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South West Creative Technology Network has a brilliant funding opportunity open for anyone who has an idea for a tech project which involves inclusion, health and wellbeing, climate change or data rights. They know that funding applications can be long and complicated, so they're trying to offer as much support as possible with the resources they have. If you think you or anyone you work with has got an idea for this before you do anything else, email Rachel on r.pownall@bathspa.ac.uk or Tony.b@watershed.co.uk The deadline for applications is 7th September, which isn’t a long time, but they can help you get there. A bit more info on the fund and how they can help you apply: If this is the first time you’re writing an application like this then they’ve got loads of support available to help people grow ideas!! · If you have an idea but need someone with tech skills, they might be able to connect you with someone. · We can help you write the application · 1-2-1 phone calls or zoom chats · Open zoom meetings to find out more Even more info on the fund and the application The application form and extra info is available here. Some of it looks complicated but they can help you make sense of it! The first thing to do is email Rachel on r.pownall@bathspa.ac.uk or give Tony a call on 07931945733.

Remember how it felt to leave your four walls and get out into the park? Our parks and greenspace were a lifeline for so many of us. They provided respite, space to exercise, places to connect – thrilling us with nature’s incredible signs of recovery and the real experience of cleaner air. Research by Fields in Trust states that parks and green spaces save an estimated annual £111 to the NHS and the positive impact on our mental and physical health and wellbeing is unquestionable. There is no doubt that parks are vital to our community’s future post-down and that respecting and enhancing these precious spaces should be a priority for our fast-changing city. Our friends at the Bristol & Bath Parks Foundation’s ‘Love Your Park’ campaign aims to support the grassroots volunteers who care about our local green spaces. These are the litter pickers, the nature lovers, the community ambassadors. Often invisible, these ‘Friends of Parks’ and related local groups have been showing extra love to our parks pre and post lockdown. To donate to the ‘Love Your Park’ campaign visit: www.yourpark.org.uk or https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/14122

Residents in Bath are being encouraged to have their say and take part in the first Bath Area Forum which will be held as a webinar on August 25. The Bath Area Forum takes over the role of community engagement from its predecessor the Bath City Forum. All residents are invited to take part and have a say about issues in the city that affect them. There is no formal membership and it will be run in a similar way to other Area Forums that operate across North East Somerset. The first meeting of The Bath Area Forum will include a discussion with the council on ‘Response, Recovery and Resilient Communities’. Council leader, Councillor Dine Romero and Dr Bruce Laurence, Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Director of Public Health, will take part. There are several questions below which we hope will aid the forum’s discussion: • Community support over the last four months – what has worked well and what has not? • What can we do to keep Covid-19 compliant behaviours good in the city and levels of infection low? • What can we do to ensure people with mental health issues have the right support? • What can we do to respond if cases started to creep up in B&NES or on a nationwide basis? • How can we support our local businesses to get up and running safely and encourage people to shop more locally? • What can we do to respond quickly and decisively if there are localised outbreaks in specific neighbourhoods or population groups? Councillor Dine Romero said: “Giving people a bigger say is one of the council’s core policies and I am delighted that we are now able, through this new forum, to discuss issues that matter to residents. We will be discussing the council’s response to Covid-19 and how we must all continue to work together to avoid a lockdown in Bath and North East Somerset. Please do register for the webinar and have your say.” To register in advance for this webinar which starts at 5pm go to https://bathnes.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oxAhAw7cR3uDTYegcMXpag After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

