Southern Brooks Community Partnerships Annual Report

Registered Charity No. 1157061

Shaping Your Future Southern Brooks Community Partnerships 2015-2016 Coniston Community Centre, , South www.southernbrooks.org.uk BS34 5LP We’ve had some exciting new local communities, by people who Treasurer’s Report Director’s Report projects this year, and you can understand the needs and assets This has been both a challenging about how the 200 families that read about them further on in this within the area. report. We’ve reviewed the way we and rewarding year. As with many we’ve worked with each year will Sue Jaques voluntary sector organisations we be able to access the support work and how we can continue to As the neighbourhood around are seeing more and more people they need. We are constantly meet the needs of the community Patchway continues to see significant As ever this year has been needing help, just as our funding is trying to secure additional funding with less money. Our approach to new investment in houses, we are challenging and rewarding in shrinking. but it’s becoming increasingly communities, based on “Strong committed to integrating new and equal measure. We continue to challenging. Communities Powered by People” established communities, making offer quality services whilst trying Trustees In August this year we secured sure that new people feel welcome. to cover the infrastructure costs Level 2 PQASSO (Practical Quality It’s been great to see that • Building on skills, interests, Working together as the Voluntary, of the organisation. We have Assurance System for Small no longer meets the criteria for a knowledge and experiences Community and Social Enterprise delivered some new projects and people have (VCSE) sector is increasingly continue to source new funding Andy Thomas - Chair Organisations) accreditation. This priority neighbourhood, based on continuous quality assurance its rank in the Indices of Multiple • Bringing people together to important. We want to look for streams to enable us to develop Elaine Martin - until Jan 16 process has built on our previous Deprivation. While we have been discuss the issues that are opportunities to co-produce services, new activities. Sadly due to Lucy Hamid qualification at Level 1. The the community lead organisation, important to them work with statutory partners and government austerity and funding David Bell VCSE colleagues to make sure that cuts some projects have finished. staff and trustees have worked the partnership approach has led • Understanding how to talk and vulnerable people are cared for. We have also built the cafe and Melissa Jones - until Jan 16 together to ensure that systems to this successful outcome. Over listen to people Sue Jaques and processes are in place the coming year we will focus on CVS support training offer and created vital • Creating relationships and Joseph Pritchard to ensure that we operate to how to sustain this change once South Gloucestershire Leaders Board services within the community. In partnerships based on trust and consistently high standards across funding ends. which brings together leaders from addition to this we continue to respect the spectrum of indicators that are the sector. Bi-annually we meet repay our debt with Avon Pension assessed. We’re very grateful to the partners • Going on a journey with people so the Chief Executive and Directors Fund. All of these things have who fund our work consistently, they feel excited by change and of South Gloucestershire Council to made balancing the books a tricky As our second, 3 year funding including Merlin Housing Society, able to influence decisions understand the challenges that we all task this year. from the Big Lottery finished in Sovereign Housing Society, South • Creating opportunities for people face. To ensure we balance the March we held a celebration with Gloucestershire Council, Town from different cultures, age groups books in future years we need staff, families and volunteers. The Council and Filton Town Council. and experience to get together Trustees and staff have worked to continue with the task of experience of the families that The relationship we have with over the issues that matter to together to make sure that our diversifying our income streams to used the service brought tears to Patchway Town Council is worthy them priorities are still relevant and led by the needs in the community. For help us achieve our aims. everyone’s eyes. The commitment, of a special mention. By working • Building strong connections and the coming year we will focus on hard work and dedication of together we’re able to make sure relationships within and between reducing poverty, improving skills and I would like to thank all of the the staff team was really valued that Patchway stays “a good place communities project managers for managing and I’d like to thank them all. to live” for everyone, including learning, reducing social isolation and • Enabling people to learn from supporting the development of good their budget, our finance officer We were very disappointed young people through the town for the work she does to support different experiences and develop mental and emotional health. that our application to the Big council’s support for our work with a culture of creativity, problem the financial wellbeing of the Lottery for a further 3 years was young people. organisation, our auditors Bishop solving and innovation I would like to thank the staff, the unsuccessful. Our contract with Flemming and all of our funders. South Gloucestershire Council will It’s been exciting to see the work • Increasing individual wellbeing, Trustees and our many wonderful finish in July next year, a victim of of our Friends group. They are a strengthening communities and volunteers for their help and support the Council’s saving programme. committed group of volunteers decreasing the need for public this year. This means our family support who have begun to raise funds. I intervention service will be much smaller in would like to thank them for their the future and very much more hard work and enthusiasm. As Locality members we believe Julie Close SHAPING YOUR FUTURE 1 focussed. We are concerned that services are best delivered in Priority Neighbourhood Work Patchway “A Good Place To Live” Karen Cheal

