Vocalise Winter edition 2024

ISSUE 29/WINTER 2024

VOCALISE

FREE

YOUR COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR: ST. PAULS, ST. WERBURGHS, ST. AGNES, MONTPELIER

JANUARY - MARCH

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

Welcome!

Welcome to the winter edition of Vocalise, the community magazine for St. Pauls, St. Werburghs, St. Agnes and Montpelier.

Happy New Year and welcome to our first edition for 2024, but also the final edition of Vocalise as you know it! This issue is filled with heart warming articles for upliftment and inspiration as well as ideas and activities you can get involved in.

Vocalise Magazine has been dedicated to the community of St Pauls, St Agnes, St Werburghs and Montpelier for over 7 years and is coordinated and run by a small team of volunteers, it has been a joy to serve our local community and we love our community! After some deliberation, consultation and demand; Vocalise is embarking on a new journey and progressing to become Bristol’s grassroots arts, culture, and well-being magazine.

We are planning to kick off from March 2024, and plan to serve Bristol’s community as a whole. We see this as an exciting opportunity and plan to nourish and include the city as a whole. On page 16 of this issue, we have an exciting poetry competition; Diaspora poetry, please do try out your writing skills and give it a go, if you are selected you will get a shot at being published or better still, a chance to perform your piece at the exciting new city-wide festival that is being launched by DAN or Diverse Artists Network on the 3rd of May 2024, Diaspora! Vocalise will be supporting the festival by printing the programme as well as having some juicy arts and culture articles, local advertising and sharing activities for Diaspora!

We are always on the lookout for volunteers to write articles, distribute, take photos or support in any way you possibly can. If you’d like to get involved please email us on our Vocalise email; info@vocalisemagazine.org Please don’t think of this as the end, as it's only just the beginning…

Vandna

Welcome Local Artist: K PROPH£T The heart knows best.

Into the woods Narroways Nature Reserve Winter Warmer Photography courses 12-13 WEA Community Pollienator Fund 14 Jo Hall 15 Camel 16 Poems for Diaspora!

17 Thoughts from an Oldie 18 I stand with Love

vocalisemagazine.org @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) Hilary Finch (Director) Julia Widz (Project Coordinator) Ian Jones Anna Ruggiero Lucille Smith George Dunn Bob Lawson Also special Thanks to all our contributors.

Front cover: Newest Camel mural by FEEK.

Contents 2 3 4-5 6-7 8-9 10-11

info@vocalisemagazine.org

19 20-21 23 24 25 26 27

Book Review St Werburghs Community Centres What's On Puzzles Sudoku Your Councillors Say Update from the Police

Vectors and photos from: Vecteezy.com.

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LOCAL ARTIST

Introducing...

K-PROPH£T

Bristol born artist K PROPH£T, also known as ‘KP’, is a rising force in the music scene. First appearing on underground mixtape ‘Now or Never’to hopping on stage with local collective ‘NON STOP GRIME’ in 2018, the dynamic rapper brings a fresh perspective to the game. With a unique blend of Hip Hop, UK Rap, Drill, and R&B, KP’s raw lyrical prowess resonates with authenticity.

Having already made waves within the Bristol Scene with not only his latest single ‘BERSERK’ but as a creative pioneer, K PROPH£T is set to leave an irreplaceable mark on the world of hip-hop with his debut solo mixtape ‘CALL ME KP’.

Drawing inspiration from past experiences and current community constraints, each track is a journey through the artist's mind and insights.

Contact: contactkprophet@gmail.com

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WELLBEING

The Heart knows best.

The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart - Buddha. written by By Anna Ruggiero BA (Hons), DIP HYP CS, Cert-Couns.Studies.

Us humans are clever things, well on the whole. But sometimes, we can get it wrong and this is especially obvious when it comes to our thoughts, or rather, how we identify with our thoughts in a harmful unconscious way. When we strongly identify with our thoughts/feelings and we believe that what we feel is the truth of a situation, we can act in ways that negativey impact our connection to other people, and the connection to yourselves.

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Ever had it when you feel insecure in a relationship and you convince yourself that your partner no longer loves you or feels the same way? Maybe they spent longer than usual replying to a message or they seemed distance after a hard day at work.

Our brain can play tricks on us sometimes.

Maybe our parents were distant or we exeperieced abuse or neglect in our early years so our minds are super-vigilant to any change in behavour from others.

The feelings we may feel at the time are not relevant to what is happening in our current situation, and here our minds are operating on ‘ high alert’ a bit like a CCTV camera scanning for danger. This highalert energy can play havoc on our nervous system and our heart-rate, and if we are not careful, many of us will find ourselves acting on these thoughts and feelings which can then create serious issues and misunderstandings in our relationships. We become reactive to certain situations and

may say and do things that we later regret once our nervours system has calmed down and we are ‘back in our hearts’.

When we are reactive and triggered, our nervous system is usually in over-drive and we are caught up with whatever is going on in our heads taking it as the absolute truth.

But there is another way to exist in the world that offers a more compassionate way of relating to ourselves and to others and this is known as Heart Consciousness. I first came across this concept after reading How to be the Love You Seek by DR Nicole Lepera and since then, I have become a massive advocate!

Heart consciousness is all about tuning into the energy of your heart and tapping into its limitless energy of compassion and kindness.

Yes, it’s a thing! Once we start to feel rather than always think, we can connect more with our initution and our awareness. We become more present and grounded and can connect from a place of love and not fear.