A £2 million cash injection to maintain the unique character of Midsomer Norton high street has taken another step forward. A report before Bath & North East Somerset Council leader, Councillor Dine Romero, and councillors Paul Crossley, Tim Ball, Joanna Wright and Neil Butters, recommends formally accepting a slice of the £95m High Street Heritage Action Zones fund. The joint member decision report says the Historic England grant of £793,000 follows a successful competitive funding bid coordinated by Bath & North East Somerset Council working with local stakeholders submitted during 2019. This Midsomer Norton investment would form part of a renewal funding package of total £2m, to be spent on developing a new market square next to the Town Hall, a new pedestrian passageway between the High St and the car park, renewed shopfront signage and other initiatives including planting schemes and pop-up shops. The joint member decision for Midsomer Norton will be decided on or after 22 August. A report on a similar bid for Keynsham High Street is expected to go before the group of councillors for a joint member decision at the end of August. Councillor Dine Romero, council leader, said: “Midsomer Norton is an important town that enriches the heritage of Bath and North East Somerset and I welcome the report seeking formal acceptance of the funding. A lot of hard work has gone into this bid from all our partners and we will give it careful consideration.” High Street Heritage Action Zones have been identified as a focus for grant fund from Historic England, the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England's spectacular historic environment. Bids to Historic England for Midsomer Norton and Keynsham were made in partnership with the town councils, civic, community and business groups and landlords. Midsomer Norton Town Councils has committed match funding for the high street improvements totalling of £40,000 over four years, as well as a range of non-financial support. The programme of funding for the town centres is also supported by the West of England Combined Authority’s Love our High Streets funding, which formed the match funding for this latest successful funding bid. A Full Business Case will be submitted by B&NES in March 2021 to access £750,000 match funding that forms a key part of the High Street investment. West of England Mayor, Tim Bowles, said: “I created and invested in the Love our High Streets programme to transform our town centres and give them a renewed vigour, ensuring our high streets remain the anchors of our local communities. It’s great news that Bath & North East Somerset Council has been awarded funding from Historic England to invest in Midsomer Norton.” Lynda Robertson, Mayor of Midsomer Norton Town Council, said: “Midsomer Norton’s High Street has incredible potential to be transformed into a vibrant place focused around entertainment, leisure and services. A number of our high street premises are vacant, and many town centre businesses are fragile in the face of significant changes to the way people shop. This funding boost is excellent news as it will revitalise Midsomer Norton as a ‘market town’ again with its own market square, making it a thriving place for the future.” Click here to read the joint member decision report and for more information on High Street Heritage Action Zones visit: https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/heritage-action-zones/regenerating-historic-high-streets/ Full details of WECA’s Love Our High Streets initiative can be found here

Pupils from across Bath and North East Somerset receiving their GCSE results today are being reassured support is available if they don’t get the grades they expected. This year’s exams were cancelled due to COVID-19 with teachers instead predicting pupil’s grades based on mock exams and overall performance. Councillor Kevin Guy, cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “It’s been an incredibly difficult year for GCSE students and, since the publication of A Level results last week, they have been under huge stress nervously awaiting their own results. I have nothing but admiration for the way they, their parents and teachers have coped with the situation. “I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Class of 2020 on all their achievements and thank them for the sacrifices they have made over the past few months. Not only were they denied the chance to sit their final school exams, many missed out on what is seen as a rite of passage; the last day of school, the final school photo and school leavers celebrations. “For those whose results aren’t what they expected. Please don’t panic, talk to your teachers. Be reassured there are lots of options available to you, talk them through with your school or college and make use of advice and support services.” Students who haven’t received the grades they expected can: Sit GCSE exams this autumn – students have the option to sit the GCSE exams they should have taken this summer in November. Students should speak to their school, college or education setting. Appeal the results – if students think that the correct processes haven't been followed leading up to their official GCSE results, they can appeal. Students should discuss this with the teachers. The National Careers Service is offering a range of support: The Exam Results Helpline 0800 100 900 is open daily from 8am to 10pm until August 28 and can provide information on appeals, complaints, or what your next steps may be once you’ve received your results. For information and guidance to help you make decisions on learning training and work visit : nationalcareers.service.gov.uk With school leavers missing out on the opportunity to visit careers fairs in person this year, the National Careers Service is holding its free Options at 16 virtual careers fair on Tuesday 25 August To book visit: www.eventbrite.co.uk

