Summer 2016 by Up Our Street

www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

Tel: 0117 954 2834 Post: Beacon Centre, City Academy, Russell Town Avenue Bristol, BS5 9JH contact@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

Twitter: @upourstreet Facebook: Up Our Street Charity no: 1081691 Company no: 04023294 Comm. Engagement Officer Celia Davis Tel: 0117 954 2835 Finance and Office Manager Tracy Parsons Tel: 0117 954 2834 Interim Manager Matt Jacobs Tel: 0117 954 2836

Nominations now open for the Thank You Awards 2016 See page 17 for more details

Chair of trustees Sally Caseley Deputy chairs Amy Harrison Dominic Murphy Trustee board Joyce Clarke Matt Fulford Mike Pickering Aisha Thomas Jane Westhead

Up Our Street is printed on recycled paper with vegetable inks and can be composted. It costs 45p to produce every copy of Up Our Street. It is hand delivered to 14,000 homes in the local area. The opinions and information contained in this publication are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of Up Our Street. Advertisers are not endorsed.

Listen to Up Our Street on BCfm 93.2 and Ujima 98fm every Wednesday at 8.45am Follow us on Twitter @upourstreet or join our group on Facebook Inside this issue Up Our Street news………………..…..…page 3 Neighbourhood Partnership…...…....page 4 Have Your Say………………...……pages 5 to 7 Get Involved……………………….pages 8 to 10 Working Together…………....pages 11 to 13 Active Citizens: Easton Cowboys…page 14

Local History: Trinity Centre………...page 15 Community news…………………………..page 16 Thank You Awards……………….………..page 17 Summer events………………..…pages 18 to 19 Food reviews…………………………………page 20 Advertising…………………………pages 21 to 24

Front cover photo credits: Top: 8th Sense Media, Centre left: Sidz photography. All others: Up Our Street 2

Up Our Street

www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

UP OUR STREET - People changing the world. One street at a time. It has been a very busy couple of months for us at Up Our Street. We have run several pre-election events so that residents from Easton and Lawrence Hill can have their say. Read more about this on page 5. We go to print before the election, so we will have a ‘Meet the Councillors’ feature in our next edition. We are also delighted to welcome Celia Davis to the team, who joins us as Community Engagement Officer. She has already been busy meeting residents and local groups, and is also

coordinating our Active Citizens project. Don’t forget that the Thank You awards are now open for nominations. If you know a resident who deserves a big thank you for their work in the community, we want to hear from you. Up Our Street is all about residents getting involved in decision-making. I would encourage you to come along to have your say at a Neighbourhood Forum (more on page 7). The next forum focusses on inequality in our neighbourhood.

HAVE YOUR SAY The stories in this section are all about having a Political Voice. That is not about supporting a particular political party, it is about having influence over decisions that affect your life or your community.

GET INVOLVED The stories in this section are all about Civic Participation. This means the different ways that people can and do get involved in their community.

WORKING TOGETHER The stories in this section are all about Social Capital. This means the way that people work together to share skills and experience and build strong networks.

Celia joined us as Community Engagement Officer at Up Our Street in March this year. She joins us from Sustrans, where she spent three years delivering community projects to promote sustainable transport, economic development and physical activity with Bristol City Council. Celia has lived in Easton for three years and looks forward to meeting local residents in Easton and Lawrence Hill and supporting them to improve their neighbourhoods.

If you have a Tidy BS5 postcard at home, don’t forget to send it in to Bristol City Council. They have received nearly 100 completed cards so far but we need more to really make an impact! Listen to our Active Citizens radio show on BCfm 93.2. Our volunteers will be broadcasting at 2pm on Fridays from 27 May to 1 July. The broadcasts will focus on what it means to be an Active Citizen and hopefully inspire you to take action in your community. If you haven’t seen it yet, our Active Citizens toolkit is up on YouTube http://tinyurl.com/zxz3lq7. Do check it out! www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

Up Our Street

NEIGHBOURHOOD PARTNERSHIP Meet the Neighbourhood

Partnership

Elaine Flint Wellspring Health Living Centre Local Parks The partnership agreed £30,000 funding for Gaunts Ham Park for a new Multi Use Games Area. This will be match funded through money from developers, bringing the total fund to £60,000. They also agreed to fund improvements to Bellevue Park play area, installation began in March. Junction 3 Bushes have been cleared at Junction 3 roundabout. The area was being used for drug activity which has now left the area, and the space looks and feels much safer. Neighbourhood Officers recently did a bicycle bell promotion at Junction 3, handing out 60 bells and chatting to cyclists about sharing the space, using bells, slowing down and awareness for pedestrians with visual and hearing impairments. More plans in the pipeline . Heber Street Clean Up A community clean-up was held in April on Heber Street in response to reports of litter and dog fouling. The clean-up concentrated on the alleyway between Heber Street and City Academy. Old Market The resident-led and developed Old Market Quarter Neighbourhood Development Plan was agreed at Full Council in March, the first plan of this kind to be agreed in Bristol. It could bring significant investment to the area. Easton Safer Streets Easton Safer Streets is a project looking at how conditions for walking and cycling can be improved and streets in Easton made safer. An interactive map is currently live online, to add comments and have your say: visit www.travelwest.info/Easton Affordable Housing A joint statement was made at the Neighbourhood Partnership meeting from Chocbox 2.0 Community Association and Carriageworks Action Group, who voiced concern about the lack of affordable housing in the proposed developments at the Greenbank Chocolate Factory site and the Carriageworks development on Stokes Croft. 4

