A temporary hub to support high street traders and local businesses to thrive as they recover from the effects of the pandemic opened in the centre of Bath yesterday (June 14). The High Street Hub has been set up in a former empty shop, using primarily recycled and reclaimed furniture, in Cheap St by Bath & North East Somerset Council to provide quick access to council support for businesses. Supported by government Covid-19 response grants, the Hub will be a temporary base from which the council can provide swift and direct support to high street businesses through meeting with traders and carrying out visits to their businesses. The Hub will support High Street Renewal projects which bring vacant shops back into use, improve public spaces and bring events and animation to the city, town and neighbourhood centres. Monday to Friday, council teams will offer support on businesses skills, training, grant advice as well as specialist advice on from teams such as public health and licencing. On weekends and out of business hours, the Hub will be used to support community, environmental and business initiatives that aim to bring people to the High Street. These activities will include a collaboration with Bath Business Improvement District on Summer Sundays running from June 27 with the aim of inspiring more local families to visit Bath city centre at quieter times, through free art and craft activities and offers promoting local businesses. The events will run each Sunday for ten weeks and are funded by Bath BID and the council. The High Street Hub is an important part of the council’s commitment to supporting and welcoming people back to our high streets after lockdowns. The council’s property team will also be opening a commercial hub at New Bond St in July which will enable the council to support its commercial tenants in the city centre. Councillor Richard Samuel, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Economic Development & Resources, said: “These are hugely challenging times for our high street businesses and we want to offer them direct and targeted support. I’m pleased that the creation of High Street Hub will mean that we have a physical presence in the heart of the city, where traders can come and speak with us and get the right help for their business. We will be extending the direct support to our property tenants with the opening of our commercial hub next month. “It’s great news that the Hub will be used to further encourage footfall during weekends and evenings through some engaging community activities. Thank you to our partners for their support with this.” The High Street Hub supports the West of England Combined Authority-funded Love our High Streets programme to bring public space improvements to the city centre and the Welcome Back Fund programme to bring activities to bring visitors and locals back to High Streets this summer through temporary interventions, outdoor markets and media campaigns. It also supports the WECA Unit Action Project which is bringing innovative commercial, creative and community uses to vacant shops to support high street recovery – including artists studios, meanwhile uses and pop-up shops. West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: " It's good to back our brilliant businesses at this challenging time. Tourism and hospitality have been especially hard hit by the pandemic. But people from Bath and surrounding communities are resilient and creative. And that plus the high-quality skills support on offer, means we can turn this around." Allison Herbert, Chief Executive of the Bath BID, said: “We are so pleased to see the city reopening and welcoming people back, and are keen to encourage people to spend time and money in the city over the summer months. Our Summer Sundays initiative is designed to showcase Bath as a vibrant, family-friendly city with lots of events and activities to enjoy, and our free arts and crafts activities in Cheap Street will form an important part of the campaign.” Businesses wishing to contact the High Street Hub should call Council Connect on 01225 39 40 41, email council_connect@bathnes.gov.uk or follow the Twitter account for updates.

A decision on whether three schemes to improve walking and cycling routes in Bath to enable more active ways of travelling should go ahead to the next stage will be made by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s cabinet next week (June 23). Following the consultation on the council’s active travel schemes carried out between February and March this year, a report to cabinet recommends the A4 Upper Bristol Road, A36 Beckford Road, and Combe Down to University of Bath schemes proceed to the Traffic Regulation Order stage of consultation. Designs have been substantially revised to take into account the consultation feedback which totalled 2,380 completed questionnaires, as well as emails and letters. 91% of responses were from residents or business owners within Bath. If the schemes are approved, the Traffic Regulation Orders will be advertised for a statutory 21-day period when residents and businesses would have a final opportunity to support or object to the proposals. The A4 Upper Bristol Road scheme has been revised to mitigate the loss of parking spaces by providing new permit holder spaces and places where people can drop off or unload. The amended proposals also include additional improvements to a pedestrian crossing, cycle parking and changes to the bus stop designs. The city centre to university scheme is being split into parts. As there was strong support for the Beckford Road proposals, they will go on to the next stage. The proposed North Road changes are not being progressed at the moment. The council remains fully committed to providing safe, strategic cycle routes from the city centre to the university and the large educational and employment sites in Claverton Down. Therefore an additional in-depth engagement, such as a citizens’ jury, will involve the community on improved ways of getting to the university. The main revisions to the proposed Combe Down to University of Bath scheme are to alter the design for the proposed crossing near the southern end of Copseland. The A4 Upper Bristol Road scheme and the City Centre to University of Bath scheme are being funded by £500,000 from the Government’s Active Travel Fund to enable more people to walk or cycle for local trips. The council submitted the successful bid to the Department for Transport through the West of England Combined Authority. The Combe Down to University of Bath scheme is funded separately under the council’s Transport Improvement Programme. Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport, said: “Taking into account thousands of comments and good ideas from the public on these three schemes, the final designs have been revised to better meet residents’ needs for accessibility, parking and safety when walking and cycling. There is much detail in the report, which we will consider carefully in order to reach the next stage in achieving an effective solution for active travel in Bath. “We must highlight that the Government has made it very clear that it will only fund active travel schemes that meaningfully change the way roads are used through proper segregation of cycling. If our schemes do not meet these criteria, we will lose this round of funding and likely the chance to bid for further funding in future. We have to provide active travel schemes that significantly improve facilities for walking and cycling around the city.” Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy Leader and cabinet member for Climate Emergency & Sustainable Travel, said: We are fully committed to improving strategic facilities for active travel from the city centre to Claverton Down and the university, and we need to consult further with residents and commuters this year, to ensure we have identified the safest and most acceptable design and route that will enable the most people to enjoy safer cycling.” If approved, construction of the active travel schemes must be completed by March 2022. The Active Travel Schemes are as follows: The A4 Upper Bristol Road scheme proposes to install new cycle lanes that are separate from motor traffic, between Midland Road and Charlotte Street. Road crossings will be prioritised for those on foot, a section of on-street parking bays will need to be removed and some of these will be re-provided nearby. The A36 Beckford Road scheme proposes a new eastbound cycle lane separated from motor traffic along Beckford Rd, with some on-street parking re-provided nearby. Further public engagement is recommended to be commissioned this year to decide the safest and most strategic route between the city centre and University. The Combe Down to University of Bath scheme proposes to provide safe and convenient pedestrian and cycle crossings on both Bathwick Hill and Widcombe Hill at their junctions with Copseland. Active Travel schemes are separate from the council’s Liveable Neighbourhoods programme, which will also go before cabinet on June 23, and which aims to create healthy, vibrant communities by reducing car dominance of residential streets. View the report on Active Travel Fund Scheme and the cabinet papers here. The cabinet meeting is at 6.30pm on Wednesday, June 23 at the Guildhall in Bath.