The organs in our body all play an amazing role in creating energy and working together. We naturally tend to think that it is our brain that performs the biggest role when it comes to navigating emotions and creating connection and energy to others but actually, our dear old hearts are major players in regulating mood and connection.

WELLBEING Ever notice that when you feel in a state of panic, your heart beat speeds up? Flipping that on its head, when you feel calm, your heart beat is calm too! Not only is our heart a reflection of our emotional state, it can also determine our emotional wellbeing too.

How? Well..

The extent at which our heart influences our body and mind are extremely complex.

It can do so by manipulating our heart rate and blood pressure, by sending neuronal signals to the brain. One such hormone is atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). ANP has been shown to have many effects such as the decrease of sympathetic outflow (calming our nervous system) and the inhibition of stress related hormones meaning it has the direct ability to create a calmer state of being.

So how do we explore our heart's consciousness? It really is quite simple!

We can start by tapping into the resources of our heart by creating postive emotions for ourselves like appreciation, gratitude, compassion, care and love. Not only does tapping into positive emotions harmonise our heart's rhythm, it also calms down our nervous system. Winning! We live such busy city lives, often bouncing from thing to another, add ADHD into the mix and those bounces are more like back-tofront star jumps! It really helps to take a moment during the day and ‘check-in’ with yourself. You can do this simply by asking yourself ‘ how am I feeling right now,

what do I need?’ Sometimes, it might be something as simple as a glass of water or some quiet time.

Here are some other gentle ways that I connect to my heart that may help you too: • Breathe and listen. Place your hand over your heart and focus on your breathing. Notice how your chest rises and falls with each breath. Stay like this for a moment and a feeling of peace will wash over you.

• Write down the things that made you smile during your day. The practice of gratitude is really beautiful as it can remind us of all the things we have to be happy about. It can be big things like a new job, or small every-day things like smiling and chatting with a neighbour or going to bed feeling safe and secure. I like to read back through my gratitude journal when I am feeling low as it reminds me of all the things that make me happy.

• Listen to positive affirmations. Trust me, these do work. You will find your mood changes over time when you start telling it something better! The better it gets, the better it gets! You Tube is a good place to start.

• Smiling at dogs. Okay, I added this one just for fun, but hey, it does actually work for me!

• Be present and try to embrace eye -contact. I know this is not easy for ADHDers but by really looking at someone, you will feel their presence so much more and your hearts will connect on a deeper level. Hypnotherapy is great for people with ADHD who are looking to be more present in the world. It worked wonders for me.

Once we start to really feel into our heart, the centre of our body, we open ourselves up to a deeper connection with ourselves and with other people, and during these crazy uncertain times, what could be better than really feeling the love for ourselves and for our friends, our partner, family and communuty.

Stay loving Bristol x

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LOCAL PROJECT

Into the Woods It’s an unlikely combination, but it works. A stone’s throw from Junction 3 of the M32, surrounded by tightly apacked Victorian terraces, we’re in the neck of the woods.

Or, more precisely, Neck of the Woods, a community café nestled snugly in the middle of St Werburghs Community Centre. They’ve been tantalising local tastebuds here since 2016, and, one winter’s afternoon, just after closing time, I catch up with Murilo, café director, to talk accessibility, affordability and baba ganoush toasties.

the community. Just because you haven’t got much disposable income, you can still treat yourself to something indulgent and nice. But people are also looking for value for money, so we try to keep prices as low as possible.” Accordingly, there’s a real sense of luxury on a budget, plus, via the pay it forward scheme, a chance for customers to put a little back into the pot and share the love.

Even after hours, the space is warm and inviting. Light bounces off the wine bottle chandeliers onto displays of artwork and greenery. “We wanted the look to be gardeny, planty- a green space in the heart of a residential area,” explains Murilo, “but also a social space, as in ‘I’m in your neck of the woods- let’s go for a coffee!’”

As Murilo puts it, “The aim is that anyone can walk in and find something they can eat and that they want to eat. For example, with the cakes, there’s always a couple of classics on the counter for those with a less adventurous palette, but we also like to introduce fun twists and flavour combinations people may not have considered.”

Surprisingly, he’d never run a café before, so there was a fair bit of learning on the job. That said, “Hospitality is in my nature, making people feel at home, welcomed…”

He tells a story of visiting a restaurant on a family holiday, aged around five, and spontaneously deciding to start serving tables. It went so well that he was actually invited back the next day, and, true to form, jumped at the opportunity!

But Neck of the Woods is more than just a friendly welcome. Everything is homemade, created from scratch and cooked with pride.

“The ethos is to bring high street quality to 6

written by Ian Jones

As to the menu itself, there’s something for every taste and dietary requirement.

There are bagels, there are salads, there are toasties. There are egg dishes, classics and cakes. And whilst foodie favourites stick around- shout out here to the baba ganoush toastie, on the menu since day one, “Once people try it, they come back for it again and again!”- new ideas and flavour combinations are constantly evolving, inspired by customer suggestions as much as the talented catering team.

After a quick perusal of the drinks menuloose leaf teas, Extract Coffee roasted 330 feet away, turmeric lattes with syrup made

COMMUNITY NEWS

from fresh turmeric roots- we’re on to future plans, in particular anything suited to the jaded New Year palette.

Last Spring saw the launch of invigorating immunity shots including a carrot, orange and lemon combo with added turmeric and ginger.

It certainly hit the spot, as did the organic fire cider, and the by-product was made into an equally nutritious tea. So what can we look forward to this time round?