Southern Brooks is the community lead group for Priority Anti-Hate Crime We started several new Neighbourhood work in Filton and Patchway. Priority neighbourhoods Aim of Project: Peoples project, with a groups for older people. are identified as they appear in the top 10% of the Indices of Multiple Ambassador We are aiming to build a view to supporting the Deprivation (IMD) nationally. We co-ordinate local action plans working more resilient community integration and changing They were really well with a range of partners. Program where residents can have dynamic of Patchway. attended but people didn’t We are pleased that Filton no longer meets the criteria for a Priority want to go through formal After a presentation to local their say about decisions • 7 community groups Neighbourhood any longer. that affect them. Our processes that would head teachers to promote were supported to The aim of our partnership work is that: approach is to work in become stronger. We create constituted groups. the success of the secondary • Local people have improved skills, confidence and knowledge to be partnership with a wide provided advice on So we came up with the school program Filton Hill involved in the decisions that impact on their lives. range of agencies and funding, constitutions idea of an umbrella group Primary School volunteered • Families are more resilient and parents support children in their learning community groups. and sustainability. called Precious Time, with to host an 8 week course. • Residents feel more confident to challenge and report hate crime. representatives from the four 12 children took part. It • Mental health awareness Key Achievements: groups. was very different working sessions with 20 local Katie Donovan- • 75 local residents took people, with a view to “Filton Working Together” Adekanmbi with this age group. They By working together the part in community reducing the stigma of all enjoyed the programme consultations and around mental health. Consortium are now stronger Key achievements in Filton: and are now Hate Crime network meetings. and more sustainable. They Champions. • Set up a work club are beginning to be able • A Domestic Violence conference attended by 30 local professionals who • 600 hundred residents and aftercare support increased their knowledge around DV and how to report it. to raise funds and work attending 2 festivals held for people looking for • Anti-Hate Crime Ambassador Program at Abbeywood Community School They learned about equalities together to decide on their in Patchway and the employment. Supported and a pilot at Filton Hill Primary school. 24 young people are better informed & diversity, protected longer term plans. about Hate Crime bullying and issues of Equality and Diversity. adjoining Charlton Hayes 23 people to find work, characteristics, hate crime development. Charlton training or volunteering. • A new Domestic abuse ‘Drop In’ provides advice and guidance to women bullying, communication attended by 30 women per quarter in partnership with Survive. Hayes residents are being 50% have found “We feel better skills, referral pathways and encouraged to access the employment. • The Be You support group for women who have left a DV relationship and are signposting. The children informed and rebuilding their lives. This group has regular membership of 16 women. older part of Patchway, were enthusiastic and now • Slam that Scam event for residents that provided information about hot to and join local community stronger working have a genuine desire to groups. spot and report scams. together. We can support fellow students being • Keep it Safe was event held in March. • £6,280 has been raised, see that we will have Over 150 residents attended to get bullied and want to build a to support identified advice on a range of safety issues. fairer society. needs including: a crime a better chance of • £7760 raised towards initiatives in Filton event, International lasting.” Festival and an Older SHAPING YOUR FUTURE 3 SHAPING YOUR FUTURE 4 Charlton Hayes, Patchway Winsome Barrett-Muir Patchway, Filton & The Stokes Volunteer Centre Kate Ross

Aim of Project: 2016 and was placed as A community involvement Shwetha registered as The Volunteer Centre People volunteer for many a volunteer in February highly commended for project was commissioned Our aim is for Charlton Hayes the innovative, inclusive offers a drop-in and reasons. Sometimes 2015. She wanted to gain to be a great place to live. way of working in a new by developers to engage online registration service people are lonely and confidence and to help Charlton Hayes Steering Group development with a wide local residents. across the area for people isolated, or they need seek future employment in is a multi-agency partnership range of partners. who want to volunteer, to build their confidence which works together to administration. respond to issues raised by • The Charlton Hayes Views The project lead was and community groups to help them get back residents. Newsletter and Facebook finding it difficult to meet that need volunteers. to