Cheltenham Connect is a fast-growing local community initiative that was set-up in 2009 with the aim of 'strengthening and empowering the residential and trading community of the area known as 'South Cheltenham' (which in Cheltenham Connect terms is Leckhampton, Naunton Park, The Bath Road (south), The Suffolks, Tivoli and The Park). What this really means is that we are interested in showing how much we all care about the area and that people can achieve amazing things by getting together.

Since the time of our launch we have been doing a lot! From 'Buy Local' campaigns and craft fairs, to local business networking, history projects, low carbon initiatives, garden and crop shares, lunches, workshops and film showings there is always something going on.

It's free to join and you can sign up to any (or all) of the action groups. We have used a free social networking platform called 'Ning' that allows each group to then grow its own activities. You can find out how to use the Ning sites by clicking on the 'Join us' button above.

Our initiative has attracted considerable support and success since it was launched (we were awarded a Community Pride Grant in 2009) and it now has a new website and four online action groups:

Buy Local: Encouraging people to buy local and protect their local traders
Go Green: A 'Transition' Low Carbon Initiative looking at how the community can react to the twin challenges of global warming and oil scarcity
Skillspace: Local business and professional networking and resource-sharing
Community: A range of local initiatives such as swap, share and save, garden-shares, crop shares, senior citizens Wednesday Lunch Club and a health and wellbeing group

We have an informal get-together from 7.00pm every Wednesday evening at The Exmouth Arms where new people can normally meet some of the core group and share their own ideas. Each group then runs its own more formal meetings as and when they are needed.

If you live or work in the Cheltenham Connect area we hope that you will join us.
It is all about people power!