Summer stay in Annecy

The Rencontres Européennes is a two week stay in our twin town of Annecy for 14-17 year olds wishing to improve their language skills in a fun and friendly way with other European young people.   This exciting stay will this year take place from 1 – 16 August  and gives young people the fantastic opportunity to develop language skills, whilst enjoying the arts, sports, cultural and other fun activities with youngsters from around Europe in the beautiful town of Annecy.  See more about the Rencontres on the Annecy website.     Download further information and the application form or contact twinning@cheltenham.gov.uk.

Göttingen Big Party Visit to Cheltenham 2013

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.

University of Gloucestershire link with Annecy Animated Film Festival

A senior lecturer from the faculty of media, arts and technology at the University of Gloucestershire visited Annecy from 5-7 December  2012 to discuss possible links between the animation programme at the university and the Annecy international festival of animated films (FIFA).  A comprehensive programme was planned for Mr Panks for him to meet with and visit the relevant people and departments with a view to discussing the possibility of students showing  their film work in the student category of the festival, as well as looking at work placement opportunities for the students during the duration of the festival.   The visit was very beneficial with great potential for links and concluded with the aim to submit students’ work for the 2014 festival.

Exciting projects with Annecy for 2013

As a result of the working meeting held with Annecy colleagues at the end of October, various projects are all in the pipeline:

The University of Gloucestershire’s faculty of media, arts and technology are looking at forging a link with Annecy’s international animated film festival with a view to students on the university’s animation programme showing their work as part of the student category at the film festival.  The possibility of students assisting at the festival are also being looked at.

National Star College’s director of development is planning a visit to Annecy in February to look at the possibility of  links or a visit for college pupils.

Pittville School is linking with St Michel School in Annecy and planning a visit in March.

Cleeve School 6th formers studying A level French are looking forward to work placements in Annecy’s council departments during the Easter holidays.

Cheltenham Bridge Club has been invited to Annecy for a tournament in May.

Woodmancote Primary School is linking with La Plaine and Les Vaugelas primary schools in Annecy and plan to visit with a small group in May / June.

Cheltenham College is planning a sport based visit to Annecy at the end of June.

Cheltenham Camera club is interested in assisting with a joint photo competition with Annecy, on the theme of ‘My Town’.

The Rencontres Europeennes will be held in Annecy from 1-15 August. This exciting stay in Annecy for 14-17 year olds is a fantastic experience for those wishing to improve their language skills in a fun and friendly way with other European young people.  See more about it on the Annecy website and contact twinning@cheltenham.gov.uk  for further information.

Ribston High School visit Göttingen

A group of 30+ pupils and staff from Ribston High School visited their link school in Göttingen from 28 November – 7 December.  Year 10 pupils experienced a range of activities with their German partners and developed their German speaking skills in preparation for their oral GCSE assessments.  Year 12 pupils embarked on week long work experience placements, with students this year working with a vet, a lawyer, German police force, primary school, a library and fitness centre, giving them valuable confidence in the language in a German work place.  Some of the participants on this trip have benefited from a grant from Cheltenham twinning’s inspiring young people fund.

Bach choir members joined Annecy sing-in

Hotfooted from their visit to Göttingen, 7 members of the Bach choir visited Annecy over the weekend of 1-2 December to take part in a ‘sing-in’ of the Messiah at the St Maurice church on Saturday 1 December.  The event was part of the ‘Noel des Alpes’ in Annecy and was sung by choirs from Annecy and Annecy’s twin towns.  The Cheltenham singers stayed in the homes of Annecy choristers and had a great weekend taking the opportunity to visit the lovely Christmas markets in Annecy.

Cheltenham Bach Choir visit Göttingen

Cheltenham Bach Choir is travelling to Göttingen in October to perform a massed concert with their longstanding ‘twin’ choir, the Göttingen Stadtkantorei and the Göttingen Symphonieorchester.
The Bach choir will depart on Wednesday 24 October and the group will number about 50 singers and almost all will be accommodated in families once in Göttingen. Some of the personal links across the two choirs go back well over 30 years.
The Stadtkantorei came to Cheltenham three years ago and performed Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah with the Bach choir, under the baton of their conductor Bernd Eberhardt. The compliment is being reciprocated this time as the conductor will be Stephen Jackson – Cheltenham Bach Choir’s own Music Director, who is also Music Director of the BBC Symphony Chorus.
The concert will take place on Saturday 27 October in the Johanniskirche in Göttingen and the programme will include Edward Elgar’s The Music Makers, and two pieces – Missa Angelorum and Ave Maria – by Carl Rütti.  Deborah Miles-Johnson, mezzo-soprano, will be the soloist in The Music Makers.
For those who won’t be in Göttingen, there is the chance to hear the choir at a closer venue, as they will preview their Göttingen programme in All Saints Church, Cheltenham at 7.30pm on Saturday 20 October.

Work placements for Göttingen apprentices

As part of the Movida work placement apprenticeship scheme with Göttingen, we currently have Julia Neuschl and Sophie Westphal working in the Commissioning division at the Borough Council for 6 weeks up till 19 October.  20 year old Julia is part of the Business Transformation team, whilst Sophie is helping out with the elections team.
This follows on from some very successful placements over the summer:
Jasmin Reslan completed a 4 week placement in August with Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce, setting up a new data base of Cheltenham based companies for marketing purposes.
Sophie Zapfe, an 18-year old fashion retail trainee, did a 4-week work experience placement with ‘Cousins of Cheltenham’ at the end of August.
Daniel Gassmann, a vocational trainee started a 4-week work experience placement with IT Schools Africa in Leckhampton on Monday 24 September.
June Freitag, a 17-year old student started a 4-week placement in October. June will spend two weeks working at the Cheltenham Animal Shelter followed by two weeks at the Riding for the Disabled Association based at the Cheltenham Racecourse.
All the apprentices stay with host families in Cheltenham and have opportunities to explore Cheltenham and visit other towns and cities in the Cotswolds and beyond, as well as gaining valuable practical work experience.  If anyone has a business and could offer a placement, please contact the Twinning Officer.