By supporting the scheme, you will help people to be confident in getting out and about in South Gloucestershire.

To find out more by visiting our website or emailing info@sgden.org.uk.

Can’t Wait Scheme

Do you know of any businesses/venues that would be interested in joining the Can’t Wait scheme?

Occasionally, people with certain medical conditions have an urgent need to use the toilet.

South Gloucestershire Council and South Gloucestershire Disability Equality Network are asking retailers, business owners and venue operators to show their support and understanding for people who ‘Can’t Wait’ by letting them use staff or customer toilets.

By signing up, you agree to display a poster in your premises and be featured in an online directory to let people know your business supports the Can’t Wait scheme.

We want to hear about your experiences of inequality in South Gloucestershire

• How can we work with the council to address these inequalities?

• Do you have experiences that highlight issues in the area?

For further information email: yourvoice@southglos.gov.uk

Find Your Voice With These Community Meetings

Your voice is our new series of meetings giving you a chance to share ideas and concerns with your community.

Come along to your local meeting: Thornbury and Severn Vale, Yate and Cotswold Edge, Filton and Bradley Stoke, or Kings Forest and Hanham.

To book your place click here.

The survey is open until 3 April 2026 and can be found here.

Supported Living Survey

South Gloucestershire Council are connecting with people in South Gloucestershire, to understand their views as experts by experience, about what supported living services should look like in the future.

The survey is intended for people who draw on support, as well as for family members, carers, and those who can provide feedback on behalf of community groups.

Your thoughts are valued so please send them to Sally Green:

communityplaces@southglos.gov.uk

Improvements to Page Park Play Area

South Gloucestershire council are working with the Friends of Page Park to improve the play area of the park for children with disabilities.

The friends have raised £20k so far and are looking for input on design needs from families and children with disabilities.

Look out for your new reusable  recycling bags

The new reusable recycling bag (white) and a roll of bags for soft plastics (blue) will be delivered in phases to all households by May 2026.

You can start using them straight away.

To find out about what can be recycled click here.

Find face-to-face drop-in venues for advice.  Call the telephone adviceline during weekdays 0808 2787947 (9-5pm). Or, check out the online advice pages.

These sessions will happen on Friday afternoons from 1 to 3pm. The sessions will rotate between Westerleigh Village Hall on the first Friday of every month, and the Brockeridge Centre in Frampton Cotterell for all the other Friday sessions.

A new drop-in for Frampton  Cotterell, Westerleigh and Coalpit Heath

Residents of Westerleigh, Coalpit Heath or Frampton Cotterell, can now benefit from visits from Citizens Health Advisers, who will be able to help with a vast range of issues.

These include benefits, debt, housing, relationship breakdown and cost-of-living issues such as problems with energy bills as well as much more.

The first session will be on Friday 10th April at the Brockeridge Centre.

To find out about other drop-in sessions click here.

Age Space also has a Podcast series called Age & Stage that discusses a varied number of topics.

What is a Podcast?

Podcasts are somewhere between an audio book and a radio programme. But, rather than tune in to the radio, and similar to buying an audio book, you can listen anytime, anywhere from your computer or mobile phone.

Are you Claiming All You Could?

With benefits and allowances increasing from 1 April, the start of the new financial year, now is the ideal time to spring clean finances and make sure you are claiming everything you are entitled to.

Many people don’t know about or are reluctant to claim all the allowances or benefits available to them. It can be time consuming and complicated looking into funding, but it is worth being persistent.

To find out more click here.

VOLUNTEER FOR US!

We are seeking a volunteer to assist with our social media or newsletter. Monthly commitment would be around 6 – 8 hours.

Skills you could develop

Confidence, communication and planning skills, grow your marketing knowledge and social media planning awareness.  Skills that could lead to a different career path.

What difference will you make?

Your support will help us reach a wider audience and allow us to share vital information with our members.

You will have the personal satisfaction of supporting a good cause and being part of a network supporting those with disability or experiencing inequality.

Full training and support will be given. For more information or an informal chat, please email info@sgden.org.uk

Below are some links which may be useful for volunteering or job searches:

Paul’s Place Diversity Trust

Thornbury Volunteer Centre

Southern Brooks Voscur

The Care Forum