Oasis is opening a second, pop-up community pantry in Bath, to serve the Southdown, Whiteway and Kingsway areas, in partnership with Bath YFC, YMCA, Southdown Methodist Centre and St Barnabas. We're hoping to secure funding to make this pantry permanent. It will be open each Monday afternoon from 2-4pm in the Roundhill Centre starting from next week (21st June)! How it will work Access to the Pantry will be run as a membership system. People join up through a referral form online, then can come along weekly to select a number of items. There will be two levels of membership - level 1 (ideal for 1-2 people) and level 2 (aimed at larger households). Level 1 membership costs £3 each week, and for that members can select between approximately 6 and 8 items. Level 2 membership costs £5, for which members can choose around 10 items. They've partnered with Fareshare Southwest, and will be receiving weekly deliveries of store cupboard, chilled and fresh foods. The exact mix of the items available each week will depend on the deliveries received. Timing and location Oasis Pantry will be open every Monday afternoon, from 2pm-4pm, starting on Monday 21st June. Members can drop in any time when the pantry is open, there's no need to pre-book. The Pantry is based at YMCA Roundhill Centre on Mount Road (BA2 1LG) Membership criteria Their primary target is individuals or families who live or work within an approximate 15 minutes' walk of the Roundhill Centre, and who are living in poverty. This covers Southdown, Whiteway and Kingsway areas. Anyone on a low income (relative poverty is defined as a household income of less than £18,000), and who feels they are struggling to buy high-quality food, is welcome to register. They will not require proof of eligibility. Referrals People are welcome to self-refer, and they are happy to take referrals from professionals, charities, other pantries and other support organisations. They'd really like if you could pass all this information about the Pantry on to anyone you feel could benefit from becoming a member, and to any colleagues who may know of people who would benefit. The referral form can be found here. They are really happy to help anyone who needs support to complete this, please just email them at pantry@oasisbath.org and they'll be in touch directly. Contact details There's more information available on their website: https://oasisbath.org/projects/ The referral form is here Pantry Referral Form You can email them at pantry@oasisbath.org Please feel free to call on 07984 014704 Please also note that they've changed the pricing model at their city centre pantry. There will now be no annual membership fee, and the price will be as Southdown, i.e. £3 for level 1 membership and £5 for level 2. Their website has been fully updated with these changes. Please follow them on Instagram @oasisbath; Facebook OasisHubBath; Twitter @Oasis_Bath

Small Charity Week celebrates and raises awareness of the essential work of the UK’s small charity sector who make an invaluable contribution to the lives of millions of individuals, communities and causes across the UK and the rest of the world. Below we have outlined a range of ways you can get involved with Small Charities Week, as well as providing some useful resources. Please tag us @banes3sg in your socials for this special week, so we can celebrate with you. Week Schedule Monday 14th June Appreciation Day Find Out More here Tuesday 15th June Big Advice Day Find Out More here Wednesday 16th June Policy Day Find Out More here Thursday 17th June Fundraising Day Find Out More here Friday 18th June Small Charity Big Impact Day Find Out More here Saturday 19th June Appreciation Day Find Out More Here Downloadable Resources As part of Small Charity Week, the FSI and Small Charity Week partners have released a range of free downloadable assets for you to share with your network and informative toolkits for your small charity. Please click on the links below to access the downloadable resources. Small Charity Week 2021 Sketchnote (special thanks to Mandy from Sketchnotes UK) Small Charity Big Impact Day - Charity Impact template I Love Small Charities Day - Poster template (Word format) I Love Small Charities Day - Poster template (PDF format) Social Media Badges I'm Proud to be Small But Vital - Facebook Badge I'm Proud to be Small But Vital - Twitter Badge I'm Proud to be Small But Vital - Instagram Badge I'm a Super Small Charity - Facebook Badge I'm a Super Small Charity - Twitter Badge I'm a Super Small Charity - Instagram Badge Small but big impact - Facebook Badge Small but big impact- Twitter Badge Small but big impact - Instagram Badge Logos Small Charity Week logo Small Charity Week header / footer Zoom Background Small Charity Week Zoom background

