Cheltenham Connect logo blue

News and events update November 2013

Here's an update on recent events and what's planned between now and Christmas. Everyone is welcome - do come and join us!

Recent events

Connect Business 26 September

Event organiser Belinda Wilson with Cheltenham mayor Wendy Flynn, who opened this year's Connect Business, and Martin Horwood MP.

Connect Bus iness continues to grow and is now a fixture on Cheltenham's business calendar. This year around 220 people came along to hear speakers including Martin Horwood MP and Claire Carter from BBC Radio Gloucestershire, meet stand-holders and network with other local business people.

Feedback from attendees has been extremely positive and we hope the connections they made will help the development and growth of local businesses.

Skillspace

The autumn season of talks began with hints and tips on social media from the ever-popular Jonathan Pollinger of Intranet Future. In October business coach Jill Chitty discussed mastering business growth and led a very productive discussion as attendees swapped ideas on the best growth strategies for different types of company.

October Quiz

Our latest quiz saw a return of March's quizmaster and his team to the Bowling Club. 15 teams tackled Monty Python themed rounds on topics ranging from 'Famous Rogers' to castles and road signs, and the mix of picture rounds, music and traditional questions ensured there was something for everyone. The event went so well we're already planning another quiz next October. If you'd like to help organise it, please contact Angela on angela@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk

Forthcoming Events

Meet and Drink Wednesday November 6th

Anyone is welcome to come along to our monthly drink and chat evenings. This month we'll be at the Exmouth between 7pm and 9pm. Just come along on the night or contact Scarlett on scarlett@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk
Scarlett will then be at the Exmouth every Wednesday at the same time until the Christmas Craft Fair. We'll take a break for Christmas before starting again on the first Wednesday in February.

Christmas Craft Fair - Bath Road Market

Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November 10am - 5pm

This year our craft fair is earlier than usual as we've linked it to the Bath Road Christmas lights switch-on and parade on Friday 22nd November. We'll have all the usual goodies - Santa's Grotto, music, Punch & Judy, mulled wine and mince pies- as well as 30 craft stalls so you can buy beautifully hand-made presents and support local craftspeople. There will even be a gift-wrapping service and a raffle for a hamper of local produce. Do come along and get into the Christmas spirit! For more information about stands or if you can help to set up the event or sell raffle tickets please contact Scarlett on scarlett@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk

Skillspace
Everyone is welcome to our monthly business talks at 7.30pm on the second Tuesday of each month in the upstairs room at the Beehive - although do note that November's event is on the Monday due to another event scheduled at the venue. For more information contact
belinda@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk

Skillspace Talk: Monday November 11th
Andy Rea of Redtarn PR & Events will discuss the challenges of journalism, PR, event direction and being your own boss, and offer tips on what really matters in PR. There will be lots of time to network and talk to other attendees before and after the talk.

Skillspace Christmas Drinks Tuesday December 12th
This month there's no talk - instead we're meeting for drinks and networking in the Snug at the Beehive from 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome.

Laptop Friday at Coffee & Co, Montpellier

Every Friday between 9ish and 12ish we meet up to work, 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, or simply to get on with your work in a convivial atmosphere away from the distractions at home. 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 Streets

Sue Brown's exciting new enamelled steel art piece has now been completed and we hope it will be erected on the wall of the Exmouth Arms opposite the Co-op before the end of the year

The five trees that were planted in the front gardens between Suffolk Street and Grafton have grown well and have been really enhancing the look of the road. Two more will be planted this coming winter outside numbers 205-207.

We have been trying to persuade Lloyds Bank to agree to trees being planted (at no cost to the bank) on the wide pavement outside their premises in Suffolk Street. A petition has shown that practically everyone in the street wants them to do this but as yet we have failed to persuade the bank to made this contribution towards the community scheme. We have not given up!

We have now received agreement from the Council for using some of the environment grant funding to paint the utility boxes in the Bath Road and the Leckhampton Road/Shurdington Road roundabout and hope that this will help brighten up the road.

We are also trying to persuade the Council to agree to the erection of Bath Road banners in the street but we have run into difficulties over advertising controls etc. We will battle on with this.

More planters and more cycle racks are coming too.

Christmas special Cash Draw
�50 prize!!!

We've signed up a number of new members for the Cash Draw and December's prize will be �50 as a one-off festive special. The December draw will take place on 20th December.

If you'd like to support Cheltenham Connect please join the Cash Draw - the minimum payment is �1 a month - to help us cover our ongoing costs. Payment for the year can be by cash or cheque to any committee member.

Why not set up a standing order to Cheltenham Connect? You can print out the standing order form here or email our treasurer Dave for more details and to let him know your contact details for the big pay-out!

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.

Stalls at Bath Road Market

Bath Road Market has some stalls available during November and December if anyone is interested in hiring them. Contact Lisa or Augusta for more information by emailing bathroadmarket@yahoo.co.uk

Interested in local history?

Over the last three years we've run two major history projects and

created the website www.cheltenhamsouthtown.org

We are now looking for people who might like to help us update the details on the website and further develop these projects. Please email wendy@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk if you are interested.

Volunteers needed (especially elves!)

We're always 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 one of our events, can spare an hour or two to sell raffle tickets or would like to be an elf at the Christmas Fair Scarlett would love to hear from you.

Bath Road Lights Switch-On 22 November

The Bath Road Traders Association is looking for stewards for the switch-on of the Bath Road Christmas lights on Friday 22 November. If anyone can help please contact Scarlett.

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

It's all about People Power!

The Cheltenham Connect Team