Getting around Bath and North East Somerset on foot or by bike will be made easier under proposals put forward by the council and the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) for additional funding. Ten new ambitious schemes to provide better walking and cycling routes and ease the pressure on public transport as well as helping improve people’s health have been identified by Bath & North East Somerset Council. The proposals could see a new cycle route along Upper Bristol Road, a cycle route which could also cater for e-scooters, if approved for use in the region, along North Road to the university, low traffic routes at Entry Hill and improvements to the off-road cycle path from Bath Spa University to the city. The council and WECA have been asked by the Department for Transport to put schemes forward for it to consider funding under its Emergency Active Travel Fund to support more walking and cycling as part of the response to Covid-19. Councillor Joanna Wright, joint cabinet member for Transport Services, said: “Helping people get around our area safely and sustainably is a key priority for us. Ten schemes have been identified which will form the council’s bid for money from the Department for Transport. “In May Government announced a £250 million emergency active travel fund, which was split into two different tranches. We successfully bid for funding under the first tranche which has paid for temporary footpath widening and access restrictions which have helped enable social distancing. “Now the council has been asked to bid for a second tranche of funding to help it create better walking and cycling routes. If successful this will also support our longer-term ambitions for Liveable Neighbourhoods and help improve air quality, health as well as contributing to the council’s climate emergency commitment.” West of England Mayor Tim Bowles said: “Creating safe routes for people to walk and cycle is a key part of my plan to get the region moving. We’re already seeing traffic in some parts of the region returning to 80% of pre-Covid levels so we need to work hard to create the positive legacy we would all like to see. I’ve already made £13m funding available to create safe cycling and walking routes in the region and with Government funding, these schemes will help us create a step-change in sustainable transport provision in the West of England.” One of the proposed schemes is an e-scooter and cycling route in North Road where there is an urgent need to provide a safe and alternative way to and from the city for students and staff at the university to ease the pressure on public transport. Another scheme on the list aims to provide better opportunities for walking and cycling to the Royal United Hospital with a new contraflow cycling facility on Locksbrook Road and removing through traffic. The scheme would provide an alternative route to the riverside path for cyclists going to and from the RUH which is at capacity. A further scheme from Bath city centre to Lansdown could see a cycle route by creating ‘quiet streets’ between Gay Street and Sion Hill area, removing through-traffic to allow more cycling and walking trips between the Lansdown area of Bath which includes a Bath Spa University campus, several schools and the city centre, where there are currently no cycle facilities. A further four schemes are proposed for the city centre. Councillor Wright added: “We are all being asked to consider more active ways of travel and rethink our vehicle use. We want to work with residents to solve existing traffic and environmental problems and create a connected district fit for the future and play our part in tackling the Climate Emergency.” Details about the proposed schemes can be found here https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/DfT-Emergency-Active-Travel-WECA-Tranche-2-Scheme-Submission-W.xlsx For each scheme, although those most affected would be consulted directly, any member of the public will have the opportunity to comment and express their views before decisions are made on schemes being made permanent, and we will let people know how they can do this. The ability to progress some or all of the schemes relies on funding from the government. WECA expects to receive feedback on its submission to the DfT on behalf of the council over the next couple of months.

One of the main routes through the centre of Bath will be closed to traffic for five days in September for essential resurfacing work ahead of the introduction of the city’s Clean Air Zone early next year. The work in Queen Square is being carried out from 7am to 7pm from Monday 14 September to Friday 18 September inclusive. The existing road surface on all four sides of Queen Square will be removed and replaced. New road markings will also be painted to direct the flow of traffic through new traffic signals, which have been installed in preparation for the launch of the Clean Air Zone. As the roadworks involve the use of heavy machinery, Queen Square Park will also close for the duration of the works to ensure the safety of pedestrians. Councillor Joanna Wright, cabinet member for Transport Services, said: “It has been many years since the whole of Queen Square was resurfaced and the tarmac on the eastern side has deteriorated significantly. We know it’s an extremely busy route, so we’ve tried to keep disruption to residents and businesses to a minimum by tying in the resurfacing work with preparation work for the Clean Air Zone. “All the work will be carried out during the day, so residents aren’t disrupted by overnight noise. “The park is of course a little oasis in the heart of the city and well used by residents and visitors so we haven’t taken the decision to temporarily close it lightly. However, with big heavy machines operating in the area we need to ensure the safety of pedestrians. It will of course reopen once the work is complete.” Throughout the works diversions will be in operation and clearly signposted. The Clean Air Zone (CAZ), which will not charge private cars, was due to be switched on in November but has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. A new launch date is expected to be agreed shortly. The CAZ will operate in the city centre 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Charges will apply to pre-euro 6/VI diesel and pre-euro 4 petrol vehicles, except private cars and motorbikes. For more information visit: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/bath-breathes-2021-overview

