each other, share food and activities, and celebrate cultural diversity. Events in 2022 included film screenings, park walks, Latin American and Tibetan arts showcases, craft clubs, community feasts and much more. This year, the theme of ‘Compassion’ was set by Refugee Week, who invite us to ‘widen our circles of compassion to include all our human neighbours and our shared home, planet Earth’. The Festival team have been busy over the past year, connecting with communities in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset to create a network of spaces of welcome, and are hoping there will be more Festival events and activities across the region than ever before. Jules Olsen, Festival Director, comments “It was fabulous to see so many people at our planning meeting and we look forward to a diverse programme of events and activities. We’re hoping to continue the localised community-led gatherings that began two years ago, helping more areas across the region to get involved. We’re also very excited to announce that our flagship Celebrating Sanctuary event in Queen’s Square, Bristol, will finally return on Sunday 25th June.”
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Other key events in the programme will include the Festival Launch at Docklands Community Centre, the organisation’s new home, on 12th June; and the Our City Cup Football Tournament at Lockleaze Sports Centre on 18th June. This year the Festival is very proud to see their ambassador team take a central role in organising the celebrations. Ten volunteers from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds will help advise, plan and lead many of the events and encourage participation from different groups. There’s still plenty of time to get involved and we encourage all individuals, organisations and communities thinking about organising or attending an event to keep updated via our website, socials and newsletter. If you have an idea for a project you can register online: www.bristolrefugeefestival.org/be-involved/be-a-festival-eventpartner/ Deadline for submissions is 21st April 2023. A full programme will be announced in May. For further information please contact info@ bristolrefugeefestival.org. : www.bristolrefugeefestival.org // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube #BRF2023 #refugeeswelcome
COMMUNITY NEWS
Earth DAy This Earth Day, we invite everyone to take a moment to appreciate the beautiful planet we call home. Let us reflect on our relationship with the environment and commit to making small changes in our daily lives that can create a lasting impact. As a community, we can embrace a sustainable lifestyle by adopting these simple tips: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: A classic mantra that never goes out of style. Be mindful of your consumption and waste generation, and always prioritize recycling. Shop Local: Support local farmers and artisans by purchasing from farmer's markets, local stores, and participating in community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs. This reduces carbon emissions from transportation and helps our local economy. Save Water: Fix leaky faucets, use watersaving showerheads, and collect rainwater for gardening. Every drop counts.
Police Update written by PS Julie Hayward I am happy to introduce myself as the new Sgt for St Pauls, Ashley , Montpelier and St Andrews. I have a full team of Police officers and PCSOS working alongside me and we are working hard within the community to ensure public safety and responding to Anti social Behaviour reports, and any other incidents you wish to talk to us about.
Green Transportation: Walk, cycle or use public transport whenever possible. Sharing rides or carpooling can also reduce your carbon footprint. Plant a Tree: Join Bristol's tree planting initiatives or plant one in your backyard. Trees provide clean air, shade, and wildlife habitats. Energy Efficiency and Renewables: Switch to energy-efficient LED bulbs, unplug electronics when not in use, and switch to 100% renewable energy tariff! Similar prices but no carbon footprint. Go Meatless: Try incorporating plantbased meals into your diet wherever you can to reduce your carbon footprint and promote a healthy lifestyle. Educate and Inspire: Share your sustainable living tips with friends, family, and neighbors. Together, we can create a greener Bristol. Let's come together this Earth Day to celebrate our planet and make Bristol a shining example of sustainability. Remember, every small change makes a difference. Happy Earth Day!
I have been in post for 6 weeks and have thoroughly enjoyed my time here, we have dealt with a wide variety of issues from Supply of class A drugs, anti social behaviour in parks, assisting the local street wardens with high visibility patrols, licensing checks on licensed premises during the evening, checking on vulnerable persons at risk of exploitation and liaising with councils/ housing association and other partner agencies. It’s been a busy time 😊 Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you are experiencing any problems that you think we can help with my team are ready to help.