There’ll definitely be a focus on wellness, with new ideas and further healthy options being mulled over during the winter break. But that’s not all. February sees the launch of monthly yoga brunches, open to all ages and abilities, with Sian leading on the former and Murilo cooking up a delicious two course brunch to follow. So if you’re hoping for both a happy and a healthy 2024, Neck of the Woods is the place to be. Good mood food, and a lot more besides!

Inclusive Yoga Brunches begin Sunday 4th February and Sunday, 3rd March 2024.

Neck of the Woods, St Werburghs Community Centre, Horley Road, BS2 9TJ. Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday- 8:30am to 3:30pm; Saturday- 8:30am to 2:00pm.

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

Spring issue deadli ne 10th o f March !

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LOCAL NEWS

Narroways Nature Reserve written by Daisy Brasington

Given the right weather conditions it won't be long until someone in St Werburghs asks if you’ve “been up The Mound?” which is the local nickname for one of the area's most popular walking spots; Narroways Nature Reserve.

Once rolling countryside on the outskirts of the city, the site was later home to wartime allotments and a busy railway interchange, Narroways Nature Reserve is now a meandering wild open space for wildlife and people to enjoy. Our humble hill is highly rated for its spectacular city views, and, on a dry day, the winter sunrises are pretty epic too.

The perfect size for a gentle winter wander, a spot to rest and take in the view; our community's inner-city sanctuary is also a much needed wildlife refuge. The site is significant as part of a wildlife corridor in east Bristol and it boasts an impressive array of tree and grass species.

These provide a home to insects like butterflies (at least 22 species have been spotted over time!) frogs, birds and even small mammals like foxes and deer.

The site that now makes up Narroways Nature Reserve has a rich history of public use and was hard campaigned for by local people in the "90’s after RailTrack who owned it at the time, tried to sell it at auction. Local fundraising and Bristol City Council helped to save the open space and it is now managed entirely by community volunteers. In March 2000 it became Narroways Millennium Green, meaning the site is safe from development for the next 1000 years.

A tradition of personal responsibility for the site resides in the veins of the local area and this is demonstrated by the dedication of the local volunteer group who maintain the site regularly and also regular visitors who keep the site tidy on their walks. The volunteer group meets once a month for a “work-party” on Saturday mornings from 10am to midday.

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LOCAL NEWS Activities can be taken at whatever pace participants like - it is just a great way to connect with new people and get some fresh air. Volunteers enjoy the camaraderie working to enhance a local neighborhood asset and learn new skills from each other, occasionally there’s even biscuits, or scones.

Walking up to the top of the hill from the path beside St Werburgh’s church often feels like encountering a multipurpose local pilgrimage. A school run, a commute route, space to exercise and the ever ready solution to “needing some fresh air”; this is a place to encounter a brief expanse of nature where the sprawling city spreads out below you. A space where circling thoughts tire themselves out and eventually rest while you take in the scene, here and now.

Whether you manage to get up there for an early winter morning, a late afternoon spring or a summer evening there will always be something to see as the seasons change - all the site asks in return is that we take all our rubbish with us when visiting and try not to damage it - which is why the whole site is closed overnight on New Year's Eve and bonfire night. If you would like to come to a volunteer day they are usually held the first Saturday of each month - please follow the sites Instagram or Facebook page, by searching Narroways Nature Reserve, for more information.

Instagram @Narrowaysnaturereserve https://www.facebook.com/ groups/256518934818118 9

COMMUNITY

Winter Warmer

Photography Workshops at St Pauls Darkrooms.

By Ruth Jacobs – Real Photography Company The Real Photography Company are opening up the cosy Darkrooms upstairs at St Pauls Learning Centre this winter and running three fun photography workshops, followed by hot lunch at Glen’s Kitchen. All free – thanks to a small grant from Places for People, who we are working with to deliver the project. The workshops are for local residents and people experiencing hardship as a result of the ongoing cost of living crisis this winter.

We’ll be trying out some experimental techniques and processes such as cyanotypes to make beautiful blue prints, watergrams, photograms, pinhole photography and more. So if you’d like to join a small friendly group to try out some creative photography processes in the Darkrooms, please email to book your place! No previous experience is needed, and we provide all materials.

Photography Workshops are taking place on Weds 31 Jan, Weds 7 Feb and Weds 14 Feb from 10.30 till 1pm.

Email us at stpaulsdarkrooms@gmail. com to book your place on one of the workshops – first come first served! Or just leave your name and contact details at Reception at St Pauls Learning Centre and we will get in touch with you.

We are hoping to mount an exhibition of images made by participants following the workshops – funding permitting!

Discovering Light Workshops During October and November, the Real Photography Company invited local school pupils to a series of ex10

LOCAL NEWS citing photography workshops at the Darkrooms. Participants and teachers learned about the science of light, made cyanotype prints using ultra violet light, and used pinhole cameras made from recycled drinks cans. The project finishes with an Astro Evening celebration event for all involved on Mon 15 Jan, to look at planets and stars through a telescope and find out more about light – the fastest thing in the universe! The Discovering Light Project is supported by the Ogden Trust.

For information about St Pauls Darkroom sessional hire and membership see www.realphotographycompany. co.uk Contact us by email: stpaulsdarkrooms@gmail.com

CREATIVE WRITING TASTER COURSE Represent Your World: Write A Story at St Paul's Learning Centre This FREE 8-week course will introduce you to the basics of short form creative writing. Learn how your imagination and experiences can be applied to writing stories.