The temporary COVID-19 mobile testing unit at Paulton Rovers Football Club will be available until August 27 to give people in Bath and North East Somerset better access to local testing. The mobile testing unit (MTU) was originally scheduled to run until August 14 but is now continuing to operate daily for residents booking a test via the Government portal, except on its two rest days of August 20 and August 25. The facility in the football club’s car park means many people in the district do not have to travel to Bristol Airport to get a test. The MTU is part of the COVID-19 National Testing Programme and appointments can be made through https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested. People without internet access can dial 119. Residents attending the Paulton unit for a test should arrive by car and not use public transport. Only people who are experiencing symptoms of the virus are urged to book themselves in for a coronavirus test at the unit. You can ask for a test: for yourself, if you have coronavirus symptoms now (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste) for someone you live with, if they have coronavirus symptoms You can ask for a test for a child who lives with you if they have coronavirus symptoms, whatever their age. Councillor Rob Appleyard, cabinet member for Adult Services, Safeguarding and Public Health, said “I am really delighted that the MTU has had its time in Paulton extended. Since its arrival at the beginning of this month, the MTU has supported the national testing programme by giving residents in Bath & North East Somerset greater access to local tests. If anyone is concerned that they have any of the symptoms of coronavirus I would urge them to book themselves in for a test. Please remember you need to drive to the unit to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.” The postcode for Paulton Football Club is BS39 7RF. People with symptoms are also advised to self-isolate at home. No one in the household or its support bubble should leave home if any one person has symptoms. There is more guidance on what this involves on the government’s website at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance Tests at the mobile testing unit are subject to availability and if all appointments in Paulton are booked, an alternative testing site will be offered. For tests to be effective you must be symptomatic. Symptoms of the virus are a new continuous cough, a high temperature and a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell. More information can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/ More guidance can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested#who-can-be-tested For all council service updates visit www.bathnes.gov.uk/coronavirus

The Roman Baths has triumphed at the VisitEngland Awards, winning a Silver for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year and Silver in the International Tourism category. It was also the only finalist to win two awards at the ceremony held yesterday evening (17 August) as a virtual event. Finalists were put forward to the national competition from local award schemes in 2019 and early 2020, and industry experts then selected Gold, Silver and Bronze national winners for each category. Councillor Paul Crossley, cabinet member for Community Services at Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “Having recently reopened the Roman Baths we are delighted to have won these two national awards. In a normal year, about 40% of our visitors come from overseas, and we are proud to offer them an award-winning welcome with our Silver accolade for International Tourism. “We work hard to provide an outstanding welcome to all of our visitors and guests and are proud that we were the only finalist outside the capital in the category for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year. To be nominated alongside Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich and Warner Brothers Studios: The Making of Harry Potter is a great honour.” The VisitEngland Awards champion the very best of the country’s tourism industry, celebrating quality, innovation and best practice. The International Tourism Award Gold was presented to International Bomber Command Centre; Bronze was awarded to Blenheim Palace. The Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Gold was awarded to Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich; Bronze was awarded to Warner Brothers Studios: The Making of Harry Potter.

