Safer Streets Hartcliffe - The Projects

In the heart of the Hartcliffe area, a group of local residents is spearheading a transformative initiative: Hartcliffe Coderz. Launched by a group of local residents - Nevenka, Aleksandar, and Vladi, a trio of skilled IT professionals with a passion for coding, this team is on a mission to ignite hope and opportunity in the youth of their community. Zak and Osman, enthusiastic about technology and the community, joined the team, adding depth and diversity to its capabilities.

The ethos of Hartcliffe Coderz is clear: to provide a positive alternative for Hartcliffe's youth, steering them away from anti-social behaviour through the captivating world of coding. Through web and game development classes, the team not only imparts valuable technical skills but also fosters a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Further, it offers a space for children to connect, socialise, and form lasting friendships.

In 2023 in collaboration with Bristol City Council and as part of the Safer Streets project, Hartcliffe Coderz successfully organised two summer coding camps: Web and Game Development. The response was remarkable, with over 75 applications from the area received for just 40 available seats. The team's commitment to inclusivity ensured a diverse cohort, including children from ethnic minorities and those with learning difficulties.

“We're blessed to finally find support for my son doing something he loves around like minded people, we've really struggled as a family to find that so thank you x”

As the camps unfolded, the transformative power of education became evident. Insecure students blossomed into confident achievers, demonstrating the potential for growth in even the most deprived areas.

“My son absolutely loved his first session! Thank you so much, it’s an amazing feeling to see your son thrive, thank you.”

The culmination of the camps was marked by a graduation ceremony, where students showcased their projects and celebrated their achievements with cake and certificates.

“I’ve been so happy every week to come to Coderz because it’s teaching me important things for the future.”

But the story didn’t end there. Hartcliffe Coderz remained committed to its students, offering three months of post-course support to ensure their continued growth and success. A further Zoom session for game development was organised, responding to high demand from students. Collaborative talks with another local organisation are being held to provide weekly in-person web development workshops.

As the first round of summer camps has drawn to a close, Hartcliffe Coderz stands as a beacon of hope, empowering youth and transforming communities, one line of code at a time. The success of the camps propelled Hartcliffe Coderz into the spotlight, prompting plans to formalise their operations as a Community Interest Company (CIC). This move aims to secure additional funding for future initiatives, ensuring sustained impact in the community.

“Thank you for all your support, kids really loved it. It was very pleasurable to attend the camp. I will definitely put my kids again for this camp.”

Spacemakers is a key park in the heart of the community, much loved and an award winning design when it was created in the 90's, local people have recently come together to try and bring back the recently unloved park to its former glory. The team were successful in being part funded in their Safer Streets bid and worked in partnership with Hartcliffe Club for Young People to ensure the delivery of four sessions for young people to renovate and redesign an existing shelter in the park.

The first session saw young people creating designs around the theme of Outer Space. Once the young people had gathered their ideas, they used pens to draw designs directly onto the shelter.

At the second session the young people started developing their spray painting skills by decorating panels and a container at the local youth club.

The third session involved getting all the young people to paint the existing shelter in preparation for the final design.

The final design day was delayed a few times due to bad weather but the project was finally completed on October 7th when 14 young people attended to help install the art work alongside Duncan a local graffiti artist.

When asked why they got involved some of the young people answered;

"I never spraypainted before" Arabella

"Because I like spraypainting and to help Hartcliffe" Rubi B

"I love space!" Kasie

And some of the things young people most enjoyed about getting involved;

"Rollering the shelter and getting muddy going down the slide!" Noah

"I liked to draw space things on the shelter. I liked picking litter." Ruby

Duncan said:

“I live locally & wanted to work with young people so when they "TAG", hopefully they'll do it better with less negative scrawling. I have really enjoyed the project, and most enjoyed the people involved & the results.

Shanes (Project Manager) said:

"There was a lot that went well with this project, which is amazing. The young people were absolutely brilliant."

"We had a small, committed group, and by the end of the project – word had spread and that 6 – 8 young people turned into 14 for the final installation. Clearly, this has brought together the community – and in addition we have had social media comments of support from people living locally, with one commenting about living opposite and it being “very uplifting”. "

"In addition, all of the YP worked hard to bring together some absolutely amazing results. Its really something to be proud of."

What have we learned from the project?

The whole process was a learning curve. It’s the first funding where we have had to pitch the idea to the local community and gain their votes to get the project going.

Since being successful with this, we have had so many ask about the how things are going, but the biggest thing I feel I have learnt personally is that Hartcliffe & Withywood as a community is so much more than it’s given credit for. The whole community are getting behind this project, enjoying seeing the Young People express themselves and be creative.

This is a story about Racheal who volunteers for a community group called Communities Together. Racheal is a local resident who has lived in Hartcliffe for over 40 years. She has 4 children and has first hand experience of the anti-social behaviour that is prevalent in her community.

Rachael got involved with the Safer Streets design group in October 2022 and was a key member of the group who delivered the initiative.