Thank you to those that we're able to join our webinar earlier this week, I hope that you found the guest speakers knowledgeable and helpful in providing ideas on how you can get your volunteering programme back on track. They all provided really useful, practical tips on how to engage volunteers and create a great, long-standing relationship. If you would like to view this webinar it is available on YouTube now If you would like to advertise your volunteering roles with us please sign up here: Index - VMS - Vol Orgs (vcconnectsystem.org.uk) you can also sign up to Bath University volunteering platform if you need students during term time, sign up here Any question please drop Lucy an email

Bath is in line to receive a second coveted UNESCO World Heritage inscription for its international importance to spa culture and architecture. The city is part of Great Spas of Europe, a group of eleven spa towns across seven countries that have been nominated to UNESCO for inscription on the World Heritage List. The 44th UNESCO World Heritage Committee is meeting in Fuzhou, China in July to make a decision on the Great Spas of Europe‘s bid to join the list. The nomination highlights the importance of spa culture and architecture as a European phenomenon from 1700 to the 1930’s. Amongst hundreds of spas a handful of these, including Bath, remain in a good state of conservation. The Great Spas of Europe project is supported by Bath & North East Somerset Council and is an international collaboration led by the Czech Republic and including the State Parties of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and the UK. If the bid is successful, Bath’s second inscription would come in addition to the first inscription gained in 1987. Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children and Young People, Communities and Culture, said: “This is very promising news. It has taken over ten years of work to progress The Great Spas Project to this point and whilst we are not across the finish line yet, it is firmly within sight. This accolade would further confirm that the heritage of Bath is acknowledged to be of global importance.” Councillor Ruth Malloy, the council’s representative for the Great Spas of Europe project, said: “To be inscribed once as a World Heritage Site is very special but twice is exceptional. Bath has always been an international City and this project is an exemplar of successful European collaboration. With the new Bath World Heritage Centre due to open in September, the timing of this news is excellent.” The eleven historic spa towns are Baden bei Wien (Austria), Spa (Belgium), Františkovy Lázně, Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně (Czech Republic), Vichy (France), Bad Ems, Bad Kissingen, Baden-Baden (Germany), Montecatini Terme (Italy), and City of Bath (UK). For more information on the nomination file, please visit https://greatspasofeurope.org/. The UNESCO Committee papers are available here (pages 18-19).

The first phase of public realm works to complement the opening of Bath’s new state-of-the-art World Heritage Centre and Clore Learning Centre are set to start on June 21. The World Heritage Centre being created by Bath & North East Somerset Council aims to inspire local people and those from further afield to explore what the City of Bath’s World Heritage Site has to offer. The Roman Baths’ Clore Learning Centre will provide enhanced learning facilities for school visits and community groups, and the opportunity to explore parts of the Roman Baths that have never been opened to regular public access before. Both centres are due to open later this year. A safe and accessible entrance for the Clore Learning Centre is needed before it can open, so the council will complete a small section of works in Swallow Street from June 21 to facilitate this. Works are expected to take ten weeks. A second phase of works along the section of York Street between Kingston Parade and Stall Street will be carried out in January 2022, and these designs will be subject to public consultation this summer. A bin store to house the wheelie bins at the south end of Swallow Street is also proposed. The public realm scheme seeks to enhance visitor experience to this special part of the city and aims to make the area fully pedestrianised, allowing people to move around the area more safely. The area has been closed to vehicular traffic under a temporary traffic regulation order since 2017 to protect the structure of the highway, but proposals to make this arrangement permanent will be consulted upon in the coming weeks. The area will be resurfaced in a high-quality pennant stone, in keeping with the historic streetscape, and the carriageway will be raised to create a level surface throughout. The public realm will tie into Stall Street, Kingston Parade and Abbey Street allowing people to move smoothly throughout these spaces. Along with a new surface treatment, the installation of new street furniture and landscaping also forms part of the current proposals. The site falls within the City Centre Security Project area but is subject to a separate decision-making process. Whilst the York and Swallow St public realm scheme is discrete and independent of the City Centre Security Project, if approved for implementation it will support the council’s aim to improve the safety and quality of the Bath’s streets and public spaces. Councillor Richard Samuel, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Economic Development & Resources, said: “The works at Swallow Street are a relatively small but very important part of our project to make not only the World Heritage Centre and Roman Baths Clore Learning Centre accessible for all visitors, but to improve the quality of the public realm in the historic heart of the city. We are looking forward to welcoming school visits in September and we know from speaking with local businesses that they would like to avoid disruption during the busy summer period, hence the two phased approach to the construction programme.” “The World Heritage Centre and Clore Learning Centre are set to be an enriching and exciting addition to Bath that will help the city to recover from the effects of the pandemic by encouraging more footfall and therefore increased trade.” The Clore Learning Centre has been named to acknowledge the generous grant given by the Clore Duffield Foundation towards the project. Stakeholders including local businesses and residents, the Active Travel and Accessibility Forum and the Independent Equalities Advisory Group have been invited to provide feedback on the forthcoming works in Swallow Street as well as the overall aims of the public realm project. They will also be invited to feedback on the subsequent design proposals as the scheme evolves The Equalities Impact Assessment for the Swallow Street work can be found on the council website here. The EIA will be updated as designs for York Street and other elements of scheme come forward. The works on Swallow Street are anticipated to take place Monday to Friday, between 8am and 6pm, and on Saturday between 8am and 1pm. The highway will continue to be restricted under the existing temporary traffic regulation order and will be subject to pedestrian controls including temporary walkways to facilitate works, preserve safety and retain access to property. The works are due to be completed by the beginning of September. You can find out more about the public realm proposals and how to comment on them here. Details of the proposed Traffic Regulation Order to support the permanent closure of the roads will also be available in due course. Find out more about the opening of the World Heritage Centre and Clore Learning Centre at https://www.romanbaths.co.uk/archway-project

