Author: Andy_Admin

Please see the updated list of activities an Hesters Way and Springbank Community Resource Centres from September 2025

If you’d like to help with our community centre garden in Hesters Way then we’d welcome your support.

Our gardener Jay will lead the work along with support from the Monkscroft Action Group. Just pop down to the garden on the last Thursday of the month and see what needs doing!

Forthcoming dates;

July 31st, August 28th, September 25th, October 30th, November 27th

Thanks to all the individuals and organisations who attended the Golden Valley Development Community Consultation Event on May 29th 2025. Your views are vital to ensure the best outcomes for the people of West Cheltenham.

The report below was prepared by GRCC on behalf of West Cheltenham Partnership and The Hesters Way Forum, joint sponsors of the event. The report includes all the flip chart comments provided by the morning session groups and by residents who attended the afternoon drop-in. We are sorry that some attendees were unable to make comment owing to a timetable clash but we will be holding further events to allow more people’s opinions to be heard.

If you would like any further information please let us know. You can also register for regular updates from the West Cheltenham Partnership by signing up to the mailing list here

One of the business units at Hesters Way Community Resource Centre, the former Dial-a-Cab unit, is now available to let. Please see full details below.

The new Social Value Strategy launched earlier in the year by Cheltenham Borough Council and HBD describes how “the Golden Valley Development (will create positive impacts for Cheltenham and surrounding areas. It will create opportunities, support local talent, and help the community grow in ways that benefit everyone. By focusing on education, jobs, and community collaboration, Golden Valley will improve quality of life and bring businesses and residents closer together for lasting change.”

It is with this community collaboration in mind that West Cheltenham Partnership and Hesters Way Forum will be running a consultation event for local residents and organisations to work out how the new businesses moving in to West Cheltenham can best support the existing community.

The event will take place at Hesters Way Community Resource Centre on Thursday May 29th and will be run in partnership with Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC) who are experts in supporting and empowering communities through change.

The event will encourage people to say what they need to make west Cheltenham a better place. It might be improved play areas, more nursery spaces, longer opening hours at the library, employment opportunities and apprenticeships… perhaps more community facilities, sports pitches or financial help.  This consultation will offer everyone to have their say . We may not  agree on what we need but we probably do agree that having a voice in the process is essential to make positive change for all.

Why not come along and have your say!

After a short break the Ash Tree Community Cafe reopened in August 2025 the foyer at Hesters Way Community Centre.

Why not come and enjoy a relaxing cuppa, a tasty sandwich or panini in our welcoming community hub. You can get a tea and home made cake for just £2, a home made soup and bread for just £2.50 and much more from our exciting new menu (see below).

We’ll be holding activities and events in the “blue” area of the bright new lobby space. Already we host a water colour class on Mondays an Thursdays run by local artist John Hughes. There’s also a coffee and chat morning on the third Wednesday of the month run by counseling charity, Listening Post and a Carers Hub meeting on the last Friday of the month. There will be many more activities once our community development worker is in post !

We are offering volunteering opportunities at the cafe and already have a friendly team including Clare, Carol and Emma who are ably supporting the new manager Iain .

If you would like to run an event or volunteer please call Iain on 01242 575638 ext 304 for more information.

Click here to see the menu below

Please see the job description documents which includes all the information about the vacancies. If you would like to apply for this post please complete the application forms 1 and 2 and the equal opportunities form return to andyhayes@hwpartnership.org.uk before the closing date shown below.

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VACANCY FILLED

Community Development Worker

Purpose of the job   To help implement the vision of the West Cheltenham Partnership by facilitating community development and identifying opportunities and issues in West Cheltenham Role   To organise, manage and run new activities, events and training particularly at the community centres To increase involvement of residents in local activities To recruit and manage volunteers to support activities and events To liaise with and signpost advice services including benefits, debt, housing, family support, community pantry and debt advice plus mental health services To plan and manage the related publicity including social media and community engagement To support the pantry staff with signposting and membership referrals Conditions This post will require a DBS check and involve completion of safeguarding training This post may require some out of hours working and travel to meetings. Appropriate expenses will be provided Salary Scale £25 – £30k / year depending on experience Closing date 30th July 2025

Thanks to the hard work of Hesters Way Forum and the support of Cheltenham Borough Council and funders Enovert the new play equipment was unveiled on October 30th.

Lots of local parents and carers brought their little ones to see and play on the new equipment. The locals (and team!) were treated to home made cake courtesy of Councillor Simon Wheeler and teas coffee and biscuits form the CBC parks team. Kompan, the manufacturer of the two slides also came along with bunting, goody bags and the ever popular balloon machines!

The WCP have reconfigured the lobby of the Resource Centre to make an inviting community Hub. The new pastel blue and green colour scheme has won fans from both tenants and residents alike. Plans are now developing to fully furnish the new space and to reopen the cafe.

We’re running a survey to find out what activities and services the community would like to see running from the new hub. Here’s a link to the survey

If you would like more information or to talk to Maria, our community worker, pleas email maria@hwpartnership.org.uk or call 01242 575638