Have you seen our new column in the Gloucestershire Gazette?

Starting in March 2024, GL11 Community Hub now has a monthly column in the Gloucestershire Gazette where you’ll have a chance to hear from the team about some of the amazing work that take place here.

Our CEO, Indigo Redfern, penned the first column in March: GL11 one of the originals.

“Have you heard of GL11 Community Hub?

As CEO, I often wonder how best to introduce GL11 Community Hub to those people who haven’t come across us yet.

Community Hub is a trendy phrase at the moment, but GL11 is one of the originals! GL11 is a traditional community centre.

Our staff and volunteers are local people, all involved because we care about our community and want to make it a connected, kind and can-do place.”

— Indigo Redfern, GL11 Community Hub

Then in April the column was written by Jo Cole, who works on our blood pressure monitoring project as well as our weekly advice sessions for people struggling with the cost of living: Hub working to tackle a silent killer disease.

“Do you remember when you last had your blood pressure checked? Me neither!

I guess it just doesn’t occur to me because I feel pretty healthy. But high blood pressure is one of those silent killers. You feel fine then suddenly, bam.

So when the NHS identified blood pressure as a key priority to save lives in Gloucestershire, it made sense for GL11 Community Hub to step up and do our bit.”

— Jo Cole, GL11 Community Hub

We’re really excited to share more stories with you! Keep an eye out for next month’s column in the printed paper and online.

GL11 Community Hub is seeking two new trustees

We are a thriving local community hub, providing a wide range of activities and services at our centre in Cam, and across Stroud and Berkeley Vale, Gloucestershire. We work closely in partnership with NHS and public sector, providing community action groups to help shape services to better meet people’s needs.

Having completed our trustee skills and profile audit, we are seeking to recruit two new trustees to add to our current board of 8:

• One with significant experience of attending GL11 activities either as a participant and/or as a volunteer, who is able to represent our community

• One who can support our development of digital data capture, management and analysis, including future potential for AI and machine learning, aiming to develop GL11’s monitoring and evaluation of the impact of preventative measures.

As a local community hub we require the majority of our trustees to live in the Berkeley Vale area (Cam, Dursley and nearby areas) of Gloucestershire.

Trustees meet 4 times each year on Wednesday evenings and are responsible for the strategy and governance of GL11 Community Hub. Trustees have no operational remit or responsibility.

We especially welcome applications from the following groups who are currently under-represented on our Board:

• people aged 18-50

• men.

We also have opportunities for Expert Advisors who can input to the Board in more operational roles.

Please contact our CEO, Indigo Redfern, for an initial discussion or send a CV and covering email to indigoredfern@gl11.org.uk. We are aiming to recruit in early April.

Now Booking: Children's Activities at GL11 the first week of the Easter Holidays

Our families team will be running Messy Monday as usual for up to 5s, from 9.30am to 11am. Just drop in. £2.50 per family.

Then from Tuesday 26th to Thursday 28th March, we will be running our usual school holiday Adventure Play sessions for 6-10 year olds.

Two sessions each day, 10am - 12 noon, and 1 - 3pm. £3 per session. Pre-booking required.

To book email: kathredmond@gl11.org.uk or call us on: 01453 548530.

Book early as these popular school holiday sessions, with only a limited number of places can quickly book up.

PLEASE NOTE that GL11 is CLOSED the second week of the Easter holidays, from Monday 1st to Friday 5th April for cleaning and repairs.

Make it a special Mother's Day with Flower Arranging at GL11

Come along to our NEW event in time for Mother's Day!

Make your own bespoke flower arrangement for mum at our special Flower Arranging morning at GL11.

Friday 8th March, 10am to 12noon.

Just £7.50.

To book your place, email - office@gl11.org.uk - or give us a call - 01453 548530.

GL11’s NHS Health Project shortlisted for National Award

GL11’s community health project, in collaboration with the NHS, which aims to helps people with chronic pain has been shortlisted for a national award. 

The project to understand the impact of chronic pain, works with people with experience of persistent pain in a bid to understand how the condition affects their lives, and has now been shortlisted for a national HSJ Partnership Award.

GL11 Community Hub and NHS Gloucestershire have been nominated in the ‘Best Not for Profit working in partnership with the NHS’ category at the HSJ Partnership Awards 2024.

