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News and events update March 2013
Here's an update on recent events and what's planned for the next few months. Everyone is welcome - do come and join us! 

 

Recent events

  

Meet and Drink 30th January

    The first of our new monthly get-togethers took place at the Exmouth Arms and was a great success. Anyone is welcome to come along for a drink and a chat in a relaxed and informal environment. See below for details of forthcoming events or contact Scarlett@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk

  

  

Skillspace 12th February - Knowing me, knowing you  
 Presenter, consultant and author Liggy Webb joined us to talk about techniques to help us to be happier, positive and more resilient. She used examples from her family and her work with the United Nations and other organisations and shared the following memorable quote which you'll find in her new book Resilience: "Dear Optimist, Pessimist and Realist: 
  
Meet and drink 27th February
Our second informal get-together took place in the Tivoli. 14 people came along - a great mixture of old friends and new. We hope to see you again at future events. 
  
Other activities

Big Free World
bigfreeworld  
 Big Free World is an exciting new social media platform which is being developed to help people share their time and resources. Cheltenham Connect will be the first community to trial the software and provide feedback to the developers. The designers are currently making a few changes that we felt would be useful to make it easier for our members to use and we hope to launch it next week. See www.bigfreeworld.com 

Connect Streets Project


 

We have run into a few problems with the boundary signage as the Highways Department now do not want us to use the roundabout and the installation costs are so substantial that they will take us over budget. We have therefore decided to re-think the design to see if we can come up with something simpler that still includes the new Bath Road branding.  

 

There is better news about the trees though and five small ones will be planted in residential gardens next week (that should look good when they mature) and we are in discussions with Lloyds Bank about possibly putting a larger tree outside their front entrance as we have a local sponsor who is interested in helping with this. 


Public Artwork
Last year the group was awarded a £3500 public art grant for the Bath Road Project and we are very excited that local printmaker Sue Brown  
is now creating a painted enamel panel that will celebrate the history of the road. This will be displayed on the long section of the garden wall at the Exmouth Arms. Work is going well on this and we hope that it will be installed later in the year.

 

Forthcoming Events

  
Quiz Night Wednesday 20th March -
Will you win an Oscar?
 
 
We're holding a Hollywood themed quiz night! Come and join in the fun at Cheltenham Bowling Club, Suffolk Square, Cheltenham GL50 2DX from 7.30pm. The cost is £5 per person, including sandwiches, and there will be a cash bar. You can either come as a team of 4-5 or join up with other people on the night. Please book in advance by emailing sherylw@btinternet.com
.
Meet and Drink - Wednesday 27th March

The venue for March's get-together is 7-9pm at the Norwood Arms on the Bath Road. Please contact Scarlett@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk for more details.   

 

Swishing (clothes swapping) Wednesday 17th April
 
Lighter nights mean summer will soon be here - and if you're wondering how to update your wardrobe for the new season on a limited budget, help is at hand! We're holding a Swishing (clothes swapping) evening upstairs at the Tivoli from 6.45pm to enable women to "create a new look for less".

  

Please bring at least three items of clothing or accessories to swap. You'll be given credits which you can then 'spend' on items brought by other attendees, and you can buy more credits during the evening. There will also be a Trendwatch talk on "What's hot for summer?' from image consultant Nicki Price. A designated fitting area and mirrors will be available and alternations can be arranged if needed.

 

Money raised will be split between Cheltenham Connect and local charity Sue Ryder, who will also take any clothes left over at the end of the evening. 

Tickets cost £10 including a free drink and can be bought in advance from ATC Floors and Doors in Tivoli. For more information please visit the event website yyyy or email Karen Wilson on karen@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk

 

New Keep Fit Classes for the Fab Fifties Plus   
 The Tai Chi classes at the university started last month and have been going very well. If you are interested in joining please contact Dan for more details - 07790 572 710 

  

Skillspace Talks 
We are continuing our monthly talks at 7.30pm on the second Tuesday of every month in the upstairs room at the Beehive and everyone is welcome. For more information contact belinda@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk 
This is what we have planned for the next few months: 

 

Tuesday 19th March -  

 Does Green mean go - How can I benefit from the Green Deal?

with Mary Wathen from Harrison Clark http://www.harrison-clark.co.uk/people/mary-wathen  Mary will talk about the new government initiative that is designed to help business and home owners to employ more green technologies in their properties. * Please note that this is on the 3rd Tuesday of the month to avoid clashing with Race Week.
  

