From 22 April to 5 May, Göttingen celebrated their links with their twin towns with a display of local produce and information from each town in their Kauf Park shopping mall.   Representatives from Pau France, Torun Poland and Cheltenham UK were invited for the last weekend of the international fortnight as this coincided with presentations to mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Göttingen Twinning Association. 

As part of the International Weekend celebrations, the Lower Saxony Police Orchestra performed a concert in the Kauf Park and donated their fee of 1000 Euros to the Göttingen Twinning Association who in turn pledged the money to help with the cost of the International Youth for Peace Camp to be held in their twin town of Pau in August.

From 3-6 May a group of 5 pupils and 2 leaders from the Heinrich Boll School in Göttingen visited Cheltenham.  Previously the Göttingen school had linked with Bettridge School, but withdrawal of European funding had prevented this link  developing.   The Twinning Officer arranged a visit for the group to the National Star College, which very much impressed them, to the extent that one young Göttingen boy wished to stay and attend school there!

On 25 April, the Mayor hosted a reception to say farewell to 5 Göttingen young people who had been in Cheltenham for 6 weeks as part of the Movida apprenticeship work placement exchange scheme.  Nina Homann and Lisa Schmidt worked with Cheltenham Borough Council in Licensing and Ubico’s waste and recycling team, Vanessa Rost and Daniel Schmidt worked with NARIC UK and  Shari Brauer at the Oxfam bookshop.   All placements were very successful, with excellent reports from all placement providers.  Unfortunately this could be the last of these apprenticeship placements due to withdrawal of EU funding for the project.

On Sunday 17 March, 5 young apprentices from Göttingen arrived in Cheltenham for a 6 week work experience programme as part of the Movida project with Göttingen.  Work placements have been offered by Cheltenham Borough Council Licensing team, UBICO waste and recycling team, UK NARIC and Oxfam bookshop in Cheltenham. The apprentices are  being hosted by families in Cheltenham and will take part in visits to Oxford, Stratford, Bath and Gloucester.  They will also meet up with members of the German Club and have a reception with the Mayor towards the end of their stay on 25 April.

On Tuesday 5 March, 46 students from Ribston Hall High School, Crypt School and their Göttingen link school IGS, met with the Mayor and members of the twinning association and German club for a talk and reception.  The 23 students from Göttingen were here for a week on the return leg of their exchange (our students having been to Göttingen in November).  The older year 12 students were doing a one week work placement whilst here, and the year 10 students were going into school with their partners and sightseeing.  Many friendships were made and plans for the next exchange have already started.   This exchange was supported by a grant from the Inspiring Young People Through Twinning fund.

From Saturday 27 July to Friday 2 August, over 150 residents from Göttingen will be visiting Cheltenham for 5 days on the two yearly big party visit.  A programme of activities will be organised for our visitors to let them see the best of Cheltenham, the Cotswolds and surrounding area.  The majority of people like to stay in the homes of local people so that they can embrace our way of life and establish good friendships and contacts.   If you are interested in having visitors to stay in your home, please read our  information letter and complete the accommodation form.

If you would like to become involved in any other way, eg.,  helping with tours, guiding, translating and general organisation, please contact the Twinning Officer.