Thursday evenings, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm 1 February to 28 March 2024 Visit our website for further information and to book your place.

Department of English Tel +44 (0)117 928 8924 Email English-Lifelong@bristol.ac.uk

bristol.ac.uk/part-time-english-courses

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COMMUNITY NEWS

WEA Pollinating People Place WECA Community Pollinator Fund

With the kind support of WECA Community Pollinator Fund we have designed, built and planted multipurpose outdoor education space and window boxes for pollinators and people. Our design is inclusive of pollinator-friendly plants, a native wild flower ‘mini meadow’ green roof, following guidance from RHS Plants for Pollinators. We have designed and created urban pollinator-friendly habitats for bumble-bees, honey-bees, solitary-bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, hoverflies supporting the DEFRA National Pollinator Strategy/ Healthy Bees Plan 2030. “ It would be great if we could make a green corridor for nature, give the wildlife a chance to survive” (participant).

the WEA Adult education curriculum as an enrichment activity and partnership with St. Mungo’s as a project to help people and planet.

“It's improved my mental health, nature makes me feel optimistic. When I have had a hard week this makes me feel better" (participant).

WEA Pollinating People Place is a multi-purpose Bike Shelter/Recycling centre/Connection to nature ‘sit spot’/Outdoor classroom/ Education/Awareness exhibition space on pollinator species and habitats and why they are important! The bike shelter encourages cycling to work, supporting Clean Air For Bristol. The Recycling centre will house our Green Zone recycling bins, to encourage social pride in our environment. ‘Sit Spot’ with information on the University of Derby’s ‘5 pathways to nature connectedness’ research.

The planting itself was integrated into 12

Allowing learners and local residents to ‘be part of the change’ in making positive environmental impacts in their community, and contribute to the sense of ownership of inner-city green spaces. An outdoor school space enabled the WEA ‘Step into Schools’ learners to develop a ‘Green Learner Led Activity’ as part of the L2 Sup-

COMMUNITY NEWS

port work in Schools and Colleges course, and Level 1 Mental Health Awareness Course as a wellbeing activity, supporting the aims of NHS Bristol Healthier with nature and Natural England.

The project has involved an adventure into Abbots Leigh with Nature Connect CIC. “I was scared of birds of prey, now I am not, I would encourage others to meet them” (participant). The project has been open to neighbouring community organisations and local BS2 residents to participation, awareness, and empowering communities to take action to address the ecological emergency at grassroots level.

The window boxes have been made from recycled wooden pallets donated from FareShare, paint from Zoe Powers WEA 120yr anniversary ‘Welcome Doors’ Mural, pollinator plants from B&Q, and compost from St. Werburgh’s City Farm. "I feel comfortable and welcome here" (participant). So far the project has attracted bee’s butterflies, moths, ladybirds, bluetits, wrens, goldfinches, blackbirds, starlings, magpies, pigeon and seagulls…. and people!

The window boxes are designed to create pollinator-friendly hab-

itats, to increase biodiversity and human wellbeing. All the beautiful window boxes have been made by the amazing St. Mungo’s group! “The art makes the street nicer for everyone, it will make them feel happier” (Participant).

They have been donated to our neighbouring charities and organisations, including Viva, CafCass, Big Issue, City to the Sea, and Spaceworks, making Wilder Street.... wilder! “The impact of the boxes and other businesses have them so there is a corridor for nature. It can help people mentally get away from the bustle of the city” (participant).

“It's been amazing watching clients from across our services get involved in the Pollinator Project. Seeing their creativity come out and their confidence grow, being taught about nature, picking up new skills and learning from one another. It has improved our wellbeing and given us all a sense of purpose on a Weds afternoon when we all come together, a proper little community” Stephanie Brazell, Progression Coach St. Mungo’s Charity.

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LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS

Jo Hall

written by

Bob Lawson

Jo Hall, or Jo Sharp, as she is,in my phone, has recently launched herself as a knife/ blade sharpener.

Jo for the last 40 years has worked between education and small business.

20 of those years were in France, selling flowers clothes, adventures on the snowy mountains and running a language school. speaking 5 languages.

Jo grew up in Brazil and was always drawn to the real Peddlers' society which was a really big thing in the 70/80s.

Such diverse skills, crafts and foods were traded door to door and village to village, including blade sharpeners.

When she moved to France and started living a more practical life, she started to sharpen her own knifes on a stone and realized how much she loved working with her hands.On a family holiday in a place called Drone she remembers being totally mesmerized watching an old man sharpening blades operating his wheel with a big bucket of water being poured over it.

Move on a few years and Jo has moved to Bristol with her family and is happily working up at Fairfield School as a language teacher.

Her sister comes to visit and pulls Jo up on her knifes, saying her knifes are as blunt as spoons! That next festive season her son Jack presented back their newly sharpened knifes to his Mum. He had to go all the way to Bath from Bristol to get them done.

So, Jo jumped on the internet and found herself a Sharpening School which she attended over the following school summer holidays. She sussed out the market and bought the Kit, going though all her mates' knife drawers and garden sheds looking for old rusty tools while she honed her craft.

Subsequently she got the nerve to make the leap from Fairfield School which was hard as 'Miss Hall' loves teaching and enjoyed her students and colleagues.

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And her travelling knife sharpening business.

She has now set up a workshop in Easton where people can do drop-offs and pick ups. Also, which really appeals to me, is that she's doing Pop Ups. So she can be found outside Bishopston Hardware and that great fish shop, both on Gloucester Road, as well as setting up in friends' front gardens and putting the word out on the street app.

