West Cheltenham Pantry
The West Cheltenham Community Pantry was set up by the Hesters Way Partnership to support individuals and families in the local community who are struggling to pay for their weekly shop.
The pantry is a membership scheme which will offer donated and in-date waste food to members who will pay a weekly fee of £4.00 and be able to shop for approximately £15 worth of non-perishable and fresh food plus household items.
See West Cheltenham Pantry – Supporting Our Community
Express Yourself Youth Project
EXPRESS YOURSELF is a new youth project based at the Community Centre in Springbank helping young people to develop their own ideas in music and the spoken word.
Supported by a group of professional music producers, performers and hip hop artists from The Music Works and Cheltenham Poetry Festival young people are invited to express their own skills and talents through music and words.
Between 12 and 2pm on April 2nd the Music Bus will be at Springbank showcasing the state of the art equipment young people will be able to access weekly until the summer holidays.
The Music Works is a Gloucestershire charity that uses music to transform lives. They work primarily with people in challenging circumstances to help develop personal skills, overcome challenges, and find a sense of belonging through music making. By making music accessible to everyone, The Music Works promotes wellbeing and aims to create positive social impact.
Following that, the first spoken word event will take place on April 27th featuring Casey Bailey who has worked as a MC and acclaimed spoken word performer. This is an extract from his play “Grimeboy”. If you watch this you will see how adrenaline fuelled the spoken word/music crossover can be.
To find out more and get involved drop in on April 2nd at Springbank or talk to the youth workers or call 01242 575638
Hesters Way Neighbourhood Forum
Hesters Way Forum – For The Community By The Community
With your help the Hesters Way Forum have produced a plan for the improvement of Hesters Way ward. Residents, local employees and volunteers have combined help to choose what and where development takes place for the benefit of the community.
The plan deals with:
- Parks and wildlife
- Walking, cycling and public transport
- Traffic and parking
- Public art and gateways
- Business, retail and training
- Sport leisure and play
- Biodiversity and climate change
- Affordable housing
Interested? Then see below how the Forum is helping shape our community!
Hesters Way Forum – Co-creating a better future
Renewable Energy
The WCP invested in two renewable energy projects in 2010 with support from two government funds. The wind turbine in Springfield Park has generated energy since then but the high costs of maintenance and the relatively low output have been disappointing. In 2020 a serious issue with the drive shaft has forced WCP to decommission the turbine. In the coming months it will be removed, repaired and reused in a more beneficial site in Scotland.
The solar panels project at Hesters Way had been altogether more successful with production continuing to be consistent with initial predictions. As a result WCP has investigated adding to the existing provision and in 2021 has been offered funding by the European Regional Development Fund Target 2030 programme for a large new array. My Power based at Toddington near Cheltenham completed the installation on the roof of the main building at Hesters Way Community Resource Centre in June.
MUGA
The WCP has raised funds from Active Together, the Police Commissioners Fund and its own resources to install a Multi Use Games Area ( MUGA) on the land in front of the Oasis Centre.
Grant funding and WCP resources pay for sports sessions to take place at the MUGA over the holidays run by The Bridge Football Academy and in association with Cheltenham Town FC.
Dreamscheme
The West Cheltenham Partnership has been running the Dreamscheme Project since 2012 thanks to funding from Awards for All and the Cheltenham Lottery in partnership with local primary schools (Hesters Way and Rowanfield).
The pastoral scheme supports children with self esteem, confidence and life skills with a view to their successful integration into school activities and with transition through to secondary education.
The project is run by Jacquie Boyer, Kelly Mitchell and Rachel Clifford after school throughout term time.
King George V – Listening Dragon
WCP has worked with local community residents and Cheltenham Borough Council Parks Department to regenerate the KGV fields for the benefit of local people. We have together via consultation run a variety of improvement projects including;
- a new cycle path across the park
- The Big Tree Plant planting scheme
- Listening Dragon artwork
Easter Eggstravaganza 2009 – 2021
We run an annual event called Easter Eggstravaganza at the St Marks and Hesters Way Community Centre usually a couple of weeks before Easter to avoid the rush!
Local groups are welcome to join the regulars who include The Boys Brigade tombola, the Scouts with their monkey bridge and assorted stalls. Food is supplied by the Scouts and in recent years we’ve added Indian street food courtesy of Hema and family!
