At Trymview Hall care home being a keen gardener doesn’t stop when you make the journey into care. Bring your life with you to a place you can call home.
Award winning, person-centred care for over 40 years.
If you’re considering care for yourself or a loved one call 0117 453 0489.
Trusted to care.
Trymview Hall care home Westbury-on-Trym careuk.com/trymview-hall
It’s that time of year again! Time to make your Christmas lists and send them off to the North Pole, or tell a Bristol Father Christmas face-to-face. So where is the best place to meet Santa in Bristol? There are a few places in the city, and even more very nearby – including Santa helicopter grottos, cave-dwelling Father Christmases, sailing Santas and Santa trains! To make your job slightly easier, here’s a round-up of places you can find the best Santa grotto in Bristol this Christmas.
Everyone’s favourite bear returns to Cribbs for Christmas 2022. Paddington has asked the Marmalade Maker Elves to help to make a special present for Santa this year. Discover his secret recipe for yourself in this magical journey, see giant stockings filled with gifts, meet Alba the Owl who flies the gifts to the North Pole, and of course see Father Christmas himself.
Book here
Search for Father Christmas with the Ferry Elves on their cosy festively-decorated boat (3-4, 10-11, 19-23 December). Once found, Bristol Ferry Boats’ charming Father Christmas will entertain, dole out individual gifts for the kiddywinks –with mince pies and sherry for the adults – while you cruise around the harbour. Pickup location is The Cascade Steps –arrive a little early.
For 2022, John Lewis Christmas Grotto is partnering with LEGO®. Each child will get to meet Santa and receive a LEGO® or LEGO DUPLO® gift and you can buy a photo with Father Christmas too. You can even bring your dog to some of the experiences*. (Just make sure they don’t bark at any reindeer.) Open from mid-November to 24 December.
Santa is swooping into Boing Soft Play at Inns Court for a couple of sessions (9am or 11.30am). He’ll read the kiddos a story, hand over a gift and have his photo taken with little ones.
Book here
The Avon Valley Father Christmas will be swapping his sleigh for a vintage steam-hauled train to meet visitors in their own compartments this Christmas. 3,4, 5, 10, 11, 17-24 December). Tell him what’s on your special list as you choochoo through gorgeous countryside, he might even have an early gift for good boys and girls! You’ll also be able to get your photo taken with him on return to Bitton. Don’t forget to keep your peepers peeled for festive Christmas donkeys on the lawn!
Book here
Santa’s coming to Cadbury Garden Centre, The Elves are eagerly awaiting your arrival and busy making a gift for you to collect on the way out. Meet Santa in his grotto, go for Christmas afternoon tea or try the breakfast with Santa experience!
Meet the jolly man himself (selected days from 24 November-24 December), a quarter of a mile out to sea and receive a special Christmas gift. For a Santa visit with a different festive flavour for your little mischief maker, head over on the weekend of 17-18 December when Mr Grinch is doing a takeover! This green grump will be posing as the magical man himself in an attempt to steal your Christmas spirit.
Looking for something fun and festive to do this December? Come to the SS Great Britain's Victorian Christmas Weekends! This unique event will take place on the weekends of 3-4 December and 10-11 December.
You'll step back in time and discover a whole host of colourful Victorian charac ters, including Old Father Christmas in his traditional green robes. The dock yard will be transformed into a beautiful winter wonderland, complete with Christ mas greenery, decorations, and even some falling snow.
Tickets are priced at £19 for adults and £12 for children. Don't wait - book your tickets now!
Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to experience Christmas at sea aboard a grand steam liner. You’ll be able to enjoy traditional handmade decorations, the delicious scent of marzipan, and more. This is sure to get you into the holiday spirit!
Tickets are available now for two weekends in December (3-4 and 10-11) from the SS Great Britain website. Act fast before they’re all gone!
Designed by legendary Bristol engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the SS Great Britain was a passenger steam ship way ahead of its time that was in service be tween 1845 and 1886.
In 1970, the SS Great Britain Project brought the ship’s rusting shell home from the Falkland Island to save it from ruin and keep its history alive. The Victorian ship was lovingly restored and, today, it is known as Bristol’s number one visitor attraction and a leading research centre.
To find out more about Brunel’s SS Great Britain and details about the attraction, head to the website.
Storytime
Every Thursday
9:45 10 15am
(term time only) Booking required
Rhymetime
Every Friday
9.45 10.15am 11 11.30am
(term time only) Booking required
Council Enquiries Drop in session
Wednesday 10am 2pm
Councillor Surgery
First 4 Saturdays of every month
A customer services advisor will be here to help with council enquiries
Lego Club
Tuesday 3.45 4.45pm Ask at the counter for more information.
Free Legal Advice
First Thursday of each month, 11am noon
Drop in session with Richard Green from Wards Solicitors
Family History Advice
Friday 10am noon
Would you like help with your family history research? Ask at the counter for more details. Basic computer skills are essential. Please book in advance.
Computer Buddies
Tuesday 1.30 4pm and Friday 2 4pm
Would you like help to learn how to use a computer, tablet or phone? Ask at the counter for details. Please book in advance.
Reading group
Second Tuesday of each month, 10am. Ask at the counter for details.
Every Saturday, 10am noon There will be lots of easy board games for children and parents to play. (term time only)
Pure Queen
Description: Pure Queen a tribute to Queen & Freddie Mercury. With the untimely loss of the late great Fred die Mercury in 1991 there has always been a huge void to fill in popular music. So with endless studies of live shows Mark has rec reated the very essence of Freddie`s stage charisma, making him the number one Freddie Mercury tribute artiste. Tickets £15, Doors and bar open at 7.00pm.
