Categories
Community Event

Music, Art & Food on the Water, 2021 –The Dust Has Settled!

Setting up in the Street Food Court

So the dust has settled and Summer already feels like a distant memory. How lucky were we with the weather on 25th September?

It was fantastic to see so many local people out and about to enjoy Music, Art & Food on the Water and it has been heart-warming to see and hear so many positive comments about the event. The majority have commented on a great atmosphere and how good it was to see the community so well represented.

Sadly, we were not able to satisfy those who had perhaps grander expectations than those we set out with! We were definitely not seeking to lay on a “Festival” in the heart of the village.

The intention was to have a number of dispersed, coordinated and themed activities around the village so there might be something for almost everyone to enjoy. But sufficiently low-key so as not to be too obviously attractive to visitors. This one was for us!

Youngsters from Bourton Primary School captivating an audience of proud families and locals

The scene-stealing moment had to be the performance of the youngsters from the Primary School and a big shout out to Tori Teague and her colleagues for organising this and the fabulous display of children’s artwork.

The support and encouragement of both School Heads, John Jones and Will Morgan, and the Parish Council from the outset was instrumental in making this event the success that it was.

So too was the participation of the many community and volunteer groups and we recognise that sadly some were not able to make it because they were unable to staff their stands and others would have loved to participate. (Next time hopefully we’ll get everyone together!)

Of course, none of it what have been possible without financial support to cover hire of the Victoria Hall, road closure, First Aid provision, public liability insurance, leaflet printing and distribution to local residents by Royal Mail and various other logistical bits and bobs that was generously contributed.

So, thank you to:

  • Bourton-on-the-Water Parish Council
  • Cotswold District Council
  • Gloucestershire County Council
  • Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School
  • Bourton-on-the-Water Visitor Information Centre
  • Bourton Browser (for a full page to promote the event to residents)
  • Super Lemon Ltd (Tony and Ian for super reasonable rates in printing of our flyers)
  • Cotswolds Radio (for covering the event and broadcasting to the community including interviewing by County Councillor Paul Hodgkinson)
  • Everyone who made Bourton’s Got Talent possible especially those that got on stage and performed! (Especially the Panto Group for making the stage so lovely.
  • The Street Food vendors, especially Smiths of Bourton and Aroma who participated whilst their businesses were also open. Given the staffing challenges the hospitality sector is experiencing, it was wonderful that you were able to make it. Sadly, others who had hoped to be there had to drop out.
  • All the musical acts that participated outside the Victoria Hall and in local venues and those venues too!
  • Kathleen Cronin for looking after the Art displays
  • Leanne and Justin Launchbury, Martin and Helen Macklin for their support in marshalling the road closure
  • Pulhams Coaches, Hacklings Storage and Distribution, The Old New Inn, Cotswolds Ice Cream and The Lansdowne B&B for their financial support.

I’d like to acknowledge the super efforts of a core organising team of Carol Groom, Lynda Hicks, Allan Hymers, Jill Hymers, Andrew Lund-Yates and Diana Ray, with inputs from Jessica Smith, Martin Macklin, Clare and Graham Keyte, without whom it would not have been possible to pull this together in a two month time-frame. You were awesome!

Finally, many thanks to all of you who came out to enjoy your village on a sunny late September evening!

Categories
Interviews with Local Businesses

Interview with Silvi Gonzalez of Rowlands Community Pharmacy

This is the first in a series of planned interviews with local business-people to understand how they see the challenges for businesses in our community now and in the future, as well as how they’ve experienced the pandemic. (If you are interested in contributing as an interviewee, please get in touch!)

JW        What are your reflections on running a business in Bourton over these last 18 months?

SG         Just a bit of context. I moved to Bourton around 6 years ago and became manager of Rowlands Pharmacy in October 2019. So, what happened a few months later, with the start of the pandemic, was a huge shock.

I’d thrown myself into lots of activities in village-life, organising music stuff and performing, joining the Panto group amongst other things and that all came to a stop.

It has been a most challenging time! The business took a real hit losing both local customers who were being advised to only shop for essentials and others who just went into their bubbles full stop and were perhaps afraid to go into the Village.

On-line options obviously became more popular. We also lost a lot of custom because, initially, visitor numbers were down.

JW        That’s really interesting! There is a recurring theme that I’ve heard a number of times in conversation with local business owners that their ability to exist and provide a service for residents is dependent in part on the sales generated by sales to visitors to Bourton. So that is true for the Pharmacy too.

SG         Definitely! And the real shame is that I think some of our residents who were customers haven’t yet returned. We have had to work really hard to get through it and it feels a bit sad at times that maybe people don’t see this.

JW        I guess, as a generalisation, people tend to underestimate the impact of the pandemic on others and, despite things like clapping for the NHS, perhaps don’t stop to consider the additional stresses and strains on those keeping essential services going with huge uncertainty over what the future holds.

SG         I think you’re right. As I say, it’s been really tough.

JW        In my own work, I frequently referred to the pandemic as a “Portal to the Future”. What if anything had to change about the way you carried out business?

SG         Probably not much as I’d like. As manager, in a large group of pharmacies, decision’s to do things like home delivery are not my call, but I think this will happen in the future.

JW        How do you see the biggest challenges for businesses as we move into the post-COVID recovery period?

SG         Getting people out there using services and shops, having faith in things again and being connected. Obviously supplies and deliveries are an issue as a result of both BREXIT and the pandemic. And then hiring is a challenge, a recent job ad only had one response. But getting people seems to be an issue across the village.

JW        Absolutely. Only the other day there was publicity that the UK has hit the highest number of job vacancies since records began in 2001. Hotels, pubs and restaurants are the businesses with the biggest challenges getting staff. And that is really being felt in Bourton right now!

JW        What have you learned about yourself as a professional because of the pandemic?

SG         That I’m still a human being! I realised that I was struggling with a lot of stuff outside my control and my mindset was focussed on business, hitting targets etc. It wasn’t particularly joyful! But I had this awakening, it made me realise why I was working in a pharmacy. Because I love community! 

JW        Focus on control the controllables is very topical right now given some of the interviews given last week by Emma Raducanu! She is quoted as saying “I was 0-30 in my last couple of service games. To hold was pretty big, literally one point at a time. Just trying to focus on what I can control, my serve, landing first serves.” I know that this is a really important concept to support mental toughness that I coach around in my own professional life.

This leads me to my next question. Lots of people are talking about a second epidemic of mental health issues. How do you see this from a professional and from a performer’s point of view?

SG         Lockdown was tough on everyone. A lot of people got into some bad habits, like eating poorly, putting on weight. And there were heart-breaking challenges in the community, like elderly people unable to see their relatives so feeling very isolated. And younger people not able to socialise, and education being really disrupted. On the other hand there were some great responses from the local community to support people. 

As a performer, it may surprise people but I’ve always struggled with anxiety before performing. But once I start, I’m OK. I love it in the moment. Re-starting performing brings some of that anxiety, but I’m working on it, getting prepared!

I think this will be the case for a lot of people who got out of the habit of performing live. But yes, I think a lot of us need to be working on our resilience and supporting those who are struggling.

JW        So, as you know, BBN is organising Music, Art & Food on the Water for residents of Bourton to create an opportunity to bring people together. What excites you about this event?

SG         Exactly that. Bringing the community back together. Its really important that we all start seeing the sense of community again.

JW        How do you see the role of music and performance in stimulating and improving people’s well-being?

SG         Hugely. It’s so important. A lot of people I think don’t appreciate the impact. But listening to live music, everything that upsets or angers you, you just let go. It’s amazing.

JW        I completely agree with you Silvi. So just one final question. How do you see the relevance of local businesses doing something positive for our local community?

SG         Very important. I think for some businesses who only focus on visitors it’s a tough battle, a bit of an internal challenge. But a lot of businesses who employ people locally are not focussed on visitors and some are catering to both. So, I think we’ve just got to stick together. We need to stop pointing the finger, not be so judgemental. Just stick together as a community.

Post Script

Thank you Silvi for graciously giving your time to be interviewed. Sadly due to personal considerations, Silvi has had to withdraw from performing on Saturday 25th. We wish her well and hope to see her on stage again soon. And in the Pharmacy too as we show our support for a vital community service!

Categories
Community Event

Find Out More About Music, Art & Food on the Water

This Thursday 23/9 on Cotswolds Radio between 4 and 6pm, ‘Afternoon Live with Paul Hodgkinson’ will feature Lisa Spivey, Cabinet Member for Housing at CDC and Jon Wareing from the Bourton Business Network.
Music, conversation and dedications.

