Posts Tagged ‘Filton’

New Summer Courses from SBCP

Friday, April 5th, 2013

New Summer Courses in Patchway and Filton from Southern Brooks Community Partnership.  Courses are FREE for those that are eligible or a small fee is payable to cover costs.

SKILLS FOR WORK

Employability Level 2 Award  - Tues 10th April  (5 wks) 10am –2pm      Filton

Introduction to Advice, Information & Guidance - Weds 10th April (10wks)  12.30-3.30pm TBC/ Concs Patchway

Introduction to Youth Work - Thurs 18th April (8 wks)  10am – 12pm  Free*/ £50 Patchway

Basic Food Hygiene Level 2 - Monday 10th June 9.30am – 5 pm Free*/ £50 Patchway

Grow your own: Intro to Horticulture - Fri 26th April (5wks)  10am -12pm Free*/£40 Patchway

FAMILY & LIFE SKILLS

Parent Right: Child Development - Fri 12th April  (8 wks)  10am-12pm Free*/ £45 Filton

Cookery - Weds 17th April (8 wks) 10am – 12pm Free*/ £45  Filton

Dealing with Autism at home - Thurs 25th April – 9th May (3 days) 9.30am – 3.30pm Fee TBC/ Free to those looking for work Patchway

Dealing with Difficult Behaviour - 15th May (1 day) 10am—4pm Free*/ £40                 Patchway

Play for Under 5s: story sacks - Tues 4th June (4 wks) 11 – 12.30pm Free */ £15       Patchway

Live well: Be Well - Tues 4th June (4wks)  11am -1pm Free*/£55 Filton                   

Bike maintenance for Dads/Granddads/ uncles and kids - Thurs 6th June (4wks) 4-6pm Free*/£40 Patchway

*FREE to those who have less than a level 2 qualification

(£10 course fee payable at start and refunded on 80% attendance)

For more information on any of the above contact Helen Humphries, Training Development Co-ordinator on 01454 868 570 or email training@southernbrooks.org.uk.

 

 

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Treat the Family to Local Panto Fun this Half-Term

Tuesday, January 29th, 2013

This year, St Andrew’s Players celebrates 30 years of performing pantomimes with a production of “Sleeping Beauty”. This traditional family panto will take place in St Andrew’s Church Hall in Filton on 13 – 16 February 2013, starting at 7.30pm. There is also a matinee performance on Saturday 16 February, starting at 2.30 pm.

“Sleeping Beauty” promises to be full of all the usual fun and laughter you would expect from this type of show. There is a beautiful princess, handsome prince, nasty fairy, court jester and many more — something for everyone… young, old, friends and family. You are all invited to shake off those winter blues, have a good laugh and boo the baddies.

Tickets are priced at £6 for adults and £3 for children. To book your seats, you can buy your tickets online at www.sapfilton.co.uk or you can call the Box Office on 0845 1540950 . Tickets can also be obtained by visiting the Church Hall Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7.30 to 9.00 pm.

As in previous years, a donation will be shared between two charities which this time round will be Riding for the Disabled and Epilepsy Bereaved.

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Filton Air Cadets Win National Drill Competition

Monday, November 19th, 2012

Cadets and Staff from Filton are celebrating after their Drill team were crowned National Drill Champions at RAF Halton for the first time in its history.

The group of teenagers from 2152 (North Bristol) Squadron beat off stiff competition from the best squadrons across the UK to take the top spot by achieving a standard very few squadrons reach.

During the National competition on Saturday 17th November, they were marked by professional Drill Instructors from the Recruit Training Squadron at RAF Halton. The cadets were not only assessed on their standard of drill as a team, but also on their individual bearing and standard of dress.

The team, who qualified for the National Drill Championship in October following their victory at the South West Region competition, having been in training since August and this is only the second time in its history that cadets from the squadron have competed in the National competition. It is also a first for Bristol & Gloucestershire Wing, who have never previously had a squadron take the top title.

Flight Lieutenant Jim Brimble, Officer Commanding said: “The cadets have been working hard as for weeks, putting in extra time to make sure that both their uniform and standard of drill were at the very highest. I was present at RAF Halton to watch them compete and I am immensely proud of their achievement – a sentiment that I am sure is shared by all the staff and the other cadets.”

In addition to the team being placed first overall, Cadet Warrant Officer Jenny Simmons took top prize as the best Drill NCO, beating the competition from the 6 other teams.

Based at Pine Grove in Filton, the squadron caters for approximately 100 young people aged between 13 and 20, by providing a wide variety of activities. If you are aged 13-17, or an adult volunteer interested in joining the air cadet organisation you can visit www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets to find out more.

