Community Paint Day, credit Khali Ackford

During the summer, Trinity and other members of Bristol's DIY Arts Network teamed up with Radix Big Tent Ideas Festival to shine a light on the city's cultural offer.

Cultural leaders from across the city came together to share their experiences of how culture can drive change in the city. Leaders such as Carolyn Hassan, Director of Knowle West Media Centre, who talked about the importance of investment in arts and culture (see above). Watch the full series of provocations about how culture can drive change here.

As a community arts organisation Trinity are committed to creating pathways for people to take part in civic life, to have the right for freedom of expression and to celebrate both the heritage we share and the differences we may have.

From our Art of Resistance project exploring the human stories behind activist movements in Bristol to supporting residents to programme activities in their neighbourhoods and celebrate local successes, Trinity supports access to culture to give people a voice and the freedom to make positives changes about the things that matter to them.

In partnership with Eastside Community trust and Somali Kitchen, we are collaborating with local residents to create opportunities to learn more about taking part in civic life. From Night Clubs for the over 55’s, to supporting local artists to develop their ideas, to celebrating the places people live.

Through funding from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch) we are collaborating with St Pauls Carnival and David Jubb of Citizens In Power to explore if a Citizens Assembly model could be used to co-create a cultural strategy for the city and surrounding area. This model of participatory democracy brings people together from all walks of life together to collectively tackle issues and has been used successfully during Coventry's City of Culture.

Over the next year we are going to be pulling all these strands of work together to further explore how co-creating with communities and creating the space for democratic decision-making can enable people to use culture and creativity as a vehicle to empower, amplify and respond to the issues they hold true.

Interested in finding out more?

• Follow #67MillionVoices on socials and join in the conversation about what culture means to you.
• Sign up to our mailing list to find out how you can take part and get up-to-date
• Read $ Identity Capital $

Fun Palaces in a UK wide organisation that supports volunteers, grassroots communities an organisations to programme events or create projects that celebrate the culture, skills and heritage of communities.

"I would love what I do to make a big difference in the world, I would love to do all kind of things like create wonderful things for people like homes for homeless people, or create wonderful animal sanctuaries. I just want to be happy with myself and make a huge difference." Ruth

We are partnering with Fun Palaces as part of thee-year project that aims to give power to communities so they can re-think, re-claim or re-purpose civic and community spaces.

As part of the project, local Newtown resident, Ruth, has been working with Trinity’s Communities Activities Coordinator to develop the ‘Recycle City Project’. The project aims to use creativity and technology to imagine a sustainable future City and hopes to include workshops across Bristol and an exhibition - most of all, Ruth wants to make a difference in the world around her.

Through the Fun Palaces partnership, we are offering free 1-2-1 support to Ruth, helping flash out ideas, apply for funding and support Ruth by attending meetings alongside her.

Ruth first started taking part in activity in the Community Garden at Trinity and remembers the sessions fondly, particularly baking using the outdoor oven and the other people who took part in the sessions. Recently, Ruth took part in The Wish List – a community arts project co-created by Newton Residents and artist Michelle Roache. She reflects that the lantern parade was ‘magic’ saying “we can all make that magic, I’m sure we can make that magic. I think that’s what I’m trying to create in my life, not just for myself, for the world”.

Fun Palaces aims to elevate everyday creativity, especially for those who may not consider themselves to be artists. Ruth feels this is beneficial and expresses this eloquently in saying "like with Grayson Perry, it’s celebrating everyone's unique, artistic, creative talent”.

The Fun Places project will continue until 2025 - click here to find out more about the project and how Trinity could support you to ignite your ideas.

Eastside People and Places is three-year project delivered by Trinity, Eastside Community Trust and Somali Kitchen (CIC). Together, we are delivering a programme of events and activities aimed at bringing people together; reducing loneliness and isolation and helping people feel included and welcome.

As part of the project, Trinity is offering support, help and guidance to people who have an idea for a community activity. Community Activities Coordinator, Stefan, works closely with community groups/ individuals to help shape ideas, create connections and plan activity.

