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BWF Changes in 2021

Changing times

Similar to everyone during these Covid times, Bowness and Windermere Forward have experienced challenges and changes. Naturally it has been difficult to progress place making projects whilst the business community have faced incredible challenges.

After the development of the Lakeshore Cinema event and the delivery of Windowmere 2020, BWF has effectively been paused until steadier times return.

Changing people

In the meantime our Project Co-Ordinator Helen Moriarty has been offered and accepted the opportunity to deliver Kendal Town Council’s Climate Emergency Projects and I’ve also been recruited to serve a voluntary Trusteeship for a large local organisation, and like many continue to balance homeschooling whilst running my business Flock and another voluntary role at Anti Racist Cumbria.

So it’s time for both Helen and I to focus elsewhere and handover the incredible work achieved to date to new capable hands. BWF will be on pause whilst the Board make plans for its next steps.

I believe our area is a wonderful place to live, work and visit and it has been an honour to work for the betterment of our towns and I would like to thank everyone who has supported me in my role. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Helen for all her hard work and wish her good luck in her new role.

Many Thanks,

Sophia Newton

BWF Chair

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Windermere 2020

The Windowmere 2020 Trail is a covid safe event to make us smile this Christmas!

Together we will make an outdoor gallery by lighting up Bowness and Windermere window by window.

To become a window maker you can register by following this link. 

Your window will feature on a downladble map together with other windows to form the trail.

Follow Bowness and Windermere Forward on Facebook for tips and inspiration and we look forward to enjoying all the creations between the 7th and 27th of December.

 

 

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Reopening Bowness & Windermere

A partnership Action Plan has been developed to co-ordinate necessary actions and initiatives across the South Lakes District. Please note the Action Plan is a continually evolving document and therefore is subject to change. The latest version is available here.  It will be regularly updated as our towns become busier and more businesses reopen. A public facing leaflet is also available here.

SLDC and LDNP are working in partnership with Cumbria County Council’s Highways Team to make some temporary interventions to the highways and footways and provide appropriate signage to help people maintain social distancing.

Follow this link to view examples of the new signage you are likely to see and theses maps (Bowness-on-Windermere Plan1 and The Glebe Plan) show the temporary traffic regulation proposals for Bowness and The Glebe.

The LDNPA are leading the public facing communications and messages in our towns so that we have a consistent approach. LDNPA messages promote social distancing measures and materials will be available for you to use and share soon. This poster gives an example of the design which will be used across the park in different forms. Cumbria County Council have produced this poster for shops.

SLDC are continuing to proactively support businesses via their grant programme and this advice letter which includes a useful sample risk assessment to support businesses rethink their business with Covid-19 in mind.

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BWF’s 2nd Quarterly Newsletter – local heros and community support

DOWNLOAD THE LATEST BWF NEWSLETTER HERE

From the Chair – Sophia Newton

The last time I was writing this we were gearing up for a busy year ahead. Bowness & Windermere Forward were starting work on projects such as creating a brand for our towns and creating a Friendly Fells & Lakeside Trails project in partnership with National Trust and Lake District National Park.

Now we’re sending out weekly emails with Coronavirus
information and support to our local businesses and working on ways we can support Windermere and Bowness as restrictions are lifted.

Covid-19 has impacted all our lives and businesses in ways we never thought possible but it won’t be forever. Between now and then there are many challenges we will need to overcome and I encourage people to keep communicating, collaborating and community-ing.

I’d love to find out more from you about how Bowness & Windermere Forward can support you on the ‘other side’ so please take a moment to complete our survey on page 3.

Until then Janett and I will continue to support our area both with our volunteering here for Bowness & Windermere Forward and our free community and business events such as LA23NET, our Doorstep Discos and our Content Cafe. Here if you need us – chair@bwforward.org.uk

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BWF Chair Update & Survey Link

Never have I walked through Windermere and Bowness and seen it how it is at the moment, especially in the amazing sunshine we are enjoying. I miss the hustle and the bustle of our vibrant towns but like you, I know this is for the best right now. On the plus side, I am enjoying a slightly slower pace of life, especially spending more time with my family. I hope you are managing to find some moments of calm and positivity too.

Given the amount and volume of information around, each week we will be summarising and sharing the salient points and support about Coronavirus that are most relevant to our area. We will also be sharing our quarterly newsletter with you next month, if you’d like to add something please just drop me a line with any words and pictures by 8th May.

Finally we are also looking for input and ideas on how we can support each other in the recovery period. Recovery may seem a long way away (and it may well be) but it’s better if we can work together to create projects that local businesses and people will want and need on the other side. Bear in mind that it is likely that large scale events will not be possible for some time (even Ambleside have sadly already announced the cancellation of their Christmas Lantern Parade). When the time is right we know there will be a big resurgence of visitors to the area but still think there are opportunities for us to work together to enhance the visitor experience on their return, attract new visitors, and of course provide interest and enjoyment for local residents too!

CLICK HERE TO CONTRIBUTE TO RECOVERY IDEAS 
All the latest information, links and advice is below. Feel free to share the information and surveys with others in your networks and industries, so we can keep building upon the real impact of Coronavirus on our area. If you know of any other surveys being undertaken, please do let us know so we can share these too.

Please note that my ‘day business’ Flock have also organised a freenetworking event on 13 May which features Tim Farron MP, Dan Visser, Vice Chair, Cumbria Tourism and Jo Lappin, CEO, Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP). You can find out more and register your free space here.

Before I sign off, a moment for our Project Co-ordinator, Helen Moriarty, who like so many is working tirelessly behind the scenes so that we can bring you these updates. She is signposting businesses wherever she can and attending meetings for our towns via Zoom. If you need her assistance, you can email her here . Thank you Helen for your continued hard work.

We will be back in touch next week.

All the very best,

Sophia Newton
Chair
e: chair@bwforward.org.uk