work. We take into Shwetha became an admin page has been a positive We provide one to one account the individual volunteer at the Volunteer Our community development residents so she contacted addition in sharing support for people needs of volunteers so Centre. She quickly gained worker tries to meet all new information with residents. Southern Brooks. Through volunteers and help them that they get a volunteer confidence and was residents to welcome them to our activities, forum and the neighbourhood. • We have an active resident find the right opportunity. into a role that suits them. supported into employment led group with representation social media she was able We work with voluntary in an admin role for a major on the Steering Group. to meet many people. Key Achievements: and community groups Key Achievements: local supermarket • We’ve brought people to help them make sure • 3 community events were together over issues that She continued to volunteer Cultivate Communities that volunteers are well • Excellent partnership organised in response to are important such as lack with us but eventually her residents’ requests from the Autumn was born and supported. working with other of GP provision and the new work took over. Shwetha community consultation. primary school was a great success. The volunteer centres across was sad to leave and has Over 100 residents attended event was part of South South Gloucestershire. the Autumn Cultivate • Partnership working 125 volunteer applicants been very much appreciated Celebration. with Sovereign Housing Gloucestershire Discovery received face to face • An increase in the at the Centre. Shwetha has Association to welcome new Festival. Over 100 support. 7 were people number of volunteers offered to help at future • Charlton Hayes steering tenants to the area. group was recognised residents attended. who were unable to work; we are meeting. events outside of her work in the national Planning 25 were job seekers hours. and Placemaking Award and 33 with had a recognised disability. 195 organisations registered volunteering opportunities and 60 organisations have provided volunteer placements.

SHAPING YOUR FUTURE 5 SHAPING YOUR FUTURE 6 The Team: Zasha Webb, Tendai Family Trips Corrina Wood Pawadiyra, Lynette Jones Family Wise Kim Morton, Rachel Sharvell-Smith

“It changed everything really, I wouldn’t have Aim of Project: Feedback from Parents Aims of Project: Key Achievements: been able to do it on my own. I would have As many as one in three children can fall behind as a result of a “Takes the pressure off organising and makes you definitely do To provide intensive • A new partnership with been suicidal. It would have just got worse and worse.” Mum long summer holiday break from the classroom. Local schools something centred just on them [the children].” support to families with Community Ignite in identified this as a problem and wanted to consider ways to the South of South “We enjoyed all of it. It was amazing lovely family day at the primary aged school They were referred as the family situation was support learning over the summer break. Funded through seaside. Thank you very much.” Gloucestershire. impacting on the health and well-being of their child. Charities our Family Trip project runs throughout children experiencing There were concerns about safety and stability, the “You can have fun even if you don’t have a lot of money” • Successful pilots of the child’s behaviour and emotional well-being, as well the summer providing days out for families who were otherwise poor outcomes and work in 12 primary schools as parental health and well-being. There were also unlikely to engage in trips and activities over the summer period. where parents are • Funded through the South concerns about relationships within the family and the struggling financially. stress that financial issues were putting on them. Gloucestershire Families Key Achievements: in Focus team, we have At the beginning of intervention Mum was fairly • 4 Trips over the summer to Weston-super-Mare, The project aims to: worked with 18 families housebound, she struggled to complete the family shop due to anxiety and depression and the family Blaise Castle, Mshed & St. Fagans. in the North of South • Improve educational Gloucestershire. would subsist on mainly dried or tinned food. Mum • Trips were attended by 35 families engagement was a prolific cannabis user (£20 a day) and had • 7 children have significantly been accruing debts to subsidise this use. Mum had • Improve Health improved their educational been reported to the police because of the smell of attendance, engagement cannabis. She had told me a week before Christmas that she Outcomes or attainment with a C had speech and language delay and was a fairly had lost her cleaning job. Christmas Hampers • Engage parents in further 8 working towards timid little boy. Mum did not take him to activities When I went to visit her after the festive season she employment and/or improvements in this area outside of school. told me of how grateful she was to SBCP for the Aim of Project: • 6 children have improved Christmas hamper that she received days before employability support Outcomes: The aim of the project is to provide vulnerable well-being with a further • Mum is abstinent and no longer accruing debts so Christmas. She said the hamper gave her children families with food and small gifts at Christmas • Improved financial 10 young people working is financially stable. something to cheer them up at Christmas. When she working in partnership with local churches and situation towards improvements in • Mum got to the stage she felt she was work ready lost her job it meant she was