The Bradley Stoke Journal

Local youth group South West Winterguard Academy is staging a ‘community showcase’ event this Saturday (14th January) at Thornbury Leisure Centre.

The aim of the event is to demonstrate to the people of South Gloucestershire the diverse range of sport, dance and arts activities available to them.

Acts so far confirmed for the event include majorettes, street dancers, colourguard, marching bands, karate and ballet.

The event runs from 12 noon to 4:30pm and admission costs £3 for adults and £1.50 for children/concessions.

Bradley Stoke Town Council recently awarded South West Winterguard Academy a grant of £500, to be used jointly for part-funding Saturday’s event and purchasing a storage container for the club’s equipment. The container will be sited in the grounds of Meadowbrook Primary School, where the club holds its training sessions.

The club’s Core Director, Ken Burrows, says the event is being held in Thornbury because Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre doesn’t have the necessary facilities or size.

Read more about South West Winterguard Academy »

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Last Saturday’s Community Showcase event in the Town Square has been hailed a success by organisers and stall holders.

The event, now in its second year, saw over 30 local businesses and organisations promoting their activities to shoppers at Bradley Stoke’s popular Willow Brook shopping centre.

The event got underway at 11am with a colourful flag-waving display from the South West Winterguard Academy, who meet regularly at Meadowbrook Primary School.

Mayor Ben Walker officially opened the fair at noon, with a short speech praising the participating organisations for  contributing so much to the local community.

Cllr Walker later told The Journal:

“I thought it was a brilliant event, showcasing the support network which thrives within Bradley Stoke. It was fantastic to see so many groups and organisations there.

“With a move to ‘The Big Society‘, it seems Bradley stoke has a head start and sets the standard for its surrounding areas. A big thanks to Jackie from Southern Brooks who put together and ran the event on the day.”

Prominent throughout the event were members of the Bradley Stoke Radio team, who, apart from running their own stall, were out and about interviewing visitors and other stall holders.

Lucy Smith of Bradley Stoke Radio said:

“The community fair was a great opportunity to meet local residents and let people know what we are doing at Bradley Stoke Radio. It was a great chance to network with other community groups who will become part of our community broadcasts in the future.”

Read on to find who else was exhibiting at the fair and what visitors thought of it »

The second annual Community Showcase event for the Severnvale locality is being staged in Bradley Stoke’s  Town Square at the Willow Brook Centre tomorrow (Saturday 2nd October).

Organised by Southern Brooks Community Partnership (SBCP), the event gives the local community an opportunity to meet local groups and businesses as well as representatives from the local police, churches and schools.

Up to 35 organisations and businesses from the Patchway, Bradley Stoke, Filton and Stoke Gifford areas will be manning stalls in a marquee set up for the occasion in the Town Square.

The event gets underway at 11am and runs through to 2pm with Bradley Stoke Mayor Ben Walker performing an official opening at 12 noon.

Jackie Lewis of SBCP said:

“We had a very successful first year in 2009 and expect an even bigger turn out this time with such an accessible and popular location.  It’s the perfect chance for people to find out what is happening within their own community.  We’re very grateful to the Willow Book Centre for agreeing to help us with this event.”

Scott Lahive, Manager of the Willow Brook Centre, said:

“We’re delighted to be involved. It makes perfect sense to host a community based event here and we look forward to a busy and successful day.”

Read on for a preview of some of the groups who will be exhibiting at the event »

The organisers of a Community Fair to be held at the Willow Brook Centre on Saturday 2nd October are inviting local groups and businesses to book stalls.

The second “Community Showcase event for the Severnvale locality”, which will be held in a marquee erected in the Town Square, aims to promote “the many and various community groups and businesses with a community focus that operate in the local community”.

Winsome Barrett-Muir of organisers Southern Brooks Community Partnership (SBCP) says:

“People are invited to meet groups that are mainly run by volunteers and that enrich the communities around.”

“It’s an opportunity for local residents to find out in one place about the social groups, special interest groups, etc and for these groups to promote themselves and possibly recruit new members.”

Local groups wishing to get involved are invited to get in touch with SBCP on 01454 868570 to book a place.

The event runs from 11am to 2pm and is supported by the Willow Brook Centre, Matters Magazines and the Aztec Hotel & Spa.

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]