Up Our Street

Why are you a member of the Neighbourhood Partnership? Wellspring Healthy Living Centre is the local, resident-led Health and Wellbeing hub for the area and it is important to us to keep in touch with everything that is going on in the area. We hope we can contribute to the thinking about how the needs of our local community can be best met. What do you find most rewarding? Seeing the commitment of local residents, whether on planning issues, transport issues or environmental issues. They are immensely knowledgeable and are important voices to influence decision making for the area. What is the one thing you’d most like to change in Easton and Lawrence Hill? I would like to see the take-up of preventative health measures such as cancer screening and improved wellbeing through more social interactions alongside healthy eating and smoking reduction. Health inequalities mean that people are dying earlier in our area than in other parts of Bristol, and that is a tragedy. Dates for your diary

Neighbourhood Partnership Monday 27 June Venue tbc Neighbourhood Forum Wednesday 29 June 6.30pm to 8.30pm Newton Hall, Stapleton Road Come along to the Neighbourhood Forum on 29 June to make sure that your voice is heard at the Neighbourhood Partnership www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

HAVE YOUR SAY

A key part of Up Our Street’s work is to encourage residents to get involved in local decision-making. We run events in the run-up to elections so that local people can meet and question the politicians who want to represent them. We held a Mayoral Question Time on Race Equality in partnership with Black South West Network on 5 April. We invited all the Mayoral candidates, when many mainstream hustings only featured the top four. The Feilden Theatre at City Academy was packed out, with a diverse audience of over 200 people coming to have their say. Kunle Olulode, Director of Voice4Change spoke at the event and had this to say: “When you talk to

Ask the Audience We used hand-held voting devices to ask questions of the audience throughout the evening. Here is some of the key feedback:

43% said that Institutional Racism is the most pressing race equality issue in Bristol

52% don’t feel they are equally valued by public services in Bristol

64% feel that their voices are not heard in local politics

On 19 April we held a Local Councillor Hustings with candidates from both Easton and Lawrence Hill wards. Questions ranged from how to ensure that local residents can access employment opportunities in large projects such as Bristol Arena, tackling litter and fly tipping, as well as the crisis over affordable housing. Using the voting devices, the audience chose their top priority for their elected councillor to focus on in their first year in office. The top two choices were increasing affordable housing provision (35%) and improving education provision (25%).

Credit: 8th Sense Media

young people, they are not apathetic, and they do care about these issues, but they rarely get people taking them seriously enough to engage them.” And as Simon Woolley from Operation Black Vote pointed out “The epicentre of the Black British civil rights movement was right here in Bristol.” The event was chaired by Pat Hart from BCfm, who also broadcast live from the event. The audience showed their approval (or not) with what they were hearing by raising red or green cards. We also used electronic voting devices throughout the evening.

We talked to some of the audience members after the event to see what they had to say: “I think it went well. Also it’s quite nice to see a diverse audience, as well as all the candidates sat there.” “So many of these meetings, everyone comes to see us, and then nothing happens. So hopefully, now that we’re having a chance and might get a new mayor… things will start to change.”

engaged in local government structures including the Neighbourhood Partnership and local forums. While 27% of the audience had attended a Neighbourhood Forum, only one person had attended a councillor surgery. Local councillors hold their surgery for an hour before the forum meeting, and this is your chance as a resident to talk to your local councillor about issues that are affecting you and your family.

Up Our Street goes to print before the elections. By the time you’re reading this, Bristol will already have voted. We will have a ‘meet the councillors’ feature in the next edition. We also asked the audience whether they had been www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

Up Our Street

HAVE YOUR SAY

Up Our Street is working with Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC) on a new programme that aims to use technology to tackle city issues. KWMC came to one of our recent Neighbourhood Forums to talk to local residents about how they can get involved. Martha King, Arts Producer at KWMC, explains a little more about the background to the project: “The Bristol Approach to Citizen Sensing is all about ensuring that people and communities are at the heart of innovation – and that digital technologies are used for the benefit of everyone.”

The group are currently working together to develop a range of tools that can help citizens collect data about damp in their homes, and use this data to campaign for change. KWMC and Up Our Street want to make sure that new technologies address the needs and priorities of those who will use them. Statistics continually show a rise in access to technologies and the internet, but there remains a risk that innovation won’t necessarily cater to the needs of individuals and communities.

Credit: Knowle West Media Centre

“The Bristol Approach is designed to be accessible,” Martha explains. “People can have different levels of engagement with the project and help to tackle the issue in their own way. We plan to have mix of online and offline ways of getting involved. It’s not all about a using a particular gadget.”

How can residents in Easton and Lawrence Hill get involved? We know that our area has a higher number of privately rented homes, and we know that damp can be a big problem, with serious health Martha explains: “Over the last few months we’ve implications. been working with communities across Bristol to Keep an eye on the Up Our Street ebulletin and identify issues that they were passionate about.” noticeboards for more information and get in One such issue is damp in rented homes. A recent touch with Martha if you’d like to join a team of event at Barton Hill Settlement saw a mix of people across Bristol tackling the problem of residents, technical experts, data specialists and artists get together to share knowledge and look at damp homes Martha.king@kwmc.org.uk or 0117 903 0444. some of the technical kit.

We reported in the last edition of Up Our Street about the Residents Against Dirty Energy (RADE) campaign to object to diesel power plants in our neighbourhood. The original application was rejected by Bristol City Council in December 2015, with over 400 objections from local residents. The bad news is that Plutus Energy is back. And this time they want to build a diesel power station in St Philips, less than 200 metres from a local nursery school. The official deadline for objections has passed but you can still get involved with RADE. They are particularly keen to hear from people who may have technical knowledge to help build a case against the application. All residents who submitted a comment on the application before the closing date will be able to speak at the planning meeting in June. Join the RADE Facebook group for regular updates or visit www.radebristol.com. 6

Up Our Street

www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

HAVE YOUR SAY

Radio Tune in at 2pm on Fridays from 27 May to 1 July to hear our Active Citizens radio volunteers. Each week a volunteer presenter will host a programme on BCfm with a different theme linked to Active Citizens. Listen live on BCfm 93.2 or catch up on their website after broadcast.

