Up Our Street is the community newsletter for everyone living and working in Barton Hill, Easton, Lawrence Hill, The Dings, St Judes, Newtown, Goodpenny, Whitehall, Redfield and Old Market
Contents Pages 3 and 4 News in brief Page 5 You said, we did Pages 6 and 7 All about Polska Pages 8 to 11 Youth matters Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management The Old Bank 108 Church Road Redfield, Bristol, BS5 9LJ The opinions and information contained in this publication are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management.
Pages 12 to 14 Our primary schools Page 20 Your Stapleton Road
Correction In the Jul-Sep issue we interviewed Ahmed Abdi. In this article we said that he was founder of Amana Education Trust. This is incorrect, he was Chair of the Management Committee but was not involved in founding the organisation. Apologies for any offence caused.
Up Our Street is printed on recycled paper
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Up Our Street www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk
Do you know your wi-fi from you wap, your app from your i-phone or your 3G from your GPS? Help for older people and disabled people to get online and find out more about computers and technology. Contact Marius Jennings at Connecting Bristol on 07785462568 or write to him c/o The Council House, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TR. Free Online Basics courses for all adults available at Barton Hill Settlement. Contact them on 955 6971. Thanks to staff from Lloyds Banking Group who helped young people from 2nd Chance tidy up woodland on the Netham. 2nd Chance helps young people at risk of offending to take part in volunteering and learning. Contact Neil on 07767864571 to find out more.
A stroll down Gregory Street Reg Gregory was a well loved resident of Redfield who was passionate about his community. Sadly he passed away in 2010 but his memory lives on as Sovereign and the Council agreed to name a street after him in the new development in Barton Hill. Reg was nominated by other local people who remember all he did for the area. “Reg was a man who felt passionate about the community of Barton Hill and Redfield. He was born in Redfield and lived there all his life until he sadly passed away at the age of 84.He volunteered his time well into his eighties; he was in charge of Redfield boys brigade, was a local magistrate and was responsible for helping to set up the Healthy Places Happy People committee which went on to organise the building of the Wellspring Healthy Living Centre in Barton Hill. I think naming this road after him is very appropriate.” said Barton Hill resident Mandy Cox.
New cafe open at Wellspring Healthy Living Centre, Beam Street, Barton Hill. Pop in or call 304 1400 to find out opening times. Bristol has a new contract for waste collection. This includes street sweeping and recycling. We will bring you more information about this in the next issue. If you are experiencing any issues with street cleaning or litter report it on 0117 922 2100.
WANTED Cowgirls for Easton women’s football team Wednesdays 7.30pm to 8.30pm City Academy Russell Town Avenue £3 per session (£2 low/unwaged) Over 18s only Call 07905774849 Up Our Street www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk
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Seeing Red in East Bristol By Jon Watkins Redfest 2011 was our biggest festival yet with over 50 acts, bands and events taking over Redfield’s pubs, cafes, community centres and streets. The week long festival culminated in the Redfest All Dayer with music, kids activities, local stalls, DJs and dance acts at St Georges Park. During the week, music took over the Old Stillage, Fire Engine and Cafe Grounded with a wide diversity of bands. The Chaos Cabaret at the Red Lion on Whitehall Road featured the awe-inspiring beatboxer Vid Warren, burlesque dancing, and juggling. The Redfest Short Film Night included BAFTA winning short film September from Easton’s Ester May Campbell. Walls, shutters, pubs and car showrooms became canvasses for east Bristol’s vibrant graffiti scene with the Paint Jam featuring works by Paris, Lokey and Acer. Children’s events included the educational They Might Be Giants – Here Comes Science film, Robo-Disco and a robot costume-making workshop and parade in St Georges Park. Redfest is put on each year by a group of volunteers made up of local business people and residents. The aim is to bring music, art, cabaret and fun to our community. We rely entirely on donations from businesses and local grant funding where available. Look out for details of Redfest 2012 on 19 – 21 July by visiting www.redfestbristol.co.uk or www.facebook.com/RedfestBristol You can follow Redfest on Twitter @RedfestBristol To get involved contact redfestbristol@gmail.com
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Easton and Lawrence Hill Need Childminders Coming soon.... Childminding course with supporting English (ESOL) classes. Interested? Contact Denise on denise.tovey@bristol.gov.uk or 0845 129 7217
Funding available Are you a group or individual living or working in Barton Hill, parts of Redfield or The Dings? Groups and individuals in the old Community at Heart area can apply for funding to help put on an activity for local people or to help you into work or education. To find out if you are eligible, call us on 903 9975. What is the Localism Bill? What does it mean for communities? Contact Stacy on 377 3638 for a plain English guide.
