Issue 1 Spring 2009 Barton Tredworth connection & Bringing the whole community together A new voice for the neighbourhood Since that initial meeting, a number of Now it’s your chance to Residents living in the Barton other public sessions have been held, and Tredworth areas of the attracting residents from across the get involved city now have a new way area. From the If you’re interested in fi nding out more of infl uencing how services numbers attending and the enthusiastic about how you can get involved in the contributions made, it was clear that the within their neighbourhood new group and play a part in improving proposal to set up a Neighbourhood your neighbourhood, then please get are delivered. Partnership would be warmly welcomed. in touch. Our contact details are on the A new Neighbourhood Th e way forward back page, along with details of the Partnership has been set up offi cial launch of the Partnership on Diff erent Neighbourhood Partnerships Wednesday 20th May. to provide local people with adopt diff erent structures and so various the chance to have their options were outlined and considered at a say about the things that public workshop in December. Residents voted to work with VCA, You are invited... aff ect them most, such as …to fi nd out more about the new Gloucester Voluntary and Community environment issues, crime Barton and Tredworth Neighbourhood Action, to help set up the Partnership. and community safety, Partnership by coming along to the health and wellbeing, etc. Since then, Gloucester VCA has Barton and Tredworth Community Coming together in this way been helping the group to become Fun Day in St. James’ Park on Saturday established, and to recruit its part-time 25th April, between 11 am and 4 pm. will enable residents to help worker, although the direct work of the shape and improve local Partnership is still being led by residents. Members of the group will be on hand services and ensure their Gloucester City Council’s Neighbourhood to answer your questions, listen to voices are heard. Partnership team is also providing your comments, and tell you more support and funding. about how you can get involved. Th e story so far Residents were invited to discuss proposals to set up a Neighbourhood Partnership at an initial meeting last September. The meeting was organised by Community Counts, the Neighbourhood Management programme which was set up to help develop good working relationships between residents and key agencies and to emphasise the importance of developing services to better meet residents’ needs and priorities.

Residents discussing the options for forming a In brief… Neighbourhood Partnership for the Barton and Tredworth area.

Who’s New? Inter-Faith Project Meet Ismael Rhyman, the new Community Find out about a new project which Involvement Worker for Barton and Tredworth, is encouraging residents to put aside who’ll be helping to set up the Barton and Tredworth their diff erences and explore their Neighbourhood Partnership. cultures together. page 2 page 4 2 >> Introducing… Ismael Rhyman, Barton and Tredworth’s new Community Involvement Worker Th e role of Community Involvement Worker has been created to bring together residents and existing community groups within the Barton and Tredworth area and to help develop the new Neighbourhood Partnership. Funding for the new part-time post was provided by Community Counts, the Neighbourhood Management programme which ended earlier this year. Th e post is being managed by Gloucester VCA, Gloucester Voluntary and Community Action. Ismael took up his new role at the end of February, having previously worked in the legal profession as a criminal solicitor and barrister. He has lived in the Barton and Tredworth area more than 17 years and so is already very aware of many of the issues and concerns facing the neighbourhood. He has previously worked as a volunteer with the Friendship Café and at the Citizens’ Advice Bureau. Th e cost of taking the Bar exam was funded partly through the Community Champions scheme and this is one of the reasons he has been inspired to take up this new challenge. Ismael comments: “I’m really pleased to have this chance to give something worthwhile back to the community. Th is is a one year post so I want to make sure that I use this time to help build a strong foundation that will last in the future.” To contact Ismael, call 332424 (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays).

New Partnership to Launch in May Th e new Barton and Tredworth Neighbourhood Partnership will be offi cially launched next month and residents living in the area are invited to stand for election for the various roles that have been created. In the meantime, Gordon Barrington has been elected interim chair of the new group. For more information about the launch, see page 4 of this newsletter.

FACT FILE Neighbourhood Partnerships What are Neighbourhood What can they achieve? Partnerships? Neighbourhood Partnerships can Bridges Partnership in 2001. This This is the name given to organisations provide a useful way for local people to covers the Tuffl ey, Grange and that are set up and managed by have a say and to get involved in issues areas. that aff ect their area. Neighbourhood local residents. Neighbourhood The Kingsholm and Wotton and Partnerships can challenge local Partnerships don’t usually have Westgate Partnerships followed councils and agencies to improve paid staff or offi ce space or own any soon after and, in February 2007, community buildings. They hold their services and to better meet partnerships were set up in the Matson regular public meetings and/or local needs. and Robinswood and consultations throughout the year Being resident-led means that wards. The Moreland Partnership was aimed at improving local services and Neighbourhood Partnerships can launched in October 2007 followed by involving local people in things which focus on the particular needs of Elmbridge and Longlevens. aff ect their neighbourhood. a community, for instance, crime Who else is involved? and community safety, the local Want to know more? You can fi nd out more about Neighbourhood Partnerships are set environment, health and well-being, Neighbourhood Partnerships by up and led by residents but partners jobs and training, etc. visiting the Gloucester City Council can include all kinds of other local What about the rest of organisations, such as schools, website – www.gloucester.gov.uk. churches, housing associations and the City? There’s a Neighbourhood Partnerships businesses, as well as local There are eight Neighbourhood link on the home page. authorities, police and youth and Partnerships in Gloucester already. community groups. The fi rst to launch was the Three 3