"I never have have thought I would ever enjoy doing anything like this, but I've absolutely loved it - thank you". Creative coffee morning participant at Rosevear House

Stefan has helped residents of retirement housing Rosevear House establish a regular creative coffee morning following Trinity's Community Arts Project - The Wish List. In these coffee mornings an established artist supports participants to develop their creative ideas. Alongside this, local families whose children attended our Green Shoots After School Club will be launching their community-led regular playgroup for early years in the new term.

Regular groups have also been supported to re-ignite or establish activities, including 'Rhythm of the Night', a club night for people with learning disabilities and their friends, the new community-led LGBTQ+ theatre group, AmQueer, plus a new a relaxed and friendly social for over-55s East Central Mingle.

We are now looking to programme our Autumn/Winter activity and invite Community groups/ Individuals who have an idea for an activity that brings people together to contact stefan@trinitybristol.org.uk for a chat.

Click here to find out more about the Eastside People and Places

Eastside People and Places is supported by The Bristol Impact Fund

Children from Hannah Moore Primary at a Forest School Session, children from the school will be taking part in the project

Trinity has teamed up with arts organisation Take A Part to deliver a community arts research project with local school children and their parents/carers.

Take A Part work collaboratively with communities using creativity as a catalyst for change, aiming to re-balance social injustices and models of collective action. In this project, made possible through the Cultural Recovery Fund, they are looking at ways to increase and understand 'cultural democracy'.

The project was developed in late 2021 and runs until Apr 2022. Take a Part are currently delivering creative activities and workshops in which children/carers are exploring what culture they enjoy and what issues matter to them. Alongside this, they will be going on group trips to visit organisations such as Spike Island and The Bristol Museum, meeting staff and volunteers and having an opportunity to ask questions and see behind the scenes of some of the biggest cultural venues in the city.

The project also aims to evidence the ways in which engaging in culture can support more families at the school, who have been separated by Covid19, to reconnect and build new relationships with one another.

The project will culminate in a public exhibition at Trinity on 21 April that will be curated and designed by the children. In this children will be supported to be both artist and curator and to show their work, findings and thoughts to the community.

We will be sharing photos and updates of the projects on our socials throughout the project. Keep an eye out here.

“Being able to use Trinity free of charge has enabled us to keep running the art and craft drop-ins even with a very limited budget, reaching a greater number of disabled people.” WECIL

We believe activities are most successful when they're led by those by who use the services.

Our Community Kickstart scheme supports inspired individuals in our communities who have an idea and the passion to start an activity that is lacking in the community or neighbourhood. The scheme gives local residents free space, support and seed-funding to get new neighbourhood activities off the ground.

Kickstart is open to groups that are not in receipt of funding and do not have access to regular space to deliver their activity. Activities can include a dance, arts or fitness class, a community meeting or network event, a regular tea morning or an advice group or workshop.

Through Kickstart, we've launched new regular groups and classses such as Gentle Dance, which was set up in 2010 with support from LinkAge Bristol. With Trinity’s support, the group has become self-managing and sustainable, with 30+ regular participants each week, helping to improve health and well-being for over 55s through regular dance activity.

To qualify for our Kickstart scheme you have to be:

We are what you make us, so #makethespace and #getinvolved

The Trinity Community Initiative (TCI) offers free and subsidised hall space from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, to give individuals and groups space to run free activities, projects and events for the local community.

Aims

• To get new ideas off the ground
• To help community groups develop and grow
• To provide a wider range of services for our local community
• To support activities that promote social cohesion and inclusion
• To promote and foster partnerships between groups

Who is it for?

• Local, community, charity and voluntary organisations running a free public event or activity
• Individuals who are looking to establish a new community project or activity
• In order to qualify for the scheme your organisation must be a Member and pay the standard annual membership fee (£10 concessions / £20 individuals / £50 groups & organisations) - click here for details about Membership

What space is available?

• Main Hall, Fyfe Hall, Graffiti Room, Meeting Room and/or Garden

TCI subsidises the use of the space only. If you have any other requirements, like equipment (PA, projector, screen) or refreshments, this may incur a fee. See space hire for more information on rates.

How long can an activity run for?

• It will depend on what you're doing, our availability and the demand from other groups wishing to benefit from the scheme*.
• If we need to change your booking, we’ll give as much notice as possible, and try to find other suitable spaces or dates

*Access to TCI is cap at 24 hrs per year. Concessionary rates apply after cap.