Venue: Century’s Club
322 Two Mile Hill Rd Bristol BS15 1AJ
Description: Join us for an evening of carols, mulled wine, mince pies and festive cheer as we celebrate Christmas together again. Hosted by Laura Rawlings from BBC Radio Bristol, enjoy a magical Christmas car ol concert by flickering candlelight in the beautiful setting of Clifton College Chapel.
Venue: Clifton College Chapel, Clifton College 32 College Road BS8 3JH
A Winter Walking Safari
Description: Grab your hats and gloves and head to Wild Place Project to go on a magical adventure on our Winter Walking Safari. Experience the beautiful nature trails across our 50-acre site, whilst spotting amazing animals from around the world.
Venue: Wild Place Blackhorse Hill Bristol BS10 7TP
Santa’s on a Bike
Description: All bikes, trikes and scooters welcome. L plate friendly. Please invite your friends and spread the word! The ride is free to attend but all donations are very much appreciated. Every penny raised goes to Children’s Hospice South West. Arrive at Winterbourne Academy from mid morning onwards and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Venue: Winterbourne Academy Lounge Meriton Street BS2 0SZ
Christmas Themed Family Fun
Description: Wave at and cheer on Santa as he descends from the sky and arrives by helicopter to host The Helicopter Museum’s Annual Christmas Themed Family Fun Day. Meet Santa in his Heli-Grotto afterwards and receive a present. Climb aboard his famous Sleigh for a very special photograph. Plus Christmas Displays, Open Cockpits, Charity Stalls and Yuletide Characters. Santa is due to land at exactly 12 noon (dependant on weather conditions both here and at the North Pole!
Venue: The Helicopter Museum
Locking Moor Rd Weston-super-Mare BS24 8PP
Friends of CCS Winter Fair
Description: A fab opportunity for the whole family to get into the festive spirit! At the Winter Fair, you will be able to purchase items from an extensive range of beautiful, handmade gifts, crafts, food & drink, all created by local and independent businesses. The Winter Fair is free for all to attend. For more information, please email Daniel at daniel.saunders@ccsadoption.org.
Venue: Emersons Green Village Hall Emerson Way, Emersons Green Bristol
Description: A night of comedy in aid of your local air ambulance charity. Because laughter is the best medicine. 100% of ticket sales go towards keeping our essential service running. Your laughs can help save lives.
Venue: Bristol Old Vic King Street BS1 4ED Bristol
Gremlins Birthday Party
Description: Come celebrate the very notable 38th birthday of Grem lins (1984) There will be birthday cake, hats, and a make-your-own gremlin competition Crafting starts at 7. Film starts at 8. Tickets https://www.head firstbristol.co.uk/#gigs-andlive-music
Venue: Cube Microplex
Princess Row Stokes Croft Bristol
Christmas messy play Description: Come and get messy with different materials to explore using all our senses with are Christmas messy play. splat messy play provide classes for children 6 months plus. messy play allows children to build, imagine, experi ence and investigate. one off classes are £7 per child, sibling discount is available.
Venue: YMCA Clevedon 1 Marson Road, Clevedon BS21 7NN
Eddy Cottridge
Description: Free Gig 8.30 onwards. Eddy Cottridge -Steel guitar & Blues harp!
Venue: The Green bank pub 57 Belle Vue Rd Greenbank Bristol BS5 6DP
Babes In The Wood Pantomime
Description: Babes in the Wood is a traditional family pantomime following the attempts of the evil Baron of Sherwood to kidnap the Babes from under the watchful eye of Nurse Gertie. 8th December Tickets here
Venue: The Poacher 106 High St, Portishead Bristol BS20 6AJ
The inspirational musical tale of an extraordinary girl who discovers her superpower and summons the remarkable courage, against all odds, to help others change their stories, whilst also taking charge of her own destiny.
Standing up for what’s right, she’s met with miraculous results.
In cinemas now
We're thrilled to announce that Ninja Warrior UK is coming to Bristol.
This exciting competition is inspired by its Japanese predecessor, 'Sasuke'.
In the TV show contestants from all over the country compete in a series of grueling challenges, with the hope of making it to the grand finale. The last 16 competitors will have the chance to win the coveted title of Ninja Warrior UK Champion. We can't wait to see who comes out on top!
The news that a Ninja Warrior adventure park is coming to Bristol just in time for Christmas is sure to get everyone excited.
The 43,000 square foot venue promises an “adrenaline-fuelled” experience with fun, fitness and “fire imaginations”. Players will have to climb, balance, jump, swing and more as they navigate a whole host of challenges.
The park is almost identical to the course on the TV game show, with a few exciting extras thrown in the mix as well. Alongside family favourites like the famous Warped Wall, the park will bring unique new features such as the Mount Sasuke climb and an additional inflatable course complete with tunnels, battle towers and “an ultimate assault course”. This is sure to be a Christmas that everyone will remember!
We’re happy to announce that the park will also include a “Mini Ninjas” soft play area and a cafe. The Ninja Warrior park already has locations across the UK, including Leicester, Sheffield, Edinburgh and Leeds, but the Bristol location will feature a unique assault course.
The hit show has recently launched Ninja Warrior UK on Tour, with celebrities competing in adventure parks across the UK, making Bristol a potential stop. Parents and families will be able to book sessions and party packages.
The facility will open at Cribbs Causeway next to Curry’s on December 20, just in time for the Christmas holidays.
Christmas Jumper Day is an annual charity event and this year it’s being held on December 8th, with 100% of proceeds going to the charity ‘Save the Children’.
Individuals and Organisations, business es and schools, find their most festive jumpers and wear the jumpers to work for the day instead of normal clothes or uniforms, to raise funds through spon sorship. A cheerful and festive way or raising funds and awareness for Save the Children in time for Christmas.