You said, we did... Forum feedback September to December A traffic survey is being carried out on Westminster Road after you said there was too much speeding traffic. An engineer visited the subway under M32 junction 3 to check on flooding reported by a resident. Loose gravel removed from Newton Street. You reported this had blocked a drain and was causing flooding. Vegetation cut back on Woodbine Street and Devon Road. Crack house closed on Greenbank Avenue. Tenants moved to Robertson Road and were evicted a second time. Easton Road being monitored by Council waste officers after you reported it was often very littered. Vegetation you said was blocking the pavement on Ducie Road has been trimmed back. Rubbish cleared from Brook Street Park. Overgrown vegetation cut back by The Dings tunnel
The Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Forum has been busy since the last newsletter. Over the past year, residents have been raising issues about traffic and highways, for example problem areas for speeding, congestion and parking. In November the Council Highways team updated the Forum on priority projects agreed by the Neighbourhood Partnership in March, including the review of speeding problems on Westminster Road and surrounding streets, parking problems on Chelsea Road and Kilburn Street and a resident‟s parking scheme in The Dings. Another interesting debate was about the future of Sparke Evans Park in St Philips Marsh. A local businessman is interested in making part of it a high quality football pitch for a league team. Residents were asked for their views about the proposal which will inform the decisions of Councillors at the Neighbourhood Partnership. One issue that often comes up at the Forums is litter and rubbish. The new contractor for waste collection, May Gurney, attended a Forum to explain to residents the changes they are planning to introduce. During the Forum, residents were able to provide May Gurney with information concerning litter hot spots in our area. At each Forum you can raise concerns about your street. Officers from the Council and police attend, and it is their job to listen to you, take away actions and report back about what can be done. Have a look at the „You Said, We Did‟ column opposite to find out what has been done lately. Next Forums: Monday 30 January, 6.30pm to 8.30pm St Mary Redcliffe & Temple School, Somerset Square Tuesday 20 March, 6.30pm to 8.30pm Easton Primary School, Beaufort Street Neighbourhood Partnership Here are some of your suggestions which Councillors agreed to spend money on: A one-off clean up of the alley between Chelsea Park and King Street, 100 winter window boxes for Walton Street, Lansdown Road, Villiers Road and Felix Road and 2,500 spring flowering bulbs to be planted in the Lawrence Hill and St Pauls roundabouts. Want to get more regular news about your Forum? Text 07810506980 or stacy@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk In November, the Neighbourhood Partnership held a meeting about traffic, roads and pavements and what you think are the key priorities for the 2012/2013 highways budget. To find out what schemes were chosen or to add new ones to the list contact Penny on 903 9975.
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Up Our Street wanted to find out more about the communities who live here and how they came to live in our area. Why do people move to the UK? How is life different here? In this issue we meet people from Poland who are now living or working in Easton and Lawrence Hill.
Polish migrants have been coming to the UK for centuries. During the Second World War thousands of Polish refugees found sanctuary in the UK, including in Bristol. Polish refugees kept arriving in small number until the collapse of communism in 1989. However, it was only after Poland joined the European Union in May 2004 that Polish migrants came to the UK in very large numbers looking for a better life and fairer pay. It is impossible to say exactly how many Polish migrants settled in the UK. In Bristol there may be as many as 25,000 Poles, with several thousand in Easton and Lawrence Hill. Most of them are economic migrants, although increasing numbers of young people arrive in the UK to study. Despite the current economic downturn, there is little evidence that migrants are going back. While Poland was the only EU country to avoid recession, average pay is still nearly three times lower than in Britain. Increasing numbers of Polish children in schools suggests that Poles will be another ethnic group to blend into British society. In December flights to Poland were again full of people going to spend Christmas Eve, the most celebrated day of the year in Poland, with their relatives. This is actually a good reason to go to Poland for Christmas – the festivities there last not two, but three days! Jakub Jablonowski
Ola Modzelewska is 27 and is the Practice Support Manager for a local dentist. Ola has lived in Bristol for seven years. “I moved to Bristol as I was looking for something new, a better life, something exciting. I learnt English at school but I wasn‟t very confident so I practiced when I got here. It was winter when I arrived and I couldn‟t believe how many people were wearing summer clothes like flip flops! It still shocks me now.”
Beate Karaban is 41 and lives with her children, Arek, 21 and Natalie,18. Beate works part time running the Wellspring Cafe and has lived in Bristol for two years. “I moved to the UK so my children could learn better English. I also got divorced and I wanted to start a new life somewhere. Learning English is very useful for finding work. On TV in Poland they always show England as very rich with green fields, but when you get here you see parts of it aren‟t like that at all. In the city there is a lot of graffiti and mess – you don‟t see that on TV. This is the first time in my life I have had a garden and I love it. In Poland we all live in flats. When I first moved here I had problems with racism from a neighbour. It was very upsetting and I felt like going back to Poland. Then I got help from places like SARI and Wellspring and met people who were friendly. Now I have this job and I have more opportunities to practice my English. I do miss my family though and the beach where I used to live. I have got tickets to go to Poland at Christmas for the first time in three years.” 6
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Piotr Glick is 43 and lives in Barton Hill. His wife and 20 month old daughter still live in Poland and visit him a couple of times a year. He works full time and has lived in Bristol for four years. “I came to the UK to earn money and find a better job. My initial plan was to earn a bit of money and then go back but it seems it will be a bit longer now. When I first arrived it was surprising to see all the low-rise buildings. The residential areas in Poland are all blocks of flats and I expected that all over. I like the fact that the people are so open minded and friendly. They know I am from Poland and I don‟t speak English very well but they don‟t reject me and accept me for who I am. When I am here I miss my family a lot. At the moment I am very absorbed by my work and I am trying to learn English. I have financial commitments in Poland so it is impossible for us to live together but I hope in the future this will be resolved and we will live here or in Poland, I am not certain where yet.” Kamilla is 30 and lives in Barton Hill with her partner and their one year old daughter. “I came to England five years ago as I wanted to learn English. I didn‟t know how long I would stay. I finished my Masters at University in Poland and then I decided to come to Bristol. I found a job working in a restaurant and then later in a sandwich shop. I worked two jobs for a while. Then I met my boyfriend who was also working in the restaurant. He‟s from Turkey. Now we have our daughter and we both work. I do miss my family at home and some friends but I have been here a long time now and you forget about life at home. I do find life here expensive but there are more opportunities than in Poland. Even on minimum wage here you can pay your rent and buy clothes and save for a holiday. You could never do that in Poland.”
