Cheltenham Connect - New Community Initiative in South Cheltenham

From its small beginnings around a pub table in February a new community initiative is being developed that has already attracted a great deal of local interest and support. Focused on the residential and trading areas of The Bath Road (South End), Tivoli, The Park and The Suffolks, Cheltenham Connect aims to strengthen and empower the local community and to help protect it from the current economic downturn. It also aims to raise awareness of climate change and the need for the community to develop a low carbon and sustainable future.

Four working groups have already been established and each is now developing its own online network. They are: CC Buy Local, CC Go Green, CC Skillspace and CC Community. Ideas being discussed include a ‘Buy Local Pledge Week’, a ‘Buy Local Festival’, Swap, Share and Save schemes, skill-shares, resource shares, business networks and energy saving resource and advice schemes.

A full launch is being planned for Saturday 27th June at The Exmouth Arms in Bath Road and all are welcome. Each of the action groups will be there to share their activities along with local trading and residents associations, energy and sustainability organisations, local churches and schools, and local musicians and craftspeople. The aim is for the event to be full of good old fashioned fun with lots of information, but also games and entertainment, provided throughout the day. Everyone in the local area is invited to become involved with Cheltenham Connect and to share their own ideas. It’s very much a local project run by local people and could put South Cheltenham on the map as a place of thriving community focus and innovation.

Founder Wendy Ellyatt says ‘I am delighted how quickly things are moving. It just goes to show that a small number of people coming together within any local community can really make a difference.’

For further information visit their website at http://www.cheltenhamconnect.co.uk/, call Wendy Ellyatt 01242 572 803 or email wendy@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk.