Did you hear about our Big Lottery news?!

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News story taken from the local Gazette 05/12/2018 –

THE team at the GL11 community hub in Cam is celebrating after being awarded £275,000 by the Lottery.

The three year grant will be used to deliver Your Way to Wellness – a health and wellbeing programme, in partnership with GP surgeries, that also includes support for volunteers and improvements to GL11’s building.

GL11’s chair Annika Howard was delighted by the news.

“The team has worked so hard to secure this funding,” she said.

“GL11 has been a thriving part of the Cam and Dursley community since 2001.

“We have our roots very much in the community, responding to what the community want.

“Funding for three years from the Big Lottery will really help with an increase in people coming to GL11 who feel isolated, are experiencing life difficulties or want to give something back to their community.

“We work with people of all ages at GL11 including children, young people, adults and older people.

“There is always such a warm and friendly environment.”

The busy community hub offers a broad range of services that aim to improve health and well-being, particularly of vulnerable or disadvantaged people; increase trust and community belonging; help people feel safe and supported; target those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable with complex needs.

GL11’s CEO Indigo Redfern added: “We are delighted to receive this grant from the Big Lottery Reaching Communities programme.

“It is a real vote of confidence in what we are doing at GL11.

“GL11 helps people identify the changes they want to make in their lives. A positive step may be a change in lifestyle, relationships with family and friends, managing health, finding employment or simply feeling more positive.”

 

Or listen to our radio interview on BBC Radio Gloucestershire here!

Listening Fortnight was great, thank you!

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Listening Fortnight at GL11 started on Monday 19th November and ran for two weeks. We managed to speak to 107 of you, so thank you to those who contributed!

Of course, our ears are always open here at GL11 and any feedback is always welcome. If you missed Listening Fortnight, but have something to tell us, please do get in contact!

Italian theme goes down a storm!

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What an amazing Italian themed meal we had on Wednesday in the GL11 Café. Di, our fantastic chef, worked hard to produce five different pasta dishes, salads, authentic style chicken dishes, pancake rolls and fritters. Then there was the desserts! Needless to say her hard work paid off and we had many happy customers.

Michelle said there was “nothing left on my plate to eat, beautiful food, amazing choice”.

Al was extremely happy when he realised there were “vegan options as well!” which meant he could partake in the event. Not only that, the food was “really nice” too.

Rachel is pleased to say that “Di and team are happy and smiley, very personable” which makes us pleased as punch, as this is what we are here to provide. Not only a service with a smile, but a community atmosphere.

Di was already flying high this week after hearing that, after months of hard work, our fabulous Community Cafe have been awarded a 5* hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency. The success of yet another themed event has just topped off her week.

If you are interested in our future themed meals see these dates below:

Elizabethan Meal – Wednesday 7th November, 12 noon

Moroccan Meal – Wednesday 28th November, 12 noon

GL11 Café is open Monday – Thursday, 9am-2.30pm for drinks, homemade cakes, light lunches (most of which is available as a take away option), hot meals and breakfasts.

Di is also extremely passionate about offering allergy free and vegetarian/vegan options too. Please speak to us for more details.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

What do the cuts to 62 bus mean to you?

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GL11 are extremely concerned to hear about the latest cuts to vital bus services within Cam and Dursley. We took it upon ourselves to create a short video to highlight the views of local people.

 

A recent article taken from Dursley Gazette explains more –

A VITAL bus service which provides a lifeline to hundreds of people in Dursley is set to be cut in less than three weeks.

Councillors and passengers alike have aired their disappointment at bus provider Stagecoach’s plans to reduce the service from Dursley to Gloucester from hourly to two hourly from September 2.

“This is going to have a profoundly negative impact on people who commute for work, students, hospital patients and those who use this service to get to and from Cam station,” said Cllr Wendy Thomas, who is chairwoman of the Cam and Dursley Transportation Group (CDTG).

At the moment, the 60 and 62 both run from Dursley to Gloucester. But from the start of next month, the 62 will stop doing so, and will run between Bristol, Berkeley and Dursley only.

“I’m livid over the changes,” said one passenger, who has asked not to be named.

“We will have to lose working hours, and therefore wages.

“And we will have a long wait after work for the next bus.”

Although the cuts have been confirmed, precise information currently available about the changes is sketchy.

At the time of going to press yesterday, the new timetable was yet to be released.

This has been causing anxiety for passengers, who are as yet unsure whether or not they will be able to reach their destinations on time.

James O’Neill, commercial manager at Stagecoach West, said: “Our bus services between Gloucester and Dursley run on a commercial basis, with the revenue collected in fares needing as a minimum to cover our cost of operation.

“Sadly, patronage has continued to decline on this service, despite efforts to encourage new custom through improved links to Cam & Dursley station, a faster route into Gloucester and newer, Wi-Fi fitted buses.

“This level of loss is unsustainable and so we have taken the difficult decision to change our timetable to better match actual customer demand.

“We appreciate that some customers may be frustrated by this decision, but we have ensured that all existing bus stops will continue to receive a service going forward.”

MP David Drew said: “We are working on this with Dursley Town Council to keep the service in a slightly modified form.

“I’m hopeful a compromise might be reached.”

As the Gazette went to press, CDTG was hosting a meeting with councillors and Stagecoach officials.

Teenagers raise £800 for GL11!

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As part of the National Citizens Service programme, 13 teenagers spent the last two weeks of the summer holidays raising money in a variety of ways for their chosen charity, GL11 Community Hub.

The group of 16 and 17 year olds, from across Dursley, Stroud and the surrounding areas, organised jumble sales, cake stalls, street collections, a pub quiz, a 10 mile sponsored walk and went busking in Dursley.

The project concluded with a big music event at Rednock School, with lots of talented musicians from the area drafted in for support.

Nicky Whittaker, one of the young volunteers, said: “It was so much fun.

“The best part of it all was the people that we met through this work.

“We will be strong friends for life.”

Nicky, a pupil at Rednock, decided to take part in the scheme after the organisers came into her school and pitched NCS to them.

Taking part in the scheme leads to a National Citizens Service Award, which is looked on favourably by universities and employers.

“It’s been one of the best experiences I can remember,” said Nicky.

“We’ve grown as people, and taking part has made us all much more confident.

“Together with Dursley mayor Neil Grecian, I introduced the concert at Rednock, and read out the questions at our quiz night.

“I’d never have dreamed of speaking in front of a group of people like that before.”

Marion Lloyd, GL11 volunteer coordinator, said: “This group has worked incredibly hard, and it was all organized by themselves, from start to finish.

“Their effort, motivation and enthusiasm was inspiring.

“We were astounded when they brought us £800 in raised money.”

GL11 runs a variety of courses, from toddler groups, yoga, book club, choir, to knit and natter, plus training courses to improve English, computer skills and courses for adults with learning difficulties. The centre’s café cooks a hot meal every day and morning bacon butties