Residents are being advised about the closure on June 28 of Bath’s historic Cleveland Bridge for essential repairs to safeguard its future. Motorists will not be able to use the structure during the closure, but pedestrians, cyclists and emergency services will be able to still cross the river over the bridge. Work on the £3.8 million project to renovate the Grade II* listed structure began at the start of May, using temporary signals to enable scaffolding to be erected. Since the scaffolding has gone up, engineers have been able to gain access to make more detailed structural surveys which have identified faults in the concrete of the bridge. Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport said: “We apologise for the disruption this closure is likely to cause, however we don’t have any alternative. It is essential repair work and much of it has to be done under a road closure. “We had hoped to close the bridge at the start of June but it has taken a little longer to arrange the diversion route. The only route made available to us was through South Gloucestershire and we want to thank South Gloucestershire Council for agreeing this diversion.” The diversions for Bath city centre routes during the closure as well as outer diversions for through traffic on the A36 are available on the council’s Cleveland Bridge webpage Motorists are advised to familiarise themselves with the diversion and locally people are asked to consider whether they could walk or cycle over the bridge, or use another form of transport around the city instead. The bridge currently carries 17,000 vehicles a day. Despite routine maintenance, it needs extensive major structural repairs for it to continue to function safely and preserve its heritage value. Bath & North East Somerset Council secured the funding for the scheme through the Government’s Highways Challenge Fund. The bridge will close at one minute past midnight on Monday June 28 and it is anticipated the work could take around three months before reverting to temporary signals. Updates to the programme will be posted on www.bathnes.gov.uk/clevelandbridge 3SG Legacy News Articles Previous Item Next Item Remove from page

A major scheme to improve Keynsham High Street and revitalize the town centre is under way with construction works having begun in earnest. The project, being carried out by Bath & North East Somerset Council, began on June 1, starting with lifting of the existing paving and kerbs in front of the Methodist Church and laying of new high-quality materials. The contra-flow cycle lane has also been closed to create a temporary pedestrian walkway, to preserve safety and facilitate the works as they continue in sections along the west side of the high street toward Temple Street. The High Street scheme is funded by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership through the Local Growth and Getting Building Funds, administered by the West of England Combined Authority. It is also funded by the Combined Authority through its Love our High Streets programme. West of England Metro Mayor, Dan Norris, visited the site with council Leader, Councillor Kevin Guy, to view progress today (June 7) with the Chair of Keynsham Town Council, Councillor Andy Wait. The public realm scheme has also presented an opportunity for the council to coordinate the works with Openreach to upgrade their existing broadband infrastructure to full fibre ahead of the new paving being laid. This will provide many Keynsham businesses and residents with faster, more reliable access to the internet. Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: "High streets are the lifeblood of our communities so I am so pleased to back this scheme. I know it's a bit noisy at the moment, but long-term this is really going to improve the shopping experience for local people and make the high street even better. We are getting wider pavements, better lighting, seven new benches and more trees – including ornamental pear trees. Together with dedicated cycle lanes and more disabled parking, it will be easier and more pleasant to pop to the shops and help our local businesses to thrive.” The council was awarded £1.5 million, through the West of England Combined Authority, towards the cost of implementing the first phase of public realm improvements in June 2019 to help create a better retail environment, encourage an increase in footfall and support the local economy. Councillor Kevin Guy, council Leader, said: “Residents and businesses in Keynsham helped us shape the final plans for this major project that has been a long time in the making, so it’s exciting that we are now at the stage where work is underway. Our high streets have faced major challenges over the past few decades and these improvements respond to local needs in Keynsham. “Keynsham is a distinct market town that enriches the character of Bath and North East Somerset as a whole. Enhancing its public realm will improve the environment for the community and support businesses by increasing footfall. Thank you for your patience while the works are carried out.” Councillor Andy Wait, Chair of Keynsham Town Council, said: "During lockdown, the High Street was available for people to exercise safely and use the few shops that were open with confidence. Now, as the High Street opens up again, we want to see more activities like markets and community events to attract more people in to support local businesses. With more people choosing to shop online, the High Street must reflect a more social and services role. I hope it will become an unpolluted, relaxing, friendly place of business and leisure both during the day and in the evening". The project will deliver footpath widening and resurfacing, better signage and cycling and bus stop facilities on the High Street between Bath Hill and Charlton Road. There will also be new street furniture, streetlights, landscaping and trees. The rearrangement of the temporary one-way system on the High Street will enable opportunities for walking, cycling and other sustainable modes of transport. The highway will only be restricted during the existing road closure which is in place for social distancing and will remain open unless a restriction is required by the construction programme. The council is working closely with traders to minimise disruption and ensure access during trading hours. Customers and traders are still able to access their premises. For more information on the plans and for construction updates please visit: www.bathnes.gov.uk/keynsham.