Often workers and students add to the fun by competing for the best festive jumper prize, some workplaces get very competitive and hold official competitions for the prize, while jumper-wearers, friends, families and co-workers sponsor the festive jumpers and thus the funds are raised for Save the Children. Money can be pledged via Save the Children’s Website, by text, by post and online. So far over 4 million pounds has been raised by this annual event, so it is certainly something to consider taking part in and adding it as a new tradition among your festivities.
Save the Children has a fundraising leaderboard, showing the amounts that teams have raised, which is a good incentive, they also show photographs of some participants, as well as giving details of what the raised money is being used for.
Christmas Jumper Day is a great photo opportunity for companies and teams to show their community spirit and advertise their company as an approachable and caring organisation.
If you want to enjoy drinking without suffering a hangover the next day, experts say you should eat eggs. With Christmas celebrations coming up, Brits will be filling up their social calendars with nights out and drinks parties. But the downside of boozy dinner dates and nights out is a sore head and queasy stomach the next day. So one wine expert has shared his top tips for enjoying a few glasses of your favorite wine without the sickly side effects the morning after.
Wine and other alcoholic beverages cause hangovers by dehydrating the body and disrupting sleep quality. Alcohol is a toxin so our bodies go into overdrive to flush it out. But there are different approaches to drinking wine which can help you avoid feeling sensi tive the next day.
The first piece of advice is to pay attention to the strength and quality of the wine you’re drinking. An obvious tip is to go for a lower alcohol by volume. Wines are usually 11-13% but some can be much higher and you can get wines that are 5% ABV – less alcohol means fewer toxins in your body.
Unfortunately, quality does come into play too and more expensive wines often contain less additives, meaning there are fewer complex toxins for your body to flush away.
Sulfites are a by-product of wine’s fer mentation process and have been linked to hangovers. All wines contain sulfites, but there are some wines that have lower levels than others. Acetaldehyde in wine, which also contributes to hang overs, can increase as the wine ages. Opting for younger wines can reduce your intake of this compound.”
Another key tip is to take care of your tummy before and after drinking, as stomach acids play a big part in the morning-after horror show. Make sure you eat a healthy meal to give your body a boost before having alcohol. Wine can cause your blood sugar levels to spike, so avoid eating sugary foods before, during and after drinking.
Eggs are a great Hangover cure. Not only do they have amino acids to help break down acetaldehyde, but they are also packed with nutrients and minerals. They are gentle on your stomach, mak ing them a great choice if you’re feeling a bit queasy.
There is a common debate about whether the colour of wine impacts how bad your hangover will be, but it’s not as simple as “red is worse than white.” Red wine does not quench thirst due to the higher tannin content, which can make our mouths drier and cause us to drink more. It’s worth having a glass of water with it to prevent you from drinking more wine to satisfy your thirst. White wine has lower tannin content and usually has less sugar. However, it’s still alcohol, so don’t go chugging it by the bottle just because it’s slightly better for you.
• 320ml Semi-skimmed milk
• 500g Pack white bread mix
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• Zest of 1 orange
• 100g raisins
• 1 Egg, beaten
• 3 tbsp Icing sugar
• 8 glacé cherries
Method
Gently heat the milk in a small saucepan until lukewarm
Put the bread mix, cinnamon, mixed spice, orange zest and raisins into a large bowl, and mix together
Make a well in the middle, then pour in the milk and stir with a wooden spoon, until you have a tacky dough
Turn out onto a clean work surface and knead for 5 mins, until smooth and elastic
Leave to rest for 10 mins
Divide the dough into 16 even pieces and roll into balls or swirls
Arrange the balls or swirls in a Christmas tree shape on a lined baking tray, leaving a bit of space between them to allow the dough to expand
Cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rise for 30-40 mins, until almost doubled in size
Preheat the oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/ gas 7
Brush the buns with the beaten egg, then bake for 15-20 mins, until golden and the base of the buns sounds hollow when tapped
Leave to cool fully
To serve, mix the icing sugar with 1 tbsp water, until smooth Drizzle over the buns, then decorate with the glacé cherries
• 6 new potatoes, halved lengthways
• 1 Parsnip, cut into batons
• 1 Carrot, cut into batons
• 2 Chicken breast fillets or a small turkey breast
• 2 tbsp Cranberry sauce
• 2 rosemary sprigs
• 8 Brussels sprouts, halved
• 4 Pigs in blankets
• 1 tbsp Vegetable oil
Preheat the oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/ gas 7
Bring a large pan of water to the boil Cook the potatoes for 5 mins, then add the parsnip and carrot and cook for a further 7-8 mins, until starting to soften
Drain and leave to steam dry Meanwhile, make diagonal cuts into the chicken breasts and fill with the cranberry sauce and rosemary
Put the potato, parsnip and carrot on to a roasting tray, with the Brussels sprouts and pigs in blankets
Lay the chicken breasts on top and drizzle with the oil
Season and roast for 35 mins, until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are crisp
If you're looking to save this holiday season, Andrea Knowles from vouchers. co.uk has some great tips. According to one survey, 46% of Brits plan on spending less on eating out. Here are seven easy ways to stick to your budget:
1. Always arrive on time for your meal so you don't need to buy a drink at the bar. Not only do these drinks increase your total bill, but drinking alcohol before your stomach is lined could lead you to getting tipsy and blowing your budget.
2. Waiters and waitresses may request your drink order as soon as you sit, which could be a sign of good service or a psychological trick to get you to pick a more expensive drink before you've had a chance to look at the menu.
3. The second-cheapest wine is often a psychological trick, so avoid it if you're trying to save money.
If you’re trying to save money, don’t order the second cheapest wine on the menu. Restaurants know that this is a common trick, so they hike up the price of those wines.
