For a number of years Bristol City Council funded and supported the Bishopston, Cotham and Redland Neighbourhood Partnership, which was for everyone who lived, studied or worked in our area. It aimed to involve everyone in improving the way our neighbourhood works and in helping to shape the provision of services from the council and partner agencies such as the police.

However, due to the brutal funding cuts forced on the council by the Conservative (and before that, Conservative-Lib Dem) government’s ideological austerity agenda, the Neighbourhood Partnership as we knew it had to cease.

But that wasn’t the end for community working in our neighbourhood -; the committee members of the old Neighbourhood Partnership, including representatives from community groups, businesses, councillors and other volunteers, are creating the Bishopston, Cotham and Redland Community Partnership.

We envisage that this new organisation will work in much the same way as the old one -; bringing together people from across the area to make improvements to our community. But we need more volunteers to make that happen. We are particularly in need of people interested in taking on roles concerned with chairing, administration, equalities, social media, communications and events. But if you have expertise in something else, or perhaps if you can only spare the time to come along to meetings, please do get involved too. Whatever you can offer, we would be happy to have you involved -; you can either get in touch with me (cllr.tom.brook[at]bristol.gov.uk) or find out more on the website: http://www.bcrnp.org.uk/