Events The summer will also see a programme of Active Citizens events, aimed at groups in the community who are often underrepresented in civic life and decision making. The events will invite those communities to come together and raise their voice and inspire people to take action on the issues that are important to them The first event is on 11 June in partnership with Bristol Womens Voice. We are focussing on Street Harassment and what actions local women can take. Contact Celia at Up Our Street on community@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk or call 0117 954 2835 to find out more.

A referendum will be held on Thursday 23 June to decide whether Britain should leave or remain in the European Union. Who gets a vote?  British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens over 18 who live in the UK  UK nationals living abroad who have been on the electoral register in the UK in the past 15 years Who doesn’t get a vote?  Citizens from EU countries will NOT get a vote (apart from Ireland, Malta and Cyprus) Register to vote If you are not already on the electoral roll, you must register by 7 June to take part in the referendum. You can register to vote online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or call 0117 922 3400 for a registration form. Where can I find more information? Whether to leave or remain in the EU complicated issue, and is your decision. This BBC article outlines some of the basic arguments from both sides, and gives a background to the history of the EU. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32810887 Keep an eye on Up Our Street ebulletins for events in the run up to the referendum.

Bristol City Council approved planning permission in April for the Bristol Arena development near Temple Meads. Residents in Easton and Lawrence Hill residents have consistently raised the issue of local employment as part of this large development at Neighbourhood Forums. The Arena team at Bristol City Council gave us this statement:

“The council will work with Bouygues UK* to agree a final package of works and target cost for the arena prior to awarding a building contract. The jobs and skills package will form part of this contract and is to include: 

40% of external expenditure delivered through small and medium size enterprises  65% of the workforce from the region of which 30% from Bristol  48 apprentices  40 work placements  4,000 person weeks of training and almost 2,000 pupil interactions with local schools” *Bouygues UK has been named as preferred Tenderer to build the Arena www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

Neighbourhood Forum

The next Neighbourhood Forum is on 29 June at Newton Hall in St Judes, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. It’s a chance for local residents to come together, learn about what’s happening in the community, raise issues, and work together to improve the area. The meeting on 29 June will include a session looking at inequality in our neighbourhood. There will also be a chance to share news and promote local events. The forum is a tool for local residents, so if you have an idea for a topic you would like to see on the agenda of a forum contact Celia by email at community@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk or call 0117 954 2834. Up Our Street

GET INVOLVED

Food waste is a big problem in this country. Every day supermarkets throw away food that is still safe to eat because it’s not good-looking enough to sell. Up Our Street went to meet the team of volunteers at Bristol Foodcycle, who want to change this. “Foodcycle is a national charity, it originally started in London, but has been running in Bristol for seven years” explains Annie, one of the volunteer team who cooks a free community meal at Barton Hill Settlement every Saturday. “Foodcycle aims to tackle social isolation, food poverty and food waste. We do this by collecting waste food by bike from local grocers and supermarkets, then cooking a delicious vegetarian meal that is free for anyone to join.” Currently around 30 people per week come to the meal, but the group is keen to see more people join. “We’re open to all, we could feed up to 100 people here.” All jobs are done by volunteers, with a team of four to six people cooking and serving food. Annie got involved when she was at university and went along to a Foodcycle event. “I was motivated to campaign against food waste. Foodcycle seemed like such a practical response.”

Volunteers at Foodcycle

We asked Annie what she most enjoys about volunteering “When the food comes in from the delivery, it’s not like a mainstream café, we have to be creative, we all help decide what to cook. And then when we bring the food out, and everyone gets together to eat, that’s great.” Find out more about volunteering at www.foodcycle.org.uk/location/bristol or pop along to Barton Hill Settlement at 2.30pm on a Saturday afternoon to meet the team.

Ashley, Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Partnership Wellbeing Grants Local groups are encouraged to apply for a small grant from the Wellbeing Fund. The fund has £30,000 to spend this year and there are three opportunities to apply. Projects should fit in with the priorities in the Ashley, Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Partnership Plan. Find out more about the priorities on the Up Our Street website www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk Deadlines for 2016 Please note late applications will not be considered 9am,18 May, decisions made on 27 June 9am, 24 August, decisions made on 3 October 9am, 19 October, decisions made on 28 November To download the guidelines and application form visit: www.bristol.gov.uk/people-communities/neighbourhoodpartnerships/neighbourhood-partnership-wellbeing-grants If you need help completing an application form please get in touch with Neil Burwell at neil.burwell@bristol.gov.uk or call 0117 357 4135. 8

Up Our Street

We recently had a call from Newtown resident Deborah Benjamin, who wants to work with other people in the area to re-start the Newtown Residents Association. She held a meeting at Trinity Centre in April, attended by residents and representatives from Trinity. The meeting focussed on the issue of noise from the centre at weekends. Deborah also pointed out that we don’t often feature stories about Newtown in Up Our Street. We’re always happy to hear your ideas, so please get in touch if there is a story in Newtown you think we should cover. If you live in Newtown and want to find out more, please call Up Our Street on 0117 954 2834 and we will put you in touch with Deborah. www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

GET INVOLVED

Friends of BelleVue Park got in touch with Up Our Street to tell us about some much needed improvements to their local park. We went along to meet the group and find out how things were going. “We have been working closely with Bristol City Council secure the funding” explains Kate Staniforth “The current play equipment will be staying but with the addition of new wooden log benches, wooden balance trail and climber, and two spinners. The whole surface will be refreshed and there will be additional road signs on the circuit area.” The group of local residents formed in 2013. They have held a number of park clean up days, painting and skill sharing workshops and community events such as the very successful ‘Halloween Pumpkin Parade’ and the summer ‘Picnic in the Park’. Friends of BelleVue Park have also been consulting with the local community for the last three years about the changes that people would like to see within the park. Jane Bryan from the group said: “After many community consultations about the playground we

