For the past 15 years, St Werburghs Community Centre has been home to Gladey, a remarkable yoga teacher whose journey intertwines with the very essence of motherhood, self-discovery, and empowerment. We sat down with her for a chat and to learn more about her story.  

Gladey was introduced to yoga during an adventurous trip to India when she was just 18 years old. However, it wasn’t until she embraced motherhood, particularly during her third pregnancy, that yoga became part of her life, becoming a source of solace and strength. 

“Yoga is like medicine for the mind and soul,” Gladey reflects over a cup of tea, “It brought me calmness and centeredness during the chaotic journey of motherhood. It enabled me to be a better mother for my children.” 

What sets Gladey’s classes apart is not just the asanas or poses but the holistic approach she adopts. Her yoga  sessions are trauma-informed, providing a safe space for individuals to explore their emotions and express themselves freely. Through singing and movement workshops, she encourages her students to delve deep into their authentic selves, fostering a sense of self-love and acceptance. 

Gladey teaches classes that are open to people of all genders, but driven by her lived experiences as a mother and her profound connection with yoga, Gladey found her calling in working specifically with women and mothers. Her women-focused sessions have become a sanctuary for women of diverse backgrounds, ages, and beliefs, reflecting the rich tapestry of Bristol itself. 

“We engage all the senses – from music to scent – to enhance the mind-body experience. It’s about creating a nurturing environment where women can truly connect with themselves and embrace their uniqueness”, Gladey explains. 

“I’ve witnessed first-hand the transformative power of yoga,” Gladey shares warmly. “It’s not just about physical postures; it’s about nurturing the mind, body, and spirit. My aim is to lift women up, to help them reconnect with their inner strength and sensuality.” 

Over the years, Gladey’s classes have not only empowered countless people to take up the practice but have also inspired some of her students to become yoga teachers themselves. One of them even runs her own postnatal mum and baby yoga classes at the centre.  Her impact transcends the yoga mat, radiating outwards into the community, fostering a culture of support and growth. 

Gladey’s journey reflects the ethos of inclusivity and empowerment we like to foster at St Werbughs Community Centre. It’s a reminder that within the walls of community centres like this, magic happens – where diverse groups come together, where individuals find their voices, and where lives are transformed, one yoga class at a time. 

Gladey’s Classes  

Hatha Yoga with Gladey (all genders) – Mondays 9.30am – 10.30am. £10 per class.  

Shakti Yoga for Women of All Ages & In Pregnancy – Thursdays 7.30pm – 8.30pm. £10 per class.  

For more information contact Gladey on 07505 353390 or yogagladey@gmail.com.

St Werburghs Community Centre has joined other Bristol Community Organisations in the city-wide campaign ‘Roots of Resilience: Saving Community Spaces’. This campaign calls for urgent action to enhance Bristol’s shared spaces and create better protection from the many threads they face, securing their longevity.

This week, 16 community organisations, including ours, launched the campaign ahead of a silver motion being raised at full council on Tuesday 12th March 2024.

The manifesto launched as part of the campaign calls on Bristol City Council to take urgent and transformative action to protect and enhance our shared spaces for the benefit of our communities, urging the council to follow a scrutiny enquiry and adopt a positive stance towards asset transfer and community management.

We have a big opportunity for positive and long term in Bristol, and to set a precedent for the rest of the country on this issue which is present in many cities and communities. As councils are faced with financial scrutiny, the campaign highlights the need for the process underpinning decisions on council-owned buildings to reflect their importance as the connecting fabric of our communities.

The One City Plan already recognises the positive impact of sustainable community anchor organisations, and places an emphasis on the importance of communities having a role in managing their own spaces. The Plan calls for a doubling of these facilities by 2040 – a goal which is only achievable through the changes outlined in the manifesto.

Details of the proposals can be found in the full Manifesto, which you can access in the link below, but these focus on the following actions, around facilitating community-ownership and ensuring the perspectives of communities are heard during decision-making processes:

• Review the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) process, to enable more community organisations to consider this route.
• Adopt a target and strategy for increasing the number of community owned assets, in line with the One City Plan.
• Delegate leadership for community assets to a member of cabinet or committee, recognizing the sector’s role across council departments.
• Delegate authority to officer level to award CAT leases, for 95 years, when these are up for renewal.
• Include representation from Neighbourhoods and Committees in the CAT decision-making committees.
• Create a framework for protection and disposal of council owned assets, including creating a new ‘community’ asset class which prioritises preservation of community spaces.
• Implement a fair rent structure which recognises the social and investment benefits of community-owned assets.
• Develop a capital investment strategy for organisations with CAT leases.

By incorporating the asks set out in this manifesto, Bristol’s councillors can demonstrate a model of positive cooperation and community ownership and management which works for all our communities.

The campaign is collecting testimonies, thoughts and feelings about what community spaces mean to people from our communities, if you have a sentence or two to share, please add it in the comments, or use the hashtag #CommunityRoots to support our campaign.

Click here to read the full Manifesto ‘Roots of Resilience: Saving Community Spaces’. 

We are very pleased to announce that we have been successful in securing funding through Feeding Bristol* for our St Werburghs Foodshare.