More than a thousand people have responded to Bath & North East Somerset Council’s consultation on proposed changes to on-street parking. The proposals to base residents’ parking permit charges on vehicle emissions and move long-stay visitor parking to off-street car parks are designed to improve air quality, ensuring a safer environment for pedestrians by reducing the risks posed by air pollution, while also meeting the council’s wider transport policy aims. The results of the four-week consultation and the Equalities Impact Statement will be published on the council’s website and considered before cabinet makes a final decision later this summer. Residents, businesses, and visitors will then have a further opportunity to feedback when the Traffic Regulation Orders are advertised ahead of the introduction of the on-street parking changes in January 2022. Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport said: “We know parking is an issue many people have strong views on, and I’m delighted so many have responded to our consultation. The proposed changes are a really important part of our ongoing work to improve air quality, cut congestion and reduce vehicle intrusion into neighbourhoods and we’ll consider people’s views carefully before we put forward our final proposals.” It’s the first time in eight years that the council has reviewed the price of residents’ parking permits. The proposed change to charge based on vehicle emissions is designed to improve air quality and encourage people to switch to low emission vehicles where owning a vehicle is essential. Vehicles would be placed in a charging band according to their recorded CO2 emissions with the DVLA. Residents can check DVLA records to confirm their emissions, or engine capacity, online at https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla Under the proposal the base price of a residents’ parking permit would remain at £100 a year with a second permit costing £160 where the most polluting vehicle on the permit emits less than 131g/km of CO2. Charges for higher polluting vehicles would increase by five per cent for each subsequent emissions band. Diesel vehicles would be subject to an additional 25 per cent surcharge in order to reduce NO2 emissions in the shortest possible time. Where an emissions rating is not available, including vehicles registered before 2001, charges would be based on engine capacity on a similar sliding scale. As well as moving to an emissions-based residents’ parking permit scheme other proposed changes include: • Residents’ parking visitor permit charges to be increased by 50p a day in year one with subsequent rises of 25p a day in years two and three. • A review of hotel, guest house and holiday let permits - to reallocate the parking to car parks and to include the introduction of digitised permits • A review of medical permits – to include the introduction of digitised permits to counter misuse and an increase to bring the charge in-line with residents’ permits • An increase in trade permit charges • The introduction of half day paper visitor permits to support vulnerable residents unable to access the financial savings offered by digital permits. Revenue from the proposals would pay for their implementation and running costs with any surplus used to support the development of sustainable transport schemes across Bath and North East Somerset. Full details of the proposals can be viewed here: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/parking-permits-consultation-april-2021/project-timeline

To mark Carers Week 2021 (7 June – 13 June), The Carers’ Centre is launching a myth-busting campaign that challenges some common misconceptions about caring, to ensure unpaid carers in B&NES are recognised and supported by those around them. The Carers Week report shows there has been almost a 50% increase in the number of unpaid carers in the UK since the Covid-19 crisis began*. Yet research we have undertaken with carers over the past few months has revealed many still feel ‘invisible’ and misunderstood. The Carers Centre want to ensure carers are heard, and identified at the earliest opportunity to get the support they need and deserve. But they can’t do this alone. They want to work together with third sector partners to reach the thousands of unpaid carers in B&NES. They’d be grateful if you would consider supporting their social media campaign by sharing their content to challenge caring myths and increase understanding around unpaid care. Follow their Facebook; Instagram and Twitter (@carerscentre1) to share messaging this Carers Week. Alternatively, if you or your comms team would like to use their myth busting images / Carers Week material directly, please contact Janine.woodward-grant@banescarerscentre.org.uk For more information on what they can offer to carers or specific support for an individual carer, their support line is available for professionals 8.15-12pm on 0800 0388 885 (option 3!) or support@banescarersentre.org.uk. You can also sign up here for regular updates on what they offer. *Carers Week. Carers Week 2020 Research Report: The rise in the number of unpaid carers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Our members, Bristol Credit Union, have recently changed their name to Great Western Credit Union. Please see below the reasoning behind this change, as well as ways you can support in spreading the word. We became Great Western Credit Union following our expansion, from Bristol, to serve Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset and Gloucestershire – helping thousands of people across South West England with access to a range of low-cost financial services. Community is at the heart of everything we do – from being a positive force in our members’ lives to building stronger neighbourhoods. That’s why we are continually harnessing technology, to grow, and to provide more improved choices for our members; to help them achieve better financial security. Our new website address is www.greatwesterncu.org and the members portal provides a secure system to manage accounts (savings or loans), move money, view transactions, and apply for loans and other services. Please help us spread the news by sharing the news with your network, perhaps in your newsletter or on your social media accounts. Below is a script you could use and, if needed, we can also provide our new logo to add to your notice: Great Western Credit Union is the new name for Bristol Credit Union. The new name was registered to reflect the expansion of services, from Bristol and Bath, to Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset and Gloucestershire – to provide more people across South West England access to a range of low-cost financial services. The new website address is www.greatwesterncu.org along with the members portal, a secure system for managing accounts.