With less than two weeks until the start of the new academic year, Bath & North East Somerset Council is reassuring parents it’s doing everything it can to make sure there’s enough capacity on bus services for children to get to and from school safely. Due to social distancing the number of people that can be accommodated on public services has been reduced. However, the council has been working with transport providers such as First Bus and Faresaver, as well as the transport authority WECA and individual schools to ensure adequate provision for the start of term. Councillor Kevin Guy, cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “Although the council has a responsibility to fund and ensure provision for children entitled to free Home-to-School transport, it is not our responsibility to transport non-entitled children to school. However, this summer we have worked tirelessly with our partners to try to make sure pupil’s travel needs are met in the light of reduced capacity on public services. “Working with our colleagues at the West of England Combined Authority, the council has been able to increase the number of buses working on key routes during peak periods. Additionally, some buses will be dedicated for school children only and not available to the general public, therefore offering increased passenger capacity. “I would though urge parents and carers to consider their child’s travel needs carefully. If you can please walk or cycle to school and bear in mind there is likely to be increased congestion around school premises.” Free Home-to- School Transport: Students who have a taxi, minibus, or dedicated ‘closed-door’ school coach contracted by the council should expect their provision to be similar to what they received before schools closed earlier this year. The Passenger Transport team will write to pupils to confirm details of these arrangements in the coming days. Please be aware: Children will be travelling within their school group, but not in their Year groups or ‘bubbles’. Children aged over 11 should wear face coverings and use hand sanitiser. A system will be in place to ensure the vehicles used are deep cleaned before and after travel. Public buses: Pupils who receive free Home-to-School transport but use a public bus are likely to have a temporary change to their transport in order to relieve the expected pressure on the network. In particular students attending Writhington school from Peasedown St John who would previously have used First’s 172/3/4 and Arleen’s 175 service are likely to temporarily be given a seat on the various dedicated ‘closed-door’ coaches that serve the route. This arrangement will last until at least the October half term. First will not be running their R2 route from Twerton – Ralph Allen School, but a replacement service is being offered by ABus using a double deck bus. The Passenger Transport team will write to parents and carers with details of these temporary arrangements. Non-entitled pupils: The council operates a ‘Fare Payer’ scheme that sells spare seats to non-entitled students on contracted routes, where space is available. Because of Covid-19 the scheme has been delayed this year, however the Passenger Transport team is endeavouring to allocate the spare seats ahead of start of the new term. Due to capacity limitations students may not have their first choice of route or boarding point, but letters will be sent to all those who have been successful in securing a seat as soon as possible. Please remember face coverings are required on public transport.

Oasis Hub Bath are launching a city centre food pantry in September and are recruiting volunteers now! This brand new project will provide high quality food for those on low incomes. If you could spare a couple of hours on a Thursday afternoon get in touch by emailing pantry@oasisbath.org. To find out more about the project by readining below or visit: www.oasisbath.org/projects What is the Oasis Pantry? The Oasis Pantry is one of a growing number of community pantries opening in Bath, supplying low cost, high quality surplus food each week to local residents. We’re partnering with Fareshare Southwest, who work to reduce the amount of food sent to landfill by providing a way to match up surplus, in-date food with individuals and families on low incomes. Our Pantry will be open every Thursday from 2pm-4pm in the ground floor of Oasis Church Bath, from Thursday 10th September 2020. If you live or work within approximately a 15 minute walk of Oasis, or if Oasis is your closest Pantry, and your household income is less than £18,000 a year, then we’d love to invite you to become a member. All are welcome, and we particularly would like to encourage those who are lone parents or families, who are long term unemployed, from refugees / asylum seekers and immigrants, and anyone working with a support service, eg. Social workers. What you need to do… You need to fill in our self-referral form which you can find at the bottom of this page: https://oasisbath.org/wpos_portfolio/oasispantry/ If you’re a professional working with someone who is interested in the pantry you can also fill in this form on their behalf. If you need some help filling it in we can do it for you over the phone, just let us know by emailing pantry@oasisbath.org, or text us on 07984014704. When we receive your completed form we’ll then be in touch to confirm your place. How much it costs… There’s an annual membership fee of £5, and on your first visit we’ll supply a cool bag and tote bag for your purchases. Please remember to bring these with you each week. We’ll also have spare chiller bags for you to buy if you forget. This £5 fee will include the cost of your first week’s food. We need to know that you have a working fridge at home, and that you will transport the food home in the cool bag then store it safely in the fridge. Where there is government advice in place in relation to Covid-19 we ask that you follow this, eg. by wearing a facemask, maintaining social distancing and providing contact details. What you can expect… Our friendly volunteers look forward to welcoming you between 2pm and 4pm. They’ll let you know of any particular requirements for that week, will show you where to leave pushchairs etc, highlight the fire evacuation posters and will direct you to the hall where the Pantry is located. There will be a selection of fresh, chilled and store cupboard food and toiletries available each week for you to select from. Individual membership is suitable for people on their own, or couples, and typically you will be able to choose around 6 to 8 different items for only £2. These items would cost around £10-£15 to buy elsewhere. Family membership costs a little more, at £3 each week, and for that you can select approximately 10-12 items, with a value of up to around £25. You’ll be able to pay by cash, debit or credit card, or by text. If you’re not able to come as planned, you can nominate 2 other people, over 16, who can collect and pay for food on your behalf. We’re planning to offer tea and coffee too, so that you can stay for a chat, although that will depend each week on the guidance in place around Covid-19. We’d love to know what other services you’d find useful, and if we can well look to provide access to those. If there’s more that you’d like to know then please email us pantry@oasisbath.org or call on 07984 014704. Volunteering with us If you would like to volunteer with Oasis Pantry then we’d love you to get in touch! We need volunteers to help us pack away the FareShare delivery each week, as well as people to help our members access their food from 2 – 4pm on Thursdays. Just get in touch with us at pantry@oasisbath.org.