Th e Barton and Tredworth Groups continue to fl ourish Neighbourhood Partnership Two of the groups set up by Community Counts to enable provided by Gloucester City Council How will it work? residents to infl uence in the form of a development grant A key aim of the Partnership is neighbourhood policing and of £2,000. The city council will also to provide local residents with a streetcare provision are going from ensure that the group is linked into say in what happens within their strength to strength. the network of other neighbourhood neighbourhood. That’s why any partnerships in the city and so benefi t Th e Neighbourhood Policing residents living within the boundary from information sharing, training Panel is now being co-ordinated by of the Barton and Tredworth electoral opportunities, etc. the Safer Communities Police Team. ward will automatically be a member You can contact them on of the group and enjoy full voting Taking action in the 0845 090 1234, extension 5174. rights. neighbourhood Th e Street Reps Scheme is working Members of local organisations, such As well as a main co-ordinating group, alongside Gloucester City Homes. as churches, community groups or For more information, or to fi nd out businesses, will also be encouraged there’ll also be a number of action groups set up to directly tackle issues how to become a Street Rep, call to take part, along with other people Lisa Ritchie on 0800 408 2000. who have an interest in the area such that have been highlighted by the as statutory agencies, councillors, etc. community. Details of these groups have not yet Ongoing support been confi rmed but are likely to focus Gloucester VCA will facilitate the on areas such as crime and steering group until the Partnership is community safety, jobs and training, formally launched and is able to elect the local environment, health and its own chair. Further support will be well-being, etc. A meeting of the Neighbourhood Panel A community voice We asked some of the members “I’m determined that this new Sonia Friend Neighbourhood Partnership will be of the new Neighbourhood “It’s been great to see people from all diff erent. I’m sure that, if we all work walks of life coming together, as they Partnership to share their together, we can really start to see often do in this area, to form this exciting thoughts on what’s been some key improvements in the area. new partnership. I wish everyone the It’s important that we give people achieved so far and on their best of luck and I hope that it keeps the chance to feel proud of their ambitions for the future. Here’s Barton and Tredworth moving forward.” neighbourhood again.” what they had to say… Don Jones (pictured left) (pictured right) Tony Ward “I agree that this will “I think it’s a brilliant idea. Of course, it’s be a good thing early days yet but I’m very optimistic for the community that this will be the platform we need providing that we to continue the work that Community stay focussed on Counts did to involve local residents in what residents want decision-making. and involve them “It’ll also help draw Barton and Tredworth at every stage. together which can only be a good thing. It’s important Working together means that we can that we pick achieve so much more.” up from where Saj Patel Community Counts left “I think a lot of residents haven’t off , rather than bothered to come along to public starting again meetings with agencies in the past from scratch.” because they feel that nothing is ever going to change. They don’t believe that they can really make a diff erence. 4 Barton and Tredworth Community Fun Day Contact Information Organisers of this year’s Community Fun Day in St. James’ Park are confi dent that it’ll You can get in touch with the Barton be another successful event with lots of fun activities and plenty of sunshine. and Tredworth Neighbourhood The Fun Day, now in its fi fth year, will take place in the park and the neighbouring Partnership… St. James’ Church on Saturday 25th April between 11 am and 4 pm. Attractions will By phone… include stalls and bric-a-brac, music from local choirs and bands, exhibitions from organisations such as the Safer Communities Police Team and the 01452 – 332424 Fire Service, plus a wide range of food and refreshments. By post… Find out more… Ismael Rhyman The event will also provide local residents with a chance to Community Involvement Worker meet Community Involvement Worker, Ismael Rhyman, (Barton and Tredworth) and to fi nd out more about the Barton and Tredworth Gloucester VCA (Gloucester Neighbourhood Partnership and opportunities for Voluntary and Community Action) involvement. 75 – 81 Eastgate Street For more information about the Barton and Tredworth GLOUCESTER Community Fun Day, or to fi nd out how you can take GL1 1PN part, contact Tony Ward (Friends of St. James’ Park) on By e-mail… 540979 or Don Jones (Tredworth Residents’ Association) on 07972 – 192360. [email protected] Left: Local residents enjoyed plenty of activities for all the family at last year’s event.

Inter-faith project travels to the Holy Land A group of 26 youth and community workers The visit proved to be such a success that the from Barton and Tredworth have recently group now plans to organise at least one trip returned from a 9 day trip to the Holy Land. a year as well as arrange regular meetings The project was organised by members of the to encourage people of diff erent religions St. James’ Church, the Friendship Café and the to come together and celebrate their faiths. Masjid-e-Noor Mosque in Ryecroft Street. The next meeting is at the Friendship Café The group’s itinerary included many of the on Monday 8th June from 7.00 to 8.30 pm. famous pilgrimage sites such as Jerusalem Contact Imran Atcha on 07977 – 022393 for and Bethlehem, as well as a visit to an more information. Youth and Community workers from Barton and orphanage and the Dheisha refugee camp. Tredworth on their recent trip to the Holy Land. Here’s your chance to get involved… Are you interested in local issues? Everyone living in Barton and Tredworth is automatically a member of the new Would you like to see more being done Neighbourhood Partnership so please get involved. Even a small contribution to improve your neighbourhood? Do can make a big diff erence. you have a little bit of spare time now and then? If so, then the Barton and Tredworth Neighbourhood Partnership Your name: would love to hear from you! Address: Come to the Launch! The Barton and Tredworth e-Mail address: Neighbourhood Partnership will be Phone number: offi cially launched at a public meeting on Wednesday 20th May at the Friendship I’d like to be involved in the partnership, please contact me Cafe on Barton Street. Everyone is welcome - please arrive 6.30 pm for a I can help deliver future copies of this newsletter prompt 7.00 pm start. I would like to join an action group to help improve my neighbourhood For further information please contact My idea for improving Barton and Tredworth is… Ismael Rhyman on 01452 – 332424 or complete the reply form on the right if you’d like to be kept informed of future meetings and developments.

Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this newsletter and the statements contained in it are believed to be correct at the time of going to press, the publishers and promoters of this publication are not liable for any inaccuracies.