Pop by the Pod and visit
A number of excellent community agencies are now on your doorstep.
The Pod is available for you to use for your own meetings, groups, or parties!
Please call Katie Scaife on 01249 466015 for more information.
Apology For Lack Of Site Updates
Got a bit behind with the updates on this site due to lack office space. Been living in 2 person tent which is too short for me and consequentially lets in water when it rains.
Now operating out of a 4 person 3 room tent with another hopefully here soon; so the service should improve. Currently working on calendar update for August, sorry about the delay.
LOTS happening on The Green this month!
July newsletter for Hill Rise
Hi Everyone,
Attached please find the latest Hill Rise newsletter. You’ll see it’s packed with great summer activities! Very exciting. Hope you’ll enjoy…please forward it on to anyone you think might be interested.
Kind regards,
Katie Scaife
Community Worker
Westlea Housing Association
Summer’s here – and there’s loads to do!
There is a wide range of activities for all ages in and around the neighbourhood this summer. All FREE unless otherwise stated.
Your browser may not support display of this image. Family activities
The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is running family activities from the Pod on Barrow Green every Tuesday over the summer holidays. All children need to be accompanied by an adult for these FREE activities! July 28, 1-3pm – Environmental Art @ the Pod. Aug 4, 7-9pm – Woodcrafting in Bird’s Marsh (for older children – see below for more details) Aug 11, 1-3pm – From little seeds…@ the Pod. Aug 18th 7-9 pm – Meet @ the Pod for a family bat walk around the neighbourhood! Aug 25th 1-3 pm – Mini beast hunt! @ the Pod.
Your browser may not support display of this image. Your browser may not support display of this image. Also at the Pod, Chippenham Library will be running Cheeky Monkey sessions of storytelling and rhyme times for pre-school-aged children and their parents on Tuesday Aug 4th, 11th, 18th, & 25th from 10:30-11:00. Come for a play!
Back by popular demand, Wiltshire Scrapstore will be at the Pod from 1-2:30 on Wednesday Aug 5th, 19th, and 26th for crafty fun for ages 12 and under. Please bring your parents!
Your browser may not support display of this image. Time Team comes to Hill Rise (sort of)! As part of the Festival for British Archaeology, the Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre is having a dig behind the museum and Westlea has arranged for a special visit for Hill Rise residents for the afternoon of Thurs 30 July. Come have a go, look at the finds, and maybe discover something amazing! For more details and to book a place, call Katie on 01249 466015. This event will be followed up by Coffee, Tea, and History, weekly sessions at the Pod led by the Museum on Thursdays 11am-12pm starting Aug 13th. They will bring old maps, photos, and locally found objects. You’ll get a chance to look at how things were and reminisce about how they’ve changed in the area over the years. Ever wondered why Barrow Green is called Barrow Green? Or what it was like in Chippenham during the war? Come along, share your memories, learn more!
Don’t forget, there’s also a Family Fun Day at John Coles Park on August 2nd, and the big Chippenham River Festival on Aug 29th & 30th!
For other fun free family activities contact Redland Children’s Centre on 01249 463907 or redlandchildrenscentre@barnardos.org.uk
Your browser may not support display of this image. Young People
Your browser may not support display of this image. Kandu Arts are running the Out and About project for the last two weeks of August. This amazing project offers multi-media activities, woodland activities, arts and sports, all based ‘out and about’ in the Hill Rise area. For more information and to book a space call Grace at Kandu on 01249 444009. For young people aged 13-16.
As mentioned above, the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is having an evening session for young people aged 11+ on Aug 4th from 7- 9 pm. Take a trip to Birds Marsh and learn how to build a shelter, make a cup of nettle tea, learn a few survival skills. Meet at the Pod! As only 15 young people can go on this trip, please contact Katie on 01249 466015 to pre-register.
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What else? Splash is running Wild About Chippenham, a fantastic woodland summer program for 9-16 year olds in Chippenham. To register go to www.splash-wiltshire.org.uk or call 01380 734106.
Your browser may not support display of this image. The Summer Dreamscheme will be running again this year; sorry all places are already taken. But you can still come on out to their old skool community sports activities from 2-4 pm on Monday July 27th. Eggs and spoons provided! The Youth Workers will be in the Pod as usual on Monday Aug 3rd and 17th from 7-9 pm.
Your browser may not support display of this image. The usual Rise Youth Drop in will run every Wednesday night at the Pod during the school holidays. For ages 11+. Hope you remembered to register for the Rise Children’s Centre Free Explosion for 4 – 14 year olds (Tuesday mornings). There are also heaps of other activities all summer at the centre available for a small fee. For more information contact the centre on 01249 463040 or julies@therisetrust.
Footy4All, the popular Friday afternoon pitch up and play game on Barrow Green, will continue to run all through the school holidays. Sadly, though, despite best efforts Wiltshire Council’s Mobile Skatepark will not be available in Hill Rise this summer due to staffing problems.
Bluez and Zuzs young people’s disco is starting again! Come to the first one on Friday 24th July at Karma, Station Hill, Chippenham from 7 – 9 pm. £2 at the door gets you one free drink! For ages 13 -16.
