Curo News

Pride month

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 14:23:06 Z

Curo have signed up to the HouseProud Pledge, a scheme that all social housing providers can sign up to, to demonstrate their commitment to LGBTQ+ resident equality and support.

The home is of huge importance to LGBTQ+ residents, it should be a place where people can freely express their sexual orientation and/or their gender identity without prejudice.

At Curo, we want our customers to feel welcome and heard. This is why we signed the HouseProud Pledge. You can find out everything you need to know about the pledge here.

If you have any questions, or would like to join to our LGBTQ+ Resident Engagement Group, please email pride@curo-group.co.uk.

Local school kids get books and festival tickets thanks to Curo and Travis Perkins funding pot

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 11:17:41 Z

Pupils at St. Michaels Junior Church School in Twerton, Bath received a reading boost with a donation of best-selling books from housing association Curo and Travis Perkins Managed Services.

The school is one of several in the local area to receive the books, along with free tickets for the recent Bath Children’s Literature Festival.

The donation was provided through a joint Curo and Travis Perkins funding pot which is available for local community projects and ideas.

Samantha Thomas, Business Support Lead at Curo said:

‘We’re more than happy to help schools in Bath to attend this fantastic festival.

‘As an added gift we purchased new books for their libraries, and we hope this experience may even inspire them to become writers themselves one day.’

Martyn Piper, Account Manager at Travis Perkins Managed Services added:

‘We are very pleased to be able to support the Bath Children’s Literature Festival. I’m sure this event has inspired children to enjoy reading more in the future.’

More than £1,700 was used to allow pupils in Bath to access the festival, as well as providing brand new books for their libraries.

Some schools could not go to the festival due to COVID, so plans are being made for authors to visit them in person.

The donated books, including ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ by Cressida Cowell, are all by authors who took part in the festival.

Hazel Plowman, Head of Creative Learning for Bath Festivals said:

‘We were delighted to receive a grant from the Curo/Travis Perkins Community Fund which enabled us to inspire even more children to read for pleasure as part of the Bath Children’s Literature Festival.

‘Bringing schools to see Waterstones Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell live on stage for free, and providing selections of new books for school libraries means giving more children the opportunity to share in the magic of seeing an author, and to continue it afterwards in school.

‘Inspiring children and young people is a vital part of what we do at Bath Festivals and we are grateful to the community fund for supporting us to make it happen.’

Making connections in North Somerset

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 16:00:58 Z

Over recent years we have expanded our award-winning independent lives services across the North Somerset area. Today, in North Somerset, Curo colleagues are:

delivering two social prescribing services through GPs,
working with unaccompanied asylum-seeking children,
providing supported housing for people facing homelessness,
offering 'step-down' accommodation for people ready to leave hospital but unable to return home, and
working with numerous community groups and organisations through our Community Connect service.

All these services have one thing in common. They all support local people and communities by working with their strengths.

At a glance: North Somerset Independent Lives services

Social Prescribing:

A social prescription offers the kind of help that doesn’t come in a tube or a bottle. Our Link Workers support GPs and their teams in surgeries to offer non-medical options to re-connect patients with their communities, and to help build resilience and support by connecting people to the things they enjoy. Referrals into this service do not need to be Curo residents. Curo's team of Link Workers provide social prescribing services to just over 96,000 patients.

We work with Mendip Vale Primary Care Network through GP surgeries in Clevedon, Weston-Super-Mare, Yatton, Langford and Congresbury.

And Gordano Valley Primary Care Network through GP surgeries in Portishead, Pill and Clevedon.

Click here to read more about the role we play in making a difference to people like Karen who told us, 'the service has been fantastic, especially during these difficult times'.

