Features / Bristol Charity Advent Calendar 2020
Bristol Charity Advent Calendar 2020, day 15: Hartcliffe and Withywood Community Partnership
Hartcliffe and Withywood Community Partnership (HWCP) represents and works on behalf of the people living on the southern edge of the city.
From running the @symes Community Building in Hartcliffe’s main shopping centre and offering community transport, to producing a magazine and hosting drop-in sessions, the partnership is a key puzzle piece in the south Bristol community.
Independently run and community led, bring residents together, help them make decisions about the area, develop skills and confidence and celebrate the heritage and creativity of south Bristol.
is needed now More than ever
“We help make sure the community can make decisions about local issues, and we initiate activities or projects and promote local partnership work,” say the team at HWCP. “We believe in empowering local residents and building communities.
“We are here to make Hartcliffe, Withywood, and surrounding areas places that work for everybody.”
The @symes community centre is currently closed to the public. Photo: Ellie Pipe
The @symes Community Building is an accessible, environmentally friendly and thriving hub in Hartcliffe, which is used both my tenants and for projects run by HWCP.
The team also run a community transport service, with the CATT bus operating throughout south Bristol, picking passengers up from their homes, taking them to the shops, appointments or for social outings and dropping them back safely.
“Our community transport services are keeping people independent in their own homes and building social connections and community across south Bristol,” says Amy Kinnear of HWCP.
“Many of our members describe the service as a lifeline. With the cost of social isolation to the health service estimated at £2.1bn a year, our services are saving the public purse, and filling gaps in the public transport network.
“Our services are the eyes and ears of vulnerable or disabled residents in our communities. The social side, support networks and connections made through our services are probably more important than the transport itself.”
HWCP’s CATT bus is a lifeline for many. Photo: HWCP
The partnership also produce a tri-yearly magazine and, under normal circumstances, run community groups including knitting sessions, solicitor drop-ins and art for all.
“At HWCP we help make sure the local community can make decisions about local issues,” say the team at the partnership. “We initiate projects and promote local partnership work between the community, businesses, council and voluntary groups.
“We believe in empowering local residents and are here to support anyone who wants to get involved in the local community.”
Main photo: HWCP
Read more: The bus providing a lifeline for many Bristolians
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