She has a spot outside The City Farm in St Werburgs. Just by the allotments. Which is very popular. Jo said she really enjoys working on old rusty blades...like secateurs and axes.

She's bringing life back into long neglected tools.

Giving joy to old and new gardeners alike.

Enjoying the stories clients have behind the item they require sharpening. Saving blunt and chipped blades from land fill.

She is keen to do more pop ups in the future and has subsequently bought herself an old van and a generator so she will not be so relient on power supply, meaning she can go further and wider.

For sure you will hear her coming as she has an old cow bell that she rings as she circles the village before parking up, crying "Bring out your blunts"!

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

The Feek story The well-established and prolific Graffiti artist (amongst other things) going by the name of FEEK is the man behind The Camel spraypainted on the wall at the end of Albert park leading onto Ashley Road in Montpelier.

FEEK told me he painted his first Camel there in 2001. Living locally he had noticed the wall and how grubby it was getting with old tags and flaky render. So, he asked the occupants of the house if he could paint it.

They consented but just so long as he did not paint over an existing black block stenciled camel that was there already with the words "Where's my camel?".

written by Bob Lawson

Over the years the image has evolved several times in many different guises, moving gradually a little further down the wall to try to fit better as eally it is not the ideal size wall to paint a camel on!

Every time the wall crumbles or gets defaced ("dogged" is the word he used for tatty tagged walls). Feek and his crew return to repaint it. This sometimes involves totally re-rendering and stabilizing the wall.

Locals sometimes would be concerned that they were going to lose what has now actually become and Iconic Bristol Image.

One such time as he and his good mate Mikey Freedom where at the early stages of preparing the wall for a fresh update a great Jamaican lady cried out "Where's the goat gone?!"t made them giggle- all these years she thought it was a goat!

A bit of a diss he said, but they took it. We agreed that indeed a goat would properly fit the wall better. Ultimately though, he is loyal to the camel image and he has updated it and kept it fresh all this time, giving it a little spruce up before Carnival last year.

He heard years later the story of what inspired the original stencil. Apparently after a free party at the much-missed Blue Mountain Club, people took themselves of to Clevedon to go to the beach. Where at around 5am in the morning, a person was spotted leading a camel down the beach.

The stencil was made and sprayed.

The original image could not be saved as the wall was in such disrepair, needing a full scrape off of the old render, re-rendering and base painting. This he did, and, with his team of equally talented artists, proceeded to reincarnate the camel in his own style.

Often local residents bring them cups of tea and come for a chat while they go about their work, which they really enjoy.

I wish I had caught them as I am always fascinated with the detail that that calibre of graffiti artist can achieve with a spray can or two. His work can be spotted in many places around Bristol. Keep an eye out for him.Long may he continue.

In other business, he, along with others, has set up a DIY skate company, St Werboards, spraying great images on skateboards.

During lockdown they built an inside skateboard ramp situated over the other side of the river which is a great safe place to go try out your skateboarding tricks.

'Ramp B***ard' is its name.

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Poems of the Diaspora!

A competition in honour of Benjamin Zephaniah

As part of our Diaspora! Festival in Bristol May 3-6 th 2024 we are looking to give opportunities for poems and poets to feature on our website and in the programme publication.

Published poets, unpublished poets , poets who don't yet feel they are poets, people inspired to become poets, you are all welcome to submit your Diaspora poem to Vocalise by 20th of March.

The poem should be new work, no more than 30 lines long and the subject should be related to the theme of diaspora.There will be 3 age groups 1-11, 12-18, 18+

DIASPORA! Is a pilot festival for Bristol and the regions, a new vision for the celebration of predominantly Black and Brown artists from the different diasporas reflected in the city of Bristol and beyond. This festival will showcase Bristol's often overlooked and under-employed People Of Colour talent and develop ongoing sustainable relationships between artists of all genres with venues, arts organisations, city establishments

There will be prizes 1st £150 2nd £100 3rd £75 4th £65 5th £60 6th £50

All poems will be acknowledged and all the poets will be invited to a poetry event during the festival, to share their work.

The winner will be offered the opportunity to perform at the opening ceremony and other events if they wish. Judges to be announced soon.

and institutions, e.g. Bristol Museums, Bristol Old Vic, St Georges, Arnolfini, The Bristol Beacon, the universities, colleges and local music venues. The main weekend will have dance, theatre, visual arts film, poetry, exhibitions , music and an opening and closing ceremony to celebrate the huge diversity of diaspora peoples in Bristol.

Contact vandna@diverseartistsnetwork.com to find out more or get involved with the festival!

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Thoughts from an Oldie Here’s hoping 2024 is not too disastrous! I’m writing this a few days before Christmas, that mind-bogglingly expensive time of year, in my new home in Penfield Court, St Werburgh’s. Strange to live in an area that has an apostrophe ‘s’ though most people don’t write it like that. She was a female saint, a princess apparently and the saint of Chester city and our church here (the climbing centre on Mina Road) though that was originally on Corn Street! I’m presuming that is why the area is now called St Werburgh’s and not Ashley Vale as it once was.

There are plenty of facts still to explore in this mixed neighbourhood of homes, light industry, allotments and farms. I’m enjoying my walks getting to know the paths and views better and enjoying them being on my doorstep so to speak.