How to apply?

Please send us a brief proposal (no more than two pages) outlining:

• An introduction to you/your organisation's mission/purpose
• What activity you’d like to run, and who it’s for
• What space/s you would like to use
• The best dates and times for your activity – if known (including set up and take down times)
• Any other information in support of your proposal

Email your proposal to info@trinitybristol.org.uk with the subject header 'TCI proposal'.

If your proposal is successful, we ask that you become a Trinity Member and to publicly acknowledge Trinity's support by including our logo in all your publicity (i.e. flyers, posters, website).

Please note that in order to overcome any issues surrounding liability to TCA, we request groups a 'peppercorn fee' of £1 for the duration of the activity.

"Word of mouth brought me to Trinity, I have been to many great gigs and club nights here over the years, but a friend suggested I might like volunteering here. Subsequently I found out there are a number of voluntary roles available.

Currently out of work, I have always loved volunteering as a way of keeping engaged, busy, maybe opening up new opportunities, and making new contacts.

I chose to work on reception because I have some previous experience in the role and wanted to update my computer skills, whilst also seeing how Trinity worked as an organisation.

As a volunteer on reception the tasks are varied: answering the phone and redirecting calls, taking messages, meeting and greeting visitors, office admin 'overflow', answering queries, and showing visitors around, to name a few.  There is, after a settling in period, a chance to take on other small projects.

So now, I feel that I have mastered the switchboard telephone, am getting a good grip on some of the admin systems and am using my customer service skills to a high standard; all very transferable skills for the jobs market.  I also now have a current reference for my job applications.

The team are all friendly and a host of creative and interesting people come and go throughout the day.  It is also heart-warming to meet members of the various community groups that use Trinity for regular meetings and events."

If you're inspired by the testimony of one of our volunteers and would like to get involved, why not join us as a volunteer receptionist? Click here to find out more.

Newtown street party in Aug 2021

Newtown is one of Trinity's closest neighbours, tucked between the Bristol – Bath Cycle Path and Clarence Road.  Many of the families in Newtown have lived there for several generations, creating a strong feeling of community and belonging. Newtown Network is a local grassroots community organisation that is working to improve the quality of life for residents and “putting Newtown on the map!”.

“Newtown Network connects the dots that wasn’t there before. I’m excited for the developments and regeneration that are going to happen in Newtown” Deborah Benjamin, Newtown Network

Deborah Benjamin, Newtown resident and chair of the Newtown Network, sees the role of the organisation to “address frustrations felt by residents who continue to feel disconnected from the investment that many other areas of Bristol have experienced, which they feel has led to high rates of crime and anti-social behaviour, leaving many residents feeling isolated.”

The Network are using creativity as a catalyst for change, delivering community projects, activities and events so that community members can feel heard, connected and empowered to influence their own future.

Newtown Network are valued members of Trinity and as part of our ongoing commitment to support grassroots organisations we have been working with them to offer support for the delivery and planning of their events

In August 2021 Trinity joined forces with Newtown Network to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Newtown with an (excellent) street party, steered by Newtown Network chair Deborah Benjamin and supported by artists Amy Rose and Jess Meadows from Mobile Urban Community Collaborations (MUCC). Over 75 residents came along, taking part in creative workshops, live performances as well as information stands from local organisations including the Salvation Army, Trinity Tabernacle Church, Lawrence Hill Health Centre and youth centre Baggator.

In October 2021 Newtown Network hosted the ‘Unsung Heroes – Give Thankz Celebration’ at Trinity. This event celebrated the local heroes who have contributed to their local communities. Guest speakers at the event included local poet Zed Regal and Joy Gardiner-Johnson who gave a presentation on the ‘Art of Headwraps’ and how they appear in different cultures.

Since November 2021, the Newtown Network have been collaborating with Trinity’s Resident Artist, Michelle Roche, to deliver the ‘Newtown Wishlist’ a series of creative happenings in Newtown in 2021/2022.  Residents who would like to take part in the project can meet Michelle for a cup of tea (and cake) at Rosevear House on Wednesdays 10 am – 12 pm.

If you would like to get involved or keep up-to-date with events and activities happening in Newtown get in touch with Deborah Benjamin (Newtown Network) newtownlive20@outlook.com or sign up to Trinity’s Community newsletter.