Residents’ Meeting
At the last residents’ meeting it was agreed that there was no need for a separate meeting for the Pod Planning Group, so the two meetings will now be held at the same time. We also agreed to hold the meeting a little later. Next meeting date: Thurs 6th Aug, 4-5pm at the Pod!
Other Summer Fun
Maybe there’ll be a lawn/table sale or a Fun Day on Barrow Green? Watch this space and the community notice board on the Pod!
Your browser may not support display of this image. The Pod
Sue Burnett, Westlea’s new Anti-Social Behaviour team member will be at the Pod every Thursday afternoon from 3-4 pm starting July 23rd. Come talk to her about any concerns you might have.
Job opportunity! A cleaner is needed for the Pod. If you are a self-employed cleaner looking for a few more hours, are self-motivated, and flexible in the hours you can work, please call Katie on 01249 466015. Rate of pay is £6.62 per hour for about 2-3 hours per week.
Tidy My Garden
Could you use some help with your garden? How about this! This year’s Dreamscheme – the 27th – 29th July – is offering residents in the Hill Rise area the help of local young people for a day of light work in your gardens. The work will include weeding and general tidying. If you are interested please contact Katie on 01249 466015 and get your garden tidied – for Free!
Your browser may not support display of this image. Residents’ Business Plan.
Once again we invite you to let us know what you’d like to see included in the Residents’ Business Plan for next year. This becomes part of Westlea’s Business Plan, so it does influence what we do! Please come along to give us your thoughts from 10 am – 2 pm on 21st July at the Hathaway Centre, Chippenham. For directions and to book your place please contact us on 01249 466163 or Michael.lawlor@westlea.co.uk
Neighbourhood News ~ Hill Rise area
May 2009
The Pod Is Launched
It was a windy 6th of April but at least it didn’t rain! A grand turn-out took part in a number of events at the Pod’s official launch. The mayor of Chippenham came by to oversee the proceedings whilst Westlea’s Managing Director cut the ribbon with the help of two local young people. A bar-b-que prepared for 250 people was completely consumed. The ‘Magic Pod’ DVD was screened to an adoring crowd. Young people organised great sports activities for all ages, and consulted everyone about how to best use the Pod. Three illustrious judges chose a fabulous design by 13-year-old Daniel Elliot as the winner of the Pod’s Logo Design competition. Watch for it coming to a sign near you!
Community Notice Board
As part of the launch, a new Community Notice Board was fixed to the side of the Pod. It is for information about activities at the Pod and elsewhere in the community. Is there something you’d like to post on the board? Just drop off a notice at the Pod any time it is open. The Pod Planning committee has agreed that the notices will be sorted on a weekly basis by the Monday night Youth Group, who will then post new notices on the board. The committee agreed that notices should be about community, local events. Items for sale/wanted will not be posted.
Upcoming Community Meetings
Pod Planning Meeting May 21st, 5 – 6 pm at the Pod
If you have ideas for the Pod or are interested in helping to run it, we’d like to hear from you.
Residents’ Meeting June 4, 3:30 – 4:30 at the Pod
Residents’ Meetings are a place for local people to talk about area issues and plan real improvements. Come on over – open to everyone!
May ½ term activities!
It’s coming up fast! This May ½ term there will be some fun activities running in the neighbourhood.
Thursday 28th May sees the return of Wiltshire Scrapstore o th to the Pod! Following on from two successful sessions in April, Scrapstore will be at the Pod from 1:00 to 2:30 – more crafty fun for ages 12 and under!
Friday 29th May Wiltshire Council’s Mobile Skatepark will be visiting Hill Rise from 1:30 – 4:30. Great for skaters and BMXers alike!
Not to be outdone, the regular Footy4All coaches will be running an extra long session that same Friday 29th from 2:30 – 4:30 on Barrow Green. Pitch up and play!
AND don’t miss Barnardo’s FREE Family Trip to Bowood Tuesday May 26th! Call Niki Dolmen on 07917 425084 for details.
Contact Katie Scaife at Westlea Housing (phone 01249 466015 or email katie.scaife@westlea.co.uk) to find out more about anything in this news update!
All change for the Barrow Green Monkeys!
The Barrow Green Monkeys is an activity group for local 5 – 12 year olds that has been running for over a year now, led by our partners at Barnardo’s. As some of you may know, the Barrow Green Monkeys are no longer able to meet at the Children’s Centre. We are looking at using the Barrow Green Pod as a new meeting place. But as there are so many Monkeys, we need to be able to meet more than once a week so everyone can get a chance to come! And so, we are looking for adult volunteers to help run the groups after school with help and support from Barnardo’s and Westlea. Volunteers will decide what days the groups are run and at what times to make it most convenient for the volunteers.
If you would be interested in volunteering to keep the Barrow Green Monkeys going, please call Katie Scaife on 01249 466 015. You don’t have to commit yet, but please call to find out more!
North Wessex Training
Starting May 21st, North Wessex Training will be at the Pod on Thursday mornings 9:30 – 11:30. They can help with job skills & employment opportunities. Open to all people over the age of 16 in all situations.