I have moved my furniture around several times to suit living with so much light after my basement flat. Facing due west means lots of sunshine for hours when it’s sunny and amazing cloud formations as well as sunsets to watch sinking behind Fairlawn school. How lucky am l.

written by Hilary Finch

So far l have not really missed my garden though it’s never been my top priority in winter and others are taking over. It’ll be interesting to see how many friends visit now l don’t have that outside space - it was part of the attraction of calling round it seems, especially for dog owners!

Hilary's painting inspired by Mina Road park.

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COMMUNITY

I stand with Love "I STAND WITH LOVE", is a new fundraising initiative, that calls for people to show solidarity for all those suffering in the Middle East and reject divisive side taking in Israel and Gaza, instead choosing to “Stand with love”.

Wearing an “I STAND WITH LOVE” T-Shirt expresses that even in the midst of such a toxic, tragic and all encompassing war, there is space for our common humanity.

Profits raised go to ALLMEP; Alliance for Middle East Peace, a charity supporting over 170 Palestinian and Israeli activist organisations working on the ground together - brave people who refuse to be enemies and who are coming together to make a difference for lasting peace. With the current ceasefire in place, it is now more important than ever to focus all efforts on building bridges between the two communities to ensure the peace can last.

The T-Shirt, designed by a local Bristol resident, is part of an effort to avoid binary, polarising language and instead recognise that the only way for lasting peace, is when there is peace for all.

"The barbaric massacre of October 7 shocked me to my core, and the following Israeli military response claiming thousands of innocent Palestinian lives is truly devastating." the designer, Miri Katz-Mitchell, 37, says. "I wanted to find a way to encourage people to come together for peace, show their solidarity for all, and acknowledge the suffering and pain on both sides in this tremendously complex conflict.

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I would love to see thousands of people wearing these T-Shirts, marching in solidarity for a just peace for all" "Much of the language people use when talking about the violence in the Middle East pits people against each other, enflames divisions and fails to empathise or recognise the very real grief affecting everyone in the region. And because of the complexities of the conflict, many feel too scared to speak out.

I STAND WITH LOVE is a way to show support and empathy for all Palestinians and Israelis affected by the ongoing violence."

The T shirt, which features a Hamsa design common to both Jewish and Islamic cultures, has already raised hundreds of pounds for ALLMEP, the grassroots activist network. Made to order from organic cotton, each T shirt costs £22 with profits donated to the charity. They can be bought from: web: www.istandwithlove.com socials: @i_stand_with_love email: istandwithlove2023@gmail.com

BOOK REVIEW

The Fall of Numenor

by J.R.R Tolkien

T

Book review by: Andrew Rilstone Junction 3 Library

olkien is one of those writers who published far more books after he died than he ever did while he was alive. He left a shed-full of handwritten notes about the Hobbits, elves and wizards of Middleearth, which were painstakingly decoded and published by his son Christopher.

They don’t make easy reading, even for full-on Tolkien nerds.

Everything in this volume has seen the light of day before, but it’s been reedited by Brian Sibley (who wrote the 1980s Lord of the Rings radio serial) into a straightforward chronological format.

Even mere mortals stand a good chance of getting to the end of it.

Numenor is the sunken Atlantis-like land that Aragorn’s ancestors hailed from. The saga begins with the goodie humans being gifted the land by the gods as a reward for standing up to the first Dark Lord, and ends when they stupidly try to invade the Undying Lands and get obliterated.

If you’ve been watching Rings of Power on Amazon Prime you’ll be familiar with some of the characters: Miriel the queen and her sinister cousin Pharazon; heroic Isildur and his father Elendil…not to mention someone called “Sauron” who is generally up to no good. But Tolkien takes things very slowly, and events which whizz by in a few minutes on the TV fill up centuries of Tolkien’s imaginary time line.

This is not a book to read if you have never read Lord of the Rings: but if you are interested in exploring the wider “lore” it’s an accessible and enjoyable starting point. If (like me) you are already a Tolkien nerd, it’s indispensable.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

St. Werburghs Community Centre

News from St Werburghs Community Centre We wanted to share our news that we have the green light for the Community Hub funding from Bristol City Council through The Quartet Community Foundation! This means that we will have more time to be able to do the thing that we love - bringing you wonderful people together and facilitating this community to make amazing things happen.

We love the opportunity to celebrate some excellent projects that we have been supporting in the last year to give you a glimpse of what kind of things we are able to help with. If there is a gap in the provision for the community then we seek to help building capacity for these things to happen in collaboration.

Mina Road Park New Playground After many years in the making, the grand unveiling of the play area and basketball court was a welcomed and applauded event. The hard work and push from local residents has transformed the zone into a much more accessible and tailored play area for years to come.

‘It’s been a pleasure to work with the parents group behind the playground devel20

opment, led by Jen Bond and Jo Bryant who persevered for over 5 years, liaising with funders, city council officers and the landscaping company to achieve the best possible outcomes for the community. I can’t thank them enough for their enthusiasm, negotiation skills and resilience during such a long time. We are also very proud to have made the playground more accessible for those with limited mobility.’ said Goska Ong, our Centre Director.

Art Club ‘If you want to make something happen, then you just need to act’. This was the mentality of a few key members of Art Club when it started. They approached us and had an idea of running the sessions themselves and just wanted the opportunity to collaborate in the space and learn together. But now it runs (almost) fully sustainably, as each participant donates in £3 if they can. We can’t imagine the place without the club now who have a permanent display wall in our café and have become a part of the family here.

Iris Bolster from the club loves the ‘opportunity to learn new skills, share ideas and knowledge, meet people and be creative, all in a positive and welcoming environment. It is great that the Community Centre provides us with the space and resources to do this’.