Kate, Finn and Jane in BelleVue Park

are confident that the changes are in keeping with what the local residents have asked for.” Kate added: “We are so pleased that the council have listened and taken our ideas on board. We are delighted with the final plans and we hope the local community will be too!” Friends of BelleVue Park hope to have an event in the coming months to celebrate all the hard work of the local community. To find out more or to get involved with the group look them up on FB ‘Friends of BelleVue Park’ or visit their website www.eastonegg.weebly.com

Easton-based charity Time 2 Share is looking for volunteers to join their befriending scheme for children with disabilities. Clive from Time2Share explains: “Our aim is to establish positive and lasting relationships which enable young people to become more independent and active whilst also providing their carers with a regular break’’

We talked to Nicky, a Barton Hill resident who has been volunteering with Time to Share for the past four years. She is currently studying occupational therapy. “It think what makes it work is that we were very well matched. Time2Share really paid attention to our interests and needs. My relationship with Adele just feels… easy, relaxed”. We talk about the sort of activities they do together “We’ve been to the cinema, crafty stuff, we’ve done our nails. It doesn’t have to be extraordinary or expensive, it can be really simple.” Nicky feels that she has benefitted from the relationship too: ”I’ve really enjoyed it, I like how flexible it is… It is rewarding, to feel like you’re contributing” To find out more about volunteering with Time2Share please contact Volunteer Co-ordinator Clive Aldridge on 0117 9415868 or bristol@time2share.org.uk for more info www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

A group of local organisations including Barton Hill Settlement, Wellspring Healthy Living Centre and St Luke's Church have come together to ensure continued community use of The Walled Garden on Barton Hill Road. Maintenance work means that it is unlikely there will be any community access to the garden this year. We will be working hard, however, to ensure that the garden will continue to be a green oasis for wildlife and open to local residents for future years. For more info please contact David Mowat on bigbromo@yahoo.com Up Our Street

GET INVOLVED for three days a week at Malcolm X Centre in St Pauls. In the hall they provide a social space with tea and coffee, a free shop and games such as Headlines in tabloid newspapers present a picture dominoes and scrabble. Alongside this they provide of huge numbers of people seeking asylum in the advocacy, with volunteer case workers helping UK. Up Our Street went to talk to Bristol Refugee people with their asylum claims. “We help people Rights to find out the real story behind the access what they are entitled to, it’s a really headlines. We met Andrew McCarthy, Welcome complicated system. Lots of things don’t work the Centre Manager and Mohammed Osman, Volunteer way they should.” Manager. They also provide English classes from beginner up The stark facts are that at a time when 60 million to university/technical level. On Thursdays they people worldwide have been displaced by provide a free communal meal, where up to 150 persecution and conflict, more than at any time people sit down to eat together. “We have always since World War 2, the UK granted refugee status to used the term members rather than service-users” only 12,011 asylum seekers last year. explains Mohammed “We are led by our members, many of our members go on to become volunteers, "The process for deciding which asylum claims are especially as interpreters.” successful is both deeply traumatic for those who experience it and full of poor decision making.” Bristol Refugee Right has around 120 regular volunteers, of whom around 40 are members. All explains Andrew “People telling their stories of persecution are routinely disbelieved. Most asylum volunteers attend a two day training course which covers basics of asylum procedure, as well as seekers are refused at first, told that the listening skills. “Our volunteers do a whole range of government does not believe they are refugees. roles from chefs to reception Last year 21% of negative "at a time when nearly staff, case workers and decisions on asylum claims were interpreters.” 60 million people successfully appealed, suggesting that more than 1 in 5 Home worldwide have been Finally, we ask Andrew about the biggest challenge facing Bristol Office decisions to deny sanctuary displaced by persecution Refugee Rights: “I think it’s about were wrong in the first place." and conflict, more than at how you continue to build a We talk about the financial community that feels safe and any time since World War welcoming in difficult times, with situation for asylum seekers: "While waiting for a decision on 2, the UK granted refugee war around the world and their claim asylum seekers are not crisis at home. status to only 12,011 economic permitted to work, but subsist on Politically the environment is £36.62 per week. Those who are asylum seekers last year.” more hostile and funding is refused refugee status often end squeezed, which makes it more up destitute, forbidden from working and with no challenging to keep offering very practical and recourse to public funds." individual support. For us the main challenge is to maintain hope and positivity with all that going on. Bristol Refugee Rights is also able to tackle the myth that asylum seekers get special treatment for Luckily we get hundreds of offers of help from people wanting to help" housing "Asylum seekers are not usually given social housing but are housed in properties the Home Office rents from private landlords. These Get Involved: are nearly always ‘hard to let’ properties where  Sign up at www.bristolrefugeerights.org to other people don’t want to live.” register for the next volunteer training course So how does Bristol Refugee Rights help? The  Donate to the for Foodbank and Free Shop. founders had a very simple idea, they wanted to Bristol Refugee Rights has very limited provide a welcome for refugees and asylum seekers storage, so check out the list on their website in Bristol. For ten years, the organisation has of the things they really need provided a safe space where refugees and asylum  Come to the Celebrating Sanctuary event in seekers can meet in a relaxed environment, where Queen Square on 12 June. their emotional and practical needs are met. Bristol Refugee Rights runs their Welcome Centre 10

Up Our Street

www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

WORKING TOGETHER

Parents at Hannah More Primary School have got the taste for performance after their debut show Fatima and Sumaya in March. The play was developed with ACTA, a theatre company based in Bedminster. Up Our Street went along to meet the group at a meet-up to watch a film of the performance and find out more about the play. “The play looks at the stories of two very different women” explains Maya, one of the drama group. “One woman wants to be independent, she’s a Parents from Hannah More Primary School career woman. The other is completely dependent on her husband, but then he leaves her for her best friend. She realises she needs to go to ESOL classes The play had two performances at ACTA Theatre in to have her own independence. It’s about women Bedminster. We asked the group what they had overcoming struggles.” gained from the project. “I really enjoyed it, it gave me confidence. I was in front of an audience of The group discuss how learning English is so English speakers, performing in English, it felt like a important for women’s independence. One of the miracle! I thought I might faint before I went on characters has a son who gets caught smoking at stage, but when we started performing I wasn’t school, he lies to her about what the teacher said. afraid at all” (Kawsar). “Drama group helps people “It’s a really funny scene because he’s making up like me, before this I didn’t believe in the teacher’s words.” myself” (Rahat)