4. Also, picking the set menu isn’t always the best decision if you’re trying to save money.
Watch out - ordering a set menu can sometimes make you spend more money than you would have if you didn’t order one. Even though a three-course menu for £20 sounds like a great deal, you might not be that into the starter or dessert options. But you end up picking one of them anyway.
5. Restaurants will highlight an expen sive meal on the menu to make other options seem like a bargain.
Have you ever noticed how restaurants will highlight their most expensive item by placing it in a box? Yeah, they're not doing that just to be nice. What they're actually trying to do is encourage big spenders to treat themselves to the ‘best’ item on the menu. But it can have the opposite effect, too.
The sheer size and price of the item make everything else look reasonable in comparison, so diners feel like they are getting a bargain if they pick something else.
6. If there’s no GBP sign next to the pric es on a menu, the restaurant is trying to trick you into spending more money.
By not including the sign, they’re hoping you won’t think about the cost as much. So be careful when you see this tactic being used!
7. If you’re sharing an appetiser, ask whether it arrives in an odd or even portion.
HMOs are a potentially lucrative busi ness model for landlords. Rental yields for an HMO are typically higher than for standard family properties, but they are a little harder and more time consuming to manage.
HMO stands for a House in Multiple Occupation. The legal definition of an HMO is a house rented by 3 or more people from 2 or more households. A household is defined as either a family or a couple (married, unmarried, civil partnership). 3 tenants – A couple + 1 friend… HMO 4 tenants – 2 couples… HMO 5 tenants – Friends living together at Uni… HMO
HMOs can be rented in different ways too. Some are rented by the room (on single room contracts) whereas others are rented to an entire group (on a standard house contract with multiple tenants). Different rental methods have different implications for the landlord, for example, if you rent by the room you will need to pay council tax and it is very common that you will offer bills all rolled into the price.
Anybody! Although who might live in your HMO will depend on the type of property you are creating and the area it is in. Some HMOs are extremely high end (often labelled co-living) and positioned as a lifestyle choice for working professionals; other HMOs are “student digs” and are lived in by university students; others might be aimed at contrac tors/blue collar workers in the local area and of course, you have social housing properties rented to council tenants or social housing companies.
Like all property models, there are plac es where HMOs work best and places where they don’t. It will usually come down to tenant demand, population density and local amenities. If there is sufficient demand and good transport links, an HMO will usually work. Near big employers, city centres and universities are great places for HMOs.
HMOs are one of the higher cash flowing property models, which make them attractive to investors. In fact, one HMO can yield as much as several single or family lets.
By taking a 3/4 bed family house, re furbing it and renting it to 5/6 individuals you can create more rental income from a single building. If you get it right, your HMO can return £1000-£2000 net per month and be relatively stress or hassle free.
However, as with all the high cash flow models, they come with increased risk, increased costs and if you manage them yourself, they require more time than a standard family let.
When executed correctly, HMOs are a brilliant property model creating great returns and maximising a portfolio. When done badly, they can land you with £10,000s of fines, council investigations, armed police raids, personal threats, and very costly voids/arrears!
When managed badly or, without the correct compliance knowledge and implementation, they can cost you tens of thousands of pounds and land you in hot water. Also, with a greater number of tenant change overs, the wear and tear can be greater too. They are a more com plex property model, attracting a specific tenant type and, therefore, may not work in some areas.
Due to the time involved to manage, most agents will charge more for the management of an HMO. We charge 12% plus VAT, with discounts available for portfolios landlords. Different agents will have different fee structures, we have chosen ours to reflect the time spent and the level of complexity involved.
Unless you have a lot of time on your hands and understand the complexities of HMO compliance, you will probably want to go full management on this prop erty type. HMOs are compliant heavy beasts and the management of them is time consuming. In terms of your choice of agent partner, it is also advisable to choose a specialist hmo management company, as they are different, in many ways, to single lets. There are some great hmo management companies out there and a conversation with them,
KPA Property are specialists in HMO management. There are some great specialist HMO managers out there and we strongly suggest that you choose a specialist to manage your HMO, because they are very different to other property types. The relationship with your agent is a partnership and there is nowhere that this statement is more evident than with HMO management. Do some research of your own and have some conversations with various agents before you make your decision. When executed correctly, HMOs are a brilliant property model creating great returns. When done badly, they can land you with £10,000s of fines and in some very hot water!
If you have found this useful, you can find other, related articles on these links here.
This new study is definitely alarming. It’s eye-opening to see how big the problem of homelessness and housing insecurity has become in Bristol. The report high lights the fact that while rough sleeping is the more visible side of homelessness, there are other red flags that people may not be aware of.
This includes people who are sofa surf ing, staying in a hostel or night shelter, or living in overcrowded or unsuitable ac commodation. We need to do something about this growing problem and provide support for those who are affected by it.
Between April 2021 and March 2022, a total of 3,119 households were assessed by Bristol City Council with 2,841 (87.9%) assessed as being either or threatened with homelessness.
Out of them, 516 (16.5%) households were deemed as being threatened with homelessness within the next 56 days and so were owed a prevention duty.
Some 2,225 (71.3%) households were deemed as homeless, with many sofa surfing by living with friends or family. There were 378 people (12.1%) deemed as not being threatened with homeless ness within 56 days and so no duty was owed.
Jessie Seal, Early Doors Project Manager and author of the report, said sofa surfing and staying with friends and family currently plays a large role in accommodating and preventing people who may otherwise be street homeless in Bristol.
