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What
improvements would you like to see in the area where you live? That’s
the question ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Gloucestershire will be asking people of all ages
in two different corners of the city.
Then
we will do what we can to help them turn their dreams into reality.
Think Ground Force meets Changing Rooms on a bigger scale and with
a mission and you get the idea.
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| Tidying
up this overgrown churchyard at Barnwood is one of the improvement
ideas |
Voices
of Gloucester will be based around the Central Technology College
and Barnwood Park School and their surrounding communities.
It
is one of 50 similar schemes happening right across the UK, all
of which are designed to give a voice and a helping hand to people
in local neighbourhoods who may feel their views and ideas have
been unheard until now.
In
Gloucester our aim is to involve the girls from Barnwood and the
boys from Central, their families and the wider community in a series
of improvements both inside and outside the two schools.
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| Another
suggestion is to transform the neglected quad at Central Technology
College |
Our
hope is that working together on shared goals will help to break
down barriers, dismantle stereotypes and lead to greater mutual
understanding and appreciation of the many different cultural and
religious elements of the area.
The
youngsters from Barnwood and Central have made a great start in
drawing up suggestions to benefit their neighbourhoods.
Their
ideas include:
- Turning the neglected quad at Central Technology College
into a useful space, possibly an outdoor arts venue
- Restoring cycle links around Barnwood Park School
- Environmental improvements including recycling and cleaning
up a churchyard adjoining Barnwood Park School
- Raising funds for a mini-bus which can be used both by the
schools and to benefit the community, for example taking local
pensioners on outings
- Setting up an internet cafe for local young people
- New websites for both schools
But
Voices of Gloucester is not just about the schools and their ideas.
We
at ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Gloucestershire want to involve every age group and every
single part of the community in making Voices a success.
Youth
clubs, families, religious and community groups, councillors, shops,
businesses - all can play their part.
And
if YOU live near Central or Barnwood Park we want to hear your ideas
for making your part of Gloucester a better place to live.
- Improved
leisure or community facilities?
- Greater
learning opportunities?
- Restoring
a neglected area?
- Transport
improvements?
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| Simon
Williams wants to hear your ideas and suggestions |
Tell
us what you would like to see - because Voices is all about
letting local people air their views in their own words, and giving
them the chance to turn words into action by bringing those views
to the attention of those who can do something about it.
Simon
Williams from ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Gloucestershire is leading the six-month-long
project, and the station will be broadcasting regular updates on
progress - many involving the pupils from both schools researching
and presenting their own reports on air.
There
will be ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ TV coverage too, and here online we will be featuring
a diary and photo-gallery as the projects and events take shape.
We
will need support and practical help of all kinds to make all the
Voices projects a reality - so if you would like to be involved
or find out more fill in our online form below or call Simon Williams
on 01452 308585.
We’re
very excited - we hope you will be too. So get in touch if you want
to be a part of Voices.
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