Picture: The 2152 (North Bristol) Squadron Cadet Drill Team (CWO Jenny Simmons, Cdt FS Dan Nelson, Cdt Sgt Matilda Parry, Cdt Sgt Ben Rogers, Cdt Sgt Tom Wollacott, Cdt Cpl Daniel Rogers, Cdt Cpl Charlie Bakos, Cdt Cpl Ben Jenkins, Cdt Cpl Tom Dash, Cdt Yusef Yarmohamed, Cdt Lauren Iles, Cdt Asia-Nicole Fellowes, Cdt Hueson Wong, Cdt Chathurya Manchanayke, Cdt Declan Woodhouse and Cdt Joe Tiley) and Squadron Staff (Flt Lt Jim Brimble, WO John Hayes, FS Mat Smeeton, Sgt Stuart Ross and Sgt Lewis Mann) with Commandant of the Air Cadet Organisation, Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, proudly showing off their trophies from Wing, Region and Corps levels.

 

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Bristol Air Cadets win South West Region Drill Competition

Thursday, October 25th, 2012

 

Cadets from 2152 (North Bristol) Squadron are elated after winning the 2012 South West Region Drill and Best NCO competitions.

The team, fresh from their win at the Bristol & Gloucestershire Wing Activities Day, were confident that they could mount a successful challenge to win the 2012 title after narrowly missing out in 2010. Preparation for the 2012 Drill competition season started many months before, with selection and training for the members of the team.

After more intensive preparation, including a boost of confidence from the Wing Warrant Officer, the cadets travelled to Boscombe Down early on Sunday 7th October. This gave them the opportunity to have one final run through ahead of the competition. Although it was difficult to say who was more nervous – staff or cadets, the team composed themselves. Taking to the square to perform the all important sequence that had been first and foremost in their minds for weeks, they left the staff to watch closely from the sidelines!

After a long day of competitions, the whole team nervously awaited the all important result, which when read out, proved the staff’s confidence in the ability of the cadets to succeed beyond doubt – being clear winners by 43 points. As a result, the cadets will now go on to represent South West Region at the National Drill competition in November, with preparations already well underway.

In addition to winning the Drill competition, Cadet Warrant Officer Jenny Simmons also scooped the Best NCO Trophy for her command of the team. The result clearly demonstrated not only the excellent level of drill and strong discipline, but also the dominance of the Drill team over their competitors from the other Wings in the Region.

Cadet Sergeant Ben Rogers summed up how delighted the whole team were with the results, saying that “the whole team have worked really hard over the past months, using evening parades and free time to ensure that our drill and uniform were at the highest possible standard ahead of the competition.” 

Flight Lieutenant Jim Brimble, Officer Commanding added that “The cadets certainly showed their commitment to succeed by stepping up their preparation to meet the increased level of competition. We are all immensely proud of how they performed on the day and will be cheering them on at the Nationals.”

The success also helped Bristol & Gloucestershire Wing take first place honours overall for the South West Region Activities Day.

The Squadron would of course like to thank all those that helped prepare the team, including Rolls-Royce’s continued support in providing a suitably large area for the Drill team to practise on.

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How are you celebrating?

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

With the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Weekend fast approaching, we would love to hear how you are planning to celebrate.

Do let us know your ideas – are you having a local street party? Do send us in your photos of any local community events that you have enjoyed attending – we love to see them!

Have you seen or met the Queen at all over the years?  Do send us in your memories and/or photos if you have any.

In the last edition of Little Stoke Gifford Matters we produced a selection of photos for the Little Stoke Scouts 60th Jubilee which is also being celebrated this year.  One of the photos included the Queen visiting Filton High School, with the caption – ‘The Queen opening Filton High School but can anyone remember the year?’

We were delighted to receive feedback from local resident Claire Wood in response to this photo, which I am pleased to share here  - “I’m Claire Wood and I have lived in Stoke Gifford for the last 14 years. I grew up in Filton. I was really interested in looking on pages 6 and 7 of the Little Stoke Gifford Matters magazine at the old photos of scouting events. There is one picture at the bottom of page 6, with the Queen visiting Filton High School and the comment attached to it is that the Queen is opening Filton High but could anyone remember the year? I remember it very well, as I  was very much involved in the day, as a pupil of Filton High, at the time. It was NOT the opening of Filton High.  It was a visit made by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to celebrate her Silver Jubilee. The date is August 8th 1977.