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LOCAL NEWS
Finding identity through art: the Coe Gallery Throughout 2022 Bristolians visiting the Vestibules art gallery at City Hall were mesmerised by an exhibition of artwork by 30-year-old Wiradjuri-British artist Jasmine Coe. Although that exhibition of the Coe Gallery closed in August 2022, this July Bristol will once again play host to the gallery, forming a bridge between city and Aboriginal Australia, including the Wiradjuri Nation, the largest Indigenous group in New South Wales, Australia. Jasmine, who studied fine art at Bath Spa university, said that amongst her favourite pieces are the ‘Earth with Honeybees’ paintings which explore our relationship with the land and “the importance of connecting to the earth.” The bees “act as symbols of hope reminding us we all have our parts to play in protecting our global home.” The Coe Gallery was the UK’s first Aboriginal-owned art gallery. Jasmine said she was nervous about opening the gallery due to the weight of the history between the UK and Aboriginal Australia and the historical erasure of a people and culture. 6
written by James Ward
For Jasmine, the Coe Gallery was a space in which Aboriginal people were “able to represent ourselves and create and hold space for other Aboriginal artists and people to have their stories heard and shared how they would like to here in the UK.” Throughout the exhibition, outside the gallery on College Green there flew an Aboriginal flag - symbolic of how through her artwork Jasmine finds connection with her own Aboriginal heritage Since 2016, Jasmine has visited Wiradjuri country in Australia, where she has connected with her father, family and heritage. These trips, she said. are “a continuous source of inspiration.” “My work is essentially a celebration of what I have learnt from connecting to my Aboriginal heritage. Through this journey I have learnt of self-acceptance which forms my understanding of self-identity,” Jasmine said. “My work feels all the more powerful to me because I now know who I am and my work allows me to harmonise any internal personal conflicts I may feel by celebrating our natural world. “ Further, Jasmine believes that art can help others feeling the tension of identity in an often fractured world. Art, she said,
“can allow space for understanding of cross cultures and can provide a visual introduction to someone else’s experience. You have the potential to begin to see from someone else’s perspective if you are open to it.” The Coe Gallery has also been a vehicle for Jasmine to explore her own Identity in her relationship with her father, Paul Coe, an Aboriginal activist after whom the gallery is named. Paul Coe dedicated his life to reaching a place of equality and self-determination for Aboriginal people, and this work is a source of inspiration for Jasmine. Paul was an inventive and committed activist. In 1976 he and a Bundjalung man named Cecil Patten travelled to England to stage a ‘claim’ of England as Aboriginal land, mirroring the claiming of Australia by the British in the 18th Century, despite the fact that Aboriginal peoples had lived on the continent for 65,000 years already.
legal rights indigenous Australians have to their land. An exhibition at Tate Modern in London is currently exploring this in ‘A Year in Art: Australia 1992’ “It is a personal ambition of Coe Gallery to celebrate Paul Coe with the acknowledgements and appreciation for his dedication of work and commitment to reaching a place of equality. By existing as a space here in the UK, we are continuing to practise self-determination and share in his values,” sadi Jasmine. The next stop for the Coe Gallery is the Affordable Art Fair in Hampstead on May 10-14. At last October’s Affordable Art Fair the Coe Gallery came runner up for the Curatorial Excellence Award. Coe Gallery subscribers can get complimentary tickets by signing up at www.coegallery. com. And best of all the Coe Gallery will return to the Vestibules in July. More information will be available soon via Jasmine’s Instagram and website.
Later, along with others, Paul established the Aboriginal Legal Service, and challenged the historic dispossession of Aboriginal peoples in a case to the United Nations. Although this case was ultimately unsuccessful, it did lay the foundation for the successful Mabo v Queensland case in 1992 which recognised the 7
LOCAL PROJECT
Learn a new language with RefuLingua Marhaba. Soo dhawow. Hello! Have you ever wanted to learn Arabic? Ever wondered what languages are spoken in Afghanistan? Maybe you live or work among Bristol’s Somali community, or want to learn about Bristol’s different cultures and languages with native speakers. You can do all this with RefuLingua! I’m curious. Go on… RefuLingua is language learning with a difference. By providing training and support, we enable people of refugee and migrant background to gain employment through teaching their native languages. This challenges the stereotype of refugees being people who only need or receive help, and rightly recognises and values them as neighbours, contributors and teachers in our community. It also means our students get to learn languages not commonly taught elsewhere, and get to meet people of different backgrounds and cultures through sharing conversation. Our fun, informal classes focus on speaking, rather than reading and writing. They build connections and understanding between students and tutors alike. Groups are small and lessons are highly interactive.
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How many languages do you teach? RefuLinga currently offers five languages and dialects (Sudanese and Syrian Arabic, Pashto, Dari, and Somali). These are some of the most widely spoken languages in our local community. What we offer also depends on what our students want to learn - we try to be as flexible as possible, within the limits of being a small project. The project began with Arabic as its main focus, and although Arabic is still our most popular language, we have a steady stream of people wanting to learn Pashto, Dari, and Somali too. We occasionally have requests for Farsi and Kurdish, and those are two languages that we might expand to in the future, so watch this space! Who can sign up for classes? Anyone! We have students of all ages and backgrounds joining in. Lots of our students are people working in and around the communities where these languages are spoken. Others are just curious. Some have started learning a language elsewhere and want to continue practising. Others have a very specific reason, for example having a family member they want to be able to speak to in their native tongue.
COMMUNITY NEWS We charge a fee for lessons so that we can pay our tutors, but if this is a barrier to joining in then do still get in touch, as sometimes we have enough to cover subsidised places at our discretion. How do I sign up? ● Our new programme begins 1st May 2023 with registration open from April ● Prices start at £60 for an online group course (8x1hr)/£120 for 1:1 ● We offer Sudanese and Syrian Arabic, written Arabic, Somali, and Pashto and Dari (*the two official languages of Afghanistan) ● Classes can be in person or online, in groups of up to 6. We also offer 1:1 or 2:1 classes ● We can offer bespoke courses for businesses/charities/schools that want lessons for staff or volunteers. Get in touch via the details below.
