Community News

PRESS RELEASE

Cirencester Ashcroft Church & Centre are pleased to announce that we are hosting an exhibition called ‘Hidden Hardship’ based on research by Dr Stephanie Denning of Coventry University.  The exhibition features a number of panels highlighting findings from the research and illustrated by Beth Waters.

Dr Denning’s research aim is to understand the experiences of people in hardship in the rural North Cotswolds.  Research into hardship has tended to focus more on urban areas than rural areas.  This is a problem because we cannot assume that what happens in urban areas is the case in rural areas

The exhibition will run from Saturday 13th June to Friday 19th June 2026, and will be open to the public without charge between 12 noon and 2pm each day.  It will coincide with the 2026 South Cotswolds Foodbank Food Poverty report launch on Wednesday 17th June, and a special act of worship on Sunday 14th June.   Resources are available at the exhibition or can be obtained from the Hidden Hardship website (https://hiddenhardship.coventry.ac.uk/) and include:

Hidden Hardship Short Storybook;

Hidden Hardship briefing and full report for Policymakers and Community Leaders;

Hidden Hardship Devotional Study Guide.

We hope that the Exhibition will provide a timely and informative stimulus to policy makers and agencies across the Cotswolds, as well as those who share a concern for addressing the many hidden needs across our communities.

For further information please contact Andy Rickell, Chair of Trustees of Cirencester Ashcroft Church at andyrickell@sky.com.

Cirencester Ashcroft Church is a Methodist/URC joint church, located at 21 Ashcroft Road, Cirencester, GL7 1RA, phone 01285 651145.   We have a distinct emphasis on being inclusive and supporting those facing poverty, exclusion and loneliness; and host a wide range of local community and social action groups.

Great news for local drivers! We’re pleased to see that the “Old A40” has been included in Gloucestershire County Council’s resurfacing programme for the new financial year. (Official name is B332 Hangmans Stone to Countryside Museum Hampnett).

This stretch is one of 55 roads across the county scheduled for resurfacing.

Works are expected to take place between April and June. We’ll share more information once the timing is confirmed.

Read the full announcement by Gloucestershire County Council: 55 roads to be resurfaced as part of council’s ‘Fix our Roads’ campaign.

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Remember that highway issues such as potholes, damaged signs, and streetlight faults can be reported via FixMyStreet. Using this service helps get reports to the right authority quickly and means you can track the progress of your report.

To make reports as helpful as possible, include a couple of photos if you can. (Only take photos if it is safe to do so.) Include one image showing the general location. Include others showing detail of the issue being reported.

Reports can be made using the FixMyStreet app or by visiting https://fixmystreet.gloucestershire.gov.uk/.

Introducing a brand new IT Café in The Westwoods Centre, Northleach!

Come along on the second Wednesday of every month from 10.30am-12.30pm:

• Weds 10 Sept
• Weds 8 Oct
• Weds 12 Nov

for 1-1 support with our friendly Digital Champions at Cotswold Friends.

Whether you need help with your mobile phone, laptop, tablet you are very welcome. We have helped others with downloading apps, booking tickets, sending emails and more.

The sessions are free of charge and refreshments are provided.

To book: email support@cotswoldfriends.org or call 01608 652019.