The Spring/Summer 2021 Virtual Hope Guide is now available and has been created specifically to help people through Covid-19. Here you will find information on groups and services in Bath and North East Somerset, that have adapted to continue their fantastic work in the community, along with new groups and projects which have started in direct response to the situation. If you work with, or know of a group or service offering support to adults in B&NES that has not yet been included, please email Carolyn.Trippick@Mungos.org with the details. Updates will be made fortnightly, so do visit regularly! The Guide includes: - First response community support - Health and wellbeing group/activities - Organisations supporting people in B&NES - Free volunteer training - Local and national helplines ​View the latest Virtual Hope Guide here

Volunteers’ Week 2021 is taking place from Tuesday 1st to Monday 7th June, with organisations around the UK encouraged to take the time to say thank you to all volunteers. This year’s theme is ‘A time to say thanks’ – recognising that during an exceptionally difficult year due to the coronavirus pandemic, people from all walks of life around the UK have taken the time to volunteer and made a huge difference to people and their communities every day – just as they do every year. Each day of Volunteers’ Week 2021 will focus on a different theme of volunteering. This will include themes such as youth volunteering, employer-supported volunteering and environmental volunteering. Use #VolunteersWeek on your social to say ‘thank you’ to your volunteers and join thousands of other organisations in a nationwide show of thanks. Below we have outlined some ideas & tips that Volunteers’ Week have provided for organisations to get involved in the week. More info on this can be found on the Volunteers’ Week website here. CELEBRATE Certificate presentations, awards evenings – download their certificate template Parties, celebrations, festivals Thank you cards and small gifts eg sending all volunteers a tea bag to ‘have a cup on us’ – use their thank you card template Visual displays – shop windows, badges, posters Social media thank you messages – see their guide to using social media Download the full Comms Pack here for all information about the purpose and aim of the campaign, how to get involved, key messages and statistics and template posts that you can use across your organisations’ social media accounts. RAISE AWARENESS Physical presence on market stalls, in public squares, libraries, supermarkets, high streets, county shows, hospitals Articles in the local newspaper Programmes on local radio Use their press release template to help you spread the word DEVELOP Volunteering fairs, open days, recruitment events, conferences Training and induction events SHARE Breakfasts, coffee mornings, afternoon teas Lunches Picnics, BBQs Curry and quiz nights Pimms and pizza party GET ACTIVE Wellbeing walks, community clean-ups, boat trips, treasure hunts, pottery cafés, floristry sessions, a day at the farm COLLABORATE Work with other organisations, partner with local volunteer centres, contact local councils BE UNIQUE ‘Learn the lingo’ workshop for international volunteers, scarecrow festival, ‘BioBlitz’, ukulele concert

Hello, all I attended this half-day conference last week about the use of tech for charities. I thought it would be useful to share a write-up. Team Kinetic 2021 Conference; Life After Covid, What Happens Next? Team Kinetic is a tech company that aims to: · Build better communities through communication, transparency and clarity of message · Support the voluntary sector with shared research, collaboration, and best practice · Provide great tools FREE so organizations of any size can build better volunteer communities teamkinetic.co.uk Session 1: Focused on Volunteer Passports. Gethyn Williams Volunteering Strategist and Non-Profit Specialist Overview The concept is that volunteers could have a transferable portfolio that could help charities share volunteers and reduce onboarding time as they can see what has already been down to develop the volunteer. Takeaway Would be interesting to look at the concept for use in BANES could be something that 3SG, The Volunteer Centre and The SU Bath could look to develop. This could be useful when redistributing the 2,500 volunteers who signed up to support the community during Covid plus others who have taken up new roles. Session 2: Mobilising UK Voluntary Action Dr. Jurgen Grotz Senior Research Fellow Director of the Institute for Volunteering Research Overview The session was interactive and did a quick snapshot data collection. I wouldn’t say specifically that interesting or useful. Takeaway Mostly want to highlight that there is an Institute for Volunteering Research which is based at the University of East Anglia. They have some interesting articles and have done some interesting research. www.uea.ac.uk/groups-and-centres/institute-for-volunteering-research Session 3: Macmillan, Telephone Buddies Covid 19 response project. Kathryn Palmer-Skillings Volunteering Learning and Development Lead Overview Kathryn spoke about how they transformed their in-person delivery to digital and how they have enjoyed the flexibility and the positives of the change. Online learning was able to reach more people as it didn’t rely on people having to make it to a training center. This also reduced costs. · Blended learning engages volunteers more effectively · Buy-in to digital learning for a Volunteer audience · On-demand, self-guided learning empowers volunteers Takeaway Its good to evaluate what has worked well, what has allowed you to break down traditional berried that you face and how can we use tech to reduce operating costs. Session 4: Session about Team Kinetic Chris Martin Founder and Director – TeamKinetic They used a couple of inspirational quotes "The measure of intelligence is the ability to change" Albert Einstein The second I saw what they meant but don’t think it had the desired impact. “Volunteers are far more capable than we often give them credit for!” I personally would reword to say that Volunteers are more resilient than are given credit for, they want to see your organization succeed and by empowering them correctly you have an amazing resource of ambassadors. I think the key takeaway here is that volunteers have been elevated to a national platform that shows people outside of our sector how amazing we already knew they were. We need to continue to invest in and develop volunteers and empower them to make the change we wish to see in the world. This would involve not shying away from trying new things at the risk of offending long-standing volunteers, as long as they are taken on the journey of why we are doing what we are proposing and how it is aimed to benefit our service users they will want to see it work. Presentations Gethyn Williams Jugen Grotz Kathryn Palmer-Skillings Chris Martin 3SG Legacy News Articles Previous Item Next Item Remove from page

Future Bright offers free careers coaching, training and support to help residents move forwards with their careers. Eligibility has been widened to include anyone who is earning below £9.50 an hour. The project can now work with those who are: - aged 18 and over - in paid work (this includes zero hours contracts and self-employment) and claim a benefit/ tax credit - or are earning less than £9.50 an hour - live in Bath & North East Somerset, South Glos or Bristol Go to www.futurebright.org.uk to find out more and get in touch or call 01225 395555

