The Bradley Stoke Journal

The Finance Committee of Bradley Stoke Town Council considered applications for funding from local organisations and community groups at its recent December meeting.

Organisations having their existing service level agreements confirmed were:

• Bradley Stoke Town FC & Bradley Stoke Youth FC (£1,945)
• Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group (£1500)
• Four Towns and Vale Link Community Transport (£2,764)
• Victim Support Avonvale (£848)
• South Gloucestershire Chinese Association (£1,764)
• Patchway, Filton and the Stokes Volunteer Centre (£1,158)

The following new service level agreements were agreed:

• Bouncing Babies/Tiddlers Toy Library (£1,700)

An application from Southern Brooks Community Partnership to have its Bradley Stoke community work covered by a service level agreement was rejected on the grounds that “the information and accounts received did not justify [it]“. The Council agreed to continue to fund this work on a “bills submitted” basis.

The Council’s Planning Committee also has the power to make “grant aid” awards of up to £500 to “worthwhile local community groups” on an ad-hoc basis. In the financial year 2008/2009, a total of £3,450 was donated to:

• Bradley Stoke Youth FC
• Bradley Stoke Library
• Stokes Women’s Group
• The Big Why (Christ the King Youth Group)
• Southern Brooks Domestic Abuse Support Group
• Tiddlers Toy Library
• Sole Sisters
• National Association for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease

New applications for grant aid may be made via the Town Council office.

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Businesses, staff and shoppers at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre have come together in an early expression of Christmas spirit to collect around 300 shoeboxes for needy families in Eastern Europe.

Kumon Educational UK, which has a regional office in the town centre complex, has teamed up with Link Romania as part of its corporate social responsibility programme, and students have been busy filling shoeboxes with gifts ready to be sent to deprived families in Romania, Moldova and Albania in time for Christmas.

A shoebox display has been positioned near the entrance of the centre’s shopping mall for the last few weeks and Kumon’s Regional Manager Kate Sheldon says she is delighted with the response:

“We’d like to thank everyone who’s participated in this appeal and donated a shoebox. The response has been brilliant – overwhelming even – and we now have around 300 boxes piled up. This appeal provides the opportunity for us all to learn about the daily challenges faced by these communities, and is a great way to teach children how important it is to give to those less fortunate than themselves.”

The appeal officially ends today (Friday 6th) but Kate says that shoeboxes will continue to be accepted over the weekend as Link Romania representatives are not due to collect the consignment until early next week.

Since its foundation in 1991, Link Romania has brought relief to thousands of deprived people in Eastern Europe. Through the simple idea of filling a shoebox, anyone in the UK can send a Christmas gift to a family in Romania, Albania or Moldova. Many are desperately poor, living in appalling conditions and struggling to survive the terrible winters with no running water, heating or electricity. Large families spanning three generations may live together in a shack of just one or two rooms, sharing the same life of hardship under one roof.

Lisa Hector, Link Romania’s General Manager, says:

“We’re thrilled to be working with such a like-minded organisation. Kumon’s students can really help us to make a huge impact with our Family Shoebox Appeal. At the same time we’re also benefiting from Kumon helping to raise awareness of our organisation and our mission, and we are truly grateful.”

Advice on what to put in a shoebox and how to pack it is available on the Link Romania website.

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Local charity group Southern Brooks Community Partnership (SBCP) is to run a training course leading to a professional qualification in community development.

The course will be of benefit to anyone who is directly engaged in community development work. It also caters for the increasing and diverse range of people who are involved in working and volunteering in the community. These include, workers in health, social care, education, community safety, housing, environmental development, childcare, library, open spaces and leisure services.

Successful completion of the course leads to the award of a Level 3 Certificate in Community Development. As a nationally recognised qualification, this allows access to the Dip/HE/Foundation degrees and the BA programme.

The course starts on Thursday 22nd October and consists of 20 one day per week sessions, concluding in May 2010.

SBCP Director Julie Snelling says that by the end of the course, attendees will have learned to:

• Understand the nature of different communities
• Understand the communities in which they live and work
• Enable communities to identify their needs
• Gain skills to work collectively with those communities
• Gain knowledge to support communities
• Refresh and update skills and knowledge
• Engage people in community development
• Work in partnerships
• Work with diversity
• Work with groups

Further Information: Certificate in Community Development [PDF]

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Staff at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre are organising two charity fund raising events this coming weekend.

On Friday (14th August) at 7:30pm, a Pub Quiz is being held in the cafe area of the centre. Entry is £2 per person and organisers are promising fantastic prizes and great deals at the bar.

A summer fete is the attraction on Sunday (16th August) from 12:30pm to 7pm, featuring games, a pets corner, craft stalls, bouncy castle, BBQ and much more.

The events will raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, in honour of a member of staff at the centre who has suffered from the disease.

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On Sunday 17th May at 1pm walkers from across the South West and Wales will meet at the Town Square, Willow Brook Centre, Bradley Stoke, for a spring walk in aid of NACC, the leading Colitis and Crohn’s Disease patients’ charity.

The route will take walkers through the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve following the Three Brooks Way and will finish with refreshments at the Jubilee Centre.

More information about the walk:

• Suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs
• Route distance 3 ½ miles / 1½ hours / 304 calories
• Marshalled route
• Dogs welcome
• Fun activities at the end of the walk

For further information or to register:

• Phone: 0845 4348513
• Email: avonnorthsomerset@groups.nacc.org.uk

or just turn up on the day.

Donations can be made at: www.justgiving.com/nacc/donate

This will be the final fund raising event of the year for Bradley Stoke Mayor Cllr Robert Jones, who has raised thousands of pounds during the year for his nominated charity.

Georgie Bigg, from the local NACC Group says:

“It’s been a fantastic opportunity for our group of volunteers to get involved in local activities and help fund raise. It’s good to know so many people will benefit.”

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