The starting point for group was; women can When we ask whether the group wants to produce overcome anything. The group worked together to more plays, the answer is a definite yes, so watch come up with the storyline, and there’s certainly this space. plenty of plot. “Tell them about Mr Money!” cries the group “Mr Money is an old man from America Contact Ruth Cochrane, Community who’s a friend of Fatima’s dad. Her parents want her Development Coordinator at Hannah More to marry him because he’s rich, but Fatima loves Primary on 07940 323735 or email someone else, a poor man, a cleaner.” Her friend ruth.cochran@bristol-schools.uk. adds: “Don’t forget the gossipy neighbour too, she’s More info about ACTA: www.acta-bristol.com a great character!”

“Our vision is that the company will be for people with or without formal dance experience, whatever their age, size, background or movement range – If you’re over 55 and love dancing, Jude Williams wants to hear from you. Together with professional people over 55 who love dancing, used to dance when they were younger, have always wanted to dance director Julia Thorneycroft, she aims to set dance, or are drawn to performance.” up an over-55s dance company, to perform work and showcase older people’s creativity. There is a taster session on Sunday 22 May at the “There are now seniors' dance companies in many cities.” explains Jude “They work with professional choreographers to make dance pieces which build on the presence, experience and movement characteristics of elders and create stunning theatre. The best known is probably Sadlers Wells' Company of Elders” www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

Trinity Centre from 10.30am to 3.30pm. The session costs £3. After the taster sessions the group plans to meet weekly, day and time to be confirmed To book a place on the 22 May taster session or for more information please contact Jude on 0798 936 1389 or email jude.blodwen@blueyonder.co.uk Up Our Street

WORKING TOGETHER

Up Our Street is based at the Beacon Centre, which provides ESOL classes for around 100 people a week. We joined a class one Monday morning to speak to Zoey Exley, one of the tutors, and some of her level one learners. “The service we provide is quite different to the big colleges.” explains Zoey, who has been an English tutor with the Beacon Centre since 2007 “We are a ESOL Learners at the Beacon Centre community provider, the students tend to live very near to the Beacon Centre. Not everyone has the confidence to go to one of the larger City of Bristol the reception people are good. They are very polite and understanding of problems, they help. I use the College centres. Some of our learners have never studied formally before, so it’s a big step for them.” English I’ve learned here when I’m shopping, to read the labels on food packets. There are 10-12 learners per class. Most of the Shanti hopes the classes will help her employment learners are women, unlike mainstream college chances “I need to improve my English. I want to do classes where most of the students are men. “We base the timetables around the school/nursery day.” social work, or maybe work for a charity. That’s my longterm plan” explains Zoey “We start at 9.30am and finish at 2.30pm, this means learners with children can fit in Muhsin has lived in Bristol for nearly 12 years. “I am the school run. We also run evening classes for Kurdish but I lived in Iraq... Before I came to learners who are at work during the day.” England I didn’t speak a word of English. I’ve had lots of different jobs, it’s been hard to find time to We talk about what she enjoys about the job “I’m really lucky to have the opportunity to meet people study. My wife is a student here too and we have and to find out about their different cultures. Each three children. We take it in turns to look after the year I find I learn new things... I have a lot of children. I study here in the morning, and she is freedom as a tutor, so I’m able to incorporate things here in the afternoon. I’m working part time for a my learners are interested in, I can be led by the catering company too.” group.” So what do the students think? Sylwia is originally from Poland and has lived in Bristol for nearly ten years “I enjoy learning the language, it is better for my confidence, to be able to talk to people in this country. I run my own cleaning company, so this helps a lot in work, it’s good for conversation” one of her fellow students agrees: “I really enjoy it, all the grammar. And meeting different people from different countries. Relating to people, learning different things.” Sadiya has been studying at the Beacon Centre since last September “I really enjoy the class, the teacher is very caring… I have a plan if I pass the exam to do level 2. I want to improve my English and keep studying”

Abida has been in Bristol for 20 years, since she came from Pakistan. “The teacher is nice here, and

Up Our Street

What is ESOL? ESOL stands for English for Speakers of Other Languages It is English taught to people whose first language is not English, but who live in an English-speaking country and need English to communicate in daily life. This term is used especially in the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand. ESOL classes run during school terms at the Beacon Centre. If you’d like to find out more please call 0117 954 2806

www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

WORKING TOGETHER

Millpond Primary School in Easton has set up a Parent and Teacher Association (PTA) for the first time. Up Our Street dropped in on one of their meetings to talk to parents and staff. When we came in the group was busy reviewing their first fundraising event, a family film night, which was very popular with children and their parents. We talk about what the group plans to pay for with the money they raise “Oh, lots of different things. We’d like to help fund day trips, new books for the library, playground resources. We’ve met with the teaching staff to find out what they need” replies Juliet. But it’s not just about raising money, group members are keen to stress the other benefits of working together. “I have two children at the school, this is the first time I’ve got involved.” says Arifa “I hope the group will help improve communication between school and parents. We had a film event, the children were so excited. We’re discussing the Summer Fair today, we want to make it the best one yet. I think the more that parents come along, the more they know what’s happening, it’s about good communication.” Saida agrees “It’s exciting, because the school