Community Connect:

Our Community Connect team also provides social prescribing across North Somerset, however referrals to this service do not need to come from a GP. Like our GP-linked social prescribing, people do not have to be Curo residents to be referred. The team works with groups in communities to find out what is happening and to link people with the activities and support that helps them feel connected to where they live. Our work in community settings mean we will meet people in groups and activities to find out more about you and the things they are passionate about. Our Community Connect Wellbeing Workers support more than 1,000 people a year in this way.

Temporary Accommodation services:

At any one time, we work with 36 people across North Somerset, with that number set to grow in the coming months. We work with people facing homelessness who are looking to find independent accommodation and need support to help them reconnect with their communities and find their home.

Independent Living Service:

This award-winning service helps people remain independent in their homes by providing the additional support and services they need as life changes. This support is built around the things that are important to our Independent Living Service customers. We sometimes find that once a person has had support from either of our free-to-access social prescribing services, they decide they want longer term support from someone who will get to know and trust them. Our Independent Living Service offers this.

If you'd like to know more about our work in North Somerset, or want to discuss how we can work together, contact Curo Service Manager Jack Bailey on Twitter @Jack_Curo or by emailing jack.bailey@curo-group.co.uk.

Volunteering with North Somerset's LGBT+ Forum - the journey continues

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 10:40:27 Z

Readers of my blog in November will know I recently started volunteering with the North Somerset LGBT+ Forum. The next part of my journey I was asked to present a £50 donation to the charity on behalf of our Community Connect service, which I work for as a Wellbeing Worker. With our area under tier three restrictions, that wasn’t going to be so easy.

I was informed by the charity that they would be holding their ‘Rumble in the Jumble’ event outside their office at Saxons Estate Agents in Weston-super-Mare. I got in touch with Thom Winter-Gray, the charity’s Treasurer and a fellow Curo colleague, to arrange to hand over the donation.

On a cold and sunny Sunday morning I made my way to Weston with my partner, son and dog in tow. We were warmly greeted by LGBT+ Forum chairman Steve Winter-Gray, Thom and other members of the charity. The stand looked colourful with merchandise and goods displayed across two large tables. The floor was marked out for social distancing and masks were worn by all attending. We posed for photos as I handed over the donation to Steve.

Steve then gave me a tour of their office space which they rent out from Saxons, who had also been kind enough to let them put their event on outside of the office. The space is amazing, with bright, colourful flags displayed around the walls and a comfy seating area in the centre of the room, surrounded by work stations, including two hot desks for others to use.

I also recently attended the first digital meeting of the new joint venture between NSLGBT+ and Community Connect: the 50+ Group, aimed at the over-50s LGBT+ community in North Somerset. Their event, previously held in a café in Weston town centre, had its first airing over a virtual platform on 24 November between 6 and 8pm.

We were happy to welcome LGBT historian Cheryl Morgan, who spoke about LGBT history through the centuries. This was really interesting and an education and eye opener for me. Anyone interested in joining can contact the group by email at support@nslgbtforum.com or visit www.nslgbtforum.com.

The 50+ group will continue virtually until the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, and we can revert to face-to-face group sessions.

The North Somerset LGBT+ Forum is always on the lookout for volunteers, so anyone interested in volunteering can also contact the charity using the details above. Their vision is that North Somerset is fully inclusive of, and engaged with, the LGBT+ population, and that North Somerset is a friendly and welcoming place to live and visit for members of the LGBT+ community.

I have been warmly welcomed into the charity and hope to continue to be involved as much as I can in the future. Community Connect and Curo are proud to be involved with such a wonderful charity.

Pictured, L-R: Steve Winter-Gray, Thom Winter-Gray and Andrea Hutchins

New LGBT+ 50+ group launches in Weston-super-Mare

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 12:23:44 Z

On Wednesday 25 November, the new North Somerset LGBT+ 50+ Group holds its inaugural meeting. The new group, for people aged 50+, is being supported by the North Somerset Community Connect service which is run by housing association Curo and funded by North Somerset Council.

Community Connect helps older people to boost their wellbeing by connecting them with the wealth of local activities, groups and initiatives on offer in the local community.