Michal Kropacz is 31 and lives in Redfield. He has lived in Bristol for six years and works full time. “Moving to Bristol was a random choice for me, I knew some friends of friends and I didn‟t want to go somewhere as big as London. Bristol is the same size as where I am from in Poland. In Poland it is still quite hard to earn money because of the difficult history of the country. The main reason I moved here was financial - I thought I would work and save money and then go back to Poland to start a business, but now I think I‟ll stay. I like it here, and not just earning money. I like the culture, the gigs and travelling to places with nice countryside like Wales. In Poland it is quite monocultural so I like the mix of people here and I find people in Bristol friendly and open - they smile a lot more here. Before I had an image of Britain as grey with no sun and a bit aristocratic with gentlemen! It isn‟t really that different from Poland though. I do miss Polish food and music and my family of course but I am settled here now.” Thank you to Jakub Jablonowski and Magda Kowalik-Malcom for help with this article. To find out about Jakub’s work at Wellspring Healthy Living Centre contact him on 304 1426. Magda runs the Polish Family Club at Barton Hill Settlement. Contact her on 955 6971.
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Over the next seven pages we meet some young people living and working in our area and find out a bit more about what issues are important to them. The future of youth services in Easton and Lawrence Hill We all know times are getting tougher as Government cuts start to take affect and the Council looks to save millions of pounds from its budget. One of the areas it plans to make savings is in the youth service and it is currently reviewing how these are run to get the best value for money. There are big changes on the horizon but it is too early to say how this will impact on Easton and Lawrence Hill. By spring there will be more information available about which organisations are interested in running our youth services, with decisions being made by the end of 2012. If you have views about what is needed for young people in our area, contact us on 377 3638 or stacy@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk and we will forward your views on to the relevant person. SCOUTS OUT AND ABOUT Easton Scouts are always up to something interesting. Any boys or girls between the ages of 5 and 9 months and 14 can go along and give it a try. Beavers and Cubs must be accompanied by a parent or carer. They would also like to invite any adult who is interested in getting involved with the group as a leader, occasional helper or fundraiser to contact Jayne Richer on 07906004873.
Can you help Hannah More Primary School? They are looking for an artist to help them paint a new container at the school. Contact Ruth Cochrane on 903 9936
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE MILL By Hew Punter The Mill Youth Centre on Lower Ashley Road will be 40 years old in October. The centre has been a beacon of hope to generations of young people from Easton. We would like to invite anyone who has pictures, memorabilia or stories to tell to get in touch. We are also looking for people to help organise events or activities in the lead up to October. To get involved contact Hew on 951 0188. Easton Girls Youth Group By Em Williams
Urban Fit Free weekly fitness group for women aged 14 to 21 Mondays 6pm to 9pm The Mill Youth Centre Lower Ashley Road Contact 07818587839 8
We are a group of girls who meet every week at Easton Community Centre from 5pm to 6.30pm. We started meeting in October so the group is still quite new. So far we have started to get to know one another with listening games, made a banner for the Reclaim the Night march and we decided on some activities that we would like to do in the future. If you want to know what we are doing each week or if you want to find out more about us, contact Em at Platform 51on 966 4856 07500553939 or em.williams@platform51.org Please note: This group is for girls aged 11 to 19 whose parents or families came to Bristol as refugees or migrants.
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Introducing......... I‟m Kinny Chinangwa and I‟m 25. I‟ve been a youth worker for eight years and a youth work manager for two years. I live in Barton Hill with my girlfriend and we are expecting our first baby. What makes you smile? I get excited about everything; I am a very positive and happy person. Seeing a young person successful and knowing I played a part in that, that makes me smile, knowing that I‟ve made a difference. What is your earliest memory of Easton or Lawrence Hill? When I was about 11 I saw a poster about The Mill, they were taking young people away and trying to get them to engage in youth provisions and I was like „wow i wanna go on that.‟ I went along and I saw youth work first hand and I thought, I wanna do this, I wanna help young people when I‟m older. What are the top three issues affecting young people today? One of them has to be unemployment, young people are finding it increasingly hard. Second would be education. Helping those that are borderline students, those that don‟t have GCSEs. Then street crime or gang mentality. There are a lot of young people that go around in a big group and I wouldn‟t really class them as a gang, but the people that take part in street crime and postcode rivalries, those are the gangs. At the moment for young people they see it as appealing if they haven‟t got a lot of love at home. Then they have a group of people that love and take care of them and they feel a part of something whether it is good or bad. Once they get involved in that it is hard for them to get out. What is the best thing about working with young people? For me the best thing is that it is very rewarding, especially in the job I do now. I have been working with the Dings Youth Project for five years. I‟ve been with them since they were ten years old and now they are leaving school and starting college and I have been a part of helping them move on to further education. For me that‟s one of the best things about working with young people, being a calming influence on them and helping them make decisions in their life. To speak to Kinny about the Dings Youth Project call him on 955 6971. Ramadan Ahmed is 16 years old and lives in Barton Hill. He moved to the UK from Somalia when he was one. After finishing his GCSEs at City Academy he is now taking A-Levels in English Language, Government and Politics at Filton College. Ramadan contacted Up Our Street about his football team and we thought it would be great to have a chat with him. “I am Director of the Somali Youth Forum and we run a regular football club which around 300 young people come to” says Ramadan. One of his main concerns is finding funding to keep the football club going. “We are already losing some of the young people and I don‟t want that to continue. Young Somali kids are hanging about on the street and their parents want to do something but they don‟t know what to do. Football helps." Ramadan is all too aware of the problems facing young Somali people and people‟s perception of his community. “Yes, we have problems like every community. We aren‟t infallible. But it is always negative you read about. There are also lots of positive stories, people who are doing medicine to be doctors and going on to uni. Myself, I have ambitions to be the first Black Prime Minister.” Ramadan is already very involved in politics as the Labour party representative for Bristol Youth Select Committee for Central East. Over the next few months, Ramadan is taking a step back from his commitments in Bristol as he has been selected as a volunteer team leader for the London Olympics 2012. Once that is over he will still be busy again locally. “I am planning to organise a political debate between all the parties, adults and young people so that we can discuss some of the issues facing young people today. I think the diversity where we live is a real strength and I am proud of it but with high unemployment there are problems and I am doing what I can to work for a better future and a better society.” Up Our Street www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk
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Boxing Barton Hill
Whipping up a Storm The inner city is home to many fantastic clubs and community groups, and one of the most successful is Bristol Storm. Storm is all about basketball, giving young people and adults experience of playing the sport at all levels from the street to the national leagues. The club has had a lot of success working with young people who find it hard to take part in organised sports or groups. We chatted to Head Coach and club founder Steve Brocklehurst to find out more. “We started in 2006 putting on informal games out and about in Easton. It was really popular and we saw loads of young people getting involved. Kids came from all over the city to play in our King of the Courts games. We realised there was a real demand for the sport so we set up the club and some more formal teams which competed in different leagues. We now have around 300 members, ten teams for a mix of ages, our own central venue leagues for juniors and women, and in 2011 we saw our first junior team go to Europe for a tournament. I think one of the reasons the club has done so well is because the members feel a real sense of ownership of the club. Some of the original players from back in 2006 are now club coaches and help develop the club. One of our great success stories is Kelvin Williams from Easton. He is a former junior player who came to us through our street games and who now spends a lot of his time out in the community coaching. He is a great inspiration and was chosen by the national Street Games programme as one of their unsung heroes.