Contact us: Instagram/Facebook: @Refulingua Web search: ‘RefuLingua’ Email: susannah.gooch@ bridgesforcommunities.com Our Testimony “A beautiful thing happened last week. An Eritrean young person who I used to foster went to Ethiopia to get married. He hadn’t seen his mum for 8 years. He Facetimed me from Addis Ababa with all the family including his wife’s parents. They speak a little Arabic and I speak a little Arabic, thanks to RefuLingua, so we could greet each other. It was so lovely. Just a few phrases and we were connected. My foster son was so proud of me!” - Student, February 2022
What our students and tutors say: ‘I feel that my ability to make conversation really increased with this class, and I got to know some lovely, really interesting people at the same time’ Student - Syrian Arabic ‘A highlight for me was the cultural insight which [our tutor] brought.’ Student - Pashto ‘I enjoy the feeling of developing new skills and using them in my teaching’ Tutor - Syrian Arabic ‘I really love teaching the students. They are active and motivated too.’ Tutor - Dari 9
COMMUNITY NEWS
Move Your Body, Your mind, Your Life. written by Jasmine Haque TigerStripes Fitness & Wellbeing Living in a world where we are constantly bombarded with stressors is knackering! They come at us from all sides – our jobs, our families, our relationships, and even our leisure activities. It’s no wonder that so many of us are struggling to find balance in our lives. We stay busy taking care our lists of responsibilities as best we can, we want to be fit and healthy, and we want a social life. But after everything else there is to do, there aren’t enough hours in the day and there is definitely not enough energy! Finding the path to balance can be difficult. Feeling full of stress can weaken our connection with ourselves and what we really want from life. Do you ever feel like you are in auto pilot? Just doing... Overthinking, procrastinating, thinking of all the what ifs and whys can make us feel tired and weary. This keeps the nervous system in a state of arousal and over time can lead to all sorts of problems.There are also some emotions we just don’t talk about, probably for fear of being judged. Do you ever paint on a mask and just get on with it? Wanting to do something different to everyone around you can be scary too. And then there are those feelings of envy, greed, jealousy and many other states of discomfort that are beyond uncomfortable. Thoughts alone often lead to experiencing even more emotions of stress that can cause serious unease.
Over a prolonged period of time these feelings can become very difficult to manage and can colour our perspective. Trouble sleeping can cause us to become more prone to anxiety, depression and even physical health issues. What I have learned is that feelings are not right or wrong, they are signals. Its knowing what to do with them that can cause real grief. Many of the actions I took when in highly emotional states was often less than optimal! Its not easy to admit but I’m sure we can all think of a time when our feelings have deterred us from doing something we really wanted to do, or even compelled us do something we shouldn’t have.We all deserve to find ways to overcome our stressors so we can start to live healthier, happier lives. That’s why I am so passionate about motivating and supporting people to create small changes which make a huge difference. I teach simple and easy ways to incorporate exercise and ways to actively relax and de-stress. One great way to do this is through movement, and dance in particular has been shown to be one of the most effective stress-busters around. Helping to boost mood, increase energy levels and improve heart health, dancing supports strengthening physical balance, co-ordination, imagination and so much more. But wait! “I’m not the exercise or yoga type” I hear you say... Don’t worry – there are plenty of other ways to get moving and de-stress. Here are a couple: Start small, simply standing and sitting will get your heart pumping. If you have stairs and it is safe, you can simply walk up and down them. Walk sideways around your house. Yes be silly! Laughter is highly recommended! Use a timer and increase the duration of your move making from one minute, to three and so on, over a period of time. Get out in
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LOCAL PROJECT nature. Spend time walking in the neighbourhood. Enjoy the parks, bridges, smells and sights letting the fresh air, wind, rain and sunshine work their magic. Dance and play! A game of catch or even card games are movement! Body and mind get involved! Spending time on your own or with others, doing things just for fun to reduce stress is not selfish. It can really increase a sense of well-being, and give you much-needed breaks from everyday monotony. Make time for yourself and seek things that put a genuine smile on your face. A bit about me: I am a daughter, sister, auntie, mum, friend, survivor and dance enthusiast as well as Fitness instructor, Movement In Practice facilitator & wellbeing coach. I believe that every individual has the potential to achieve better health and happiness in ways that work for them. I loved to dance as a teenager but the responsibilities of adulthood had got in the way of enjoyment. When St Pauls Carnival was cancelled in 2012, many of us wanted a community event and the children wanted to dance so I volunteered to lead them. While dancing with the children, I encouraged them to play and add their own unique ideas.I regained a sense of my own freedom. and realised that this was much more exhilarating than drunk dancing around my handbag on a Friday night.Attending female fitness classes helped me to move and express my self in new ways. Moving for fun was what really got my attention! I began to focus on my health and got into a deeper relationship with myself. Its not the dancing itself but how it makes us feel that I find so interesting. TigerStripes and its tag line find your fierce represents inner fire and the scars we acquire throughout our journey of life. Some visible, others in our memory. Keep fanning the flames, your ambition, your will and dedication to reach self acceptance, to love yourself and love it all. Scars, mistakes, the lot!