The group plans to meet on the fourth Wednesday of every month. The new lockdown means the group will be running through the Zoom virtual platform for the time-being.

Chair of North Somerset LGBT+ Forum Steve Winter-Gray said: “We’re delighted to be working alongside Curo to bring about our 50+ LGBT+ Group for Weston-super-Mare and the surrounding areas of North Somerset. This is a much-needed group for the older LGBT+ community.

“It’s great that Curo and the North Somerset LGBT+ Forum have been able to work together to make this happen. We’re excited to host the group alongside Curo and we’re looking forward to the next group gathering. Although Lockdown V2.0 has commenced, we have already taken steps to ensure our group for November 2020 can be delivered virtually.”

Curo’s Community Connect Wellbeing Worker Andrea Hutchins volunteers with the new group: “At Community Connect we have lots of ideas and hope to see this group grow and go from strength to strength. We’ll be asking what people would like to do at the group – maybe a quiz, bingo or live music – and we’ll be asking other organisations and groups to come and talk about their services.

“I’ll be helping with the general running of the group, but my role with Community Connect means I’ll also be able to offer useful information to people at our meetings. I’m well placed to talk about existing activities and groups, and make referrals in to services that could help people improve their wellbeing.”

For details of the group and their next events, email support@nslgbtforum.com, find them on social media (‘North Somerset LGBT+ Forum’ on all platforms) or contact Community Connect on 01275 888803.

Pictured, L-R: North Somerset LGBT+ Forum Chair Steve Winter-Gray and Secretary Theresa Wills promoting the group at a local car boot sale.

Communities; it’s all about staying connected

Thu, 28 May 2020 12:14:22 Z

Community Development Coordinator Jade Innes describes how our Community Connect service in North Somerset has helped to leverage over £5,000 of COVID-19 funding for a local foodbank. Jade also looks at the vital role ‘community assets’ like foodbanks play in addressing inequality and boosting health and wellbeing.

Last month Western Power released funding for community groups and local authorities who are supporting their community through the COVID-19 pandemic. Their application process was straightforward; only a few questions and the eligibility criteria were ideal. The only issue was the deadline, five days…

Along with my fellow community development coordinators, we spent a day calling and emailing community groups, parishes and other local authorities, advocating to them the application and giving support.

This is an important part of being a community development coordinator; bringing awareness to community groups of opportunities like this, to encourage them to be sustainable into the future.

As community development coordinators we were able to liaise with a few groups that are connected to their community and had capacity to apply for this money.

One such organisation was Weston-Super-Mare Foodbank. Their Chair, Clive Bodley, was already looking for additional funding so the foodbank could support more local families and individuals who have been furloughed, lost their jobs or seen their income fall in other ways because of COVID-19.

Clive said: “During 2019 we provided emergency food to support 6,500 people. Whilst we hope the increase over recent weeks is a blip rather than a permanent state, we are gearing up for a significantly higher total in 2020.”

The foodbank has seen a leap in demand in recent weeks: “Figures of foodbank usage are very close to 1,500 for March and April, which is more than double the amount of people we helped last year over the same period.”

Clive put in an application for food purchases and boxing materials, folding trolleys, volunteer drivers, and to cover the costs of additional printing – totalling £5,500. Clive was successful in being awarded the total amount. What a success!

Weston Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust whose aim is to reduce hunger and end poverty. The Trussell Trust says that between April and September 2019 the four top reasons for referrals into foodbanks were low income, delays betting benefits, changes to benefits and debt. Having access to foodbanks also helps reduce the stigma people can feel in asking for support. To find out more about Trussell Trust and some case stories please visit their website.