St Werburghs Foodshare supports families in the local area by providing them with food parcels and other weekly necessities. With food and energy prices rising, food poverty in Bristol is only predicted to increase and the families using the service are more in need than ever of the resources we provide.

The Foodshare service supplies 2 full bags of filling and nutritious food to families each week, as well as essential cleaning and sanitary items worth roughly £20. There is a choice for families to help themselves to our ‘shop’ in order to give individuals a greater choice and give more suitable range of foods for their families.  Each week families can make an optional £3 donation towards their bags to help with the sustainability of the project.

We have many single parent families but also a fair number with a large number of children. We spoke with the families recently and:

• 100% of members said the project helped their mood/happiness;
• 89% said they felt less isolated;
• 94% said this had improved their wellbeing, including their health.

With increased pressure on families with the recession and cost of living crisis, we have seen a steady increased uptake since October, with at least one family signing up per week plus referrals from other struggling food support services. We have found, especially after Christmas, our numbers have seen a sharp increase in the past few weeks. We are very conscious that we remain fair and able to give the first to the last person though our doors the same service and amount of food and toiletries. This become harder when there are more people than you had anticipated within a week.

We know that having access to this project has taken away some of the stress that these families face. Currently, the project benefits from food from Fareshare, the Community Farm just outside Bristol and we buy key items from supermarkets. In turn, by increasing the access to local food the projects plays a role in helping to reduce food waste in the city.

With this extra funding, we can ensure that there is always a back stock of food that can be given out even if our fresh food has run out or massively reduced. Ensuring that no person goes hungry that week.

If your children attend a local school and you are struggling with money you can sign up to the Foodshare by emailing office@stwerburghs.org.uk or calling 0117 955 1351. We ask for a £3 suggested donation each week for the service.

How you can help

Our Foodshare launch was made possible through the generous support of Burges Salmon, for which we are incredibly grateful. However we do now rely on the continued support of our community. Here’s how you can help:

• Donate food and essentials: donations of non-perishable food and other essentials from our Wishlist are always welcome and can be left at reception in a clearly labelled box.
• Contribute to our fundraiser: visit our Go Fund Me page. All donations will help to secure the food parcels needed by families in our community.
• Tell your friends: share our crowdfund and Wishlist on social media.
• Network: do you know a business who might like to help with supplies or funding? Tell them about us too.
• Volunteer: if you are interested in volunteering or would like to find out more, contact office@stwerburghs.org.uk.

*This funding is part of the Household Support Fund (HSF) on behalf of Bristol City Council, in line with the One City Food Equality Strategy and Action Plan (FESAP).

About our Digital Inclusion Services 

Easy PC one-to-one sessions for older people delivered on Mondays and Fridays, these are 45 minutes to 1 hour and clients can book multiple sessions to build their skills and confidence within a friendly and sociable setting. Topics covered include an introduction to computers, e-mail, social media, video calls, online news, and shopping, and internet security.

Easy PC group sessions themed and tailored to the needs of the participants. Also offering social interaction and opportunities for peer learning and making new friendships. These are designed to respond to the needs or to provide a shared space for participants who have been attending the one to-one sessions for a while to free space for new clients.

Open Access Public Computers open 7 days a week from 9am to 9pm. There are five public PCs and free Wi-Fi with support from team and volunteers. The computers can be used by anyone in the community but our equalities data evidences that at least 60% of our users are over 55 and live within Ashley, Easton and Lawrence Hill wards, as well as city wide.

“(…) I had no previous experience of using a digital device or being online. I felt quite anxious before the first visit. I now feel more confident and picking up new things every time I visit.”

Wellbeing & Connection

One of the many positive outcomes of our Digital Inclusion services sprung from the interconnection between the different services and activities that take part at the Community Centre. Digital Inclusion participants also engage in other services available to them, where they were able to apply some of their new skills in practical and fun ways.

“I’ve been coming to the centre for over 10 years and have used the public computers for research and to write my memoirs. During this time I have met new friends and joined in the centre’s activities such as Picnic in the Park and Festive Friends. I like looking at the art on the walls made by the Art Group.”

The digital inclusion here evolves around capturing moments via digital photography and sharing those on social media, via email and phones giving participants skills and experiences worth sharing with their families and friends. Some of those activities also offer multigenerational sessions.

Access & Reach

• Easy PC one-to-one sessions benefited 117 individuals who on average visited 3 times.
• Open Access Public Computers recorded 342 people over 55 who responded to our key questions with many visiting repeatedly
• Our Open Access and Signposting was delivered over 4,200 hours and have seen over 200 new subscriptions. The equalities data confirms that over 60% of those are over 55s.

Participants who answered our evaluation survey, before and after being part of the programme, reported general increase in all of the areas evaluated. These included learning new skills, felling confident using technology and feeling safe using the internet.

“I always come very agitated, embarrassed and frustrated but always leave feeling lighter, having resolved any problems.”

 “It is the highlight of my week, I feel so privileged to be a part of this group. I feel happier, healthier, more confident, more hopeful and more connected to my community.”

Thank you

We would like to thank our funders, St Monica Trust and the Nisbet Trust for supporting Easy PC and our other Digital Inclusion services.

”I feel more confident about getting out and mixing with people again, also coming to terms with the fact that I have retired!”