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Broadway Lodge: Aftercare Service

Broadway Lodge is an abstinence-based addiction treatment centre in Weston-super-Mare. Their Aftercare service has been running in North Somerset since April 2023 and is funded by UKSPF.

Offering counselling, one-to-one sessions and group therapy, the Aftercare sessions build confidence, reduce stigma, and help participants understand they have a right to ask, ‘what’s next?’.

UKSPF also funds social activity to help build interpersonal skills and enable peer support in recovery. Kicking this off was a day at Thorpe Park!

Read an update from recent participants in the Aftercare service:

Eddie has recently completed several Building Groundworks training modules at Weston College. He feels excited about his new skills and has the relevant certificates required by contractors. Eddie’s confidence has grown enormously. He feels he is in a very safe space at the Aftercare service. He came to the UK from Portugal needing care in rehab. After leaving Broadway Lodge he initially faced a bumpy road, but armed with the tools from his rehabilitation and the support of Aftercare, we see a brand new Eddie with a clear vision of his future. He is an excellent recovery ambassador and willingly offers support and guidance to his peers.

Eddie

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Suzie came to Broadway Lodge for an extended stay after years of drug and alcohol abuse. She came straight from hospital where her life had been saved. She signed up for Aftercare and following an initial period of ‘settling in’ to Recovery – moving to a dry house, attending AA and NA meetings, rebuilding relationships – Suzie is now a shining example of someone who has been helped to recovery. She relishes her family relationships and has now identified a course she would like to attend at Weston College. She will be attending a digital ‘back to basics’ course provided via North Somerset Training Hub and has encouraged a peer to go with her. Suzie actively encourages and supports her peers.

Suzie

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Don has been a regular attendee at Aftercare for some time now. The recovery path can be a rocky one and isolation can set in. Don counters this by taking his camera with him when he goes out and is looking forward to starting a photography course later in September. Helen, Aftercare Counsellor, set him a light-hearted and fun challenge, to post one photograph a week leading up to his college course! All is not always serious in Aftercare, and there are moments when the group rename themselves Laughtercare!

Don

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Many Aftercare participants are also actively committed to voluntary work. This can be anything from helping out at Weston’s Addiction Rehabilitation providers, cooking meals for those who need them, or repairing furniture donated for onward sale at charity outlets. Many take on the responsibility of ‘service posts’ at NA and AA meetings. This includes welcoming, making teas and coffees, serving on committees, publications management and fund raising.

Volunteer

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Climate emergency

North Somerset Council is committed to tackling the climate emergency and is continuing to work towards becoming a carbon neutral area by 2030.

Thanks to UKSPF funding, to mark global Carbon Literacy Action Day on Monday 4 December, North Somerset Council hosted the world’s largest in-person Carbon Literacy training day for local people and businesses, free of charge.

The training usually costs £125 per person, and was created by the Carbon Literacy Project to improve understanding of the causes and impacts of our everyday greenhouse gas emissions, which must drastically reduce to limit further global temperature rises.

As well as identifying ways everyone can play a part in tackling the climate emergency, the course also identifies ways to save energy costs, both at home and at work.

For more information about becoming an accredited Carbon Literate Organisation, or if you need further support to help your organisation make sustainable choices, please email climate.emergency@n-somerset.gov.uk.

Feedback from the day:

What a day! Massive congratulations on pulling it off – I can’t begin to imagine the hours of prep that went into it. Can’t wait to see more local businesses implement positive changes!

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Although climate change can be an overwhelming and frankly depressing subject, I left feeling optimistic and empowered about the changes we can make at an individual and business level to reduce our carbon footprint and reach net zero. It’s easy to think what you do won’t ever make a difference and that it’s just a drop in the ocean (especially when you see politicians taking separate private jets to COP28!), but in the wise words of Chris Packham “what is an ocean if not a multitude of drops”.