On Thursday 23rd at 17:00 you can hear more about Music, Art & Food on the Water and Bourton Business Network when yours truly will be interviewed by Cllr Paul Hodgkinson (Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Gloucestershire County Council) on his 16:00 Cotswolds Radio show.

Do tune in if you can via the Cotswolds Radio website or the Cotswolds Radio app.

Categories
Community Event

Music, Art & Food on the Water – 3 Days to go!

When we started discussing the possibility of Music, Art & Food on the Water, on July 13th, the day after the Government made its decision on moving to Step 4 on the “roadmap to freedom” on July 19th (so-called “Freedom Day”), we were unanimous in our desire for business to support our local community by organising activity that would bring our community together after a really tough 18 months, celebrate the amazing work of voluntary and community groups during the pandemic (and encourage more volunteering!) and to show that there is a demand for activity in the evenings by local residents.

Now we are just 3 days away from what we planned as a set of dispersed activities, with a common theme, located around the village – mindful of the continuing presence of COVID-19.

Evening Events and Activities

So, what is happening?

Everything kicks off at 17:00 with local voluntary and community groups including representation from the Councils, on the Village Green. So please come along and show your appreciation for the things they do to keep our community going!

At the same time the first of our music acts will be performing just across the river outside the Victoria Hall, the first of a set of acoustic acts, one of which will also feature schoolchildren from the Primary School, lasting to around 19:00.

Also you should smell some delicious fragrant foods from our “Street Food” vendors located beside the Victoria Hall (near the entrance). The Old New Inn will be offering steak or portobello mushroom baguettes, Smiths will have burgers and Aroma a very special surprise. Bourton’s very own Mr Ice Cream will also be on hand with something for dessert. Expect fire and ice!

Inside the Victoria Hall, on the ground floor between 17:00 and 19:00, there will be a display of art featuring pictures from local schoolchildren and a number of local artists.

And at 19:00 it’s the moment of truth for some budding performers in Bourton’s Got Talent! By the way, there’s still time to sign up to perform! (Contact talent@bourtonbusiness.net)

And don’t forget you can check out Bourton’s Got Talent on Cotswolds Radio the following day, in case you can’t make it.

Music and Food around the Village

Around the village, a number of pubs and eateries are laying on music for your delectation. So, check them out and book a table. Paige and the Red Shift at The Wellie, Luke Lester Powell playing some chilled acoustic with some classics at The Mousetrap, there’s Greek music to go with pizza at the Bakery on the Water. The Chestnut Tree, The Croft and The Manse are also confirmed in putting on some music. (All these details subject to last minute changes no doubt!!)

It has been really challenging to orchestrate even a relatively low-key event for local residents in a two-month timeframe. But we’ve had amazing support from businesses, performers and artists, the Parish, District and County Councils who have all contributed resources (financial and otherwise) to make this happen. And of course, some pretty amazing teamwork by a small bunch of volunteers. (We will acknowledge everyone who has contributed in a future blogpost.)

Equally, it should be noted that the Village continues to experience really challenging times, especially in getting staff, and so we have sadly had some drop-outs of entertainment acts, community groups and local food vendors who are unable to get involved in the way they had wanted. 

There continues to be a lot of people working really hard in our community and under a lot of pressure to do normal everyday activities and we shouldn’t forget this as we try to create a late-summer feel-good moment for everyone to enjoy.

We hope you enjoy the vibe, have fun, meet friends and stay safe of course!

Categories
Sponsorship & Support

Make A Contribution to Support BBN

Bourton Business Network (BBN) is a not for profit* new initiative in Bourton on the Water, to champion the economic life and well-being of our beautiful area.

Save the date.. September 25th 2021…

For the launch, the BBN team are organising a weekend of great events at Bourton Music, Art and Food on the Water (see our previous post to find out more). Let’s make the recovery from the Covid 19 Pandemic an opportunity for new ways of working, employment opportunities and skill development on our door step. We want to see great connections between the community and the bedrock of the economic life here. BBN encourages connections between all kinds of businesses including people working from home, sole traders and larger businesses based in our area. By joining together we can help businesses solve problems and share ideas and raise important issues about skills, employment and economic well being in our area.

*Not for profit means that the funds we have after costs will go back into activities and equipment needed to support BBN.

Generous donations of money and volunteer time have enabled BBN to launch.