We all gave up a day of our summer holidays to be there. It followed months of planning, preparation and training on how to behave and what to do.  She visited other places in Bristol on that day including the official opening (or naming, or something) of  Royal Portbury Dock at Avonmouth. 

Just a funny story to add to this but a year later, on the last day of the summer term 1978, Mr Smith who was Head Master of Filton High at the time, gave the day’s notices and said after all the planning that had gone into the previous year’s visit by the Queen, we might not believe him if he told us that she was visiting again today! Actually what was happening was that the Queen was arriving by train at Bristol Parkway and going by car into the city of Bristol for an event and Mr Smith got all the pupils to go out and line the Mile Straight and wave as she passed by in her car!”

Thank you Claire for making contact and agreeing to share your memories.  It would be great to compile a few more memories/photos of the Queen visiting our locality in this, her Diamond Jubilee Year, so if you have anything to share please do get in touch by emailing jaci@mattersmagazines.co.uk

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Prime Minister visits Airbus in Filton

Thursday, April 26th, 2012

The Prime Minister has visited the Airbus site at Filton along with local Filton and Bradley Stoke MP Jack Lopresti. Jack and the Prime Minister met with Airbus senior managers to discuss the firm’s future business plans and were then treated to a tour of the factory that assembles the A400M military aircraft wings. The Prime Minister and the Filton and Bradley Stoke MP then had a chance to chat with Filton based apprentices.

Jack said:  “I was delighted that the Prime Minister took the time to come and see the excellent work that is done by Airbus in Filton. We couldn’t be prouder of Airbus locally and I know that the PM is very proud of what Airbus is doing for UK manufacturing and exports.”

At Filton, over 4,500 people are employed in the design office and in business support roles such as procurement, finance and customer service. Core activities at Filton include the design, engineering and support for Airbus wings, fuel systems and landing gear integration. Teams also work on systems, structures, and aerodynamics research, development and test facilities.

More than 2,000 engineers at Filton are involved in a range of areas, including wing integration, flight physics, structures and systems. Filton also is responsible for wing assembly and equipping for the A400M multi-role airlifter, and is home to a Composites Structures Development Centre.

Airbus’ presence in Filton will be enhanced with the future construction of a new aerospace business park, which is to consolidate the site’s engineering, design, customer support and other employees into one highly-efficient office block. Expected features of this 12-acre facility, which Airbus aims to begin building in 2012, include modern office space and an auditorium.

photo shows: The Prime Minister with Jack Lopresti MP, Mark Barclay Airbus senior Vice President and Airbus A400M managers

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Local College raises money for Sport Relief

Thursday, March 29th, 2012


Staff and students at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (formerly Filton College) took part in the Sport Relief Mile on Sunday to raise money for this national campaign.

Starting at the Millennium Square, the twelve students and six staff members that took part had a wonderful time. Some managed to cross the line in seven minutes whilst others strolled in after a leisurely thirteen. All from the level 2 IT department at the College, the group collectively raised over £300 to go towards this worthy cause.

A total of 17 cities across the country held a flagship run with Bristol having a record turnout of over 4,300 people.

Kath Wilkinson, Tutor, comments: “It was a great experience, the students all supported each other and enjoyed getting involved, most of all we had fun and our legs aren’t too sore today!”

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New Name for Filton College

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Last month, the Secretary of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, John Hayes MP, granted the final approval for Filton College and Stroud College to merge and become South Gloucestershire and Stroud College.

As a result, the new Corporation required re-branding, involving a new logo which the Corporation decided to give students the opportunity to design.

Learners from both Filton and Stroud Colleges undertaking the Art and Design Foundation Diploma, BTEC Extended Diploma in Graphics and Illustration and Foundation Degree in Creative Practices (Graphic Design) took part in the competition.

There was a specific design brief to adhere to which capitalised on all of the design and artistic attributes which the students have been studying as part of their programmes. Once the designs had been entered, the five top designs were presented to a design panel which consisted of students, members from the Marketing Departments of both Colleges, an external design agency, and an employer representative. Each presentation included concept, rationale, research and design options.

The three best presentations from both Colleges were selected for a final presentation to the new Corporation and members of the Senior Management Team, earlier this month.

Harrison Gates, a second year Graphic Design student from Filton College, had the winning design. Originally from Essex, Harrison initially studied and practised in the field of architecture before embarking on the Foundation Degree in Creative Practices at Filton College.

Harrison now has the opportunity to be involved in work experience with outside agencies to see his design rolled out for the new College identity.

Malcolm Turner, Programme Leader for the FdA Creative Practices course, commented: “This is a commendable achievement and demonstrates the level of progress and standards achieved by the Foundation Degree Graphic students at Filton College.”