I had to pass this on! I qualified to teach fitness in 2015 and have delivered dance fitness sessions to hundreds of amazing individuals, bespoke movement for children in schools, adult women, marginalised, vulnerable people and elderly groups. I love to hear about the progress and knowing people feel good just makes me happy. I also offer group wellbeing sessions and 1-2-1 coaching to support individuals over come low self esteem, build self confidence, and manage stress using holistic practices. I aim to support individuals and communities find their inner fierce and flow energy through various modalities of mindfulness and movement. Exercise the body. Stretch the mind. Entertain the brain. Free the heart. Focus.Move.Meditate.Regenerate. I love encouraging, empowering and supporting individuals to take charge of their physical and emotional well-being and create healthy, happy and fulfilling lives. Whatever you do today... LOVE YOURSELF FIERCELY! For more information or to get in touch: www.tigerstripesfindyourfierce.com Roar@tigerstripesfindyourfierce.com
Inspired by my son encouraging me to stop putting myself down. Little ears hear a lot! He told me I was stripey and orange, like a tiger! He made me smile and slowly I found my fierce. 11
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
International Women's Day written by Ben Rolfe
Hosted by Bristol Womens Voice
Bristol Women’s Voice was founded 11 years ago, and their mission is to unite all women in Bristol. Through lots of listening and research, they understand what it is that concerns the diverse range of women across Bristol, and ensure their voices are heard by decision-makers. They also run specific projects that are focused on supporting independent women’s groups and organisations, enabling them to find their own voice.
It was still the morning, but the place was packed already, showing just how important this event was to people. The atmosphere was vibrant, women were all talking to one another, and it was clear this was a space where they could share anything. There was also the small added bonus of seeing men and children attending to show their support, showing many believe in the fight for equality.
The 11th of March 2023 was the charities flagship event, and it took place at City Hall. It has been running every year since the charity was founded and is a big celebration of International Women’s Day. Vice-chair of Bristol Women’s Voice Bonny Chung explained the purpose of the event, saying: “It aims to bring together all the women of Bristol and create a sense of solidarity. It really highlights the diversity of women in Bristol and how this kind of outreach can help them to celebrate together”. When I walked into City Hall, I was immediately taken aback by the number of people at the event.
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Over the course of the day, various talks were held, such as support for black mothers and menopause in the workplace. There were a vast number of stalls to visit, ranging from the Latin American Women in Bristol Project to the Chinese Community Wellbeing Service. Jen DeKalb-Poyer was on the Age UK stall and said: “We are really happy to be a part of the event. We see lots of people we don’t normally see and can reach out to them. We want to let people know that older people are here and contribute. We’re part of society, and we’re part of Bristol, and we don’t want to get left out”.
LOCAL HERO On top of those things, there was the opportunity to make postcards, attend a poetry workshop, watch singing and dancing performances from diverse cultures and even learn how to launch a podcast. But if you were wanting to do something a bit more active, there was a Flamenco Dancing class, Curvy Girl Yoga and Pilates. These were just some of the choices from the seemingly endless list of things to do. Even the food had a diverse range, including food from Somalian and Latin-American cultures!
But Bristol Women’s Voice are here all year round, and Bonny Chung wants women to know that the organisation exists for them. She said: “I hope they realise they can come to us with any feedback or consultations they might want us to think about in our work. And I also hope they will feel inspired and understand that they can do any of the things being done here today, whether it’s owning a store or being an artist and exhibiting their work. There’s something here for everyone”. The organisation is open to all people who define themselves as women and you can sign up for free and be part of their movement, and if you did not manage to make it this year, definitely attend next year’s event! Contacts: Website: https://www.bristolwomensvoice. org.uk/ Email: info@bristolwomensvoice.org.uk Twitter: @BristolWV Instagram: @bristolwomensvoice Facebook: Bristol Women’s Voice Address: The Vassall Centre, Gill Ave, Bristol, BS16 2QQ
There really was something for everyone and the event was accommodating to all women. Co-chair of Bristol Women’s Voice, Clare Meraz, highlighted the importance of this, saying: “diversity is really important to us as an organisation. That’s why we do things like having a free creche on site so childcare isn’t a barrier for people coming. We provide free transport for people who need support arriving. We have interpreters both in languages and sign interpreters. We do a number of things to try and make this an event that is as inclusive as possible, but we can always do more and will continue to do more”. The event really made it clear that all women of Bristol are an important part of society, and it truly did celebrate their achievements as well as provide an opportunity to learn.
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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Kuumba Centre written by //Kabbo Hue Qua
What’s happening with Kuumba Centre? For some time now there’s been uncertainty surrounding the status of Kuumba Centre. The St Paul’s and surrounding communities are wondering what the future holds for the centre. Past History. Kuumba was set up in 1974 as a Community Social Hub. It then progressed to an African Arts and Community Resources Centre to service the St Paul's and Montpellier areas of Bristol. Its purpose was to offer bespoke cultural and educational experiences for the ignored and underrepresented African and Caribbean communities. The premises are revered for providing memorable experiences and good services to the community then and now. Fundamental and necessary services were provided by organisations like the Black Voluntary Sector Development Unit, Bread Youth Project, Bristol Black Carers and the Sankofa Library Bewani. Today there are other fundamental organisations either using or based at Kuumba. I had the opportunity to sit down with Chairperson Sis Nwanyi to update us on the current situation.