Tuesdays, 2 to 4 pm drop-in

and was really great for their confidence building and seeing how things work in the fashion industry as most of them are interested in career in fashion, and could see how things are run.’ said Carene Leslie, Tutor and Fashion Designer.

Wednesday, 5 to 8pm contact: reparationsbristol@gmail.com to enquire about a place or find out how you can support the group.

Reparations Bristol Arts n Crafts Youth Project This amazing group, aimed at young people of African and Caribbean descent aims to build opportunities to develop and make collaborations across the city. Having now secured funding from The Quartet Community Foundation and The National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All, to continue this much needed work for local teenagers they have excitingly been working on a fashion project and participated in the Fashion Week here in Bristol.

‘I teach the children how to use the sewing machines and hand stich; some projects take several weeks to complete. They are very keen to meet twice a week. At the Bristol Fashion Show they showcased the clothes that they made. Some of them brought bags they had made and some brought hats or jumpers. They got to walk it down the catwalk. There was around 300 people there

St Werburghs Community Centre invites any groups with ideas to come forward as we would love to hear about them. Email us on office@stwerburghs.org.uk If you’re looking for a room and would like more info, visit our website https://stwerburghs.org.uk/venue-hire or get in touch with our new Centre Coordinators Alie or Shane by emailing office@stwerburghs. org.uk.

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Space to

Space to

Space for

work grow change Leading the movement in workspaces for those who lead the change, with spaces currently available to rent Visit www.ethicalproperty.co.uk Email sales@ethicalproperty.co.uk or call 01865 207 810 to find out more

I have been so impressed with the transition into Year 7. My child is speaking incredibly positively about the teachers and is motivated to learn.”

Parent

www.fairfield.excalibur.org.uk 22

LOCAL EVENTS

What’s on...

Running an event?

Let us know and we'll help promote it!

OPEN JAM & OPEN MIC SESSIONS at afgan tasty CORNER

25 Jan & 29 Feb

Mys.Tree of Yesidub Creations has teamed up with Khano, the owner of Afghan Tasty Cafe in Easton with the aim of mutually supporting each other with our individual projects where we share the same ideal of creating a good vibes space for people to come along and enjoy the food, the music, connect with other members of the community and share their thoughts, expression and voices.

Teachings In Dub at Trinity Centre

26 & 27 Jan

This chapter of Teachings in Dub guarantees to be a night of solid sound system vibrations.

Craft & Flea Market at Bristol Folk House

4 Feb

Bristol Folk House hosts it's monthly free Craft & Flea Market!

Black Honey at Trinity Centre

8 Feb

Black Honey is a British four-piece indie rock band formed in Brighton, England in 2014

Sound Massage Date Night for Couples at Yogasara Therapy Rooms

11 Feb

Looking for a special, relaxing and wholesome date idea to nourish your body and soul? This unique experience uses aromatherapy, massage, singing bowls, and other harmonic instruments to put you and your partner into a deep state of relaxation and…

The Bristol 5k and 10k Winter Warmer Run at Ashton Court

11 Feb

A chance to lace up those shoes, get motivated, focus on training during winter and run this awesome 5k or 10k running event

abs UK Tour 2024 at The Crofters Rights

15 Feb

Come and celebrate the debut EP Tour 2024 with abs and her band. You can expect grooves and a full show that you don't want to miss..

Traditional kimchi making at Better Food Cafe

15 Feb

Join Better Food in their cosy St Werburghs cafe to learn how to make it yourself, with Isy of Two Trees Catering and Pitchfork Cafe

John Kearns: The Varnishing Days at 1532 Performing Arts Centre

18 Feb

The Varnishing Days is the heart-stopping, glasses-dropping, hard-rocking, wig-shaking, levothyroxine-taking, kneeknocking, boot-licking, justifying, teeth rattling, digressing new show from stand up comedian to the stars John Kearns.

LGBTQ+ History Day at M Shed

24 Feb

Bristol's M Shed museum in conjunction with community group OutStories Bristol present a day of fascinating talks about LGBTQ+ history..

Edward Scissorhands at Bristol Hippodrome

5 to 7 March

Matthew Bourne's magical dance production of Edward Scissorhands has carved a place in the hearts of audiences worldwide since its premiere in 2005.

Bristol Gallery Weekend

21 to 24 March

Showcasing the contemporary art scene in Bristol with a rich programme of events at a variety of art spaces, galleries, artist run projects and private art collections.

Paddleboarding harbourside adventure

1 Apr

Join SUP Bristol for a stand-up paddleboarding adventure and the chance to see Bristol's floating harbour.

Hot air balloon flight over Bristol

8 Apr

See Bristol like never before by floating over in a hot air balloon 23

KIDS AND ADULT ACTIVITIES

PUZZLES

How many snowflakes can you find in this 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...

Happy New Year to all residents!

Goodnews: Mina Rd Park improvements In December your 3 Ashley Councillors were delighted to attend the opening of the refurbished Mina Rd play park. It was a joyous celebration after many years of campaigning by local parents and made possible by capital support from the council.

We know the new equipment has been well received and hope it will be enjoyed for many years to come. Montpelier Park and Albany Place will also be receiving refurbishment in the coming months.

Drains and Flooding: Tim and Jude have been working to help residents with ongoing drainage and flooding issues across the lower reaches of the ward. The recent high levels of rainfall caused by climate change and the lack of maintenance of the elderly drain and storm drain systems in the city are increasingly impacting homes, gardens and roads. If you have an issue with drains and or flooding, please use www.fixMyStreet.com and email us as well.