“In Early Doors’ experience, sofa surfing and overcrowding are often experienced together and not fully understood by support agencies,”
“For example, a young person may say they are staying with a friend, but in reality this may involve staying on the floor of multiple acquaintances, having to arrive late at night and then leave early the fol lowing morning without somewhere to eat breakfast or shower.”
It’s really disheartening to see that so many people are experiencing homeless ness in Bristol. The report found that the largest group owed a prevention duty was as a result of the end of private rented tenancy, with 39.5% of households stating this as their reason for the loss of their last settled home.
It’s especially tragic to see that so many young people are affected by this issue. Just under 17% of main applicants in Bristol for homelessness relief and prevention duties were 16-24, while 30.4% were 2534 years old. We need to do better.
The “bold re-imagining” of the former chocolate factory in Bristol’s Greenbank has resulted in the scheme scooping the highly-coveted Transformation Award in the 2022 Bristol Property Awards.
The Transformation category was created to showcase a renovation, restoration or transformation project in the Bristol area, with judges looking for innovation and sustainability in a project “where old becomes new”.
Their verdict on The Chocolate Factory was: “This sensational Greenbank transformation has begun to take shape with over 50 modern homes now occupied, delivered with high-quality finishes. Derelict buildings rejuvenated into a vibrant, friendly community.”
Mya Castillo, sales and marketing consultant for the project, said: “As soon as we heard the judges would be looking for a ‘bold re-imagining’ we knew we were in with a very good chance of winning.
“At the heart of the redevelopment of The Chocolate Factory was a desire to celebrate the site’s industrial past so we are thrilled to receive this award from a panel of industry experts who obviously agree we are achieving our goal.”
Bristol Mayor, Marvin Rees, praised the awards for focusing attention on all aspects of the Bristol property scene and for including categories such as Transformation which highlight the importance of environmental and sustainable initiatives.
Work on the 138-home development in BS5 began in 2019 with the demolition of structures that were beyond repair and the start of work to preserve some of the original factory buildings, including the concrete frame at the centre of the site, which is understood to have historical significance as one of the first buildings of its type in the UK.
The first residents moved into their new homes in 2021.
Current availability at The Chocolate Factory includes a range of threeand four-bed terraced homes and townhouses priced from £489,950 to £615,000.
Bristol City Council has launched a Clean Air Zone in order to reduce air pollution in the city. The zone covers a small central area of the city and the Portway, and older, more polluting vehi cles are being charged.
There is no need for drivers to receive written notification or any kind of alert that they have entered Bristol Clean Air Zone or that a payment is due; individu als and businesses are fully responsible for managing this. Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees said, “What an incredible milestone we’ve achieved today, launching Bristol’s Clean Air Zone to help create a city that is healthier for everyone to grow up, live and work in. No vehicles are banned from entering the central zone, and Bristol remains very much open to all residents, visitors and businesses, particularly as we look ahead to the busy Christmas period.”
“We have always sought to reduce air pollution in Bristol to improve the city’s health, but we’re also mindful of the financial strain people are under at the moment. We have taken our time to find a way to clean up our air, while also providing support to those who need it most. Temporary exemptions and financial support are still available, and I urge people to check if they’re eligible.”
To date, the council has had over 6,000 applications for financial support such as grants and loans to change or up grade vehicles. Over 1,500 applications for temporary exemptions have been approved, mostly to Blue Badge holders, and over 8,000 active travel offers such as bus tickets and Voi scooter credit have been given out.
Mayor Rees continued: “I would encourage you to try out our bus, train and park and ride services as an alternative way to travel around Bristol, and we still have free vouchers available to help you give these options a go. You can visit the council website for more information on how to register your interest, as well as more information about the zone boundary map to help you best plan your journeys.”
Daily charges for Bristol Clean Air Zone apply 24 hours a day (midnight to midnight), seven days a week, all year round, and must be paid within six days of travel. People can pay online at www. gov.uk/clean-air-zones or by calling the Clean Air Zone support line on 0300 029 8888 (Monday to Friday: 8am to 7pm, Saturday: 8am to 2pm). Users of smart phones can also pay the charge using free-to-use apps like Caura.
Business owners can sign up to the Business Accounts Feature, to set up a Bristol-specific account to help manage payment for multiple vehicles entering and exiting the Zone.
From today, the council will send Penalty Charge Notices to people who drive non-compliant vehicles in the Zone and do not pay the appropriate daily charge.
However, for the next six weeks, people will be given the option of a Special Payment Offer which gives seven additional days to pay the appropriate daily charge for that journey. This is £9 for private cars, taxis and light goods vehicles and £100 for heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches. If the charge is paid, the remaining Penalty Charge of £120 will be cancelled.
Failure to pay this daily charge will result in a full Penalty Charge Notice of £120, or £60 if paid within 14 days, as well as the outstanding daily charge.
Drivers in Bristol and surrounding areas are encouraged to look out for roadside signage showing when they are entering or approaching the zone. Some signs count down how many miles to go until the zone starts and others have a green cloud symbol on, with the letter D inside.
Former Brislington councillor dies:
Many of you would have heard the sad news last week of the death of our friend and colleague, Tony Carey, former local councillor for Brislington East. Tony was Brislington born and bred and devoted many years in service to the community he loved. We want to thank everyone for all their wonderfully warm comments, which we will forward to Tony’s family.
The MD of First Bus, Doug Claringbold, has written to local councillors regarding the current state of the bus service in Bristol and across the wider region. We thought you’d be interested in seeing it:
“I am writing to you to give an update on our service in Bristol, the challenges we face and the actions we are taking. Last week we announced we were temporarily suspending around five per cent of journeys. Due to challenges common to the national bus sector and largely around lack of drivers, we had to take this difficult decision to ensure a more reliable service across all routes.