Sis Nwanyi is known as a long-standing righteous Rastafarian woman with a strong passion and a caring heart and is seen as a pillar of the St Pauls community. Love and Greetings Sis, please introduce yourself. Greetings! My name is Sis Nwanyi, some people know me as Empress Nwanyi. I'm a mother of three children. I’m a Qualified (B.ed) Primary School Teacher, Nursery Nurse and NVQ Childcare Assessor through the Black Development Agency (BDA). Or was I should say, as I’m now retired. My track record in the Black voluntary sector is exemplary and I’m recognised for my work in combating marginalisation, social exclusion, deprivation, etc. faced by black people in the community. People from many different cultures use the centre and I’ve learned how to interact with people from different backgrounds. Life is what it is and I am a proud, multi-skilled Afrikan. Can you tell us what the situation with Kuumba currently is? Our current predicament is that we’ve been told we’re not legal, that we’re trespassers and need to shut down all operations. The council asked us to va-
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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT cate the premises in October 2022. They further proceeded to accuse us of being illegal and in breach of our lease agreement. We thus don’t agree with this assessment. The Bristol City Council told us that we need to inform the numerous groups onsite to also vacate. These organisations offer vital services to the community. This is not right! All we want to do is keep serving our community. All Breaches of the Lease Clauses have been denied and submitted to the Council through our solicitor. Any attempt to remove us from the premises will be opposed significantly and the Council challenged openly! How have you gotten into this situation? It all started around 2010. We heard there were problems and that the council was taking over the building. The previous board was suspected of the mismanagement of funding. We mobilised as the Rastafari and broader community. We felt that it was our responsibility to resolve the situation. Kuumba was known for a large output of African and Caribbean arts across the southwest. We ensured that this continued and is continuing.
What is happening in the building now? We have Two Way Street BME Mental Health and Well Being CIC, Life 2020 CIC, Many Minds Substance Support Group, Urban Minds Black Males Mental Health Service supported by RETHINK, Creative Town Powers, a Capoeira Dance Group, a Young people Dance Group, Grassroots Studios Local Talents, Kuumba Live Open Mic and many other parties, Reggae Roots nights, community meetings, etc. Even without funding, we have the community engaged and using the centre. Our desire is to raise Kuumba Centre back and make it better than ever. Any closing remarks? I’d like to end by saying that we need our community now more than ever. We want this vital cultural work to continue. We feel that an injustice is taking place. We want the community to know and annalise the facts and not listen to the rumours. The truth needs to be known. There’s nothing now we can not or intend not to resolve. We might have made some mistakes in the past, but we intend to keep Kuumba a vibrant, community-serving cultural hub. For this reason, we’ll fight for our rights and not be moved!
Our management journey started in 2011. We’ve tried to apply for the money but were refused. The Arts Council also withdrew their funding. We thus found ourselves in a situation where all support was cut off. We ran a dual process to access the viability and necessity of managing Kuumba and a business plan grew out of this. Despite our efforts, we were still denied funding and support. This is ultimately what has undermined our actions, yet we’ve persisted and have created a vibrant community hub.
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LOCAL NEWS
St. Paul's Carnival Update
Earlier this year we announced that Carnival Day will be making an epic return on 1st July. Since then, the team has been working hard to prepare for the big celebration – and we want you to be involved! There are plenty of ways you can participate this year, from volunteering to sharing your memories for the Carnival Community Archive, and we’d love as many people from the local community as possible to be included. Carnival is, after all, made up of the people around it! Join a Community Mas Camp Be a part of the Carnival Day procession by joining one of our Community Mas Camps! Come together to create costumes, learn dance moves, and connect with your Carnival community, led by local artist Carol Sherman. This year there will be a youth Mas Camp at St Pauls Adventure Playground (Saturdays, 12pm - 4pm), and a mixed age Mas Camp (Thursdays, 3:15pm - 6:15pm) at St Pauls Learning Centre, both starting mid April. Check our website for more details, and email admin@stpaulscarnival.org.uk to sign up to a camp.
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Volunteer at Carnival We're on the lookout for volunteers to help us out in the delivery of Carnival Day. From stewarding to banner making, any support you can give is hugely appreciated. Full training will be provided, so don't worry if your experience is limited!
To register your interest, email admin@ stpaulscarnival.org.uk or visit our website: stpaulscarnival.net/st-pauls-carnival-2023-get-involved Apply for a Temporary Event Notice If you’d like to sell food or drink from your premises on Carnival Day, you can apply for a Temporary Event Notice via the Bristol City Council website. Applications are open to anyone living in St Pauls who holds a personal licence. We’re keen to offer advice and support to anyone applying, and are holding drop in support sessions at St Pauls Learning Centre on the following dates: Wednesday 5thApril, 2pm - 5pm Tuesday 11th April, 11am - 3pm Wednesday 19thApril, 3pm - 6:30pm Tuesday 25th April, 3pm - 6:30pm Swing by and we’ll help you fill out your application. Please note the application costs £21, plus an admin fee of £5, payable via cash or card at the support session.