By Tom Foley and Lin Gibbs Anyone age ten and over of any ability is welcome at the club. The club is not just about boxing but also about fitness, discipline and learning something new. We have around 500 people a month coming through the doors of the club. It‟s magic seeing how the kids progress seeing their fitness and stamina improve. Some come to box, some just to keep fit. We don‟t turn anyone away. We‟ve had some really good boxers here too, one boy has won the regional championship for his weight and age twice now. Girls are welcome as well. We now have a minibus which people can hire or sponsor and one day we‟d love our own venue. We are always on the look out for people to sponsor the club. If you want to try your hand at boxing and keeping fit in Barton Hill just come along. Barton Hill Boxing Club is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7pm to 8pm and Thursdays from 6.30pm to 8pm. The club is based at The Dug Out on Barton Hill Road.
We are always looking for new ways to expand and involve more young people. At the moment we are planning a programme called 4Ball, aimed at players from the age of four and a project to play on Friday nights.” Anyone who is interested in Bristol Storm can contact Steve on steve@bristolstorm.com
In September, local young people got together at Barton Hill Settlement to debate some of the important issues facing young people today. Why did young people get involved in the riots? What difference will it make that Education Maintenance Allowance has been stopped? Why do people end up in gangs? There was an interesting and lively discussion with some different perspectives. Are you a young person living in our neighbourhood with something to say? Do you want to hear about important local news? Text Stacy on 07810506980 or BB Messenger PIN 28525A90
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Introducing......... Culture Mash on BCfm In 2011, young people from Easton and Lawrence Hill presented a series of shows on BCfm talking about what issues are important to them. We caught up with some of the presenters to find out more. Although Culture Mash is no longer running, you can still tune in to BCfm 93.2fm to hear more from local people.
Culture Mash quiz the Councillors
Harriet Robinson, one of the project co-ordinators, explains what Culture Mash was all about. “The idea was to give young people a space to talk about issues that are important to them and give them something positive to do.” The show covered a wide range of issues including religion, family disputes, school, racism, Female Genital Mutilation and one subject that caused a stir, arranged marriage. “We ended up having two shows on arranged marriage” said Harriet “so many people got involved in the debate.” Riaz Unar, 21, from Easton was one of the presenters. “My favourite show was the one on gun and knife crime as it raised awareness of a danger on our streets that young people are facing. A lot of young people know someone who has been a victim or have heard of people who‟ve been a victim and they got involved in the show.” Sunaina Mamgai, 19, and Fariha Unar,17, are also from Easton.
interesting point, “for me one of the biggest issues is a sense of belonging – they don‟t know who they are – they put on a front. They live the life of an alter ego, and making money is the top priority whatever it takes. They want a quick way to make money, breaking the law rather than going to uni and working. In Easton there are a lot of drug users and dealers – they see that as the way out.”
And who would they have loved “We interviewed the Councillors to have had on the show? “Ashley from all four parties. It was really Walters who used to be in So good for our confidence to talk to Solid Crew.” says Riaz. “He‟s people like that and ask them made some films that really depict questions. We wanted to know what I‟m saying about young why they decided to spend money people. Bullet Boy was about him where they did. They were going to prison and coming out surprised by how much we knew.” and trying to sort his life out. The film shows the reality that people face in Bristol or London. He‟s an inspiration and I think he‟d be really good.” “David Cameron!” Sunaina and Fariha say together. “I‟d love him to answer all our questions properly with no politician‟s speak,” says Fariha. “When we questioned a local MP, they couldn‟t answer all our Left to right: Fariha, Harriet, questions on student fees and Sunaina and Riaz multiculturalism. I‟d like to put David Cameron to the same test.” The girls both laugh, pleased to Culture Mash was funded by have held their own with the Children In Need and Lloyds TSB politicians. and supported by BCfm. When asked what they think is the most important issue facing young people, the three consider. “The crime that takes place between young people, and that every time there is a crime, people think it‟s young people that are the culprits” Sunaina and Fariha agree. Riaz makes an
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UP OUR STREET REPORTS........... Primary Schools in Easton and Lawrence Hill Access to good quality education near to where you live is considered a basic right for families. Over the past few years, our schools have been facing new challenges. Here we try and unpick the thorny issue of access to education in our community. In 2011 there were 2685 children on the school roll in Lawrence Hill and 1881 in Easton. In Lawrence Hill, 52.2% were Black or Black British, 16.8% were Asian or British Asian and 18.8% were White. In Easton the figures were 26% Black or Black British, 19.7% Asian or British Asian and 39.3% White. When the census information is available it will be interesting to compare how our population is reflected in our schools.