The Culture Recovery Fund is for cultural organisations that were financially stable before COVID-19, but are now at imminent risk of failure. This funding is to ensure that, by 31 March 2021, successful applicants are either fully or partially reopened, or operating on a sustainable, cost efficient basis, so that they are able to reopen at a later date. Deadline for the first round of applications is 21 August. Second round is 4 September. Click here for more information. https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding

Love Weston Library is a small community library in Weston Village that is looking for New Volunteers! "We provide a much loved service to our community and would welcome new volunteers to join us so this can continue." Pre-COVID, they were open on Tuesdays (10am to 2pm), Thursdays (2pm to 6pm) and Saturdays (10am to 2pm). Normally their volunteers work 2.5 hour shifts which entails: - Using their computer system to log books in and out - Tracking books between Libraries - Keeping the library organised - Helping customers generally Two volunteers work in every session and at the moment they are open on the same days, but have reduced their opening hours as many of their volunteers have been unable to return. If you are interested, please contact Caroline Sharpe at volunteers@lovewestonlibrary.org.uk

Nestled away, at the back of the Time Bank Plus office in Twerton, they have a wide range of useful items, available to borrow - and all for free! Ice-cream makers; tents; sewing machines; hedge-cutters; fruit juicers - they've the lot and much, much more... To view the full list, please visit their website Opening hours Tuesdays 10am-12pm and Wednesdays 2pm-6pm. Give them a call, send an email, or just pop in if you are passing to check if they have what you want in stock and they will set it aside for you.

Support for Disabled Children and Young People in B&NES Time2Share@WECIL supports disabled children, young people and their families across Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset. We have been successfully supporting people to access befriending services and group activities in the area for over 40 years. The Befriending service provides disabled children and young people with a supportive adult outside of the family home who they can spend quality time with. This allows other family members or carers to have some valuable time to themselves. This time is even more important now as lockdown restrictions ease, families are looking for a break from the often intense caring responsibilities they have had over the past few months. Volunteer Befrienders come from a wide range of backgrounds and ages and offer between 2-3 hours per week of support. Activities range from something as simple as reading a book together in the family home to going off on adventures to places a young person may not have been before. This not only provides families with a break, but increases a young person’s self-confidence and independence. If you are looking for a chance to make a huge difference to a family’s life, and something rewarding at the same time then please let the Befriending team know. They are always on the lookout for new volunteers to join the team! Due to the nature of the role, volunteers need to be 18 or over and willing to undertake an enhanced DBS check and training. Recruitment processes are in line with the local authority safer recruitment guidelines. For further information about the service please contact Jo Phillip, B&NES Befriending Co-ordinator on 07542 521509 or email: befriending@wecil.co.uk Information about volunteering can also be found on the website https://www.wecil.co.uk/join-wecil-community/volunteer-for-wecil/ and general information about the service can be found here: https://www.wecil.co.uk/support-info/youth-groups/