We expect to reinstate these services in the coming months, following an ongoing driver recruitment and retention campaign. In the meantime, I want you to know that I do not believe the service we are offering is of the level we want to be providing for our customers; we are doing everything in our power to resolve this and I am confident that we will.
Like the rest of the bus industry, we face a number of major challenges including rising costs and reduced customer demand, which is running at around 75 per cent of pre-Covid levels. This means that some of our bus services are simply no longer sustainable, despite Government funding.
However, the biggest challenge we face is the shortage of bus drivers. This is a national problem and one which is par ticularly difficult in Bristol. Furthermore, in September the collapse of Bristol Community Transport meant we needed to step in to operate Bristol’s m1 service which also meant inheriting a significant number of new vacancies; in addition, we were let down by agencies contracted to supply drivers in the short term while we filled the gaps.
We have a number of existing incentives to attract new drivers, such as our fully-paid training programme, but in addition, we are urgently progressing active and detailed driver recruitment and retention plans. We have:
• Initiated a major new recruitment campaign
• Significantly increased remuneration levels • Introduced flexible working options • Improved facilities for drivers • Invested heavily in a modern and sustainable bus fleet
•
Trialling a new scheme to train to car license level ahead of bus driver training, thus aiding accessibility and broadening our target audience.
Contrary to media reports, we did fully brief the West of England Combined Authority in advance of this announce ment, and they agreed with the ap proach. In future we will also ensure that we communicate the news more widely and with greater effect. While we are taking this remedial action, we are also aware of further areas of risk. Govern ment funding is due to end in March, which will challenge a number of supported routes. The Combined Au thority will look to support these routes in their list of tendered services due for award in April. We will support these services as best we can and remain in a dialogue with the Combined Authority on future resource allocation. My team and I are fully committed to delivering services of the highest quality to our customers and stakeholders and I strongly believe that we will meet the challenges we face. We are seeking to attract customers back to the bus by significantly reducing single and return fares in Bristol, despite our own cost challenges. We have invested heavily in a modern fleet including our new fleet of 99 biogas buses and we will be at the forefront of the move to zero carbon buses in Bristol.
Finally, we will work with all stakehold ers to achieve a transformational public transport service of which we are all proud.”
This month, the Bristol Liberal Dem ocrats will be tabling a motion at Full Council calling for more public control over the operation of our bus services, including tickets, timetables and routes, so that the service can be run for the benefit of passengers and not private shareholders.
We heartily recommend the Food Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Royal Photographic Society at Paintworks. This free exhibition runs until 11 December and features short videos and amazing photographs from around the world.
Thank you very much to everyone at SPLAT (Sandy Park Locals and Traders) for organising last Saturday’s amazing Christmas lights switch-on. There were around three thousand people on Sandy Park Road for the event and we can all agree it brings some much-needed fes tive cheer to our local high street. If you haven’t already done so, please check them out and if you can, support our local traders. #ShopLocal
Thank you to the huge number of people who attended the second Jubilee Pool working party last Sunday. We managed to get a lot done. If you would like to get involved, check out the Friends of Jubilee Pool Facebook page: https://www. facebook.com/friendsofjubileepool/
All our local churches have a busy month of services leading up to Christmas. See the attached leaflet on the next page for details of services at our parish church, St. Luke’s.
Kindness comes in many forms. A simple act of kindness could be getting to know your neighbour, reaching out to a friend you haven’t heard from in a while or helping through a community or voluntary organisation. Small things make a big difference. As we grapple with the impact of the cost of living crisis, these simple acts of kindness become even more important. If you would like to volunteer with a local organisation, simply head over to the Can Do Bristol website: https://candobristol.co.uk There are a huge range of opportunities availa ble, including providing essential advice to residents, cooking and serving food, general admin support or even helping out at a Welcoming Space.
Hundreds of Brislington West residents have signed up to receive our monthly newsletter via email. You can register using this link: http://www.bristollibdems. org/efocus.
By Jos Clark, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email: cllr. jos.clark@bristol.gov.uk Mo bile: 07584 370429
& Andrew Varney, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email: cllr.andrew.varney@bristol. gov.uk Mobile: 07584 183381
South Gloucestershire Council has decided not to progress proposals for further work on a number of junctions and roundabouts along the A4174 ring road.
The funding bid to introduce changes to the ring road junctions (including a further three throughabouts) will not be submitted to Government in response to a positive change in traffic patterns.
The council’s Cabinet made the decision after initially putting the wider A4174 scheme on hold for a year to allow for further assessment.
A significant reduction and change in traffic movements was found to have taken place since the proposals were initially drawn up in 2018. There are now less delays on the ring road, as the Covid pandemic has changed people’s travel habits and the Wraxall Road throughabout has had a positive impact.
Both southbound and northbound ring road traffic at morning and afternoon peak times was found to have reduced by up to 14 percent between 2018 and 2022 in post-pandemic travel conditions. Therefore it was agreed that the junc tion proposals for the A4174 corridor between Lyde Green and Kingsfield roundabouts were no longer needed.
Councillor Steve Reade, cabinet member responsible for regeneration, environment and strategic infrastructure at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “We have made the decision not to submit a funding bid and to withdraw the proposals.
“We monitored the ring road and have the evidence that traffic patterns have changed. We have seen that there are now not as many delays, largely due to our new post-lockdown travel habits and journey time savings thanks to the Wraxall Road throughabout.
“Our data for the Wraxall Road junction improvement indicates that many of the congestion issues on the ring road between Siston Hill and Kingsfield have now been reduced.”
A 12-week consultation after the opening of the area’s first through-about at the Wraxall Road junction saw residents asking for the performance of Wraxall Road to be better understood. Concerns were also raised about the impact of construction and roadworks, so the plans for further work were put on hold to enable the council to carry out further assessment.
