Czech & Slovak Community and School Bristol CIC

Specially for online Treefest 2020, our this year Christmas tree was decorated in Dundry village, with traditional handmade glass baubles mady by Sona Kosarova in Slovakia and Xmas chocolate sweets from DEVA http://www.deva-sk.eu/produkty/vianoce

Why Dundry? We keep fond memories of our annual family St Nicholas events organised in Dundry Hall. We have also made several trips to the village and surrounding lovely nature, always like coming back because of amazing Bristol views and the village atmosphere full of English traditions and roots. And TRADITIONS are what our organisation is all about! 🙂 

Czech & Slovak Community and School Bristol CIC runs activities and services which primarily benefit families and individuals of Czech and/or Slovak origin living in Bristol, South West England and South Wales, as well as anyone from the local community wishing to learn about Czech & Slovak cultures, history, languages and customs. 

CONTACTS

Telephone number: +44(0)7873 940 141

Email: info@cscsbristol.co.uk

Socials: @CSCSBristolCIC

https://facebook.com/CSCSBristolCIC

People belonging to the Czech and Slovak community benefit from cultural and social activities that strengthen their sense of community and develop historic and family ties between the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the UK. Our activities and services encourage families to get to know and support each other so they have the capability to support bilingual/ multilingual and bi-cultural/ multicultural identities in the next generation and beyond. 

The organisation's services and activities benefit the community in the following ways: 

• Czech & Slovak School Bristol - a supplementary school including pre-school is run every other Saturday (excluding half terms and summer holidays). The school continued operating online during the COVID-19 lockdown. 
  
• ‘Stonozka’ Playgroup and Family Centre - regular parent and baby/toddler group running weekly for parents and their children age 0 to 4. Children can hear, learn and practice Czech and Slovak languages through play, songs, rhymes and stories and parents can support each other in a friendly environment.
  

• Advice and Support Centre - established at the beginning of lockdown in the UK, providing citizen advice as well as support to vulnerable individuals and families affected by the pandemic. The centre runs a 24-hour helpline and supplied weekly food parcels to families in need during lockdown. 
  
• Annual and ad hoc social and cultural events – these included a St Nicholas Party, Children’s Carnival, Easter celebrations, International Children’s Day, Kite Festival, special workshops such as Christmas wreath making and many more. 
• Czech & Slovak Art Club – monthly club for children 8+ to explore ways of expressing themselves through art with particular focus on learning about Czech and Slovak and world artists
• Czech & Slovak Library – books in Czech & Slovak languages available to anyone to borrow https://www.instagram.com/cscsbristollibrary/
  

Strengthening and establishing new partnerships - The organisation works closely with the Czech and also Slovak Embassy in London, Ministry of Education and Foreign Affairs in the Czech Republic as well as USZZ (Office for the Slovaks Living Abroad). We also worked closely with other local organisations and charities. Examples include: Meadow Vale Community Centre, FareShare South West, Treefest, VOSCUR, BAND and many more. 

Although the nature of our organisation may seem exclusive, it is important to us that we provide opportunities for the Bristol community to engage in our activities. Families and individuals from any religion or backgrounds are always welcome. We strive to be part of Bristol’s diverse community now and in the future.