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News and events update May 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! |
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Recent events
Meet and Drink
Our monthly get-togethers are now a fixture on the first Wednesday of every month, taking place at different venues in south Cheltenham. 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.
Skillspace 19th March: Does Green mean go - how can I benefit from the Green Deal?
Mary Wathen from Harrison Clark told us about this new government initiative designed to help businesses and home owners use more green technologies.
Quiz Night 20th March
17 teams competed in our Hollywood themed quiz night at Cheltenham Bowling Club, answering questions on everything from aeroplanes to flags to Manhattan landmarks. There really was something for everyone! It went so well we're hoping to run another event in the autumn.
Skillspace 9th April: First steps in property development
Arash Noori told us the amazing story of how he bought his first development at an auction with no money in the bank - and somehow managed to sort it out!
Swishing (clothes swapping) 17th April
Neutral colours were one of the key trends discussed at our swishing event at the Tivoli, when style expert Nicki Price provided some pointers on this summer's fashions before attendees searched through the rails of clothes to "create a new look for less". Everyone went away with at least one item and we had several bags of clothes left over for the Cotswold Care Hospice shop in Bath Road.
Cheltenham Connect AGM - 8th May
We held our AGM on the 8th of May and the following officers were elected:
Wendy Ellyatt: Chair
Dave Savell: Treasurer
Angela Hawley - Secretary
We'd like to say a big thank-you to Clare McVey who acted as our secretary for the last four years and has been so generous with the space allocated to Cheltenham Connect activities in her Cheltenham Directory publications.
Skillspace 11th May: How to differentiate yourself in a crowded marketplace
Steve Buiskol gave us a great insight into working with new clients, rather than just selling to them. It was a very positive and constructive talk, with some great tips, and at least attendee went on to Steve's free 2 hour session 'Sales skills for business owners who believe that they are not a natural sales person'.
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Other activities Big Free World 
Big Free World is a new social media platform to help people share their time and resources. Cheltenham Connect is the first community to use the software and provide feedback to the developers. It's easy to use but needs lots of us to get involved to make it work!
See www.bigfreeworld.com or contact Sam Redfern, one of our members who's helping to get it up and running, on
Connect Streets Project
Five trees have now been planted in residential gardens on the road and are already looking good! Many thanks to CC members Adrian Phillips and Stuart Manton for all their hard work on this project.
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Forthcoming Events
Meet and Drink Wednesday 5th June
Our next informal get-together is at the Somerset Arms in Moorend Street from 7pm. Contact Scarlett on scarlett@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk or just come along on the night.
Bath Road Music Festival 14th - 16th June
Our next big event is a free music festival in partnership with three of the pubs in Bath Road. It features a wide range of local bands playing blues, rock, folk, pop, drum & base and much more. On the Friday the Brown Jug has live music from 7pm to 11pm, followed by a disco, and on the Saturday and Sunday the Exmouth Arms and the Norwood Arms both have live music from 12pm-9pm. There's also face painting and a craft market at the Exmouth. We're looking for a few people to sell raffle tickets for an hour or two so if you love music and fancy getting involved please email scarlett@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk.
You can follow the event on Twitter using #BathRdMusicFest and there's a list of all the bands on the event website www.bathroadmusicfestival.co.uk and our Facebook page.
Cheltenham Green Doors 22nd - 23rd June
Cheltenham Connect's Green Group, Vision 21 for Gloucestershire and Transition Towns Cheltenham have come together to organise our third Open Homes weekend, including commercial and office properties and gardens. This year we launch with an event on Wednesday 5th June 4.30-5.30pm at Cheltenham Science Festival. For details of all the open properties please visit
http://www.transitiontowncheltenham.org.uk/ecohab.php
Bring and Share Picnic Sunday 14th July
We're holding a bring and share picnic in Naunton Park with the Friends of Naunton Park and the Swap, Share and Save group. For more information email Belinda@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk.
Skillspace Talks
Everyone is welcome to our monthly talks at 7.30pm on the second Tuesday of each month in the upstairs room at the Beehive. For more information contact belinda@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk
This is what we have planned for the next few months.
Tuesday June 11th
Former BBC editorial manager Bob Lloyd-Smith talks about working with the Corporation and how it has led to an interest in work psychology and coaching.
Tuesday July 9th
Mike Lewis from www.fredericksfoundation.org/contact-us/gloucestershire - What do you do when the Bank says no?
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! Find out more on our Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/laptopfriday
Connect Business Thursday 26th September
We already have the first couple of speakers lined up for the next Connect Business Day at The Forum, Lansdown Road. If you're interested in helping us plan and run the day, please contact belinda@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk.
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Compost and Cream: A Summer Fair with a difference Saturday 1st June
Pip & Jim's presents a fair with a difference! You can enjoy cakes, teas, book, plant and clothes stalls, tombola and raffle while getting advice on how to make compost, save water, grow wildflowers and save money on your energy bills. Organisations present will include British Red Cross, Emmaus Gloucestershire, Vision 21, St James' School, Cheltenham and Tewksbury Cycling Campaign, Friends of Pilley Bridge Nature Reserve, Fairshares Cheltenham, Transition Town Cheltenham, Lansdown Community Composting, Green Doors Cheltenham and Severn Wye Energy Agency. It's at 1-5pm, St Philip and St James Church and Church House, Leckhampton. For more information see www.pipandjims.org.uk.
Your High Street Needs You!
'Buy Local Week 3rd - 9th June' aims to get people to do more for the local economy, from a sticker in a window or car to changing how we spend. It's supported by The Best of Cheltenham, and local people who go to www.thebestofcheltenham.co.uk to pledge their support during Buy Local week will be entered into a daily prize draw for £100 to spend at a thebestof business. Businesses who'd like to display a Buy Local window sticker or get involved should contact The Best of Cheltenham via Cheltenham@thebestof.co.uk or call 01242 650088.
Local clubs and groups
You can see a list of local clubs and groups 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.
Cash Draw winners: win 20% of the take! We would love more people to get involved in the Cash Draw 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
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Volunteers needed!
We'd like to organise some events for older members of the comunity, and will be holding a planning meeting in the next few weeks. If you'd like to get involved, or have some suggestions for what you think people you know might enjoy, please contact Vanessa on Vanessa@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk
Join our Events Team
We're also looking for new people to join our events team. You don't need to commit a lot of time, and it's a great way to meet new people. So if you'd like to help organise an event later in the year, can spare an hour or two to sell raffle tickets at an event or even have a secret desire to be an elf at the Christmas Fair, Scarlett would love to hear from you.
Parking survey
The author is particularly keen to get more views from people who prefer to use alternate modes of transport.
And finally....
Research has found that money spent with local businesses tends to stay in local communities, which adds up to more stable local economies and, ultimately, a stronger national economy. £1 spent with a local supplier is worth £1.76 to the local economy, while this falls to just 36 pence if it is spent out of the area. So the more we can buy locally, the more we're helping our community.
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Cheltenham Connect is run entirely by local volunteers who really care about their community.
It's all about People Power!
The Cheltenham Connect Team
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