Allotments worries and community action Cllr Jude English has been an allotment tenant here in Ashley for over 20 years and along with over 200 other concerned tenants, Jude and Tim attended a lively meeting in St Werburghs community Centre.

Police Update Dear Community, It has been another busy year for the Neighbourhood Policing Team. One of the most important parts of our role is building connections with the local youth community.

Today, I would like to tell you about just a few of our recent activities working with pupils at schools in the area of St Pauls, St Werburghs and Montpelier. Our aim is to educate, guide and safeguard pupils. For us, any interaction with the younger community is a chance to help grow relationships and break 26

The meeting was called in response to poorly thought through changes to allotment rules and massive fee increases of over 50%. In the meeting we agreed to resist the rule changes, there will be protests and a petition to the council.

Bins and Waste issues Just before Christmas Tim organised a visit in St Pauls with Bristol Waste and various residents who have complained about bins. The BW representative identified some immediate actions on broken communal bins and made a commitment to look at some other suggestions like reviewing the proportion of cardboard communal bins. Tim is also chasing a number of issues (e.g., getting places for people to remove scaffolding on Brigstocke Rd which is affecting the communal bin area. Also noted were the number of missed collections we have been seeing recently.

This is not confined to Ashley and residents are encouraged to write official complaints here https://www.bristol.gov.uk/contact/ complaints-and-feedback/bins-recycling-andlitter.

Written by PCSO Karla Miranda down barriers between those of different backgrounds. PCSOs are always delighted to receive invitations and have opportunities in local schools to meet pupils.

PCSO Gill attended Cabot Primary School for a school lunch with the pupils. On this occasion, pupils were able to speak with the local police officer and ask any questions in a relaxed and approachable way. PCSO Gill also attends on a regular basis to do morning patrols, which gives her the opportunity to be a friendly, recognised face to teachers, parents, and children. When attending school, the relationship we build with staff

COMMUNITY NEWS present is a great opportunity to share issues in the area and discuss how to keep the younger community safe. PCSO Gill has built such a strong relationship with the school they were invited by the pupils to be a guest for the year 1 Christmas stage play!

Local Police Officers are also present in the territory of St Werburghs. The visibility patrol from PCSO Isaacs and PCSO Thayer at St Werburghs Primary School was welcomed as they engaged with pupils on an exciting day. On that day, pupils and school staff made cakes from scratch! This was a chance for pupils to develop their cooking skills and learn baking techniques. The delicacies made from pupils were then sold to families and members of public. Both PCSOs were delighted to contribute to the cause by sampling what the pupils made it’s fair to say seem pleased with the outcome!

The profit was then used to acquire new equipment for the school. Local police officers are now looking forward to attending the next event.

Patrols are also being conducted in the area of Montpelier and students from Sefton Park School had the chance to challenge PCSO Pearse’s football skills. PCSO Pearse is the local police officer for Sefton Park School and on this occasion gratefully accepted an invitation to join a year 6 football session.

Whether it’s selling cakes or kicking around a football, more casual sessions like this one that are mainly about having fun help build trust between a PCSO and the children they are working with. We want pupils to recognise us as being there to protect them and feel able to ask for support if they need to. Any interaction with pupils is an opportunity for them to reach out to us. It also helps establish a more open, constructive environment when we run more formal safeguarding events.

Unfortunately, the role of a PCSO working with children is not always about attending eating cakes or scoring goals. Our main role with children in the local community is to protect through education. When certain crime trends affecting youth become apparent, we react by giving children the knowledge they need to protect themselves.

In the year to March 2023, the total number

of offences involving a knife or sharp instrument increased by 6% from 44,500 in 2021/22 to 47,300 in 2022/23. These shocking statistics brought PCSO Walker and PCSO Gardner to conduct a talk session on Knife Crime at Montpelier High School. These talks were delivered to two groups of year 7 classes. The aim of this session is to challenge misconceptions young people may have about carrying a knife and so encourage more of them to not carry knives or other offensive weapons.

This was equally an opportunity for pupils to share any relevant information they may have so that officers can help and offer support. It was discussed why some young people may feel the need to carry a knife and what they can do instead. The children were also given advice on what to do if they ever encounter knife crime.

The final event I would like to tell you about today I had the privilege of being involved with myself. The Dolphin School in the Montpelier area had a meeting with PCSO Miranda, PC Nicolaou and pupils’ parents regarding Cyber Security. This session has been dedicated to the year 6 parents to keep their children safe when using internet services such as social media. Alongside providing guidance on safe internet usage, we also told pupils about the Mini Police programme, which many are now delighted to be a part of. This initiative is offered to schools that would like to work with the police and offer pupils the chance to wear a uniform to school and gain knowledge of what the role of a police officer is. The programme will include a social action event to improve the surrounding areas of the school along with having guest speakers attend the school from Fire Brigade and Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

As you can see, the Neighbourhood Policing Team have certainly been busy this year engaging the local youth communities.

We certainly look forward to even more opportunities in 2024 to engage with school pupils, parents and teachers to offer safeguarding through talk sessions and attending fun activities with pupil, hopefully with more cakes to try!

Looking forward to meeting you, Karla Miranda

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Need help with the cost of living?

Get help and advice, and connect with your community. www.bristol.gov.uk/ costofliving 0800 694 0184 (Mon to Fri, 8.30am-5pm)

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