North Somerset, the area Community Connect serves, has a variety of needs; it has a relatively high self-employment rate of 13%, compared with the UK average of 10.9%. North Somerset also has huge inequality, with 21 geographical areas ranking within the 10% most deprived areas in England. This means basic needs like housing and social connections are not always present at the right standard (Nomisweb and BNSSG). This places more pressure on existing services when a pandemic hits our communities. Inequality is a significant determinant of health and quality of life, and addressing this is a fundamental part of what we do at Community Connect.

Our Community Connect service is aimed at people aged over 50. But the importance of being connected to our community doesn’t start at 50; community connections are vital from cradle to grave, and especially in times of poor health. As the think tank, The King’s Fund states: “social support is particularly important in increasing resilience and promoting recovery from illness.”

The King’s Fund describes a community as a group of people joined together by a common interest or experience. Community can be defined by geographic location, race, age or health need. They suggest that a way to build and increase connections and reliance is to support social networks, create community champions, utilise community-based assets and integrate with stakeholders. That’s exactly what our Community Connect service is about.

Community organisations like Weston Foodbank are the ‘community assets’ the King’s Fund talks about. Right now, demand for the services of assets like Weston Foodbank is exceptionally high, so it’s more important than ever we make sure they are part of the picture and the solution when it comes to improving health inequality within North Somerset.

Today, with this boost in funding, Weston Foodbank is looking to a future where they can have a permanent warehouse, creating stability and a place of sanctuary for their community.

Find out more about Community Connect here.

Follow Community Connect on Twitter and on Facebook

Photo courtesy of Trussell Trust

Plans for new Bath park given the green light – but what should it be called?

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 13:47:28 Z

Image above: illustrative bird's eye view of the new park

Curo have secured planning consent to create a new park at their development of almost 700 homes at Mulberry Park in Combe Down, Bath. Now, the housing association and housebuilder is asking local residents to get involved in a competition to find a name for the new community open space.

This is the final major planning application to be determined by Bath & North East Somerset Council for Mulberry Park, after the fourth and last phase of development was granted detailed planning permission in July this year.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “Local residents, stakeholders and B&NES officers have helped us to develop and refine proposals for a new park that is beautiful, inclusive and can be enjoyed by people of all ages; we’re delighted to be able to start works on the public open space soon.

“We want to continue the tradition we’ve established at Mulberry Park, of celebrating the area’s history, its people and their contributions to community and country and we’re inviting residents once more to choose a name – this time, for their new park.

“The development itself was named by local resident Ken Cookes in 2014, to reflect the city’s long military history and celebrate the Mulberry Harbours, designed in Bath by the Admiralty and used for the D-Day landings in World War 2 – while the streets in Phases 1 and 2 at Mulberry Park have been named after the young men of Combe Down who served in the First World War. We’re keen to continue working with the residents in naming these new local landmarks.

“So if you have an idea for a great name for the park, we’d love to hear from you!”

The new park will include an equipped play area for ages 2-11, as well as a picnic zone, flexible event spaces, areas of wildflower meadow, sensory planting, and hedge and tree planting to encourage biodiversity. Curo will also look at developing a centrepiece for the park, such as a bandstand, to support cultural activities.

In addition, footpath links will facilitate access to the park from the development and the wider area, while the Woodland Walk, which will be created north of the park, will connect the community to other places in Bath via Pope’s Walk.

The park, which was granted planning permission by B&NES officers via delegated decision, will open in 2022. The case officer’s report highlighted that “the proposed park will provide an attractive area of public open space with a mix of uses and activities which will cater to the needs of the newly established community at Mulberry Park.”

The Nailsea Leg Club

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 11:54:06 Z

Watch this film made by a local volunteer about the Nailsea and District Leg Club which provides treatment in a relaxing space for people with leg conditions.

With almost 400 members today, the club was set up in 2015 when local GP Practice Managers and passionate community members came together with the support of Curo's Community Connect service. Community Connect, funded by North Somerset Council, supports people with isolation and loneliness, connecting them with their communities through what's known as 'social prescribing'.

"We send people home a little bit happier."