Sara-Jane Watkins, Vice Principal comments: “This was a fantastic opportunity to engage our students in the merger process and to ensure that the logo chosen really reflects and responds to their needs as students. It is also an excellent opportunity for our learners to then work with a design agency to see the winning design used on all corporate branding from 1 February 2012.”

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Filton College selected as World Cup training venue

Monday, November 28th, 2011

The RFL has today announced that the Memorial Stadium in Bristol will be one of the match venues hosting the Rugby League World Cup in 2013 with Filton College providing the training venue for one of the competing teams. This is the first time in over 100 years since the international rugby league was last hosted in Bristol. Eighteen venues in total will host the 14 nation tournament, across four different countries.

Joe Catcheside, South West Regional Manager for RFL commented: “This is brilliant news. We are already starting to get an inroad to the school network and this should enhance this further to get more young people involved in the sport.”

The Bristol Academy of Sport at Filton College is home to 15 different sporting academies and opened the South West’s first Rugby League Academy in May this year.

Steve Eason, Bristol Academy of Sport rugby player, comments: “It is really good news. The RFL is not very big in the South West at the moment and this should promote the sport to the next generation of players that would normally choose to play rugby union.”

Elliot Rea, Bristol Academy of Sport rugby player, commented: “This is a good opportunity for others who are unaware to get involved. It is also exciting to know that we have already trained at the venue that an international team will be using in a couple of years’ time.”

 For further information please contact Head Coach, Daniel Garbutt on 01179 1926 or by e-mail at daniel.garbutt@filton.ac.uk

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A Fabulous First Four Months For Filton Matters!

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

For those of you who don’t already know we have been delighted to welcome Becky Hodson to the Matters Magazines family. Becky is now working on her fifth edition of the popular community magazine Filton Matters that is distributed free to 9,000 households in Filton, Monks Park and parts of Horfield.

This has been excellent news for the lucky Filton residents, who have been delighted to receive the magazine through their door,

“I enjoy receiving Filton Matters and look forward to reading about all the local news and events happening locally. I keep it handy for all trades and services which are really handy too”. Mrs Kirstie McQuaid, Local Filton Resident

“Just what Filton needed, great community magazine full with lots of information that is very interesting” Mr Paul Randall – Local resident

Local businesses are also having a great response from advertising within the magazine. Filton based ’Associated Windows’ have already carried out new work in the area as a direct result of their advert, they told us,

“Associated Windows have had a great response from the Matters Magazines and we are really pleased with the value for money the advertising provides compared to other advertising methods”. Bill MacDonald - Associated Windows

The arrival of Filton Matters has provided an important link between Bradley Stoke and Bishopston Matters, for many years now the residents and local businesses of Filton have called for their very own community magazine. 

Becky has a lovely warm character and has enjoyed meeting numerous community groups and local business people.  Particular highlights were the Conygre Bar-b-que and fantastic Filton Festival.  She now looks forward to promoting the winter seasonal events in the area.  She told us,

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my new adventure establishing Filton Matters.  I am very proud that the magazine has been so well received from local residents and businesses.  It’s been a pleasure meeting so many new people and getting involved in community events, I am looking forward to many more.  I am very grateful for the support I have received to date,  I will continue to serve the community with local information and interesting articles, if you are interested in contributing please contact me I will be delighted to speak with you.”

We congratulate Becky on an excellent first four months and look forward to Filton Matters growing over the coming years. If you have a community group or event that you would like featured for free or are a business looking to promote your services in this community magazine serving the people of Filton then please do get in touch with her today.

Call Becky on 07717 748257 or e-mail becky@filtonmatters.co.uk

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Police warning: Don’t make a gift to criminals this Christmas

Friday, November 26th, 2010

South Gloucestershire police are telling householders what’s on criminals’ Christmas wish lists so that they can deter burglars by security-marking the top 10 commonly stolen items.

Police say marking property with your postcode or registering it at the secure site www.immobilise.com could deter thieves from stealing bicycles, cash, flat-screen televisions, games consoles, handbags, jewellery, laptops and tools. Thieves also take keys – so they can make off in your car.

Community Safety Inspector Gerry Treacy said: “Nationally police see a seasonal increase in burglary at this time of year, as it’s dark before many people get home from work. Thankfully South Gloucestershire is a safe place to live but people should be on their guard against opportunist thieves. We know criminals travel to lower-crime areas because they think home owners will be less security-conscious.”

