Twinning Association

Yate – Genieri in the Gambia
For more information, call Barbara Flannery, the Chair, on 01454 880541.

Yate is linked with Genieri; a village of about 700 people, almost 100 miles inland from the coast in the West African republic of The Gambia. The link between Yate and Genieri was established to forge friendships between the people of the two communities following a visit to The Gambia by a group of sixth formers from Brimsham Green School in 1986.

Individuals from the Genieri Link committee in Yate have visited Genieri to meet villagers and to participate in projects started jointly with their counterparts in Genieri. Fund raising has enabled members of the committee to take items to Genieri and to work with the villagers, including buying materials to maintain and furnish a Day Care Centre for pre-school children. In addition, the Link pays the salaries of two teachers in the Centre. 

Yate’s twin town of Bad Salzdetfurth is an attractive spa town with many half timbered buildings surrounded by beautiful countryside and built either side of the River Leine.

The Twinning Association provides many opportunities for residents of Yate to get involved in social events and trips to Germany.

It has a history of salt mining and is situated 30 miles south of Hannover, which is twinned with Bristol.

Each year private, educational and municipal parties from Yate visit Bad Salzdetfurth. This has led to the formation of many links.

Brimsham Green School is part of a project with Bad Salzdetfurth (and its other twin towns of Benicassim (Spain) and Bochnia (Poland)) where histories of the four towns are being recorded.

If you are interesting in joining Yate & District Twinning Association or in establishing links with any of the four towns, simply come along to meetings which take place on the third Friday of each month at Poole Court or contact Martin Monk, (Chair) on 01454 853175 or Alan Spiller (Secretary) on 01454 316630. All are welcome.