If you can help in any way or can donate please do

Or scan this QR Code with your smart phone.

For sponsorship contributions, please email our treasurer to receive details to make a bank transfer.

Categories
Community Event

Music, Art & Food on the Water

This collection of music, art and food experiences around the village on the evening of September 25th is the first activity being initiated by Bourton Business Network. The intention is to bring our community together as we collectively get on the road to post-pandemic recovery. 

For residents of Bourton and surrounding villages, it is a moment to celebrate village life, thank active local people, find out about future ideas and volunteering opportunities and, most importantly of all, to acknowledge what we’ve all been through and sustain that sense of togetherness that was evident in the first few months of lockdown in 2020.

If, as a local business or resident, you would like to get involved in some way please drop us a line. 

Maybe it’s time to let your special gift shine at Bourton’s Got Talent. Do you just want to thank someone for something they’ve done in the community over the last 18 months? Perhaps you want to finally throw the (cancelled) 2020 Christmas Party for your team – why not book your favourite local eatery on this special evening?

As a business, can you support the event through sponsorship? Perhaps sponsoring a Drumming Workshop for young people? Making a contribution to the cost of the musical acts around the village? Or contributing to a voucher scheme for those in reduced circumstances to ensure that everyone can participate in some way?

Come and meet your local councillors and the community groups who do so much to support our community.

More information will be publicised nearer the date outlining the Music, Art and Food trails round the village. But please put Saturday 25th September, 2021 in your diary now!

The food theme continues over the weekend with the local Farmers Market the next day so please support our local food producers. Drop in to the FREE exhibition Eat from the Landscape at the British Legion Hall alongside the market at GL54 2AR on Sunday September 26th,  9 a.m to 2.30 to find out more about local food and meet some producers.

If you would like to get involved email us at mafow2021@bourtonbusiness.net

Categories
Business Networking

Hello World!

Welcome to Bourton Business Network! We are a not-for-profit collective, and our overarching aim is to provide a voice for the entire business community of Bourton-on-the-Water and to strengthen our ties with local people. 

We have emerged from one of the working groups of Bourton Tourism Action Group, that was initiated by County Councillor Paul Hodgkinson in 2020. 

We recognise that it is important for business to have a voice and for business people of all kinds to be able to meet others. Our aim is to represent the entire local ecosystem of commercial activity: plumbers, farmers, gardeners, trainers, self employed and employees, consultants working from home, industrial companies, service industries and the visitor facing sector too.

We envisage an alliance of collaborative minded individuals prepared to take action on the many challenges businesses face: of commerce, technology, environment, infrastructure, skills and well-being.

We aim to build a network to sustain a local community of interacting organisations within their commercial, physical and natural environment that will:

  • Support strategies for post-COVID recovery
  • Advocate for the development of, and generate ideas and suggestions for, a Bourton-on-the-Water “Neighbourhood Development Plan”
  • Enable access to innovative thinking and discussion of ideas, concepts and practices that can help improve your business
  • Provide advocacy on behalf of the business community with (amongst others) the Parish, District and County Councils
  • Encourage a more holistic and/or joined-up perspective of the business community that can create synergies, help businesses become more resilient and address significant trends
  • Be a force for good and mobilising effort, with the ability to react at pace, whether coping with addressing short-term problems or lobbying authorities where necessary, to make things happen that are beneficial for the whole local community.
  • Help you to get some fresh perspectives on your challenges, meet new people, generate ideas for developing new opportunities.

We almost certainly will fail to please all of the people all of the time! But we will do our best to ensure that the interests of our community are fully represented and work hard to generate a rich diversity of activity to ensure that we at least please some of you some of the time!

WHO ARE WE?

The band of active participants in getting BBN off the ground include:

  • Allan Hymers – Cotswold Ice Creams
  • Jill Hymers (Treasurer)
  • Andrew Lund-Yates – The Old New Inn
  • Diana Ray – Living Green
  • Jon Wareing

In addition, we’ve co-opted the support of the following enthusiastic residents, who bring a wealth of experience and connections, in organising Music, Art & Food on the Water!

  • Carol Groom
  • Lynda Hicks
  • Helen & Martin Macklin

If you are in business locally, or are retired, and would like to get involved, or just offer suggestions of things you believe a business network in Bourton-on-the-Water should consider, please get in touch by email hello@bourtonbusiness.net or leave a comment below.