A special Cost of Living Advice Event will take place on Thursday 8 December in Weston-super-Mare to help support North Somerset residents worried about the impacts of cost of living increases.
A host of exhibitors will be there to offer support and advice including Alliance Homes, Bristol Water and Wessex Water, Citizens Advice North Somerset, North Somerset Council, St Monica’s Trust and Weston College.
Everyone is welcome to attend the free event which will take place at The Stable, 3-6 Wadham Street, Westonsuper-Mare, BS23 1JY from 11am to 3pm on Thursday 8 December.
Organised by North Somerset Together, a multi-agency response set up by North Somerset Council which includes key partners such as Citizens Advice North Somerset, Alliance Homes, the Jobcentre, Age UK and Town and Parish Councils, it will offer free face to face support and advice which can help everyone navigate their way through the current cost of living crisis.
“We know people are very worried about rising bills and how they are going to cope in these challenging times. Every one has been affected and we are all in this together. This event brings together a number of key local organisations who can help. Come along, have a face to face conversation with organisations and leave more informed about your options and with helpful tips and advice.”
As well as the Cost of Living Advice Event, numerous measures are in place to help support residents in these times – from over 60 Community Living Rooms across North Somerset to help people keep warm this winter, over £4m in household support grants allocated to help our most vulnerable as well as support for food banks and businesses.
For a round-up of local advice, support and guidance about the cost-of-living crisis, visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/ col. It includes help with bills, childcare costs, housing support, and energy and heating advice
Here are this week’s puzzles designed to test your mental skills.
Can you find your way through this difficult maze?
The winner of last week’s guess the word competition was Kay from Porttishead who won £25 cash!
If you want to enter our competition each week to win cash all you need to do is subscribe to Bristol Weekly Magazine HERE and guess the word. Then email us your answer with your name using the link in the subscribers email. Deadline for entering your answer is midnight every Tuesday.
Good luck!
I’m a big fan of doing what you can to cut food waste. Reducing food waste helps to save money, When I learned about the TooGoodToGo app.
I knew I would be a big fan! I download ed it and gave it a go!
The concept of the app is simple; you can purchase a magic bag (mystery bag!) from retailers in your local areas, for a low fee. For as little as £2-£3 you can get £8+ worth of produce that are nearing the end of their shelf life and would likely otherwise go to waste, by being thrown in the bin.
One of the first ever magic bags that I reserved was from Marks & Spencers, within a local garage, and the quality was fantastic!
Since then I’ve purchased at least 1 magic bag from most retailers in Bris tol and I’m going to share a little more about the app, how to use it, how to get a magic bag when they always display sold out and what the best times are to grab a magic bag.
The total value was around £13-£14 and I paid just £4. The items were all still fresh and that butter chicken with the potato crush was absolutely delicious!
You can download this app, for free, from the Apple store and Google Play store, as it is available on both Apple phones and Android devices.
You download the app, for free, then you set your location (either using location services or a map if you’re wanting to look at other areas you may be travelling to) and you can see all of the retailers in your area.
Select browse and then you can use a variety of filters to find options, things such as ‘Local Deli ’, specific categories of food, diet preferences, collection time frames and more. It’s really easy to use this, especially if you’re going to be in a particular part of a Bristol or any other city at a set time.
When you arrive in store you just let them know you’re there to collect a magic bag, show off your collection code, they’ll ask you to swipe to confirm collection and then hand your magic bag over to you. It’s really simple and usually just takes a couple of minutes.
Have you ever had that moment where you're about to cry - but suddenly your dog comes over and starts cuddling up next to you? They do this because they can sense something is wrong. Dogs provide comfort during rough times and their unconditional love is inspirational.
A study found in the journal of Pro ceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that when dogs saw you giving more attention to another pet in the house they would become distressed and anxious.
For example, when you bring home a new baby your dog will pick up the fact that he or she is not going to get the most attention anymore. This can often lead to depression for your dog and sometimes he or she will even start to resent your baby. To help smooth this process get a Baby Sounds CD to familiarize your dog.
4. Your dog will know when you are mad.
Dogs hate to disappoint and can sense the emotions and body language that comes with an upset "parent". When you are upset with your dog and he gives you those "sweet puppy dog eyes" he knows that you are upset and is hoping to change things.
Instead of disciplining your pet, why not count to ten, take a deep pause and then give your dog a treat. Once the tension is gone, grab the Dog Leash and Dog Collar and take your pet for a nice long walk. Odds are that you'll both feel a little better.
Your dog will pick up on the fact that you are acting frightened. Certain types of dog breeds may react by trying to protect you, while others will probably be just as afraid as you are. But almost all dogs quickly can sense when an owner is feeling afraid or anxious.
Next time you are in public talking to your dog in that baby-like voice don't be self-conscious because your dog knows what you want him or her to do by that tone. He associates that tone with you talking to him. So, when people are giving you weird looks disregard and tell them that your dog really does under stand you, and that the scientists believe so too!
If you are bringing a new dog home for Christmas please remember that a dog is for life not just for Christmas. Statistics show 2,247 calls made to The Dogs Trust last January from people wanting to give up a dog.
A whopping 70 per cent of police officers have reported mental health issues and more than HALF required some form of therapy, according to a survey.
Police Care, the charity for serving and veteran police officers and staff, also found many did not get help and went to work as usual.
And it costs the UK millions of pounds and impacts on policing as staff take time off for stress, anxiety or depression – or are simply not as productive – due to demands of the job.
But a pilot scheme using Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) - focusing on the solution rather than the problemhas helped those taking part to recover.
Kerry Seymour, from Weston, is a lead writer on the pilot scheme report which was sponsored by Inspired to Changeusing modern clinically proven techniques.