Women from the Dhek Bhal day centre in Barton Hill got together recently to share recipes and cook with disabled volunteers from local charity WECIL (The West of England Centre for Inclusive Living) The session was part of a series of workshops connecting the two groups, organised by WECIL’s Peer Support project, and Dhek Bhal. The project is Big Lottery funded, and aims to provide the space for disabled people in Bristol and the surrounding areas to come together and offer each other support and guidance. For more information on WECIL’s Peer Support project, for disabled adults, www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

Friends of Millpond Primary PTA

haven’t had a PTA before. I got involved to support the school, having this group means staff listen to us. I’m the Treasurer, I was made redundant in 2014 from Bristol City Council where I did book-keeping, so it’s good to be using my skills again.” Another parent adds “My daughter looks forward to the extra activities. And we are benefitting future generations of children at the school, not just our own.” All parents of children at Millpond Primary are welcome to join the PTA, you can talk to Sharon Munro at school or email chairpta@millpondprimary.org. The PTA are helping to organise the Summer Fair on 11 June, all welcome to come along.

go to www.wecil.co.uk, call Project Coordinator, Valentina Cavallini on 0117 947 9942 or email Valentina.Cavallini@wecil.co.uk For more information about Dhek Bhal call Daycentre Manager, Shela, on 0117 9146671

Do you have a story about a local group or network that would like to feature in Up Our Street Get in touch! Deadline for next edition is 8 July Call us on 0117 954 2834

Credit: Imogen May Up Our Street

ACTIVE CITIZENS

Easton Cowboys has been running for over 20 years, growing from one men’s football team in 1992 to include women’s football and other sports. But for the team members, being an Easton Cowboy or Cowgirl has always been about more than just sport. Up Our Street chatted to Easton Cowboys member Peace Handovsky about the clubs’ political side, and some of the activism that members are involved in.

“It’s always been about more than football, with other strands running through it.” says Peace “I think it’s always been quite political, grass roots and community focussed. It’s about sport with a conscience, but there is a social side too.”

Credit: Jed Baron

So which came first, the activism or the football? Peace believes that it’s always been there: “The club started with a group of mates, punks and anarchists, who wanted to play football but didn’t like the stereotype macho culture that went along with Around ten years ago the group decided that they wanted to focus on Palestine. The team has had four many Sunday football teams at the time.” tours of Palestine, three with the men’s team and Does Peace think that there’s something about one by the Easton Cowgirls. “Tours are to show Easton Cowboys/girls that attracts activists? “Not solidarity, find out everyone is as active politically, but I think it’s a what’s going on, place where people feel safe, to do what they want make friends, make to do. We’re linked to lots of similar football clubs links with other around the UK.” groups. Easton “I think it goes hand-in-hand, it’s an environment Cowboys and where sports and activism can go together.” Cowgirls is kind of As well as supporting projects in Palestine, the unique.” Easton Cowgirls netball team is going to Malawi this The Easton Cowfolk year, which is a first for them. They’re busy raising have made links with money for a special school over there, with a 50 grass roots mile sponsored walk coming up. A group of team Credit: Daniel Bosworth organisations in members have also been over to Calais and Dunkirk, Palestine. They taking donations of clothes and food collected in particularly work with the Villages Group, which is a Bristol, and offering practical help in the refugee joint Palestinian/Israeli initiative, and Hebron camps. International Resource Network (HIRN), which is a It’s a subject that’s close to home as Easton Palestinian initiative that came out of the Villages Group. The two organisations work closely together Cowboys have had several refugee players on the team. “We’ve helped them to campaign against helping people in the most remote parts of the West Bank who are subsistence farmers living often deportation using press campaigns and petitions. So we’re helping people on an individual level. It’s in tents or caves, surrounded by illegal Israeli about showing solidarity to our friends and team settlers. mates.” As well as touring, back home in Bristol, Easton And if that all sounds very serious, Peace is keen to Cowboys fundraises for these groups, and also stress that the social side is really important too. spreads the word about the situation in Palestine. “The important thing is that these groups empower “We do have a lot of fun too, I don’t want to give the villagers, help them to help themselves. Things the impression that it’s all serious, we do have a laugh.” like solar energy, water, education projects, Find out more about Easton Cowboys and women’s groups, university bursaries” Team Cowgirls at www.eastoncowboys.org.uk members last visited in Palestine in October 2015. 14

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LOCAL HISTORY

By Dr Edson Burton March 1976 - the final hymn rings around vacant pews of Holy Trinity. A praise song and a funeral rite calling time on a Church once described as ‘the Cathedral of the East’. The music that followed could not have been more different… In January 1977 the Church Commissioners sold the deconsecrated building to the Bristol Caribbean Community Enterprise Group. Their aim was to create a youth enterprise hub. But, as the group offered space to the emerging punk and reggae scenes - fast outgrowing venues such as Horley Road, Docklands Settlement, Locarno, the Bamboo Club & the Britannia Road pub - Trinity’s reputation as a space for independent live music began to grow. Punks were unwelcome at many city centre venues where the dress code conformed to the disco aesthetic. Second generation Black Britons also felt excluded from the nightclub mainstream; “we still

Credit: Trinity Centre

that permeated Trinity. The socialist influenced rock group the Redskins played a gig in support of the nationwide miners strike on the 21st December 1984. Trinity's importance as a venue for a particular kind of music and culture was part of a wider membership of the general DIY culture of the Bristol art and music scene. So much so that it was a regular venue for the Ashton Court fund-raiser. The 1980 fundraiser was notable for a then little known band U2 performing live to an underwhelmed audience; “You didn't think you were looking at a

didn't really have a lot of access to white clubs. Y'know...it’s probably it was racism and the fact that group that was gonna be the biggest group in the the Black community was kinda young in Bristol.” world in a year.” Encouraged by Trinity Manager Roy De Freitas, progressive Promoter Mark Simpson helped to put Trinity on the map. Memorable sound clash nights including Tarzan and Quaker City were a major draw for Black youth in Bristol and further afield, as sounds systems competed to be the dominant ‘the Champion’ sound. Known for his distinctive scatting style and prison style dress, Eek-a-Mouse was one of many reggae legends to grace Trinity's stage. Punk bands such as the X-Certs, Art Objects, Blue Wave, Vice Squad, Crass became regulars, with Trinity hosting Bristol's first Festival of Punk in 1981. Ska and two-tone bands such as The Specials , with their fusion of rock and reggae, drew in a mixed audience at a time when this was relatively rare.