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Brilliant to see so many people attended. Together we can all make a difference. Congratulations to all involved in organising and running the event. There will be some brilliant pledges.

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Nearly 200 people left more informed about climate change and their business, AND having made two carbon reduction pledges. They were also part of the wider Carbon Literacy Action Day which saw 1,000 people take part on Carbon Literacy training around the world!

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It was inspiring to see so many companies wanting to make a positive change and help the world be a greener place. We came back with lots of ideas.

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It broadened my awareness of climate change and it’s impacts on everyday actions across different areas. It’s a great course focusing on how we can significantly reduce emissions both at work and at home.

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Community Grants

Community organisations, charities, social enterprises and businesses across North Somerset have more access than ever to support thanks to the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Read about the big differences being made in our community.

Somerset Storyfest ONE TREE - Many Branches Refugee Project

True stories of refugees have been brought to life to help children gain a greater understanding of the world.

Michael Loader, founder of Somerset Storyfest said: “It was an absolute thrill for us at Somerset Storyfest to receive the UKSPF grant to fund thirteen visits to primary and secondary schools in North Somerset before March 2024. In summer 2023 we visited Winford, Churchill and St Francis primary schools bringing the project to 262 pupils and staff, who were riveted by the life stories that our session facilitators shared.

The aim is for young people to positively learn about countries and cultures unjustly affected by socio-political unrest – including the evacuation of German families in WWII, retreating from the Russian army; fleeing Sudan from a totalitarian government; and escaping Pakistan due to religious intolerance.

We offer creative activities for the pupils and staff to reflect and respond to what they’ve heard through song making and recording the images and words that resonated most with them.

Sharing lived experiences emphasises to pupils and staff the severity of situations in asylum seekers’ countries of origin. It helps to provide perspective on the relative safety and security of the UK and underscores the need to support asylum seekers with financial aid and compassion.

Listening to the exploits and the bravery of those they meet, the pupils are painted the picture of lives that have been unjustly affected by unrest across the globe. The aim of the project is for young lives to be ‘positively affected’ by meeting people from other countries and cultures firsthand, to remember and carry those experiences with them so that they can share with others they meet.

I always come away with such respect for our facilitators who are able to share the lowest moments of their life. They have had courage and resilience to leave their life behind in hope of finding something better, believing in a yet unknown system of justice in order to find new friends and begin to build a new life.”

We were delighted to welcome visitors into our classroom this week to tell us about their experiences as refugees and how these experiences have affected them in later life. The children were hugely engaged with the visitors' life stories and it allowed them invaluable insight into the challenges faced by people across who the world who are displaced by war and political reasons. This experience has generated lots of discussion among the children and allowed for sensitive and thoughtful conversations in our PSHE sessions.

Teacher

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Such an emotional, thought provoking and inspiring workshop. It certainly puts my own life experiences into perspective. I was moved to tears in parts and the children were engaged and in awe of the bravery and courage of the people involved. Thank you.

Teacher

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It was so powerful - the children and adults were transfixed from start to finish listening to the different life stories. All were friendly and approachable. We couldn’t speak more highly of our time with them and thank them for coming into our school. A powerful service that really moved the children (and adults!) I spoke to multiple children afterwards, who were really inspired by the stories they heard.

Deputy Headteacher

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Pupil feedback

I liked hearing the men's stories and it made us feel sorry for the experiences they had in the past and those suffering now.

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The music made it more exciting and we liked making up our own song. I felt upset when the refugees told their stories but I was glad when they told us they had been welcomed into our country.

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I felt scared. I imagined being a refugee. It made me think about how I could help them.

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Hearing the stories helped us understand that people like in Ukraine are actual suffering.

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The music made it more exciting and we liked making up our own song. I felt upset when the refugees told their stories but I was glad when they told us they had been welcomed into our country.

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My parents had to leave their country before I was born so it made me think about what it was like for them.

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We enjoyed getting involved and writing a song about their stories.