Ellen Rule, Director of Strategy and Transformation and Deputy Chief Executive at NHS Gloucestershire, said:

“We’re delighted that the fantastic work of an organisation like GL11 has been recognised at a national level. As One Gloucestershire Integrated Care System, we have good, long-standing relationships between statutory and VCSE sectors, with this project a shining example of our shared ambition to make our county a better and healthier place to live and work. GL11 are experts in understanding the needs of their local community, and they’ve established strong and trusting relationships with people who are living with chronic pain, so they were well placed to lead this work.”

Cathy Stannard, Clinical Lead for Pain Transformation at NHS Gloucestershire, added:

“The best way we can support people with persistent pain is by asking what matters to them. The feedback and insight GL11 have gathered from people with lived experience allows us to work together to focus on developing the support and services they need to live well. We know persistent pain can have a massive impact on the lives of those living with the condition and their families, anything we can do to offer more support and understand the experiences of people affected by pain is really valuable.”

The HSJ Partnership Awards recognise the impressive levels of innovation and care continually being developed across the UK’s healthcare system.

You can read GL11’s full 2023 project report, in collaboration with the NHS, called 'Living Well with Pain’ here. 

Read all about the help available at GL11’s Warm Wednesdays

Our Warm Wednesdays, with £1 Cafe and a shed load of wonderful free help and advice, run10am to 4pm every week.

NEW in 2024 - family advice sessions with a creche. Please ring to book a slot - 01453 548530.

Hear about all the help available at GL11’s Warm Wednesdays in this NHS short video.

Did you see GL11 showcased on BBC Points West this month?

GL11 was proud to be showcased on BBC Points West again as part of Gloucestershire Community Foundation's Christmas Poverty Hurts Appeal for vital funds so that Community Hubs, like GL11, can continue supporting those who most need help this winter.

Just click here to help GL11 with a donation today!

GL11 community champion receives MBE

We're super proud! Indigo Redfern, CEO of GL11, received her MBE from HRH The Princess Royal at Windsor Castle at the end of last month.

The King awarded the MBE in recognition of GL11’s services to the community, particularly during the Covid pandemic. Congratulations Indigo.

“I don’t think my MBE award had quite sunk in until I went to Windsor” Indigo said. “I felt part of a whole different world there, with so many other fantastic people receiving their MBE’s, and I was one of them! I felt so proud to receive this award from HRH the Princess Royal for leading GL11 Community Hub, and all we achieved together, during the pandemic.”

Read more in the Dursley Gazette here.

Impact of ‘Off We Go’ partnership with NHS

For the last couple of years, after Covid, GL11 have been working in partnership with the NHS and other local community organisations to put on creative workshops for people to reduce isolation.

These workshops have been delivered out in community space across our area under the shared banner of "Off We Go" and funded by the NHS.

The wonderful Abi Nicol has made this fantastic slide show of our collective impact, which is being shown in local GP surgeries TV screens in the waiting rooms.

#healthandwellbeing

*New* Community Handy Person Service Takes Off

What is Care & Repair?
GL11 Community Hub has launched a new service called Care & Repair. It’s a handy person service for residents over 65, or any adult living with a disability, in the Cam and Dursley area. This service is run by GL11 Community Hub, Cam.

This useful service aims to provide the help to get small jobs done in the home and garden, to help residents maintain their independence for longer, with the help of members of staff from the trusted local charity.

A team member will visit you at home, to assess what help is needed and advise on a course of action from there. The home assessment is free and there is no obligation. All GL11 Hub team members are DBS checked.

The type of jobs that will be covered are: General DIY e.g. replacing a light bulb; Fall Prevention e.g. installing a safety rail; Hospital Discharge Facilitation e.g. furniture moves; Security e.g. fitting a key safe or letterbox cage covers

What does it cost?
GL11 Community Hub is a registered charity and the Care & Repair service is a not-for-profit service, however, charges will apply to cover some costs incurred.

How do I apply?
The best way to reach us is by phone. Give us a call on 01453 548530. Alternatively, you can send us an email on office@gl11.org.uk.

Help Deliver Hot Meals In Your Community.

GL11 Community Hub is appealing for volunteers to join its Meals on Wheels delivery team who help support the wellbeing of neighbours in Cam, Dursley and surrounding areas.

Volunteers, who can give as much or as little time as they have available, are invited to get in touch and discover what GL11 does, what it’s like to be a volunteer and to find out more about helping with the delivery of hot meals to those most in need in the local community.

Volunteer Manager, Adam Jones at GL11 Community Hub, comments: “We had huge success with the COVID vaccination support programme at the end of 2020, connecting with over 400 volunteers, but in recent months, we’ve seen the number of people offering to volunteer fall. Our team of regular volunteers are amazing, but as our community grows, and the range of needs grow with it, we need to bring in more people to help spread the load”.