Free exercise classes for older people at The Hub

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 16:40:58 Z

The Hub is currently hosting Extend Exercise, an gentle upbeat class designed for older people or those with restricted mobility.

The free classes are funded by Curo through our Community Chest Grant scheme. The Community Chest provides grants to support initiatives that make a positive contribution to Curo neighbourhoods.

The classes are every Monday and run by Ketyn Jepson who explains “There's recently been a surge of interest in exercise sessions for over 60s. I’m very passionate about helping individuals to stay as fit, active and healthy as they can be for as long as possible.”

“The classes are for men and women over 60 or those with restricted mobility. You will spend an enjoyable hour with like-minded people and have fun exercising every part of your body from your fingers to your toes. We play familiar music from the 60s and 70s right up to modern day which will have you moving in no time!”

“We start with standing exercises and movement to music. At least 20 minutes of the class will be seated but you can use a chair for support for the whole class. We focus on balance and use resistance bands, light hand weights, squishy balls and scarves for strengthening exercises.”

What people say about the classes

“The session gives me a good stretch and wakes my whole body. It is really good for someone my age who has reasonable ability but needs pushing a bit. The exercises for balance are really important and helpful.” Marion, Bath

“It keeps me in touch with life in general. In other words – physically, mentally and emotionally fit.” Ann, Bath

“The exercises are well designed and thorough, although not vigorous. The teaching is gentle and careful. If I am not smiling it is because I am laughing.” Bill, Chew Magna

Book your place

To book your place visit the Hub, call 01225 436869 or email extendyourhealth@yahoo.com.

Our Community Connectors service in South Glos is changing

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 18:26:25 Z

From 1 April 2019, the Community Connectors service that Curo runs on behalf of South Gloucestershire Council is ending in its current form. The good news is that all the services and support that have been offered by Community Connectors will continue as part of a new service called One You South Gloucestershire.

Visit our Community Connectors web page to find out more.

Get fit with free cardio drumming workshops at The Hub!

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 13:39:10 Z

Our new community building, The Hub, is hosting free cardio drumming workshops for children and adults in February and March.

Cardio drumming is a unique and fun way of exercising and increasing your stamina, motivation and focus. The workshops are free for residents from Foxhill, Mulberry Park and Combe Down.

What is cardio drumming?

Cardio drumming takes a simple movement (drumming) and turns it into a full-body workout that leaves you smiling, sweating and feeling great. Studies show that when you enjoy a workout you’re more likely to do it again and make it part of a routine.

What happens at a cardio drumming workshop?

Each workshop includes rhythm, exercise and relaxation.

Cardio drumming is suitable for everyone, you’ll learn rhythms and exercise at a level appropriate to your fitness.

The workshop starts with a warm up and then different rhythms and movements. This is followed by a High Intensity Training session of one minute intervals of intensive drumming at a pace that is comfortable yet challenging with varying levels of rhythm exercises.

Studies show that High Intensity Training increases cardiovascular fitness and promotes healthy blood glucose levels.

Benefits of cardio drumming

You'll feel healthier, happier, energised and invigorated
It's fun learning new skills and rhythms
It will increase your stamina, motivation and focus
It reduces stress
Cardio drumming also improves circulation, boosts immune system and reduces illness

Cardio drumming at The Hub

The free workshops are held at The Hub, Curo’s new community building in Mulberry Park, and hosted by percussionist and award winning facilitator Paul Midgley from Twin Wave.

The workshops are funded by Curo through our Community Chest Grant scheme. The Community Chest provides grants to support initiatives that make a positive contribution to neighbourhoods where we work.

Saturday sessions: 2 March, 9 March, 30 March, 6 April
9am-10am (families) and 10am-11am (adults)
Register for the family sessions
Register for the adult sessions

More information

Find out more about cardio drumming on the Twin Wave website.

Email paul@twinwave.co.uk for more information about the free workshops at The Hub.

Find out about our Community Chest grants.