Along with some other local residents, Racheal now runs a project called Marvellous Mondays. The idea for Marvellous Mondays came from researching what was happening in the community and speaking to local residents. The only groups running in the community at the time of research were focused on young people or fitness. Marvellous Mondays is mostly centred around families and building relationships and skills within the community.

It was important that this project was led by residents of the community. After many discussions, meetings and more research, Marvellous Mondays submitted a bid for and was successful in securing funding through the Safer Streets project.

A timetable for activities was designed and promoted within the community.

Activities running on a Monday evening are quite diverse. Family quiz night, Board games club, Coffee evening, Family crafts, Art classes, and a Men’s social group.

While some activities are popular, it has been a challenge to get people to attend others which is why we have regular meetings to discuss new ideas and how those groups can be supported. Recent ideas have been to work with Men in sheds, Andys man’s club or wider promotion within the community.

Racheal works hard to promote these groups within the community and is loved by the volunteers that work alongside her.

Through her volunteering Racheal has gained the confidence to apply for a part time job that would fit around her family and volunteering work.

Racheal says that the volunteer work she does has helped to boost her confidence and has encouraged her to be more outgoing. She has met new people and made new friends. 

Racheal’s advice to anyone looking to set up a community group is:

“Go for it. With the help and support from community development workers, and a good team, you can achieve the impossible. Also, if people wanted to volunteer with us, we would welcome them with open arms. Being part of this team has been a great experience, I’ve learnt that I’ve got patience I never knew I had. I am so proud that I am able to give back to my community and support those that are in need.

As part of Communities Together we are looking to secure further funding to continue our activities.

Lewis is a 19-year-old Hartcliffe resident who volunteers for a community group called Communities Together. Lewis is part of a team of residents who were successful in receiving funding through the Hartcliffe safer streets fund for the Together Tuesday’s project.

Together Tuesdays is a community-based project aimed at providing a safe and welcoming space to the local residents. With groups including Stay and play, Craft club, Homework sessions and a Pay what you can lunch club, as well as providing support with form filling and advice, the volunteers are kept busy.

Lewis is a very shy person, so for him to become a volunteer is a huge step outside of his comfort zone. He has had major input into the activities and helps to run the groups and set up the space ready for activities.

As one of the few males involved in Together Tuesdays, his input is valued and his opinion as a young person helps to shape how decisions are made.

Lewis found interacting with others difficult, so from the beginning planning stages he has pushed himself to speak up more and meet new people. He enjoys taking part and sometimes leading the craft sessions and is a firm favourite among the children when we run our holiday program.

Being a volunteer has also helped Lewis to develop professionally. He is one of the First aid trained volunteers and has undergone mental health training, child protection training, and food hygiene training. skills he wants to put to good use when he finds employment.

“I didn’t realise how much planning and preparation went into running a community group. There was a lot more paperwork and legal stuff that you have to deal with and I’m thankful for the support of the other volunteers, so we were able to put things in place for not just our safety but the safety of the people in the community that attend our groups.

If I could do anything differently, I would do more research into the running of community groups by speaking to others who run similar groups so that we knew the hurdles that we would have to cross.

I am looking forward to working with the other volunteers to submit applications for further funding so that we can continue to facilitate the activities that have become an important part of our community.”

I’m so glad I voted for this project to be funded, I love bringing my son to Stay and Play. I’ve met new people and made friends. My son Harry loves it. Before Tuesday tots on together Tuesdays started there wasn’t a playgroup that didn’t clash with my work schedule.” ~Becky

This popular and successful project in Hartcliffe was started in 2021 by Access Sport. Because of opening restrictions, the track never took off until local resident Simon Long was employed as Community Activator. Simon began working in the Spring of 2022 and immediately made valuable connections with local organisations, businesses and residents, most importantly with local children and young people.

When he first started it was quite intimidating, being surrounded by 30 kids often wearing balaclavas and with the stigma of Hartcliffe thrown in. He had some occasions where police were called because it felt unnerving, but thankfully never came to anything. Simon did not realise that while there are huge health benefits to cycling and specifically pump track riding and the obvious impact to just being out in the fresh air, but also that the track was a fantastic vehicle to start informally educating young people and mentoring them. Once this had been realised, the track took on a whole different meaning. Simon and other community members started doing sponsored events, BBQ’s, fun days and even litter picking in Willmott park with the kids that respect was exchanged. 

Simon says that the track was a real catalyst to a complete career change for him, after a period of homelessness and the being moved to South Bristol, he has since gone on to manage the local youth club and also mentor at Bridge Learning Campus and Merchants Secondary and continues to support the track open sessions. 

For the community, he feels that he is now embedded in the area and within the kids and parents lives, next steps for the track are that it needs to form a board, become its own CIC and recruit more volunteers to allow more sessions to be available.

In 2023 Simon bid for funding from Safer Streets to enable the continuation of weekly BMX sessions at the track as well as purchase some more equipment to ensure access for those without their own bikes.

The sessions are popular amongst local children and young people who now regularly attend.