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The music made it more exciting and we liked making up our own song. I felt upset when the refugees told their stories but I was glad when they told us they had been welcomed into our country.

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I’ll never forget meeting Knud, Ali and Tahmina today.

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Curzon Cinema and Arts

Curzon Cinema and Arts launched Season One: a series of 47 curated screenings and live events running between September and December 2023, visit: curzon.org.uk There are comedy nights, author talks, screenings with live musical accompaniment and special events for Christmas.

The funding of £9,900 from the UKSPF has allowed us to develop a truly exciting programme of screenings and events for our first ‘season’ at Curzon Cinema and Arts. The programme has been curated collaboratively with community groups and local artists and showcases some of the best acts North Somerset has to offer alongside global ideas and world class cinema and art. Crucially, the funding has enabled us to be more ambitious in our programme than we would be if it was purely commercial, which has allowed us to present cutting-edge work and themes alongside timeless classics. Whether you’re a cinephile, a bookworm, or a music buff; there’s something here for everyone!

Andrew Caddy

CEO
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RENEW

People who are facing barriers to employment are being helped into work thanks to a Weston based organisation.

RENEW is the first organisation in Weston set up specifically to provide opportunities to people who want to work but face barriers in finding a job such as language or lack of experience. Thanks to funding from UKSPF, RENEW provides opportunities to get back into a work routine, develop skills, gain a work-based reference and much more. Both paid and unpaid work are good for personal wellbeing, as actively contributing to the community is a satisfying experience. We are always looking for employers who prize the lived experience of our workforce members and are committed to building an inclusive workplace. They could be the next employers of our workforce members!

Karen Lee Roberts

Founder and Director of RENEW
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Worker A is a very diligent and personable young man from Weston who has faced struggles in his first two jobs due to no fault of his own. He works for RENEW on a part-time basis as a paid Employment Development Worker. He has been recruiting and interviewing potential workers who have had limited opportunities, doing initial wellbeing assessments and supporting them in job search. He has also been involved in setting up and administration system to keep track of people’s journeys towards wellbeing and financial independence.

RENEW’s workforce member

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Worker D arrived in the UK one year ago from Kiev. Her qualifications and experience include diplomas in banking and accounting together with seven years' work experience in these fields in Ukraine. She has attained Level 1 English at Weston College and is currently working in the UK as a cleaner. She’s been offered a part-time bookkeeping job at RENEW with plans in place for a work experience placement at accountant Morgan Hunt.

RENEW’s workforce member

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Worker E is a refugee from Iran. Mother of a small baby she was spending most of her time at home when she came to RENEW, where she is being encouraged to work at home doing beautiful paintings for sale through RENEW. She is now employed to manage the fabric reuse team at RENEW making fashionable items out of retro used curtains.

RENEW’s workforce member

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Super Culture

Community-led creative projects have been able to grow and thrive in Weston-super-Mare thanks to UKSPF funding.

The UKSPF grant has enabled community led creative provision to grow and thrive in Weston's South and Central Wards, bringing a range of participatory projects, activities and events to the area. These have included the popular Party on the Green festival in July presented by Super Culture and a summer full of creative, environmentally-themed workshops led by South Weston Activity Network (SWAN). SWAN is a charity that co-ordinates activities for children, young people and families in Bournville, Coronation and Oldmixon in Weston. There has also been an on-going programme at Front Room theatre featuring local, rising artists

Tom Newman

Executive Director at Super Culture
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Local artists are using their experience at Front Room as a platform from which to build their practice. Local artist Mia Borthwick developed her show ‘I don’t have a maths GCSE’ with Front Room and showcased it at the venue. Artists can talk to audience and community members about the process and the content, helping to develop their shows further. Mia is now taking her show to 5 venues nationally as part of fringe theatre festivals with the intention of touring the show well into 2024.

See www.frontroomwsm.com and www.superculture.org.uk for more information.

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