Issue number 1 Not enough primary school places Bristol has the fastest growing population in the country. Between 3000 and 5000 children need to start school by 2015 and there are not enough places to meet this demand. Temporary classrooms only serve in the short-term as some schools may not have adequate facilities for play, eating or bathrooms. In October, the four Bristol MPs, Clare CampionSmith and Annie Hudson (Director for Children‟s Services at the Council) took their case to Education Minister Nick Gibbs to ask for more funds for the city‟s primary schools. In our area, new classrooms are planned for Hannah More and Millpond. Barton Hill Primary has already expanded. In November the Government gave the Council an extra £18m. This is still some way short of the £110m the Council needs to meet its obligations of providing enough places by 2015.
Issue number 2 Parents don’t send their child to the school nearest to them Parents have a choice about which school to send their children to and they choose their school for a number of reasons based on curriculum, academic performance and diversity of pupils. If a child goes to school a long way from home, this has a wider impact as parents have to drive further (causing traffic and parking congestion), walk further (tiring children) and have reduced work options due to the time required to get children to and from school and the lack of local childminders. The demand for schools becomes uneven as some more „desirable‟ schools become over subscribed while others have spaces.
Issue number 3 Cultural diversity in schools changing There is a concern that schools in Easton and Lawrence Hill are increasingly ethnically segregated. In recent years there has been a rise in international migration and a growth in Eastern European and Somali populations in particular. When choosing a place, if White parents feel that a school is likely to attract a higher number of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) children, they may regard it as less desirable because of concerns about the extra resources needed to deal with non English speakers, possible lower levels of achievement or fear of change and difference. If the parents of BME children feel that their children are likely to be misunderstood or unappreciated in a majority White school, then they will also chose a different school; both create increased ethnic segregation and the danger that more parents opt to remove their children, possibly affecting school performance. A diverse and vibrant neighbourhood is a good thing and something many people love about our area, but this segregation creates challenges for how people get along with each other in our neighbourhood as a whole. In 2012 when school and census data has been collated, we can expect to see a majority of BME pupils in some inner city schools, which signifies a big change over the last five years.
Issue number 4 Parents don’t understand the system Parents are faced with a great deal of choice of schools and the admissions process is long and can be complicated. Many parents may have limited understanding of the education system in the UK.
“Providing extra primary school places remains a priority. One of the main difficulties for many parents last year was that, in some cases, information about where extra school places for September 2011 academic year would be provided were not available until spring/summer 2011. The Council has set an ambitious timetable of providing information about extra school places for September 2012 before the end of December 2011. This is so that parents can apply or amend existing primary school applications before the closing date on 15 January 2012. One of the main challenges is the availability of funding to undertake school expansions and provide new schools and there has been a concerted effort at lobbying the Department for Education for additional funds.” Craig Bolt, Service Director for Education Strategy and Targeted Support for Bristol City Council
“Since we took control of the Council in 2009, we have put in the equivalent of 40 new primary classes. A considerable amount of planning is happening so that we can expand some schools and create new ones. There are very few easy sites left to develop. We need to know what future funding the city will get so we can plan. My ambition is that every child will be offered a school place within a mile of their home. Parents and carers should apply on time to give them the best possible chance of getting a place of their choice and they should do their research early by visiting schools and talking about the process with headteachers. Bristol is becoming a city of many different ethnic communities. A report was commissioned about making sure that this multi-cultural nature was a benefit and not a problem. A lot of hard work is being done in our schools to integrate communities. One problem identified nationally was that integration was more difficult when one racial group was in a majority. We cannot brush problems under the carpet and hope they will go away. We will work with schools and the community to give every child the best possible education” Councillor Clare Campion-Smith, Executive Member for Children and Young People, Bristol City Council “It is crucial that we find a way to be able to educate local children within their local community, whatever their needs. Barton Hill Primary School has already expanded once to provide additional places for local children, we have also opened a new integrated provision for pupils with autism, something we are very proud of. However, this is still not enough to meet the demands of a rising population. We are very concerned that families will have to be split up and parents take their children to different schools. This will not help raise achievement for children or help continue the very good community cohesion work within our area.” Simon Robinson, Principal Barton Hill Primary School, Barton Hill
"We work with parents who are new to the country and are not familiar with the English education system; the notion of choice – being a „consumer‟ of education – is alien to many. In our area there is a variety of schools – including Islamic, Catholic and Community schools, all with different approaches and different curricula. The choices that parents face are set to increase with the Government strategy of diversifying and encouraging free schools and academies. More resources are needed to support parents through what can be a complex and confusing time. We do all we can to help our parents through the process but it is time-consuming for everybody and we know that there are parents around who are not getting the help that they need.” Toni Glazzard, Headteacher, Rosemary Early Years Centre, St Judes "Many parents new to the UK struggle to understand the school system and it is often difficult for us to communicate with them, and them with us. This is improving, but a lot of information needs to be provided by word of mouth, which is not always easy to achieve. There can also be tensions when families from different cultures move into an area, as is happening at the moment with new Roma families. This is affecting a small number of schools in the area. A lot of work is going into supporting these new families and encouraging acceptance, from all sides, but there are no quick fixes. Another key issue is the level of transience in most local schools - the number of children leaving at the end of year 6 who started at that school in Reception. This is a big problem as it causes disruption for the children who leave and also for the ones left behind. I think schools are increasingly sharing ideas and good practice and working together giving out the same messages. A good example is there is now an attendance policy which has been adopted by many of the local schools so that more schools are working in the same way – this, hopefully, will result in parents being less likely to move their children from school to school, and instead, will work with us to resolve difficulties.” Family Support Worker, Bannerman Road Community School, Easton "At The Limes Nursery we have seen a big change in the diversity of our children. We have more Eastern European children than before. We have spent time getting to know other organisations that already work with these communities and learning from their experiences. I think it's important that we learn from each other to share skills and adapt to our changing neighbourhood." Angela Blanc, The Limes Nursery and Children's Centre, Whitehall