LOCAL NEWS Meet the St Pauls Carnival Team Join us on Thursday 13th April and 11th May at Docklands Community Centre, 5:30pm - 8:30pm, for an evening with some of the Carnival team playing dominos and breaking bread. We’ll be providing information on Carnival activities and how to get involved. We’d love to see you there – no booking necessary, just drop in and say hello! Share Your Story for the Carnival Community Archive We’re excited to have launched a Carnival Community Archive. We want to capture the story of Carnival from the perspective of the community – but we need your help! From back a day to present, we want to know your Carnival experiences to archive its history for future
generations. Send us your pre-existing Carnival images, videos and written anecdotes to community@stpaulscarnival. org.uk, or visit our website for more information: stpaulscarnival.net/st-paulscarnival-2023-get-involved St Monica’s Trust Residential Tour Beyond Carnival Day prep, we’ve also been out and about in St Monica’s Trust residential villages, bringing our documentary ‘Inna Wi Carnival: Reflections of a Generation’ to elderly residents. The film features elders in the local community reflecting together on what Carnival means and entails. A big thank you to local schools St. Werburgh’s and Fairlawn Primary for joining us and entertaining everyone with their steel pan performances. It’s been an amazing way to connect cultures and generations across our city, and we can’t wait to see where the documentary takes us next! If you have any questions about Carnival please feel free to get in touch with us via email at admin@stpaulscarnival. org.uk or phone at 07514238380. We’ll continue to provide updates on our social media channels, @stpaulsCRNVL, and on our website, stpaulscarnival.net – so be sure to check in to stay up to date with the Carnival latest!
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LOCAL NEWS
Bristol Emergency Fuel Fund It’s such a pleasure to be asked to contribute to Vocalise and share a bit about what we’ve been doing as an organisation. One of the biggest things our Project Development Manager has been involved with – literally as well as metaphorically – has been helping to build England’s tallest onshore wind turbine in Avonmouth! BEN’s Dave Tudgey has been working with Ambition Community Energy, a Community Interest Company owned by charity Ambition Lawrence Weston, to get the project off the ground. Ambition Lawrence Weston owns the turbine, so all the profits will eventually go to them to help fund all the things they do in the area. The main turbine structure’s been erected now and it should start generating electricity by mid-April. It’ll generate enough energy to power roughly 3,500 homes – around the same number that are in Lawrence Weston but due to the way our energy system is structured, the energy produced will go through the National Grid. We’re so proud to have someone involved in an energy project that’s bringing decisionmaking and profits back to local people! Something else we’re really proud of are the Energy Helpdesk sessions we run across Bristol.
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written by Jonathan Adams
We offer friendly, free advice and tips on how to get household bills down, and what to do if you’re in (or at risk of being in) fuel poverty. Over 2022 and 2023 we’ve directly helped more than 800 people and given out dozens of things like energy-saving light bulbs and magnetic thermometers. Contact coordinator@bristolenergynetwork.org if you think your local organisation would benefit from a session.
Finally, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s shared or donated to the Bristol Emergency Winter Fuel Fund! If you haven’t heard, it’s a city-wide crowdfund to help people struggling to pay their energy bills. We’re really grateful to the Mayor of Bristol for including us in his blog before Christmas and to BBC Points West for highlighting the Fund in one of their TV bulletins. But above all, we’re thankful for every person who put their hands in their pockets to help their fellow Bristolians. In the end, we’ve raised tens of thousands of pounds, helping hundreds of households in need. Thank you for your generosity and kindness.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Thoughts from an Oldie written by Hilary Finch The weather has not tempted me to do much gardening yet so I have been busy with my paint brushes and playing around with great colours while the skies have been so grey and miserable! As a result I have decided to have an exhibition of all the work I have done over the last 20 years or so. This will be on Saturday May 6th and Sunday May 7th (despite the Coronation) at my flat, 83 Ashley Road, BS65NR between midday and 7pm. This will give people a chance to look through work I have not mounted or framed and hopefully give me some feed back and have some interesting conversations. I will be selling artwork too and my prices will range from £20 for some unframed pieces to £120. My crotchet hats will also be available to buy! I am hoping to have some help for this so tea and biscuits can be enjoyed in the garden too!
body moving reasonable. Things like running on the spot while the kettle boils for my cuppa. Touching my toes and bending my body around and generally stretching to keep reasonably mobile. When I paint using acrylics despite standing on a carpeted concrete floor, making my strokes helps me feel more alive. I am looking forward to painting au plein air as the saying goes when the weather warms up. One place I have been enjoying recently is Docklands where I enjoy lunch for Elders on Fridays. Good company and good food! I spend a lot of time alone so this is a very welcome place to be. Lets hope Spring brings us to a great summer, an amazing Carnival and some splendid times!
In the meantime I am off on another Coach trip, this time to Scotland, Oban and the Isle of Mull. Watching the weather forecast for that area has me a bit worried as I am not well equipped in the coat department to cater for snow and freezing weather, but hopefully all will go well. I have wanted to explore Scotland for years so I am taking this opportunity with thick socks and several layers of clothes going along with me! I will be taking a sketch pad and water colours too. I chose the end of March thinking that the midges will not be so keen to eat me. As I write this in the second week of March the temperature up there is -2% and full blast winds from Norway! I have been lazy when it comes to walking. Apart from the cold, I have to walk past so much rubbish everywhere it puts me off! I do, however, exercises to keep my old 19
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Community Event by Mencap ‘My Community Bristol’ is working across Horfield, Lockleaze, Ashley, Bishopston & Ashley Down to help make these areas an even better place for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives. Following the huge success of the first event last September, the ‘My Community Bristol’ Action Group (local people with and without learning disabilities) are planning another inclusive community event for all ages! They hope to bring together community members, with and without a learning disability, to celebrate all that is good in our area! There will be music, creative activities, food, and much more! This event will be from 10:30am – 3pm on Saturday 20th May at Horfield Methodist Church, Churchways Avenue (just off Gloucester Road). They will also be hosting another event in St Pauls/St Werburghs in the Summer. The Action Group would love to showcase local groups and activities and give people the opportunity to try new activities by offering taster sessions of what’s on locally. Please get in touch with Community Partners, Jess and Alice, if you’re interested in running a taster session, or would like some further information: mycommunity.bristol@mencap. org.uk or call us on 07890 043455 / 07816 295082
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 Front cover submissions Artists are also welcome! Editors And don't forget to send in Distributors your local photos! Advertisers Photographers Fundraisers Get in touch... info@vocalisemagazine.org 20
Summ er issue deadli ne 11th o f March !