not going to be paid at and we helped her with her CV etc. communities. The project was supported by Edge this area all. When she went to register for benefits she was • Reduction in barriers • Mum and son engage in regular social activities Church who provided storage, volunteers, a venue • Six families have benefitted together told she it was going to take about 3 weeks before for packing and distribution and funding for hamper to achievement from reduced debt or are • C is engaged with speech and language she could access the money so she had no money items. better able to manage their • Mum has reported a much higher sense of well- at all for Christmas. She said she tried to borrow • Increased aspirations Key Achievements: financial pressures. being and has reduced her anti-depressant money from relatives; but got none. It worried her medication and is in a secure relationship with Cs • Over 100 hampers distributed to local families so much she suffered depression and was ill in bed dad and is expecting a baby. • Partnership working for 2 weeks. When she got better her 15 year old Solution Case Study daughter told her that they [the children] had only The work was intensive and the support worker used The hampers make a huge difference to the families eaten food from the hamper. a range of techniques to change the mind-set of the parents, including CBT and solution-focussed work. As that receive them, a member of the family support It was sad to hear of such a desperate situation, but I with all our work, it was based on trusting relationships team said: was happy that we were able to support this grateful and approached in a holistic manner working with the One of my families told me that the Christmas family. whole family. hamper we gave her was like ‘manna from heaven’. SHAPING YOUR FUTURE 8 The Team: Laura Colman, Health Champions Kate Ross Green Spaces Ellen Segalov Lori Ramsay & Emma Peacock

Barbara came to the Health Aim of Project: on an unused green space. We Sarah was made aware of the Aim of Project: Key Achievements: Champion programme through consulted residents who live by The Green Spaces project aims to Grow Your Own course at her visit to her local Volunteer a spot that was used for dumping The Health Champions This year 36 Health improve the health and wellbeing of Blakeney Road Community Centre. She wanted to rubbish, and worked with them local residents through engagement programme is for volunteers Champions signposted: to plan how they would like the Allotment following her improve her confidence and with green spaces in the community. and professionals. They space to be used. Together we attendance at the Work Club. • 391 people to support explore future employment aim to improve the health We have been developing green tidied up the area and installed play services around health and opportunities. Barbara is local equipment and planted raised beds and well-being of people spaces that are specifically for Initially Sarah was very anxious well-being. mum with work experience in a community use and can be used to to make the new park. about coming to a new group, across the six priority develop skills, knowledge and access pharmacy. The Parade Community Garden – neighbourhoods in South • 74 people were referred to resources that support people to but with the support our After the success of the The Parade staff she was able to attend. Gloucestershire by raising to Talking Therapies to have healthy lifestyles. Barbara has recently started Environmental Action Day, plans Sarah did brilliantly on the awareness of opportunities, improve their mental were made with residents about a degree in Psychology and Key achievements: course and as she says, “My increasing information health. what they would like to be growing is keen to make a difference Grow Your Own Course – We ran a in the new community garden. We confidence grew a little each available and signposting to • 96 people introduced “5 a to not just her own health, six week grow your own course at worked hard to plant onion, garlic week”. As the course came support services. day” into their diets so they but the health and wellbeing the new Blakeney Road Community and beans for over the winter and in to an end Sarah became a were eating more fruit and Garden. The eight participants the spring got planting salads, peas, key part of the weekly drop of others. Since starting as a enjoyed learning theory about potatoes, courgettes and lots more. vegetables. Health Champion Barbara has planting, composting, weeding, The families living around the Parade in, she welcomes new people and is involved in deciding • 96 to try ‘5 a day’ for a volunteered at local events organic growing and companion made sure the seedlings were looked planting and then applying it to the after and enjoyed starting to eat their the future of the garden. and became a Community two week period to see if community garden. The learners on crops. Sarah’s confidence boost Connector volunteer, through they can introduce fruit & this course have gone on to become meant she was able to get a vegetables into their diet. Southern Brooks’ social regulars at the weekly drop in at the job, and she’s picked up some prescribing project. garden and some have even taken on their own allotments. of her old hobbies, including pyrography, and made us a Barbara started a Health Arlingham Way Pocket Park – In collaboration with Patchway Town beautiful sign for our garden. Champion drop-in session at Council and Patchway Conservation Patchway library. This increased Group, we were successful in getting referrals to other projects and funding to create a pocket park provided additional resources for the librarians.