New Order was another cult band performing during Trinity's first incarnation as a music venue – a performance marked by the death soon after of the band’s iconic lead singer, Ian Curtis. Trinity's star was in the ascendancy. But its success masked cracks that were appearing behind the scenes. In June 1982, highly respected promoter Mark Simpson left acrimoniously owing to a dispute with the organisation. De Freitas also fell out with the management committee and resigned in 1983.

Rock against Racism (RAR) 1978 “was the first time you had like

reggae bands playing with punk bands.” The event was one aspect of a broader left-wing culture

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Credit: beezerphotos.com

But it was the cost of repairs which ultimately caused Trinity's demise, leaving the organisation with debts of over £100,000. Trinity was forced into receivership in 1984, with the building being repossessed by Midland Bank. The curtains closed on a much loved Bristol venue but not, as it transpired, for long… If you want to amend, argue with, or add to the story of Trinity in this and later periods contact Dr Edson Burton on edson@3ca.org.uk Up Our Street

COMMUNITY NEWS

You may have noticed some changes at 6 West Street on Old Market. Up Our Street went along to the launch event for SPACE, which stands for Sound, Performance, Art, Community, Engagement, to find out what the plans are. SPACE is a project developed by the team behind The Island, : a multi-use arts facility and creation centre in the city centre For the last five years the building has been managed by Trinity Community Arts under the Community Asset Transfer from Bristol City Council. This is a process where council-owned buildings are taken on and run by local organisations. The building has three floors, the first and second floors are rented out as artist studios and an art room. The ground floor has been home to various community cafés, but Trinity felt it was time to try something new. They asked for proposals from local arts organisations to develop activities on the ground floor. And that’s where SPACE comes in. The Island runs a studio/gallery space in the old Bridewell Police Station in the city centre. “There are limitations to The Island building, it’s grade 2 listed and full of huge spaces.” explains Dina K, project co-ordinator “We wanted to find somewhere where we could do more community engagement work, to take art projects into communities”

Credit: Sidz photography, The Island dynamic programme of events, changing regularly.” says Dina. “We want to work with local groups, support local artists. The ground floor could be used for events, exhibitions, workshops, pop up restaurants, pop up cinema. We’re up for any proposal. The key message is anyone can get involved, whether that’s youth groups, older people. SPACE can’t happen without people’s ideas” Around 150 people came to the launch event, including many from neighbouring businesses in Old Market.

Trinity’s current lease runs until August, and if all goes well, the two organisations hope to make a joint application for the Community Asset Transfer for the next five years. “We are aiming to have a

To find out about events at SPACE please visit www.theislandbristol.com/events/category/ space-whats_on. SPACE is open from 11am to 6pm from Monday to Saturday. If you have an idea for an event at SPACE please call Dina on 0117 376 3457 or email dina@theislandbristol.com

The opening hours for Junction 3 Library in Easton have changed: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

1pm to 7pm 11am to 5pm 1pm to 7pm CLOSED 11am to 5pm 10am to 5pm CLOSED

Is there a story you would like us to cover?

Denis Wise is Libraries Development Officer for our area, he is keen to get local residents ideas for activities and events they’d like to see happening at Junction 3 Library. Contact Denis on 07464 989 846 or email denis.wise@bristol.gov.uk 16

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THANK YOU AWARDS

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SUMMER EVENTS

We can’t guarantee the sunshine, but we can guarantee that there is plenty going on in Easton and Lawrence Hill this summer. Here is a flavour of just some of the events happening in our neighbourhood…. Don’t forget to sign up to the Up Our Street ebulletin for regular updates. You can also join the Up Our Street Facebook group or follow @upourstreet on Twitter

When?

18 and 19 June

Where? All Hallows Road, Easton With the creative community feeling the lack of an Easton Arts Trail this year, a new local arts and music festival is springing up in All Hallows Road in June. On the weekend the road will be partially closed and four venues will be offering a variety of entertainments; music, film, and participatory workshops for all ages. Inside and out, stalls will be selling beautiful artefacts and delicious food from many corners of the world All Hallows Hall will be the main venue for music, and will host pop-up art gallery where local artists can hang their work. All Hallows Church will host acoustic and classical music. Next door to All Hallows Hall, Baggator youth project will be running a veggie/vegan restaurant downstairs and Easton Community Cinema upstairs, showcasing work by local and international film-makers. At Bannerman Road School there will be a variety of workshops ranging from upcycling and cookery to Bangladeshi stitchwork. The school fair will have plenty of activities to keep children amused, and there will be a bouncy castle at All Hallows Church. The party will continue into Saturday evening with a ticketed music event in the Hall, and, weather permitting, barbecue in the Baggator Secret Garden.

More information and bookings: www.allhallowsfestival.co.uk

Up Our Street

Jamaica Pulse When?

20 June to 1 July

Where?

Easton Community Centre

Easton Community Centre and the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) join forces to showcase to explore modern Jamaican art and look at its influence on street culture through a programme called Jamaica Pulse. Easton Community Centre is hosting the renowned Jamaican artist Matthew McCarthy for two weeks from 20 June and along with local young people, he will be creating unique works of art to hang in the foyer. This is part of a wider programme by the RWA running until September. Matthew McCarthy is a Jamaican-based illustrator and mural painter who has spent the last five years combining his obsession with Jamaican street signs, old dancehall illustrations and global street art. On the 1st July Easton Community Centre will host an evening of Jamaican music, food and art, tickets will be £35 and on sale soon.. Matthew McCarthy will talk us through his art and about the music that inspires him. Keep an eye on the Easton Community Centre Facebook page for more details or email info@eastoncommunitycentre.org.uk.