LOCAL NEWS
Jikoni East Africa Jikoni East Africa is a St Paul’s based food business showcasing the food culture of East Africa, with traditional and inspired by dishes from Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Tanzania. They are based at the Coach House Business Centre on Upper York Street where they serve lunchtime tasting boards, salad bowls and small plates. Chefs Iman and James have been perfecting the menus since they met back in 2017, drawing inspiration from Iman's exploration of the Nairobi childhood food scene as a youth, her mother's Somalian home cooking and drawing on James's love of food and experience in the industry.
and carried on popping up where they could in-between. In March 2022 they opened at The Coach House to a fantastic reception from the locals and will hopefully be expanding into larger space there by spring of this year allowing them to open for evening service. James: “This is so exciting as it allows us to really delve into all the traditional recipes we’ve got stashed away and also to get a little more creative with the dishes” On top of this Jikoni are busy developing their social enterprise arm with the support of the Black South West Network. Starting this spring they will be delivering 150 healthy and tasty meals to those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis as part of a new food bank programme. Iman: "Supporting the local community is something we’ve always been passionate about and we are really fortunate that BSWN can help us achieve this, it’s the start of many food based social enterprise initiatives we’ll be delivering from the Coach House”
Iman “I used to find myself craving the fabulous variety of dishes from all over East Africa I could find through street food traders in Nairobi, it was such a magical place to grow up in and explore as a teenager, it left an unforgettable inprint, so we decided to bring the magic to life in Bristol!” Jikoni started trading in 2019 with appearances at Bristol St Nick’s Market, Bath Christmas Market and restaurant pop ups in Bristol. During the pandemic they managed a delivery service during lockdowns
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LOCAL NEWS
Poetry Group in Bristol The poetry group has been running for five years. We have had exhibitions all over Bristol at the council houses, city library, Hamilton House and we took over the Bear Pit - cleaned up a tunnel and put up poetry posters in 2016 which bridged the homeless community and the learning disabled community. The group have also performed their work in many venues, including mainstream open mics i Bristol and recently had poems featured as part of "In the Dark" at the wardrobe theatre. The group love doing trips out and about and have recently visited Wake The tiger, Bristol Museum and the M shed and have written poems about each place. We decided to do an audio walk around the Harbour as Rob Trail in the group walks around the Harbour often and gets a lot of peace and inspiration from it. As we talked about the harbour everyone realised they had safe spaces around the Harbour that they liked to visit so we spend a few weeks exploring the Harbour writing some site specific poems and some poems inspired by the place. At the Misfits we believe that raising visibility of and for adults with learning disabilities is vital in challenging and changing attitudes of mainstream culture. This is the link to the Lyra festival with the poetry group’s event https://www.lyrafest.com/#events/ e86751
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Here’s the link to the poetry harbour walk which will launch 22nd April as part of Lyra poetry festival: https://explore.echoes.xyz/collections/HcMIkstAWAEqfBnz
INTERWINED Another universe is beginning an impossible underwater world. Heart in the body beats underneath we are connected. DNA twists puzzles that fit together. Family are cells that multiply connected arteries, veins heart-trees, genes. How are you put together? Dad tall, me tall Mum big-boned, glasses – like me family tree a puzzle that fits. Bus maps, bus stops, tickets, bellsconnect us. When you know, you know. Poem by Beth Richards
LOCAL EVENTS
What’s on...
Running an event? Let us know and we'll help promote it!
The cave art of Lascaux at bristol museum & art gallery
Until 10 Sept
Step back in time 21,000 years and visit the incredible Stone Age cave art of Lascaux in immersive 3D virtual reality experience.
Beginners weaving course at st pauls learning centre
until 17 May
Learn to weave your very own fabric! This 8-week course on Wednesday evenings will set you up with a great foundation of hand-weaving skills with the opportunity to learn how to make your own cotton fabric that can be turned into place mats or table runners.
Lyra: Bristol poetry experience
22 April to 1 May
The hybrid festival will feature a range of in-person and online events including readings, performances, workshops, panel discussions, a lecture, family activities, a walking tour, an open mic, poetry slams and a film screening.
Bristol Walk fest
1 May to 31 May
Bristol’s month-long walking festival offers a variety of ways explore the city and its surrounds on foot.
Foodies Festival
12 May to 14 May
Foodies Festival is the biggest touring gourmet food festival in the UK, featuring MasterChef champions, Bake Off favourites and Great British Menu stars.