Who will care for the carers? What would you do if you were trying to look after someone who needed help with daily tasks but you were too ill to care for them? Would you ask for help? Who could you turn to? Kemille King is one of three generations in her family that have received help from Easton based Bristol Black Carers, an organisation that supports people caring for others who struggle to do the things for themselves that many of us may take for granted, such as shopping, cooking and bathing. Up Our Street talked to Kemille about her experiences of being a carer and why some people are not reaching out for the help they need. “I‟ve been a carer for almost all my life and don‟t take that as really a big thing because that‟s our culture” says Kemille, who Snow can be fun... looks after her 82 year old grandma. “We believe that the kids should look after their parents or grandparents and vice-versa so for me when I got the help from Black Carers I was shocked because the offer was so good I thought it was too good to be true.” Kemille had never thought she needed help, but one incident changed her mind. “I remember when I was really bad, me and Nan, we went in the bathroom and I said „We need to Kemille at home have a bath‟ and I couldn‟t help her and she couldn‟t help me.” Young carers are often a hidden group, fearful of finding help. Hazel Britton from Black Carers tells of one young girl who has to shower her older brother and get him ready for school because her mum has alcoholism and is often unable to help. “Why would she want to tell a teacher that‟s the reason that she‟s late? There are young carers who we‟ll never find and don‟t want to be found because of the stigma attached to caring.” Monthly carers meetings are a chance to meet others in the same situation. “We talk, we eat, we have a laugh. It‟s lovely because I always think I‟m the only one in this world going through this. I think I suffered in silence because I couldn‟t say to anybody I‟m so ill I can‟t look after Nan. I want to stand up on the rooftop of Bristol and shout and I really want every single soul who can benefit from this organisation to accept the help” said Kemille. If you are an unpaid carer that is looking after a relative or non-family member and you would like to find out how Bristol Black Carers can help, call Hazel Brittan on 314 4664 or visit the website www.blackcarersproject.co.uk
Easton Time Signs Plaques The Chelsea Inn By Mike Baker The plaque on the wall of the Chelsea Inn on the corner of Bloy Street and Chelsea Road is one of the earliest in the Time Signs series. The Time Signs series is a collection of plaques marking historic parts of our neighbourhood. This plaque commemorates the life of Bloy Street, which was redeveloped in the late 1990‟s, replacing crumbling buildings which had been there since 1872. The plaque shows 120 years of history, including scenes, fashions, houses, local railway stations, coal mining, a barrel maker, a draughtsman delivering beer to the pub, different modes of transport, and important historical events. To find out more or to follow the Time Signs trail contact Stacy on 377 3638 and she can put you in touch with Living Easton. Up Our Street www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk
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Up Our Street www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk
Up Our Street www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk
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UP OUR STREET OUT AND ABOUT IN OUR COMMUNITY..... This issue, Dhek Bhal In September, you could smell a beautiful spicy aroma in Barton Hill and see the swish of colourful saris as Dhek Bhal hosted its end of Ramadan party. They invited Up Our Street along to catch up with some of the ladies and enjoy some of that tasty cooking! We chatted to some of the ladies about Ramadan and Dhek Bhal and here’s what they had to say. To find out more about Dhek Bhal call them on 914 6671. Aqila Afzal
I am from Pakistan and am 74 years old. I come here to meet people and I like taking part in the activities. I am a Muslim and I celebrate the two Eids. There is Eid Al Fitr at the end of Ramadan and Eid al Adha in November. Eid al Adha is about a sacrifice of meat which you share with relatives and friends. The fasting is to learn about patience and also to make you think about the poorer people and to give charity to them. For the celebrations I like to eat biryani, pilau and roast chicken.
Susan Ram I am 86 years old and I have been coming here for 10 years. I like to celebrate all the festivals – Christmas, Diwali and Ramadan. I enjoy the party! I like eating lamb, roti and rice and having my picture taken. I am going to send the magazine to my daughter in Delhi. Gurdial Kaur I used to be a volunteer for Dhek Bhal but then I was ill so I came here for support. We go on holiday together and I can spend time with ladies my own age. I would be lonely at home. I’m a Sikh but I like all the celebrations and cultures.
Salma Akhtar I had a stroke and was very lonely, at home all day crying and very upset. I then found Dhek Bhal and have been coming here for 16 years. I really enjoy the friendship and I can get information and help with problems. I feel like a prisoner if I don’t get out. Every religion comes here together and we love each other like sisters. I am a Muslim but I come here for Christmas and Diwali as well as Ramadan. My favourite food is definitely the biryani!
Tabassam Aziz I am from Lahore in India and lived in Easton as well. I never used to go out except taking children to school and shopping. I was part of Dhek Bhal when it set up 25 years ago and it helped me learn English and I took computer classes. I have no relatives here and Dhek Bhal helped me make friends and go to places I would never get to go. Ramadan is very important for me. It is our 30 days of fasting before we celebrate Eid. It is traditional to break fast with dates and water.
Tenants on tour
Sindhumati George I’m a widow with two children, one of them is a doctor in London. I live alone and it can be very lonely. I had a heart bi-pass last year as well. I come here to meet friends, have good food and good company and it makes me very happy. I am Christian but I enjoy celebrating together with everyone. I like all the foods that are bad for me, biryani, pakora and samosa!