Barbara’s confidence has increased and she has now found a job. She continues to volunteer for our ‘Back to SHAPING YOUR FUTURE 9 Work’ programme. SHAPING YOUR FUTURE 10 Corrina Wood Team: Yvonne Robson, Ternaya Bouncing Babies is a weekly support and Cheryl Godsell South Gloucestershire Family Support Cummings, Simone Chevolleau & Claire Sturge activity group for parent/carers and their babies aged 1 year and under. The aims Feedback from Parents “The support I have received was amazing. of the group include reducing the risk of Aim of the Project: behaviour, followed by She makes me feel at ease and I feel like “Amazing group! I have been taking Emily since parental mental health and Was to provide 1-2-1 support I can say anything without being scared” post-natal depression, providing networking she was 6 weeks old. Very welcoming and I have parent-child relationships. Parent to families to improve family opportunities for parents, supporting the met some lovely friends there as well! Lots of Often the difficulty in relationships, increase Family were referred due to aggressive and bonding process between parent and child. good advice from all of the mums. No matter what managing behaviour stems parenting skills, improve family bizarre behaviour of one of the children. issues our babies are having you can always find from the relationship It was felt that some of the siblings and The group also provides a good opportunity mental health, enable families someone who has been through it already and has between parent and parents were at risk of harm from this to highlight the importance of play and its to live healthier lifestyles and young person. An initial assessment a solution!!.” child and the parents role in child development. improve behaviour. identified an underlying issue with the mental health impacts on young person which could not wholly be “It was a great place to come and meet new parenting capacity. addressed through parenting strategies. We spoke to services regarding the young Key Achievements: mums, learn some songs and nursery rhymes to Key Achievements: • 89% of parents increased person’s mental health and the possibility sing to my baby, bounce concerns off one another • We’ve worked with 80 their parenting skills of an underlying disorder. The young • Group attended by between 18 and 25 and pass on mummy tricks and tips. Loved having person described seeing a man in his families over the period. through 1-2-1 support and room who was angry. We built a good parents each week someone else make me a cup of tea that I could • High numbers of referrals parenting courses. relationship with parents and provided • Contact with 147 families over the year drink when it was hot and a biscuit to go with it.” emotional support to mum. for parents where there • 90% demonstrating improved social networks is a child with SEN and Outcomes: and reduced isolation in particular an ASD. All • Mum disclosed significant Domestic families worked with have through community Violence Merlin Housing Society - The aim of the project is Yvonne Robson & Claire Sturge multiple and complex activities. • Young person currently being assessed to provide one to one support to Merlin residents,to needs. The main reason • 86% of parents more able for ASD which possibly had impacted on improve health and well-being, the ability to maintain his ability to verbalise his fears for referral is parenting to meet the emotional tenancy and reduce barriers to social inclusion. • Mum and children now in a refuge X lost a baby and her marriage broke down. She also support, typically this needs of their children (working in partnership with social care suffered from diabetes. We found it difficult to meet is around managing and Survive) Key Achievements: • YP currently living with extended family her at first but this was resolved through working in • YP now reports that he no longer sees • Working with 28 families over the year partnership with Merlin. the man in his room • 60% have improved their ability to maintain their X was facing eviction and was being taken to court • Child In Need plan in place tenancy. as she was ‘not doing anything to change her • 80% have improved their health and well-being What made the difference? situation’. We liaised with the housing benefit team, through a range of activities We believe that the model of working Merlin Housing Association, North Bristol Advice we use, a Relationship Model, facilitates • 83% of parents have improved parenting skills, Centre and the Duty Solicitor. We supported X to the change. It is interesting to note that through one-to-one sessions, information & access counselling sessions to talk about loss of her the family had been working with Social Care for 6 months and there had been no signposting. child. disclosure of DV until we became involved. • 78% of people are more involved in community She is no longer in debt, has improved her mental activities, and therefore more likely to maintain The change comes through relationships health and can now deal with financial matters. and is based on trust, without which the positive change. outcomes for this family could have