Staying safe and supporting businesses in local shopping areas is a message set to spread across Bath and North East Somerset with the launch of a new ‘I love local’ campaign. ‘I Love Local’ has been devised by Bath & North East Somerset Council together with partners Visit Bath, Bath BID and Invest in Bath to support retail businesses and promote the message that it’s safe to go back to our high streets. It aims to reinforce public health messaging around social distancing and hand hygiene at the same time as encouraging people to shop locally by championing local shops and businesses. The campaign will kick-start with the launch of I Love Widcombe on Friday 7 August, in Widcombe High Street. Campaign tools are being made available to all our High Streets, market towns and city centre shopping areas across Bath and North East Somerset. Flags will go up at each #ilovelocal location and items including facemasks and tote bags bearing the area’s branding will be available for people to buy. Councillor Dine Romero, council leader, said; “There are so many great retailers and independent businesses on each of our local high streets, from butchers to greengrocers, ironmongers to coffee shops and we are here to support and champion them. I’m very excited about our I Love Local campaign as it will foster community spirit and pride in our High Streets for residents and businesses alike, which is much needed as we collectively recover from the impact of lockdown. We must also continue to promote public health messages so I would underline that we should all continue to social distance and sanitise hands as we explore what our high streets have to offer. “Although we’ve started in Widcombe to show what can be done, we are encouraging local high streets and shopping areas across the towns and villages that serve our communities to get involved. I think everyone has a story of how their local shops have helped them during lockdown and we want to do everything we can to help our local centres reopen safely” A local ‘pod’ team will be formed in each #ilovelocal area to co-ordinate local traders and encourage a community spirit. They’ll be able to access support and promotion tools by visiting the I Love Local webpage. Nick Steel, Widcombe Social Club & Director of Bath Comedy Festival, said: “Huge thanks to Bath & North East Somerset Council for this great initiative to support the local areas within our city. Wonderful Widcombe is open for business.” Jon Ison, from Widcombe Deli, said: "It's great to see this support for local communities and traders as we get back on our feet." The campaign is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Reopening the High Streets Safely Fund. For more information visit: www.ilovelocal.info

Regular engagement with Bath’s student community and building on positive relationships with long term residents will be some of the tasks for two new Community Wardens funded by Bath & North East Somerset Council. The wardens will act as ambassadors for the council and the universities across the whole of the city but especially where there are greater numbers of students in the local community. Helping to build communication links and being on hand to support all residents if issues arise will be important elements of the role. The £105,000 funding for the new posts runs from September 2020 for three years and is one of five projects to share more than £500,000 from the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) fund. The levy is a charge the council places on developers to support community improvement schemes such as schools, transport links, open spaces and recreational facilities. The wardens, who will be based in the Oldfield Park area, will provide a visible presence in areas of Bath that have higher level of students in Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs). They will help resolve issues such as unkept gardens, waste management and noise, as well as educating and informing tenants about their rights around housing standards. They will also look to help create new residents’ associations, where they do not already exist in the city and act as a communications link to feed back issues to the local ward councillors, as well as developing a network of voluntary community wardens to support them. The wardens will look to support the positive activities of the Student Community Partnership and the campaigns that the partnership runs. Councillor Shaun Stephenson-McGall, Oldfield Park Ward, who has been closely involved in the project said: “We have a thriving Student Community Partnership in Bath that involves the council, Bath University, Bath Spa University, Bath College and Norland College. All within the context of ‘Our Shared City’. These new Community Wardens will strengthen these relationships and the community spirit in the Oldfield Park and other areas of the city. It is important that we tailor our community engagement in Bath towards local needs. This project is designed to bring together greater collaboration between short term and long-term residents across a number of wards in the city.” Megan Robertson (Vice President Welfare and Community) of Bath Spa Student’s Union and the current Chair of the Student Community Partnership said: “I'm proud of the work of the Student Community Partnership and the vital contributions students make to our shared city. I am looking forward to the new Community Wardens building on this work and further developing relationships between all members of our community.” Councillor Dine Romero, council Leader, said: “Bath is a popular destination for students with two well regarded universities, as well as the world-famous Norland College. Housing the growing numbers of students has created new challenges in our communities. I am delighted that we are able to fund these new posts, and so improve community relations in key areas of the city.” Find out more about the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy here Visit the Student Community Partnership website https://scpbath.org.uk/