In March 2023, GL11 Community Hub took on the provision of cooked meals for residents of GL11 and GL13 postcode areas. This was after Gloucestershire County Council’s existing commercial service provider ended their contract for the whole of Gloucestershire.

Adam continues, “As a charity we are busier than ever with the range of support we offer. Right now, we are particularly keen to take on more volunteers to help us with ‘Meals on Wheels’ as this is a vital service, meeting the needs of some of the most vulnerable in our community. We cook all the meals here at GL11 and we really need help from volunteers to help us with collection and delivery. The meals get driven by car to recipient’s homes while they are still hot, so enthusiasm is vital. We’re keen to recruit people with a caring nature too, as stopping for a chat and checking on how recipients are doing is an essential part of the role”.

GL11 prepare around 60 healthy and nutritious meals every week from their Café kitchen. They have a dedicated team of volunteer delivery drivers, who not only deliver hot meals, daily, Monday to Friday (with a chilled option over weekends) to local people, who otherwise would not be able to cook for themselves, but also ensures that they have a bit of company each day. The Hub is looking to expand its team of volunteer delivery drivers to keep this service running successfully in the future. Volunteers will meet new people, learn new skills and give back to their community.

Meals on Wheels are looking for new volunteers over weekday lunchtimes, on a day or days that suit. Mileage will be reimbursed, and full training will be given.

If you are interested in signing up as a volunteer, you can find out more by calling GL11 Community Hub on 01453 548530 or emailing office@gl11.org.uk. Alternatively, more info on all the volunteering roles at GL11 Community Hub can be found on their website – www.gl11.org.

Vote for us! GL11 shortlisted for Charity of the Year

We are so excited! GL11 Community Hub has been shortlisted for 'Charity of the Year' in the ‘So Glos Lifestyle Awards’ 2023.

To vote for us, all you have to do is:

1) Go here - www.soglos.com/lifestyle-awards/vote

2) Click the Join Now button to register your details

3) Scroll to the bottom of the voting page to vote for GL11 as Charity of the Year.

Thank you for your support!

Plan To Dress Cam and Dursley In Flags For King’s Coronation

A group of community organisations in Cam and Dursley have grouped together to encourage residents to dress up their homes in colourful bunting for the King’s Coronation in May.

GL11 Community Hub, along with with The Chantry Centre, Dursley Tabernacle Church, Dursley Methodist Church and St George’s Church are hosting drop in sessions, asking volunteers to pop in and make up ‘Bunting Kits’ which will be offered to local residents to take away, finish off at home and put up for the King's Coronation celebrations in May.

Kits will contain the fabric and printed instructions for making up lengths of bunting suitable for decorating homes and gardens. The kits will be free of charge and are aimed at all ages and abilities as can be sewn or glued in the final stages of make up.

As well as encouraging volunteers to attend the kit making sessions, GL11 Community Hub are asking for donations of fabric to fill the kits. If you can help with fabric - please drop off donations at GL11, Fairmead, Cam, GL11 5JS.

If you can help with making up bunting kits, then drop into one of the five Bunting Kit making sessions during March & April in Cam & Dursley:

Dates are

28 March 10 am 12 pm at GL11 Community Hub

30 March 10 am -12 pm at The Chantry Centre

19 April 1 pm -3 pm at Dursley Tab

20 April 10 am -12 pm at St George’s Church

21 April 10 am -12 pm at Dursley Methodist Church

If you can’t make it to any the sessions and want to take part at home, click here for the printed instructions.

For more information you can contact Kate Molloy - email katemolloy@gl11.org.uk or ring 01453 548530.

GL11 Sharpness Community Event

GL11 are inviting residents of Sharpness, and surrounding areas, to come along and get help and support on a range of issues in Sharpness Village Hall on Wednesday 29th March between 2pm - 4pm.

As well as tea, coffee and cake, GL11 has partnered with other organisations - P3 Housing, GL Communities, Gloucestershire Employment & Skills Outreach who will be there to provide free help and support with everything from digital access, job seeking and employment support, as well as guidance on housing, benefits and debt advice.

All welcome!

For more information you can contact Audrey Harris - email audreyharris@gl11.org.uk or ring 01453 548530.

New Year Honour for CEO of GL11

We are delighted that GL11’s CEO, Indigo Redfern, has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by King Charles in the 2023 New Year Honours List.