been SHAPING YOUR FUTURE 11 SHAPING YOUR FUTURE 12 very different. Patchway Youth Work Lori Ramsay The Team: Crispin Donovan, Chloe South Gloucestershire & Yate Subitha Baghirathan, Debbie Woolley Watkins, Rhiannon Thomas, Emma & Kirstie Ford Peacock, Alex Bright, Kelly Jones, Dementia Action Alliance Adam Cantwell-Corn Aims contributing to their Aim of Project: getting involved with the activities and our keen communities through social We worked with a Yate young mums To provide a range of centre, to ask questions. action. Projects included group to plan and deliver social To raise awareness of dementia across South school and community-based • Intergenerational work is happening in Yate, with fund-raising for local action as part of the SAY Community Gloucestershire; to promote, encourage and support activities to support young Cashpoint project. The mums wanted primary schools visiting the Activities and Social charities and distributing dementia-friendly initiatives so that people living with people to develop skills and to fundraise for a cause close to their Group food and clothing to dementia can lead active lives in their communities confidence, healthy lifestyles hearts which was the NICU unit at homeless people in central • Coordinated a valuable information session led and independence. Young Hospital. Some of the by Dr Peter Bagshaw (dementia lead GP on Bristol, in partnership with girls had delivered premature babies people are able to get involved Key Achievements: Clinical Commissioning Group) to Forum meeting Streetlife. themselves in this unit and wanted in a range of youth-led sessions • An activities group launched at Yate Leisure of parents/carers of young people/adults with • Many young people to extend their gratitude and thanks encouraging sport, music, Centre. This is a free weekly session where people learning difficulties (hosted by Carers’ Support got involved in South back to the hospital. creative arts, volunteering/ with dementia and carers can do sport, table Centre) social action and many issue Gloucestershire Council The group planned and delivered tennis, badminton, archery board, games etc • Delivered sessions for: South Gloucestershire based activities. Positive Activities Subsidy a successful fund-raising coffee tailored to individual need. Councillors; Lighthouse staff; Coniston Medical consultation; their input was morning (which none of the group crucial in demonstrating the • 29 Dementia friends’ sessions have taken place Practice; Emerson’s Green Town Council and had previous experience of doing), in Yate and as a result we have 488 Dementia Staple Hill Regeneration Partnership. Key Achievements value of our services. They which saw members of the public stop Friends. • Young people creating learned how youth work is by for cake and coffee in aid of their • Dementia Awareness work currently taking place and maintaining our youth funded and the importance cause. The event raised over £100 • Dementia Friends Sessions within Schools are with South Gloucestershire Chinese Association, club community garden, of speaking up about issues which was donated to the NICU unit taking place. The children/young people love Dhek Bhal and Avon Indian Association learning about horticulture they feel passionate about. at Southmead along with multiple and sample some of the bags of brand new knitted premature delights grown. baby clothes which were donated by a local knitting group. The group were Yate Leisure Centre agreed to be The group has grown in numbers and • Building on the success not only were successful in this event involved in the Dementia Friendly has an average of 35 members. of the Social Action Youth but they were empowered to use (SAY) pilot project, we their experience to hold a Christmas community initiative. Staff Mike & delivered 2 new youth-led themed event without the support of Jan Jones volunteered to be trained as The group is growing in numbers, more social action programmes, Southern Brooks. Dementia Champions and the leisure activities are being introduced including in partnership with Merlin centre became part of the newly formed gardening and woodwork. People can Housing Society, 1625 • We continue to develop Yate Dementia Action Alliance. The see the good work taking place. Independent People and partnerships across South Centre Manager pledged time and Downend School. Young Gloucestershire, particularly resources to form a social and activity “Very good support staff with a variety people developed skills, working with Creative Youth group. of activities. A very friendly welcoming Network experience and confidence, and encouraging time” November 2015 was the first session while supporting • Patchway Youth Centre is a local with 15 attending. “Fun to do something that takes my venue available for hire to local mind off my wife” charitable organisations and SHAPING YOUR FUTURE 13 individuals. Community Connectors Kevin Bache and Gael Rowan Family Support Respite Corrina Wood, Lynette Jones & Ternaya Cummings Clients were able to socialise with Aim of this Project: other people while also having To provide parents of children with additional a drink