Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society

20/10/2026

20/10/2026

📢CALLING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ORGANISATIONS!

Can you help with our food appeal for Poets Pantry?

We are collecting tinned and long-life food items to help support local people and families in our community. We’re asking for donations of:

🥫 Tinned vegetables
🥫 Tinned fruit
🥫 Tinned beans and pulses
🥫 Tinned soup
🥫 Tinned meat and fish
🥫 Tinned pasta and ready meals
🍝 Pasta and rice
🥣 Cereals
Plus Other non-perishable, long-life food items

We’re looking for local businesses, organisations and workplaces who would be willing to set up a collection station on their premises. This could be as simple as providing a clearly marked box or collection point where staff and visitors can donate items.

If your workplace is able to support, we can provide a branded poster and arrange collection of the donations.

Every tin and every donation can make a difference. By working together, we can help keep the Poets Pantry stocked and support people and families in our local community.

Just email us at [email protected] if you can help, or if you'd like more info.

Thank you for helping us make a difference in Podsmead.

Podsmead Community Association Podsmead Councillor Sebastian Field One Church Podsmead

08/10/2026

💚 World Mental Health Day at Blackbridge! 💚

Ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10th October, Tuesday night's Youth Club was all about looking after ourselves, supporting each other and having a good chat about mental health. 🧠✨

And of course… there were sausage rolls! 🌭 - our young people’s choice! 😂
We played a fun Mental Health True or False game, talked about the things that help us feel good and had some great conversations about looking after our mental health.

One really good conversation came from the idea that “asking for help is weak” - and we had a proper chat about why that definitely isn’t the case! 💬❤️
Our young people said that family, friends, the youth team and Blackbridge are all things that help them feel supported. 🫶

A fantastic evening of food, laughs, honest conversations and young people having their say! 🙌💚

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05/10/2026

It's Monday so Little Monsters Sport are back with us this morning at 11am offering lots of FREE fun and games on the pitches, with free refreshments afterwards.

To book a place - whether for today or from next week onwards - email [email protected]. We hope to see you there!

Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub

30/09/2026

💜 Last week Kelz & Kiara from our Youth Work Team headed over to the Gloucestershire College Freshers’ Fayre!

📍They had a brilliant time meeting people, chatting about the youth clubs we run at the Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub and promoting the youth services we provide for young people in Podsmead and the surrounding areas.

👋 But we’re also looking for people aged 18+ who want to give something back to their community!

✨We’re looking for volunteer youth workers to join our team and help us make a positive difference to local young people.
And here’s the important bit… NO QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED! 🙌 What matters is that you’re 18+, approachable, reliable and genuinely want to support young people.

Maybe you have a skill, hobby, life experience or simply some time that you’d like to share?
🎨 Creative?
⚽ Sporty?
🎵 Musical?
💬 A good listener?
🤝 Someone who simply wants to make a difference?
We want to hear from you!
Volunteering with Blackbridge is a chance to meet new people, share your skills, gain experience and be part of something positive in your local community.

👉 Interested in volunteering with us? Get in touch!
📞 Kelz: 07507 908821
📧 [email protected]

29/09/2026

👹Yesterday we had our first session for preschoolers with Little Monsters Sport at the Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub!

🏉They played rugby with Jake out on the 3G pitch and had lots of fun, with refreshments afterwards in the social space.

📧Every Monday (with a two week break) until December, you can still come along and the whole thing is FREE, just see the details on the poster and email [email protected] to sign up.

23/09/2026

⭐️ As part of our ‘Month to Shine’ as a community partner we were at Gloucester Services today offering blood pressure checks to colleagues and raising awareness of hypertension as part of the ‘Heart of the Game’ project.

❤️ We recorded over 75 tests with colleagues across both sites and gave out information to lots more.

To find out more about the Heart of the Game project which we’re partnering on with Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub, Gloucestershire FA, and Gloucester City AFC and how to find out your numbers visit the Heart of the Game website.

Thank you Gloucestershire Gateway Trust and Gloucester Services for making us September’s month to shine community partner, it was great to meet so many lovely colleagues.

22/09/2026

🚲 Have you heard about the Pedal Together bike scheme now live in Podsmead (as well as Barton and Tredworth)? As a resident you could be eligible for a free bike!

💪 It might sound too good to be true but it isn't, it comes as part of project with Active Gloucestershire and Sport England to encourage people to become more active, with the added bonus of being a great and free way to get around.

⭐ Check the details on the poster to see if you're eligible and if you are or are not sure, get in touch with our friends at Freedom Leisure by emailing [email protected] (or get in touch with the The Friendship Cafe if you're in Barton and Tredworth).

🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲

17/09/2026

Being by the water is so good for our physical and mental health, and our friends at The Canal and River Trust have some great opportunities for Podsmead residents this Autumn:

🌿Community walking groups – gentle nature walks and slightly more energetic walks, aimed at supporting physical activity, wellbeing and social connection.

🚣Paddlesports – a 6-session programme for young people aged 13–18, with opportunities to try canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.

💦Better by Water – a new 12-session programme launching in the New Year for 13–18-year-olds who may be experiencing challenges with their mental health or social isolation. The programme includes land-based wellbeing activities followed by sessions on the water.

✏️Disabilities Advisory Group – Canal & River Trust are also looking for people, including those with less visible disabilities, who may be interested in helping shape and improve the inclusivity of their activities.

To find out more about any of the above visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

16/09/2026

🌿 Neighbourhood Nature – Have Your Say!

There's still time to submit your ideas and help shape the future of green spaces in Podsmead, starting with the Scott Avenue Green Space.

A few weeks ago we shared early access to the interactive map tool created by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust to help residents design ideas for local green spaces. Using the tool you can add:

🌳 Trees
🌸 Wildflower areas
💧 Ponds
🪑 Benches and seating
🚶 Paths and walking routes
🌱 Planters and community growing spaces
🛝 Play areas
⚽ Sports areas
🌿 Grassland and areas for nature

It's an accessible way to think about what would make local green spaces better for nature, play, wellbeing, community use and everyday life.

🗺️ Take part in the consultation!

Access the interactive map and create a design here:

https://podsmeaddesignplatform.netlify.app/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Or, you can upload your own sketch, drawing or design through the same platform, before the end of September.