Police across South Gloucestershire are stepping up high-visibility and undercover patrols in burglary hotspots and running the ‘Vulnerable House’ scheme – visiting or writing to home owners who have left their homes insecure – as part of Operation Relentless, making you feel safe.

Their efforts have already paid off with the arrest of two men in Filton earlier this month. Both were charged with burglary.

Inspector Treacy said simple security measures were often enough to deter criminals:

• Always lock up and set your alarm in the evening as well as when you go out • Never leave your keys in the back of the door or within sight of the letterbox or window • Light up – use timer light switches to make it look like someone is home and fit motion-sensor lights outside • Fit an alarm to your shed or garage • Secure ladders and tools or a thief could use them to break into your home • Use a bike lock or chain to secure bikes to an anchor plate within in your shed or garage • Make sure garden gates, fencing, sheds and garages are sturdy with good locks • Report any suspicious activity to police immediately • Join or set up Neighbourhood Watch • Don’t help create a market for stolen goods – when buying second hand, make sure the seller owns the item • If you think you have been offered stolen goods, or have any information which could help police tackle burglary call police on 0845 456 7000 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through www.crimestoppers-uk.org. They never ask your name or trace your call.

There’s more information on home security on the police website, www.avonandsomerset.police.uk

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Local MP Fights to save Police Helicopter at Filton

Thursday, November 11th, 2010

Local MP Jack Lopresti has put down a Parliamentary Question to Rt Hon Theresa May MP, the Home Secretary, on the relocation of the police helicopter at Filton Airfield to an RAF base almost 20 miles away.

At present the Western Counties Air operations Unit covers the counties of Avon & Somerset and Gloucestershire. It is based less than 3 minutes flying time from Bristol so that in can react to any serious crime in the city and the surrounding area.  Until the creation of the unit the area suffered high levels of vehicle crime, vehicle pursuits and on street crime such as ram raiding. The presence of the helicopter within a few minutes has markedly reduced that effect.

Jack said “The proposal to close the unit at Filton and move it to RAF Colerne in Wiltshire will have a very serious effect on the aircrafts ability to reach incidents in the local area in an acceptable timescale; therefore I have asked the Secretary of State to assess the implications and to think again. The flying time alone from RAF Colerne is approaching 20 minutes leaving nothing at all to allow for communication difficulties and start up times.  I would submit that the proposals will make the aircrafts ability to provide any meaningful service to Bristol almost impossible and could lead to an increase in crime in the Avon, Somerset and Gloucester areas.”

The wording of the Parliamentary Question is:

“To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the likely effects of the relocation of the Police response helicopter based at Filton Airfield to RAF Colerne on the ability of the proposed National Police Air Service to reduce crime.”

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Good & Bad News on Local Job Front: Jack Lopresti MP Fighting Our Corner

Friday, October 22nd, 2010

Local MP, Jack Lopresti has met with the Secretary of State for Defence to discuss the effects on constituents following the Strategic Defence and Security Review announced by the Prime Minister on Tuesday.

Jack secured a private meeting with the Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox to discuss how the review would directly affect his constituents. Tuesday’s announcement did have good news for the residents of Filton and Bradley Stoke; the Prime Minister confirmed that the A400M programme, built by Airbus in Filton, would go ahead seeing 22 of the transport aircraft ordered and the news that 14 specially converted Airbus A330 strategic transport and tanker aircraft will replace the ageing TriStar fleets.

However the Government did announce cuts to civilian workers within the Ministry of Defence, and it is expected that a portion of these could come from the MoD procurement centre at Abbey Wood. On Tuesday Jack expressed his “deep concern” about the impact of the reduction of MoD staff and how it would affect the procurement centre, promising to meet with Dr Fox to gain clarification on any impact.

Following the meeting on Wednesday morning at the MOD Headquarters in Whitehall, the Secretary of State wrote to the MP in response to the concerns that were raised. The Secretary of State said that “the MOD is committed to make staff reductions by any means possible before recourse to compulsory redundancy.”

Referring to the representations that Mr Lopresti made during the SDSR process Dr Fox said: “I appreciate the energy with which you have represented the interests of your constituents”

Jack said: “I am very grateful that the Secretary of State took the time to meet with me to discuss this important issue. Whilst I am delighted that the A400M programme is going ahead securing hundreds of jobs, I have expressed my concern over the reductions to MOD staff and how this could affect Abbey Wood. I am hopeful that the review process will be able to make the required savings through natural wastage and a recruitment freeze. We will know more detail in due course and I will be representing Abbey Wood throughout the process.”

The MP and the Secretary of State are in the process of arranging a site visit to the MOD centre at Abbey Wood to discuss the concerns directly with staff.

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