APT will be five years old on Monday March 21st 2016. Although the Community Association started in October 2010, the official opening ceremony was on the 21st March 2011. The team of volunteers has changed many times but the ethos is the same, to support the tenants and residents on the Park Estate and surrounding community of Stonehouse. The organisations supporting APT and holding courses and drop in sessions at the centre has grown over the years and we hope that we are s

Work has begun to transform an area behind the Park Road Flats into a community garden, with borders and raised beds. The work is being undertaken by Stroud District Council in conjunction with Down to Earth, APT and a small team of children who live in the flats. Raised borders have been built, and the group are building a shelter before the planting begins. It is hoped to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers for the residents of the flats to use. When the garden is completed

Back by popular demand the Wednesday morning sewing group has begun again at APT. We are currently working towards a display at the Stonehouse Arts Festival to be held again this year from the 27th June - 2nd July, with the Fashion Show at Maidenhill School scheduled for Wednesday 29th June. The group make a wide variety of items ranging from quilts and cushions to knitted items and crafts. It is hoped this year to complete a jewellery workshop and a dreamcatcher session as w

For the third year running the Children’s APT Garden Gang will be set up to grow fruit, vegetables and flow-ers in the garden space behind the office. The produce they grow is then available for them to take home to their families. Each year the children have entered a scarecrow in the Stonehouse Horticultural show and won first prize in the Children’s section of the Stroud District Council Garden Competition. Even if the weather is bad the children have indoor activities the

APT is bringing back healthy community lunches. On Monday 1st February, 12noon - 2pm, we will be serving a warming soup and rolls with a variety of fruit available, similar to the lunches provided by the Wiggly Worm team. Those of you who remember the van visiting APT and the Stonehouse Children’s Centre to serve wonderful, nutritious, hot lunches, will also remember Laurence Kapoor, the chef. Laurence will be joining us on Monday 7th March to cook the lunch for our official

Start 2016 with an effort to try and quit smoking. Some of you may have tried and failed to give up, others may have never tried either way here is your chance to try and give up by attending our 'Stop Smoking Sessions'. The Community Health Trainers will be providing a 12 week smoking support workshop, once a fortnight, starting on Tuesday 12th January 2016, 1:30 - 2:30 pm. The workshop will take place at APT in Stonehouse.The sessions are FREE.

APT has welcomed a new Community Co-ordinator Helen Royall. Helen joined the team at APT in November of last year and has been getting to know the volunteers and people using the Centre since then. She is a qualified teacher and youth worker and has many years experience in events management and organisation. She hopes to use these skills in the future with APT. Helen says, “I have always enjoyed working with people in the community and often find myself volunteering for loc