Kerry, who has also carried out research and clinical governance in the NHS and voluntary sector, said:
munity.”
SFH is said to take the best from a range of therapies – including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Neuro-Linguistic Processing (NLP).
The report found everyone who completed the treatment in the pilot got better – and nearly 80 per cent no longer showed symptoms of anxiety and depression.
There was also over 80 per cent increase in their life wellness score and more than 90 per cent reported improved sleep.
Following treatment staff members said they could better maintain perspective, cope with challenges, were calmer and had improved sleep.
“The treatment has produced incredible results for the police force, increasing their wellbeing and resilience. In turn, this means they can better serve their com
It not only helped participants in their professional life, but many said it improved relationships at home too.
Dr Emily Barney, a clinical psychologist who has worked with the NHS and in mental health services for nearly 20 years, is a lead writer on a paper on SFH effectiveness.
She said: “The therapy led to a significant reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms, which includes disturbed sleep, hyper vigilance, self-medicating and anger issues.”
The fear of appearing weak or unable to cope, along with a belief it may harm their careers, stops many in the police force from seeking help.
But SFH does not delve into a client’s past and can be used for a range of issues, the most common being anxiety, as well as depression, low confidence, OCD and PTSD.
Dr Barney, who is also a registered psychotherapist and hypnotherapist with special interest in treating complex trau ma, said: “Most mental health issues are linked to anxiety.
“SFH works for a range of conditions and has the benefit of being a safe, structured and even an enjoyable process.”
Demands of the role can take its toll and officers are more frequently exposed to traumatic events – from road traffic collisions to murders – and are more likely to experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disor der (PTSD) compared to people working in other jobs.
Yet the majority were unaware they had PTSD – though it impacts on their health ability and to function
Those who took part in the trial no longer exhibited symptoms of PTSD, which can range from self-harm to self-medication.
Gary Johannes, an ex RAF soldier who served during the Falklands War, has witnessed first-hand the effects of PTSD.
The clinical hypnotherapist and lecturer from Inspired to Change said: “Working in an emergency service is a rewarding and invaluable role, but it is undoubtedly challenging.
“Left untreated, PTSD can make it difficult for people to hold down jobs or relationships. It can be damaging, not just to the individual concerned, but their family.
“While we cannot remove the stresses and trauma they face on a regular basis, we can provide them with the tools to manage it effectively and long term.”
Northumbria Police signed up to the pilot scheme and now there are plans to roll out the treatment to other police forces and emergency services.
SFH has the potential to support staff, while decreasing millions of pounds in costs relating to sickness, absence and lack of productivity.
The HR Dept has partnered with an SME support specialist to provide free advice under a regional business initiative.
The scheme involves Chipping Sod bury-based Cool Ventures providing a range of free business support to SMEs and residents based in South Glouces tershire and Bath & North East Somer set.
Under the programme, which runs until March 2023, companies needing help to grow or overcome challenges, can access up to 12 hours of expert training and advice. All support is fully funded by the West of England Combined Authority in partnership with local councils through the Universal Business Support Initiative.
After working with almost 1,500 local businesses as well as aspiring entre preneurs, and offering over 9,000 hours of support in the last two years, Cool Ventures found recruitment had become apparent as a major and common challenge.
Its managing director Sue Marchant recognised the need for a human resources offering within the spectrum of available support.
She selected The HR Dept Bristol, Bath and North Somerset, which specialises in providing outsourced, bespoke HR advice and support for SMEs, to partner with her company.
The service will offer up to 30 business es three hours each of tailored, one-to-one support to help create policies and documents which make recruitment processes easier.
“Even before the UK’s more recent economic hardships, for a while now we’ve recognised recruitment as a major sticking point in the growth plans of smaller businesses,” said Stacey Mead, HR director at The HR Dept Bristol, Bath and North Somerset.
“So from the creation of job descriptions and employment contracts to policies which protect jobs and avoid the risk of redundancies, there’s so much which needs to be in place to enable business es to take people on efficiently so they can develop and grow.
“We know that it’s incredibly hard to find good people who fit with your company’s ambitions and culture. For smaller businesses in particular that can be a real problem.
“So we’re of course more than happy to support Sue and her team in this partnership, providing really valuable support to businesses trying to make their first steps towards building and retaining effective teams.”
The HR Dept Bristol, Bath and North Somerset is based in offices in Emerson’s Green in South Gloucestershire, supporting more than 200 smaller businesses in its operational territory.
It is part of a network of a Bristol-based franchise business which consists of 75 licensees providing services in more than 100 territories in the UK and Ire land, for more than 6,000 companies in total.
Cool Ventures was established 11 years ago with an aim of providing bespoke, high quality and practical business advice to support the specific needs of local businesses. Today the company is one of the leading providers of business support for pre-starts and trading busi -
Sue said: “It’s great to be working with Stacey and her colleagues on this important initiative to help local SMEs get off the ground and keep rising. We’re grateful to the local authorities for placing their trust in us to deliver this service. The programme has been a great success since it started.
“Our training and support is delivered by a great team of business experts, supported by our amazing office based team who work tirelessly to ensure that everyone is looked after.
“The HR Dept is now a valuable addi tion to our offering – high quality, ex perienced advice and practical support which is essential for the sustainable growth of any company.”
We pride ourselves on having happy homes, where residents and their families can enjoy spending quality time with each other and develop new friendships along the way.
Our homes in Bristol are located close to local shops and amenities, and benefit from strong connections with community groups. We offer a busy and varied activities programme that includes something for everyone and ensures residents get the most out of every day.
We care for individuals with a variety of care needs including Residential, Nursing and Dementia Care.