By Alan Dando After our last trip, everyone was looking forward to Stratford Upon Avon and 43 people came along. The day promised good weather and was sunny when we left. We stopped in Bourton-On-The-Water for a walk and coffee and then passed on through Morton-In-Marsh. We arrived in Stratford at lunchtime and everyone went off to do their own thing. It is a very old town full of super architecture and is Shakespeare‟s birthplace. Some of us took a ride on the boats on the River Avon and then retired to the pub. On the way home we stopped in Cheltenham and all piled in a pub for food and drinks and we got back to Barton Hill after 9pm. Everyone had a great day and we will organise another trip soon. 18
Up Our Street www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk
Barton Hill History Group Annual General Meeting on 18 January Lost industries of the Netham on 15 February History group exhibition on 24 March Visit www.bhhg.co.uk Time and again we hear from people who are upset about the condition of our streets. We are organising a series of litter picks. If you want to help us call François on 377 3640. PLEASE DON’T DROP LITTER DISPOSE OF YOUR RUBBISH PROPERLY RESPECT OUR STREETS!
Edible Futures in Lawrence Hill Do you want to be part of planting Bristol’s first community forest garden? Planting days on 7, 13, 21 and 27 January at Peel Street off Pennywell Road in Lawrence Hill. Call Humphrey on 07702810555 or humphreylloyd@hotmail.co.uk
Cuts crisis for local club Since 1991, Golden Agers at Tudor Hall in Easton has been providing hot meals, company and activities for the Caribbean community. Around 30 people, mostly in their 70s, attend the club each week. The group has seen its budget of £10,000 a year reduced to nothing. Up Our Street visited the group back in October to find out more. Golden Agers Chair, Madge Douglas, a 73 year old retired nurse is very concerned. “We don’t know what we are going to do. This Ephraim, Madge and Gloria place is so important to our members and they don’t know where to go when the club isn’t on. I got involved in 2003 after a friend recommended it. I just wish that we could get funding for the most important things like the rent of the building, the insurance and the phone. We could then try and find the rest.” Gloria Morris, 75, Vice Chair and also a retired nurse has been volunteering at the club since she stopped looking after her grandchildren in 2005 and she has been even busier ever since! Both women work so hard to keep the club going, despite being at a time in life when most people think they’ll be taking it easy. “Some of the older people are getting very forgetful” says Gloria. “They know the club is on and we are here and it helps them to get out and meet friends. When we close for Christmas some of them still turn up here as they forget. Then they go to Ephraim’s house.” Ephraim Williams is the club’s treasurer and at 87 is busier than most. The benefits of being active, spending time with others and learning something new are obvious when you meet Madge, Gloria and Ephraim, all of whom are very worried about the future of the club and what its closure would mean to the 30 plus people who depend on them. They are getting some help to apply for other funding but anyone who thinks they can help the club can contact Madge on 977 9210 or Gloria on 969 4884. Golden Agers runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm at Tudor Hall, Tudor Road, Easton. Up Our Street www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk
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es al business c lo r u o y k rt Suppo ndents.co.u e p e d n li to s ri Visit www.b ore to find out m
Message from Inspector Chris Regan:
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“We have had a lot of really positive results over the past three months. Operation Bowler is still in force and officers are dedicated to responding to community concerns. In recent weeks, 38 years worth of prison sentences were given out to some of our most serious offenders. We need support and information from the community to continue this good work. If you want to talk to us contact 101 or in an emergency call 999. To report anything anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.� We hope to run an event on Stapleton Road every month in 2012 - do you have ideas? Can you help us? Call Stacy on 377 3638
How can you help? for vailable now nd a rs e k c ti s d arou Window idents on an s re d n a rs trade oad Stapleton R
Stapleton Road Working Group is a group of residents and traders, supported by the police and Council, who get together to discuss their concerns about Stapleton Road. The group tries to find community-led solutions to the problems they identify. There are a mix of people involved from different backgrounds and with different experiences. If you live or work on Stapleton Road and you would like to be a part of making this road a safe and pleasant place to live, call us on 903 9975 to find out more.
Before deep clean of pavements
After deep clean of pavements Out and about We are carrying out walkabouts on Villiers Road, Walton Street, Felix Road and Lansdown Road so if you spot one of our team please stop and have a chat and tell them what you think we should be doing. Catch us on: 22 March, 4pm to 6pm
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Up Our Street www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk
Mixing it up in Easton
When Simon and Tim were made redundant from a mental health charity in early 2011, they felt it was the perfect time to follow their dream. “We had the idea of setting up a cafe which also sold second hand furniture” says Simon. “Someone told us about the community centre so we put in a tender to run a cafe here and we were successful.” In The Mix has been running at Easton Community Centre on Kilburn Street since the beginning of September. The cafe sells home cooked meals, snacks, coffee, tea and cakes and children’s meals. As well as food and drink, the furniture you sit on is also for sale and Simon and Tim in the cafe you can buy local arts and crafts and vintage clothes on a Thursday. It’s early days yet but Simon and Tim are positive about the future. “We are sorting out the garden so we can have an outdoor area and to grow herbs and salads for the cafe. We’d love local artists to display their work here and we are expanding our menu to include vegan and gluten free foods.” In The Mix is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and until 8pm on Thursday and from 10am to 1pm on Saturdays at Easton Community Centre, Kilburn Street. Contact them on inthemixineaston@hotmail.co.uk
ARE YOU A BUSINESS ON CHURCH ROAD? Businesses on Church Road are working together on creative projects and events to bring new people to the area. Do you have ideas? Want to know more? Call Simon on 902 1417 or simonskies@gmail.com
Pioneers in community planning
West Side Story Trinity Arts has opened a new centre at 6 West Street in Old Market. The building was owned by the Council but was vacant and run down. Old Market Community Association asked Trinity if they would be interested in taking on the property to bring more life to West Street. The Council then provided some funding to bring the building up to standard. Trinity Arts Centre Manager Emma Harvey said: “We plan to run a range of things from the building including workshops, film nights and indoor picnics. We need people who are interested in getting involved. We hope if everyone gives „little and often‟ we can run it completely using volunteers.” Anyone interested in knowing more can contact Emma on info@3ca.org.uk or call 935 1200.