Improved temporary gates to help pedestrians social distance safely by closing roads to vehicles will be installed in three Bath streets this week. York Street, Cheap Street and Upper Borough Walls were closed by Bath & North East Somerset Council on June 15 as part of the response to COVID-19 to support public safety and health. Steel pedestrian barriers currently prevent vehicle access in the three roads but more robust lockable gates will be installed on August 7, keeping to the current closure times between 10am and 6pm. The gates will continue to be maintained and operated by traffic marshals who will unlock the gates to allow access for emergency services and emergency utility works along with a small number of other essential operations. Councillor Joanna Wright, joint cabinet member for Transport Services, said: “The temporary access restrictions at York Street, Cheap Street and Upper Borough Walls have been running smoothly but as we stated a few weeks ago, we need to put in more robust barriers to help keep people and livelihoods safe and secure. We want to make sure social distancing can take place so that that the public remain safe whilst living in, working in or visiting the city. “Thank you to all the people who have submitted their views about the temporary measures and we are still welcoming comments via the Sustrans ‘Space to Move’ website: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/space-to-move/ Full details of the access restrictions, including permit applications for access are provided on the council’s website at www.bathnes.gov.uk/bathsocialdistancing For updates on all council services visit www.bathnes.gov.uk/coronavirus

A temporary COVID-19 mobile testing unit will be based at Paulton Rovers Football Club car park for residents booking a test via the Government portal from Sunday (August 2). The mobile testing unit (MTU) will be operating from the club car park until August 14 and will mean many residents will not have to travel to Bristol Airport to get a test. The MTU is part of the COVID-19 National Testing Programme and appointments can be made through https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested. People without internet access can dial 119. Residents attending the Paulton unit for a test should arrive by car and not use public transport. Only people who are experiencing symptoms of the virus are urged to book themselves in for a coronavirus test at the unit. You can ask for a test: for yourself, if you have coronavirus symptoms now (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste) for someone you live with, if they have coronavirus symptoms You can ask for a test for a child who lives with you if they have coronavirus symptoms, whatever their age. Councillor Rob Appleyard, cabinet member for Adult Services, Safeguarding and Public Health, said “If anyone is concerned that they have any of the symptoms of coronavirus I would urge them to book themselves in for a test. It’s simple to book and having the testing centre based in Paulton will save people a journey to Bristol airport. We are asking residents to drive to the unit to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. “Anyone who is experiencing symptoms is eligible for the test. It involves taking a swab of the inside of the nose and the back of the throat, using a long cotton bud.” The postcode for Paulton Football Club is BS39 7RF. People with symptoms are also advised to self-isolate at home. No one in the household should leave home if any one person has symptoms. There is more guidance on what this involves on the government’s website at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance Tests at the mobile testing unit are subject to availability and if all appointments in Paulton are booked, the alternative testing site at Bristol Airport will be offered. For tests to be effective you must be symptomatic. Symptoms of the virus are a new continuous cough, a high temperature and a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell. More information can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/ More guidance can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested#who-can-be-tested For all council service updates visit www.bathnes.gov.uk/coronavirus