and a nutritious meal. University of the 3rd Age, needs short periods of respite through taking • One to one sessions with the young people Aim of Project: Anybody who came into the café reading groups, craft the children on positive activities and trips. The provided the opportunity to support their The aim of the Community alone was invited to join us. Most groups, North Bristol respite aims to improve well-being and reduce personal development, including social skills, Connectors Project is of the clients are over 70 years of road safety, independence and behaviour. Advice Centre and Age social isolation in families. age and were not really meeting • All parents felt that the respite sessions had a to work with a team of UK Befriending Service. volunteers to reduce and socialising with other people positive impact on their emotional well-being • We recruited and trained Key Achievements: and had given them the opportunity to do social isolation in the over before this happened. The coffee 17 volunteers. Each week • Funded through Everybody’s Business something for themselves. 50’s. It’s about connecting morning has brought these the volunteers met for people together. It has also small grant, we provided respite to parent/ • All parents felt that the respite sessions had people with groups and peer supervision, support served to reintroduce people carers of children with additional needs. a positive impact on the well-being of their We worked with 16 families with needs each other to improve and ongoing training. who once stood at the school child. health and well-being and gates together, more than 40 ranging from ADHD and Autism Spectrum • Trips included: Dog Agility, The Wild Place, • The running of the Conditions to a young person with a complex increase social networks. years ago, yet had no contact Crazy Golf, Indoor Rock Climbing and @ project highlighted the range of disabilities including hearing and since their children left primary Bristol. need for regular social sight impaired, autism and additional brain school. Key Achievements: meetings in the area. This damage from a tumour. has given rise to weekly • Funded through the The coffee morning has become coffee mornings run by Lloyds Foundation we a lifeline for several clients. One “We can’t thank you enough for this respite. The parents were exhausted and in desperate need volunteers in 2 areas have worked with 57 client is unable to get around One night we managed to have tea with our of some respite which included Mini golf & tea at – Patchway and Stoke people, through one due to severe lung problems. older daughter with no arguments, it was Bella Italia, Dog agility & tea at Frankie & Bennys, Gifford. to one work and coffee With the help of Community fantastic. We are really happy that with your 1-2-1 dog walk, @Bristol & dinner at Za Za Bazaar. mornings. • coffee Connectors, they have been support she is now sleeping all night every Changes in her behaviour enabled her to make morning is being run attending coffee mornings. friends with several other young people and to • Issues have included night. This has made a really big impact on with the help of the local maintain these friendships over the weeks. Her lack of social contact, the whole family and it is easier to manage her church – St Michaels. Previous to this, they had only awareness of stranger danger improved and she budgeting, poor diet, behaviour during the day. She has loved these The church staff are very the company of professional has not run away since this respite, nor approached panic attacks, depression, trips and is always eager to see her support carers, who visited for an hour strangers. She has asked her parents if she can learning difficulties and pleased to have us there. worker” a day, and their son. Clients go to bed at 8pm every night and has slept until bereavement. have openly said that without 9am the next day. She is now in a bedtime routine Southern Brooks and the services Young person aged 8, awaiting final diagnosis of • Clients were referred ADHD & Autism Spectrum Condition. Parents were which has been maintained since starting the respite offered, they do not know what to volunteering concerned about her behaviour. She struggled sessions. they would have done or how opportunities, Memory to make friends, would often run away, was over they would have coped with the Café, Luncheon Club, familiar with strangers and was refusing to go to She has built positive relationships with workers extreme circumstances they have bed and settle to sleep. They felt that she needed and has been very respectful of other children with found themselves in. support with boundaries, social skills and stranger additional needs. SHAPING YOUR FUTURE 15 danger. SHAPING YOUR FUTURE 16 Lee Hider, Sue Williams Brooks Cafe & Mariagrazia Di Blasi Case Study Learning & Development Laura Colman, Ana Miguel, Ternaya Mariagrazia came to work with us Cummings, Corrina Wood, Tendai Pawadyira as a volunteer from Italy, with very little spoken English but a keen Aim of this Project: Brooks Café is a popular Coniston Fun day and other love of cookery. meeting space for the Patchway