Owen Square Park When?

18 June

Where?

Owen Square Park, Easton

Official Opening Ceremony on 11am-3pm in Owen Square Park as part of Big Green Week.. Details still to be confirmed but the event will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, community picnic with deckchairs, and an 'Energy' fun trail for children and families. There is also a newly formed Friends of Owen Square Park group. If you’d like to get involved in future events, please contact Nic Ferris from the Inner City Health Team on Nicola.ferris@bristol.gov.uk or 0117 352 1283.

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SUMMER EVENTS

Know Your Bristol

Redfest

When?

12 June

When?

6 August

Where?

Barton Hill Settlement

Where?

St George Park

Redfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community arts festival is back on Saturday 6 August in St George Park this year. Still a free festival ,with high quality music covering reggae, bhangra, blues, pop folk and jazz on three stages with a mixture of local bands and acts from further afield. Look out for programmes on sale for ÂŁ2 with all the details in July from local shops and cafes.

Salaam Shalom is a Bristol-based MuslimJewish charity. They are working with the University of Bristol and Barton Hill Settlement to put Muslim and Jewish history on the map. The Know Your Bristol bus, kitted out with recording and digitising equipment, will visit Barton Hill Settlement on 12 June to hear your stories. Add your memories of Bristol to the map. What was Bristol like when you first moved here, or when you were growing up? Do you attend a mosque or synagogue? Where do you play after school? Bring along any photos you have of your community today, or Bristol in the past. University staff on the bus will upload your stories and images to create a lasting legacy of Muslim and Jewish Bristol. Free event from 10.30am to 2.30pm. All welcome. Find out more at www.knowyourbristol.org.

Islamic Cultural Fayre When?

7 August

Where? Eastville Park Now in its seventeenth successful year, the Islamic Cultural Fayre is a well-established part of the community festival calendar. See advert on back page for more details.

uk www.eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

There will be plenty of food stalls, a market and a kids area. It's all free, run by volunteers who work all year to make it happen! Funding comes from local businesses, the council and donations from the public. If you fancy helping out on the day as a steward, or beforehand, the Redfest crew would love to hear from you. Find out more at www.redfestbristol.co.uk.

Kids Club When?

9 July

Where?

Salvation Army, Hassell Drive

The Salvation Army is running a club for children aged 4 to 11 on Saturday 9 July from 10am to 3pm. It will be a day packed with fun with craft, games and much more. Refreshments and lunch are provided and parent/guardian registration at 10am is essential. There is no charge for the club but you do need to book at place by calling/texting Hilary on 07766 360 352. Up Our Street

FOOD REVIEWS

Behind the Bookcase is a new venture by local chef Becky Dean. The restaurant is accessed through The Old Stillage, by a doorway disguised as a bookcase, which is where the name comes from. Up Our Street can report that the Chicken and Avocado burger (ÂŁ8.95) is very tasty and comes with a side order of coleslaw and an extremely generous portion of freshly cooked chunky chips. Onion rings (ÂŁ2.50) were proving very popular with customers in the pub next door. We were there on a weeknight, but Behind the Bookcase is particularly making a name for itself with its Sunday lunches, booking is advised as the venue is fairly cosy and it gets booked up fast. Special mention goes to the vegan roast. For bookings call Behind the Bookcase on 0117 939 4079.

Opening Hours Tuesday to Saturday 5pm to 9pm Sunday 12pm to 5pm

Credit: Kat Macaulay-Thomas

Easton Food Assembly is a way to buy local and sustainably produced fare: vegetables; fruit; meat; eggs; dairy products; honey and more. Come and meet the farmers, growers and makers and enjoy a new way to eat well while supporting local, sustainable agriculture. Customers can order online from Wednesday to Monday, then collect their shopping direct from the producers from 5pm to 7pm on Wednesdays from The Silai Centre on Easton Road. Find out more and shop online at www.thefoodassembly.com 20

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HEALTH NEWS

Data gathered by Public Health England says one in five people have low levels of vitamin D, and around one in six children – that’s an estimated 10 million people across England. A lack of the essential nutrient can cause rickets in children – Wellspring GP Practice are seeing increased cases. In adults a lack of vitamin D can cause a person’s bones to become weak and painful, and hamper mobility. There is growing evidence that the vitamin, or lack of it, is linked to a number of diseases from musculoskeletal problems to heart disease, cancer, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Other conditions that have been linked with a lack of vitamin D include constipation, muscle weakness, increased susceptibility to infections, poor growth, irritability and bone pain.

Guidance on safe sun exposure is available on the Wellspring website: www.wellspringhlc.org The general population, healthy adults, should be able to get enough vitamin D from casual exposure to sunlight and healthy diets. Oily fish, egg yolk, breakfast cereals, cheese, fortified spreads and red meat are a good source of vitamin D (and other nutrients), but as usual, everything in moderation. Supplements are recommended for all pregnant women, children up to the age of five, as well as people over the age of 65. Supplements are also recommended for people who don’t get much sun, either because they are housebound, or because they usually wear clothes that cover most or all of their skin – for example, women who wear a burqa or niqab.

If you think you, or a member of your family, may be suffering from vitamin D deficiency then you should The best source of vitamin D is sunlight, and it's free! The good news is that summer has arrived and consult your doctor. The Wellspring also runs Kitchen on Prescription courses where you can we can make the most of the increased daylight hours. However, the downside is you have to ensure get practical advice on nutrition and healthy eating. This is available on referral from your GP you get the right kind of exposure so as not to increase your risk of skin cancer: don’t get sunburnt or Health Practitioner. and don't use sunbeds.

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