A chance to hear new details about the proposals for a linear riverside park connecting Bath’s green spaces with the city via a new walking and cycling route is on offer at a webinar on Friday (May 21). Bath & North East Somerset Council will be presenting the proposals for the western section of the Bath River Line project from Newbridge to Green Park, following public feedback gathered on the project website in March and April. The proposals have been shaped by more than 400 comments received on the Bath River Line website which invited people to view the interactive map, share their opinions on the proposed route and submit their memories and photographs of the river. The Bath River Line project aims to develop a landscape masterplan for the park, which will follow a 10km stretch of the River Avon from Batheaston to Newbridge. The park will reveal lesser-known parts of the river, connect communities and create a high-quality route for walking and cycling, encouraging more people to explore the city in a sustainable way. Wildlife found along the river will be celebrated and protected by having their habitats improved. The webinar is on Friday, May 21 at 5.30pm. The panel will consist of representatives from urban design practice Streets Reimagined, landscape architects Churchman Thornhill Finch and the council’s environment and design team. You can register in advance here Councillor Sarah Warren, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate and Sustainable Travel, said: “Thank you to everyone who took the time to give us your comments and ideas on the interactive maps. We had a fantastic response with more than 400 comments and ideas. Our webinar will focus on how proposals have now developed for the western section of the park, before we explore the other sections in detail in the coming months. This is an exciting project for Bath that will encourage people to explore more of the area sustainably on foot or by bike, so do join the event and find out more.” There will be an opportunity for people to ask questions at the webinar and to provide further feedback on the Bath River Line website. The feedback received will be used to further develop and refine the designs before the final scheme is presented in August. In June 2019, the West of England Combined Authority invested £150,000 to progress the Bath River Line project. Following the presentation of the designs to the public in August, a full business case to secure further funding will be submitted to the Combined Authority by the council. The webinar will be available to view afterwards on the council’s YouTube channel The idea for Bath River Line came from the WaterSpace Project, a collaboration between Bath & North East Somerset Council, the Canal and Rivers Trust, the Environment Agency and Wessex Water. Published in 2017, the WaterSpace Study identified a series of projects to revitalise the River Avon and Kennet & Avon Canal waterways for people and nature. The River of Avon Park eventually became the Bath River Line: a linear riverside park for Bath. For more information on the WaterSpace Project and to read the original study, please click here.

An independent Accessibility Study on the impact of proposals to restrict vehicles in Bath city centre to reduce the risk of terrorist attacks has been made publicly available by Bath & North East Somerset Council. The council is also publishing the findings of a consultation on the proposed measures, which received 522 responses. Much of this feedback focused on the concerns the proposals would have on people’s lives, especially residents with accessibility needs, including blue badge holders. The move comes ahead of a cabinet meeting set for June 23rd which will discuss recommendations on next steps for the proposed scheme. It gives people the opportunity to examine the extensive work carried out to address access concerns raised and develop mitigations - all well in advance of the cabinet discussion. Council leader Councillor Kevin Guy said: “We are a listening council. That means we need to give people time to properly look at what we have gathered from our consultation and the work of the independent advisor which many residents have contributed to. So instead of just appending this important information to the June cabinet papers in the usual way we have taken the step of making it available openly and transparently well in advance of the meeting.” The proposed city centre scheme would see measures introduced to reduce the risk of terrorist attacks in the city, including vehicle access restrictions on streets with the highest footfall and purpose-designed street furniture and bollards to enhance public safety. Councillor Guy added: “We take the safety and security of our 190,000 residents, and also of the millions of visitors we welcome to the area every year, extremely seriously. However, we know from listening to residents that these changes would have impacts on people’s everyday lives, in particular people with disabilities. We appointed the independent adviser to gather views and examine how we can mitigate these impacts “Now we have that report it is right that we publish it. Therefore, we are placing this and the consultation report online and I very much hope that people who have responded so far will see their views and concerns reflected. However, if people, having read the report, wish to add further comments for consideration by the cabinet on June 23rd , they can do so by Tuesday 1 June. “However, people should not feel they have to respond if their views are reflected in the reports as the cabinet will of course consider these directly.” Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport, said: “The council has worked closely with Avon and Somerset Police on the proposed scheme and the force’s Counter Terrorism Security Advisers asked the council to put in proportionate measures to protect areas of the city which attract high footfall during peak times. We recognise, however, that under the proposed restrictions, no vehicle access or on-street car parking would be allowed within the protected area at any time and that this clearly reduces access to drop-off and parking for blue badge holders. That’s why we appointed an independent advisor to listen to local views and recommend on how to mitigate these concerns and it is right that we publish these findings now, well in advance of the cabinet meeting in June. When we consider the recommendations at cabinet we will need to balance all these issues.” To read the Accessibility Study and Consultation Feedback Report documents and to respond please follow this link https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/bath-city-centre-security-consultation-update. Information about this consultation is available on request in other languages, audio, Braille, large print or other formats. To request another format please contact us by email citycentresecurity@bathnes.gov.uk or by telephone on 01225 39 40 41. Visit the project webpage