community events. Our Our community learning, vocational After Mariagrazia came to work community. Our menu is outside catering orders are and accredited training programmes with us as a volunteer from Italy affordable and varied, with increasing and theme nights support people to try new things, gain with very little English but a daily specials. We also provide continue to be popular. keen love of cookery. Thanks qualifications and develop skills for life and great value catering options for • Brooks Café is raising to sponsorship from Merlin she work. meetings and events. its profile and has been was able to do an apprenticeship featured on Made in Bristol through a catering college. Maria Key Achievements: • We piloted a ‘Grow Your Own’ course as Key Achievements: television and local radio is now a full-time paid member of • 19 young mentors gained their NOCN part of our Community Learning provision. • Brooks Café team has stations. staff and a major asset to the café. developed its role in the Level 2 Award in Youth Work Practice This led to people being involved in community, hosting more Maria says: “I really enjoy being through their participation in the Social developing the community garden at groups and meetings in the part of a brilliant team working in Blakeney Road allotment and the majority a nice environment. I’m improving Action Youth (SAY) project, which was café and working with local delivered in partnership with Downend still visit the allotment regularly. businesses to provide even my skills all the time; I love more care and support to working in the café.” School. The mentors gained practical • We have delivered tailor made training our customers. We are now experience in youth work by supporting programmes for local organisations, open until 5pm Monday- younger volunteers to design and deliver including social landlords and local Wednesday to support youth-led social action projects. government, in community development activities including an and equality and diversity. afterschool drop in. • We are working closely with the Green Spaces project to use locally grown produce Case Study and compost vegetable One student worked with adults with learning Since starting on this new career path, she has scraps. left her previous job and now has several jobs • We have a brilliant team difficulties as a support worker, before deciding to explore other career options. She working with young people. She has a job as of volunteers and this year a 1-2-1 worker with a young person in school, we hosted work experience enrolled on the Introduction to Youth Work placements for 6 young Course in early 2016 and realised that youth as a youth worker for Southern Brooks and is people from Patchway work really interested her. After completing also working the summer in the Four Towns Community College. this course, she was so enthused that she Play Association to gain more experience with • We provided catering enrolled on Southern Brooks Level 3 Diploma a wider range of ages. for Patchway Festival, in Youth Work Practice in May 2016 and is on track to gain her qualification later this year. SHAPING YOUR FUTURE 17 SHAPING YOUR FUTURE 18 With Thanks to: Chair’s Report - Andy Thomas It’s been an interesting year to be Chair at Southern Brooks, as we’ve gone through many changes in funding and staff. We are proud of our achievements in supporting many families in the area with our funding through Reaching Communities and our work commissioned by South Gloucestershire Council. Sadly, that has ended now and some valued staff have left.

As always the team have worked diligently to identify new funding streams and projects that continue to meet the needs we find in our communities. Poor mental health has been a concern for us and many of our partners and we were pleased to secure funding through Everybody Business grants awarded by South Gloucestershire Council from this coming April. We look forward to working with partners in contributing to South Gloucestershire Wellbeing College.

Partnership working has continued to be key to all of our work. It’s not always easy, particularly when funding ends. However, we remain committed to working together so that people in this area are able to access the support and help they need to achieve their full potential.

We were pleased this year to have secured PQASSO (Practical quality assurance systems for small organisations) at level 2. This built upon our work four years ago to achieve Level 1 accreditation and is recognition to the staff team and trustees for the improved systems we have in place.

As I look ahead to the coming year, I would like to thank the staff, my fellow trustees and volunteers for their enthusiasm and commitment. We’ve recently confirmed our priorities as:

• Reducing isolation • Reducing poverty • Improving mental health • Increasing skills and education

As resources become ever tighter we will go back to our roots in building “Strong Communities Powered by People”. Creating communities that are strong, resilient and tolerant with people who feel able to influence decision making ultimately reducing demand on public services and intervention.