Tuesday April 9th - first steps in property development

 How I purchased my first building plot and renovation development at an auction with no money in the bank - and managed to sort it out!

from Arash Noori.

 

Laptop Friday at Maison Chaplais, Tivoli

 

Every Friday between 9ish and 12ish we get together to work alongside each other, drink coffee, share ideas and chat. For those of us who work from home and spend a lot of time on our own it's an opportunity for networking and to meet other local people. There might be one other person or a roomful - do come along and join us! Recently we've had some busy weeks and interesting new attendees, including our 'Rock Up in Red' morning to raise money for the British Heart Foundation which was attended by 24 people and featured in the Echo.


 
On Friday 15th March we'll be "Doing something funny for money"

and supporting Comic Relief. Wear your red nose, dress 80s style or just turn up! At 11am, Kate Sharp will be leading a Vibrant Laughter session for those who want to take a break from working. 

 
If you want to find out more, join the Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/laptopfriday

   

Summer Music Festival
We are thinking of working with some of the local pubs to put on a summer music festival week-end in late June and CC member Sam Redfern has offered to oversee this event. He will need help though so if you love music and fancy getting involved please email Sam on

   
Connect Business
We now have a date and the first couple of speakers lined up for the next Connect Business Day at The Forum, Lansdown Road on Thursday 26th September 2013. If you're interested in helping us to plan and run the day, please contact belinda@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk.

Cheltenham Gardenshare Scheme 

Cheltenham Gardenshare Scheme is now up and running. The aim is to connect people who have a garden they wish to share with people who want space to predominantly grow food. The scheme is supported by Cheltenham Borough Council, Gloucestershire County Council, NHS Glos and Landshare. For information on how to participate please visit www.vision21.org.uk, email office@vision21.org.uk or phone 01242 224321.
    

Local clubs and groups    

You can see a list of all the local clubs and groups in the area via the
Local Organisations link under the Local Links box at the left-hand side of our website. Please let us know if you are running anything that you would like added.
 
New Green Group co-ordinator

We thought we had found a new Green Group co-ordinator, but unfortunately personal reasons meant she was not able to go ahead. The search is therefore still on and if you are interested in the role (and becoming a member of our steering group) please let Wendy know -

wendy@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk

 

New History Group 

We have done a great deal of work on the history of the area and are now looking for people who might like to help us co-ordinate all the material, run local history events and keep the website www.cheltenhamsouthtown.org updated. Please let Wendy know if you are interested in being involved. 


Cash Draw Winners: win 20% of the take!cashdraw 
We would love more people to get involved as it only costs £1 a month and really helps us to cover our ongoing costs. You can print out the standing order form here or email our treasurer Dave for more details dave@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk

  


Wendy wrote this for a talk she did recently when she was asked to answer the question 'What is community?'and we thought you might find it inspiring...

It's all about 'Community Spirit!'

 
What community means to me

Fundamentally it's all about relationship 

A celebration of family and neighbourhood 

A sense of place and shared ownership 

Thinking about yourself as part of a larger whole 

An understanding that everyone has something to offer  

The hidden treasure of people's interests, skills and abilities 

Honouring your own abilities/gifts 

The creative energy of shared thought 

There are many kinds of wealth 

Sometimes there is power in not having money!  

The creative power of shared resources 

When connected to a common good people are innately caring and generous 

Empowerment - both individually and collaboratively  

Being aware of the feelings of others 

Understanding that there can be more than one way of seeing things

...and more than one truth depending on where people are coming from

Difficulty, challenge and problem-solving  

Patience and perseverance 

Commitment and sacrifice 

Thinking glass half-full rather than glass half-empty 

Music and dancing 

Fun and laughter 

Tears and hugs!

 

 

 


Cheltenham Connect is run entirely by local volunteers who really care about their community.

 

It's all about People Power!  

 

The Cheltenham Connect Team