The Honour recognises GL11’s award winning services to the local community over the last 20 years, and particularly the Community Centre’s UK leading response to Covid, organised by Ms. Redfern, and now used as a national example of best practice.

Indigo Redfern says, “I am delighted to accept this MBE on behalf of all the volunteers, trustees, staff past and present at GL11, and our generous funders, who this Honour is really for.”

“During Covid, hundreds of people helped Cam & Dursley mount a unique community response. 5% of households volunteered, answering over 9,000 phone calls providing support and wellbeing. GL11 supported 12% of all household in our community during lockdown with shopping and prescriptions and directly fed 3% of the local population with over 7,000 hot meals.”

“Our community has had an outpouring of kindness, with everyone pulling together. It’s a successful model of coordinated community building, now used as national best practice. One we are delivering again now to help our community through the Cost of Living Crisis. This Honour is for everyone in Cam & Dursley who helps make that happen.”

GL11 fronts NHS #StayWellGlos campaign

GL11 are delighted to be part of the NHS winter #StayWellGlos campaign.

The NHS filmed at GL11 to produce a lovely short video, letting people know how to stay warm this winter, and where to get help with the Cost of Living Crisis.

You can watch their short video by clicking here.

GL11 on the six o’clock news

More excitement during our Cost of Living Support Day on, when BBC News reporter Faisal Islam came to chat to some of our regulars, about the impact of rising food and energy bills on people on small communities like Cam and Dursley. If you missed us on the News on, you can catch it on our YouTube channel here.

GL11 becomes National Covid Case Study

We are delighted that GL11’s unique community response during Covid has been recognised as a best practice case study by the UK’s National Preparedness Commission, to help others learn lessons for building good community resilience.

Indigo Redfern, the CEO at GL11 said, “The day after Covid lockdown, GL11 conceived a plan to support every single household in the GL11 postal area – some 15,000 people. The plan entailed the recruitment of around 200 local volunteers, supported by 12 coordinators, so that a lead “Street Vol” and a back-up “buddy” were allocated to every street in the area. These volunteers were assisted by a team of 20 qualified volunteer counsellors (“Listening Ears”) recruited to provide telephone support. Over the course of the first lockdown GL11 dealt with over 8,000 telephone calls and completed 4,130 requests for assistance, supporting around 1 in every 10 local households in our community.”

You can read the full National Preparedness Commission case study here - The Community Response to Covid-19 in Dursley and Cam: A Case Study | National Preparedness Commission

BBC Breakfast News visit GL11

It all got a bit exciting at our Cost of Living Support Day last Wednesday, when the BBC Breakfast team came to chat to some of our regulars, about the impact of rising fuel costs on rural communities like Cam and Dursley. If you missed us on the Breakfast News on Friday, you can still read all about it on the BBC website here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63407158

Community Lead the Way With Cost of Living Support

Today (Wed 31st Sept), civic groups and community centres from across the south of Stroud came together at GL11 Community Hub in Cam & Dursley to coordinate a community response to the cost of living crisis this winter (see picture attached).

As people struggle with rising heating bills, food prices and housing costs, the ambition collectively of the local community groups is to ensure a venue in Cam & Dursley is open every day of the week where people can go, that is warm and welcoming, with free or very low-cost food and drink, and access to help and advice.

An estimated 40% of households will be in poverty this winter, and the community groups, including representatives from GL11, the NHS, local churches, Chantry Centre and Stroud District Council, came together to discuss how best to provide a warm environment if people can’t afford to heat their homes. Another aim of the group is to reduce the stigma about asking for help with food.

Indigo Redfern, CEO of GL11 Community Hub, said “For example, GL11's own Cost of Living Support Day in Cam & Dursley will be every Wednesday, 10am to 7pm, starting on 21st Sept. Our Café will be serving £1 breakfasts, potluck lunches and suppers, with free hot drinks, cakes and internet access, alongside help and advice with debt, benefits, housing, employment and wellbeing. Our new Community Pantry will be open too, a £4 membership giving at least £15 of food, to help ensure no-one goes hungry.”

“There is a great collective will amongst us all to work together to provide spaces in Cam & Dursley every day of the week where people can be sure of a warm welcome and good company this winter. We are meeting again next week, bringing in even more local community groups to help plan and staff with volunteers, a 7-day Cost of Living Café across local community spaces, that will see Cam & Dursley leading the way for cost of living support. Anyone wanting to be involved in this great community effort can phone us at GL11 for more details.”