CrimeFest
11 May to 14 May
CrimeFest is a convention for people who like to read an occasional crime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics. Drawing top crime novelists, readers, editors, publishers and reviewers from around the world, it gives all delegates the opportunity…
The Stomp Project at Trinity
12 May to 13 May
Love Saves the Day
27 May to 28 May
Stomp Project, a Bristol-based sound system, record label and events company, are back from their rumoured retirement for their first ever show at the Trinity Centre.
A Bristol born festival that showcases a diverse range of genres and music styles.
Dot to Dot Festival
27 May
Showcasing a lineup of innovative, exciting and ground-breaking acts in intimate spaces across Bristol.
Cables & Cameras - Attention all creatives and filmmakers!
3 June
Don't miss out on the opportunity to attend the Inspired Takeover event on June 3rd at the Watershed, where you can network with like-minded individuals and watch a diverse range of feature films and short films from filmmakers from Leeds, London and Newport. Let's come together to support and uplift up-and-coming diverse talent from across the UK. Keep this date in your diary and we look forward to seeing you.
Bristol Craft Beer Festival
9 June to 10 June
Set beneath a glittering, ethereal surface you will find Shakespeare's dazzling play transformed into a macabre Edwardian fable from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. As night falls our slumbering players are swept up in an otherworldly experience, left to navigate fairy enchantments, lovers' quarrels and patriarchal norms.
Bristol Sounds Harbourside festival
21 June to 25 June
Aid Box Community, a Bristol charity offering support to refugees and asylum seekers, is launching its Aid Box Cook-along classes in the New Year.
Bristol Pride
26 June to 9 July
Bristol Pride Day 2023 will take place on Saturday 8 July with 2 weeks of events running from June, with headline acts on Pride Day including Jake Shears and Nadine Coyle. 23
KIDS AND ADULT ACTIVITIES
PUZZLES
Spot 8 differences!
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SUDOKU
SUDOKU Difficulty level: EASY
Difficulty level: MEDIUM
Difficulty level: HARD
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Your Councillors say... Democracy! Governance! Committees! Lots of residents have been asking us about what is happening with the design of the committee system. With no mayor in 2024 how will things get done in the council? In January I was elected as the chair of the group of councillors working to design the committee system, so I may have some answers for you. The key thing you need to know is that you can attend our public meetings, which take place on the last Friday of every month at 11:0013:00 in City Hall. You can ask questions and submit statements by sending them to committeesystem@bristol. gov.uk. These will be read by the councillors, and you may also get to speak in the meeting to influence the debate. One of the key things we have heard so far is the need for transparency, more engagement with local people, and more work to be inclusive. Those principles clearly must be central to whatever system we implement next. I’m glad we are having public meetings now, as it is a lot easier to talk about transparency when you have the public there to make sure you stick to your word. 26
As the chair it’s my job to make sure we debate a lot of big questions and give a steer on what we think will be the fairest way to work. It’s a lot of pressure, but so far it has been great to see councillors from every party working together and being constructive – hopefully a good reflection of how the committees will work come 2024. Councillor Jenny Bartle
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
The Duke of YoRk Kate and Anita have been working in the Duke for years but took on the lease on the 1 st Feb. It wasn’t part of the plan but when the opportunity presented itself it just made sense ‘For the last 20 years there have been strong women running the place and Anita and I are moving forward and building on that ethos. ‘ Kate, who has been managing the Duke for over 10 years, says it’s pretty much business as usual ‘if anything we have dialled it down a bit. Since Covid people have changed the way that they drink and socialise. We just want it to be a space where people can come and meet their friends and socialise. Loads of people come in and play board games now.’ I‘m a big fan of the new board games section, often in a pub you won’t find quite so many but there is a really good selection here now. ‘It’s really lovely looking around on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and there are loads of people just playing games – it feels nice’ They also want it to be a safe sober space for those who want that. As Kate says ‘We’ve got a massive non-alcoholic section. Going to the pub isn’t just about getting smashed any more, it’s about spending time with your friends and that doesn’t have to involve necking 6 pints.’
written by Lucille Smith
England with the most breweries per capita so as Kate says ‘Why would you go further afield?’ They offer a Bristol made cider and even the house gin is from Bristol Distillery. As well as the board games there are plenty of activities to enjoy. The skittles is back and the pool table has been re-covered. There is a dart board too. The skittle alley is free to use (returnable deposit for the balls) and I just found out you can reserve it! Although they only allow a couple of reservations per evening so it doesn’t get booked up. The Duke somehow pulls off multiple vibes. It’s a community hub, a hidden gem and destination pub at the same time. A friendly local, with a hint of hipster, built on love, with space for everyone. ‘We want this to be an inclusive space for all generations and people who identify in all different ways. The Duke has always been a pub that women feel safe in and this has extended out to other communities.’ Anita and I both feel really proud of what we are providing, and that’s important. It has to be more than pouring pints and selling peanuts- it’s about providing something of worth for our community. ‘
Not that the booze isn’t important. The Duke is a free house with a commitment to offering a rotating selection of good beers and supporting as many local businesses as possible. ‘We are thoughtful about what we are doing and thoughtful about our beer choices’ Bristol is the brewing capital of 27
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