By Mariateresa Bucciante At the end of October, Old Market was the scene of much community activity as residents learnt more about the new Localism Bill and what it means for them. Old Market Community Association asked The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment to run a community planning workshop for the Old Market area, including West Street and St Judes. The event provided an opportunity for residents, businesses, Council officers and other interested people to meet together and discuss in a relaxed atmosphere how to design a new neighbourhood and what were the perceived negative factors which contributed to the decline of Old Market. During the three day event, aspirations for the area were set out and suggestions for how the roads could be redesigned were put forward by Andrew Cameron (a leading UK urban design expert), highways officers and FirstBus. Other groups studied the local economy, discovering an encouraging and vibrant mix of businesses. It was agreed that there are community buildings which could work together better. More work is needed by everyone involved to make ideas raised at the meeting a reality, but it was a positive start towards the community contributing to a Central Area Action Plan for the future of Old Market. If you want to read the draft final report please go to http:// oldmarket.org.uk/2011/11/draft-report-of-ourenquiry-by-design-workshop/
Up Our Street www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk
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Make a New Year’s Resolution to help out in your community
There are a lot of voluntary organisations in our area that rely on local people joining as Board members. Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management is run by a volunteer Board of local residents. We need more people from Easton and Newtown - could this be you? We chatted to some of our and Wellspring’s Board members to find out why they give their time to be on a management committee. Abdul Malik is a trader in Easton and has just joined the Board of Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management. “I've always been Sue Kelly lives in Redfield and involved with my local has been on the Board of neighbourhood and I admire those Wellspring Healthy Living organisations and individuals that Centre for 10 years. “I enjoy inspire positive change and listening to people and empower local residents. I have helping out. If residents didn’t help, places like Wellspring always been someone that gets would have to close so it’s involved and helps rather than one really important to be that sits back and criticises, that's involved.” why I decided to join the Board as a director and treasurer. I feel my experience of the local area and my Christopher Flanagan lives in business skills will further the Redfield and has just joined inspiring and positive work in our the Wellspring Board. neighbourhood.” “Wellspring helped me Joyce Clarke lives in Redfield personally and I wanted to return the favour. It’s an important way of affecting change.”
To find out about joining Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management Board contact Tracy on 903 9975
and has been on the Board of Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management for three years. “I joined the Board as I was concerned about the state of parks for my daughter. Since joining I have become interested in improving the safety and cleanliness of the community.”
Lively in The Limes By Angela Blanc
Green fingered Easton
In November, The Limes Nursery in Whitehall opened the doors of our newly refurbished children's centre. In 2010 we had a flood in the nursery room making it unusable. We had the room refurbished and it is now open for our families and local community to take part in a variety of groups, including stay and play sessions, baby PEEP group, baby weighing and a childminders group. The children's centre is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm offering day care for our working parents and holiday club sessions. We also have plans to run lots of other activities such as a new mum's group, foster carers group and play therapy. We are really excited about all the possibilities and look forward to welcoming new and old faces to the centre. Contact Angela to find out more about The Limes in Whitehall on 903 0317.
By Carter Nelson
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Up Our Street www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk
Transition Easton Gardening Group runs workshops and activities to get local people interested in growing food and plants in our urban neighbourhood. "I am involved because I am keen to be part of building a more sustainable future" says local resident Meredith Freeman. Another local member, Misty, adds “the group has provided me with the opportunity to meet so many people from the local community that I otherwise wouldn't have met. I feel proud to be part of the Easton community which has so many vibrant and proactive people." Look out for us in local parks this spring when we will continue to offer free planting for anyone who is interested. If you would like to get involved contact Misty on 07791492737 or transitioneaston@yahoo.co.uk
Street Swap Shop By Ina Hume Last summer Streets Alive ran a Street SwapShop project with six streets in Easton and Greenbank. Everyday people perform simple acts of neighbourly kindness and we have been looking at how we can support neighbours to lend, swap and exchange things like household items, fruit or vegetables from the garden and most importantly friendly support and skills when neighbours need a helping hand. Common swaps were taking in parcels, watering plants and feeding pets. There were also some great ideas that came from Lena Street and Greenbank, with people interested in setting up a neighbourhood food network.“The thing about our street party is everybody chips in and it brings everyone together. And those relationships last throughout the year until the next street party. It‟s fantastic. Do it.” said Andy from Greenbank. For more information on having a street party or about Street SwapShops contact Ina Hume on inahume@streetsalive.org.uk or call 922 5708.
Artur, Old Market It's good to see people doing something. They’re protesting as banking makes the mess then we have to rescue them. By protesting it might make banks take more responsibility
Phil, Barton Hill I agree they have a point but I’m not sure that’s the right way to go about it. I’ve closed my bank accounts and moved to the co-op and more people should do things like that
Abdi, Montpelier I think people feel they haven’t been listened to. They think politicians are on the side of big business. They think this is the only option they have
Tim, Easton I think it’s brilliant that people are fighting back
Rob, Greenbank I think it’s fantastic that Bristol is part of what is a growing, leaderless global movement
n Hannah, Easto ly good I think it’s a real are thing that people n to tio ac ke willing to ta tions es qu raise important lism ta pi about whether ca of all s ed is meeting the ne ety ci so r ou in people
Dom, The Dings I think it’s really good. It’s important people are pointing out that the real reason we’re in global recession is because of irresponsible banks and not people maxing out their credit cards
Up Our Street www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk
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