Families whose children are eligible for benefit related free school meals will be provided with supermarket vouchers worth £20 to cover the upcoming half-term school holiday by Bath & North East Somerset Council. From Friday May 21, eligible families who received vouchers from the council’s free school meals scheme during the Easter holidays will automatically receive an email. Once they confirm they would like a £20 voucher per child, a further email will be sent containing the supermarket voucher codes. New applications from families who haven’t claimed the vouchers before can also be made online from 21 May. Families who have previously received vouchers should not reapply as it could cause a delay in them receiving their vouchers. Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children and Young People, Communities and Culture, said: “Although we are out of lockdown and restrictions are being lifted many families are still having to cope with financial pressures caused by the pandemic. It’s important to support them at a time when they might otherwise struggle to put food on the table.” During the Easter holidays, the council issued 3,989 vouchers to families in B&NES. The electronic vouchers can be spent in a range of supermarkets and are available to the families of pupils entitled to benefit-related free school meals, as well as parents who receive free childcare for two-year-olds. The scheme is part of a wide range of community support available across Bath & North East Somerset for vulnerable families, including FOOD clubs, food banks, welfare and financial support: - The Welfare Support team can offer short-term, financial crisis support and are contactable on 01225 477 277 or email: welfare_support@bathnes.gov.uk - Anyone in need of support around health and wellbeing, food, money, debt, mental health, housing or employment is encouraged to contact the Community Wellbeing Hub, by calling 0300 247 0050 or email at BATHNES.thehub@virgincare.co.uk, where you will be connected to a wide range of support under one roof. The Hub is open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. - Anyone finding it hard to stay afloat on their food budget can contact their nearest FOOD Club or Pantry for an affordable way to supplement a weekly shop. Details can be found on the BANES Foodfinder at www.banesfoodfinder.org.uk/listing/food-clubs-pantries - Details of food banks across BANES are also on that link and they can tell you how to access a voucher to meet more urgent need. - A searchable and comprehensive online listing of a wide range of community support across BANES can be found on the One Big Database at www.bathnes1bd.org.uk

New community-led cultural activities and events are set to be enjoyed in Keynsham and Midsomer Norton from this summer following an award of £165,000 funding announced today (May 19). The grants have been awarded by Historic England as part of Keynsham and Midsomer Norton’s High Street Heritage Action Zones (HZHAZ) and will be used for new community programmes centred around the high streets that are focused on the arts, history and culture. Keynsham and Midsomer Norton are among 60 high streets in England to receive a share of £6 million for these projects from the four-year-long High Streets Heritage Action Zones’ Cultural Programme. Taking place over the next three years, these Local Cultural Programmes will be led by ‘Cultural Consortia’ formed of local stakeholder groups and representatives, with support from Bath & North East Somerset Council and Historic England. Keynsham has been awarded £80,000 to fund activities including mini festivals, markets, cultural community days and the installation of an illustrative timeline of Keynsham’s history. In the first year, the project will uncover how Keynsham was in the past. The second year will celebrate Keynsham as it is now and the final year will look to the future. In Midsomer Norton, the ‘Merriment in Midsomer Norton’ Cultural Programme was awarded £85,000 to relaunch historic street markets, enhance existing festivals like Wassailing and delivering interactive heritage and cultural events including history trails, pop-up exhibitions and skills workshops. Councillor Deb Cooper from Keynsham Town Council led the Keynsham bid, developed by the Cultural Consortium with support from Bath & North East Somerset Council. Cllr Cooper said: “Currently, people come to the High Street area to do their shopping and then they leave. We want them to feel that they can stay a while, meet friends, relax and enjoy a safe, bright, inspiring space. We want everyone to benefit from our programme – we want our older residents to recognize and remember past events, and to know that the younger residents will see and hear their stories, and share their experiences. We want to inspire younger residents to be proud of and take ownership of our town for the future. We want to make sure we support and appreciate our businesses and traders, who are a vital part of our town centre. “By the end of this programme, we aim to have built a strong and exciting Cultural Calendar for our Town Centre – events and activities that bring people together throughout the year, and which become regular events. This will create memories for people, and this is how a legacy is built.” In Midsomer Norton, the Community Trust and the council worked with a consultancy called Culture Force on the grant funding bid with support from the community groups and organisations who will form the Cultural Consortium. Bev Iles, Acting Chair of the Midsomer Norton Community Trust, said: “We are delighted that Midsomer Norton has been awarded this funding and we are looking forward to delivering all the planned events in the coming years alongside the other stakeholders. As a charity we aim to provide activities that benefit local people and the Cultural Programme will be a big boost in achieving this. We are very excited about the return of historic street markets and being able to offer a greater range of inclusive and sustainable High Street-led activities.” Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children and Young People, Communities and Culture at Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “Midsomer Norton and Keynsham are fortunate to have fantastic communities who have worked hard on securing this important funding to celebrate and re-animate their town centres. As high streets recover from the huge challenges they have faced over the past year, the exciting cultural activities ahead will encourage more people to engage with the rich heritage of the towns and increase footfall. Well done to all our partners involved in the successful bids.” The High Streets Heritage Action Zones’ Cultural Programme is led by Historic England, in partnership with Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Cultural Programme aims to make our high streets more attractive, engaging and vibrant places for people to live, work and spend time. Caroline Dinenage MP, Culture Minister said: "High streets are often the heart of our communities and should be places we all want to engage with and enjoy. These grants will help transform high streets into thriving cultural hubs, encouraging us to embrace all the joys our town centres have to offer.” Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive, Historic England, said: “The High Street Cultural Programme is a step change in the way we think about bringing high streets back from the brink. As we start to see these important historic spaces become regenerated through building work, it is the community-led cultural work that helps people to enjoy their high street again and also have a say in what the future of their high street might be.” More information on the cultural programmes for Keynsham and Midsomer Norton will be announced in the coming months.