Trinity have partnered with Coexist Community Kitchen to deliver a series of community gardening and cooking sessions. The sessions are aimed at bringing people together from a wide range of backgrounds to learn more about gardening, harvesting and cooking in our beautiful garden.

“I’ve loved learning to cook authentic meals from different parts of the world, coming together with people from different backgrounds and learning about their food” - Toby, Participant

Coexist Community Kitchen work with individuals who are accessing support for mental health issues, addiction, loneliness, and anyone who would benefit from taking part in outdoor activities to improve their personal well-being. The group learn about and take part in harvesting fresh produce such as carrots, marrows and radishes, before coming together to cook a meal as a group. In one session, participants made Vietnamese-style vegetable spring rolls and pancakes with vegetables and herbs picked garden.

Over the summer we delivered six weekly sessions, with around 30 people taking part. Participants spoke about how these sessions help with mental well-being, reduced isolation and loneliness, and offered the chance to learn more about cooking and gardening. Being able to offer free, outdoor sessions is something that has become increasingly important, especially post-pandemic when isolation has become more common.

We launch a new series of Community Cooking Sessions on 13 Sep. Click here to find out more.

These events are part of Eastside People and Places, made possible through funding from Bristol Impact Fund.

We have recently teamed up with Ruth Ramsay, an external community consultant who has taken up the task of updating our 2012 Community Survey, via e-consultations, face to face and focus groups with regular centre users, members, supporters, as well as individuals and groups who are not currently engaged.

The consultation focuses on our existing services, building characteristics and facilities, and amongst other things it will help to inform our 2017 Learning and Participation Programme.

This new online survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete and is open until the 10th November.

Tell us what you like and we'll endeavour to keep doing it. Tell us where there's room for improvement and we'll look at where we can implement change to get it right.

We've acted on your suggestions since we last consulted you in 2012 - See You said, We did!

So please, take a few moments to complete our new Community Consultation.

This online survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete and is open until the 10th November.

As a big thank you, we will enter your details (if submitted at the end) in a prize-draw to win a pair of tickets for the event of your choice!*

Your responses will be kept confidential and will not be used for any purpose other than research conducted by Trinity Community Arts.

For more information about this survey and how the results will be used, or to have a chat face to face with Ruth, please contact us at: info@3ca.org.uk

*subject to availability

Dave volunteers at Trinity, helping our programming team every Thursday.

When I come to Trinity I send some emails out advertising gigs and classes, what are going on here. I like getting out and meeting people and having a laugh. I like getting out and socialising and getting out of the house for a day. I am always kept busy at Trinity and I enjoy myself.

(Us) Can you describe your time at Trinity in three words? Happy, working hard

“As we have struggled with funding...The doors of the Trinity Centre have always been open to us.”

Simi Chowdhry, Director, Awaz Utaoh

Awaz Utaoh weekly women's group at Trinity

In memory of life and work of community leader Simi Chowdhry, who sadly passed in November 2021, we look back on the work of our charity partner Awaz Utaoh, who ran a weekly Asian women's support group at Trinity for over a decade...

Awaz Utaoh means 'raise your voice' - founded in 1998, the charity sought to engage women from across Bristol's South Asian community of any religion.Each Wednesday until 2019, Trinity's Main Hall was filled with music, dancing, food and fun, thanks to Awaz Utaoh's weekly well-being and empowerment workshops and activities for Asian women of all faiths and backgrounds.

From Zuumba to gardening, language classes to safety courses, the group provided vital support for South Asian women to improve their health and well-being.

The group was supported via Trinity's Community Kickstart scheme until the retirement of Simi, the charity's founder, who sadly passed away in November 2021.

Volunteers help maintain the gardens at Trinity

Putting Down Roots is a horticultural therapy and training project, using gardening as a tool to help people in their recovery. Delivered by St Mungo’s, the project helps to build people’s self-esteem, confidence and sociability through connecting with nature.

“It is a pleasure to work in such a beautiful space and to be part of something so positive that so well serves the local community.” Putting Down Roots Participant

The group meet weekly and help maintain the gardens in Trinity’s historic grounds and work in teams to plant blubs, prune trees, weed and even to take part in crafts activities such as mud sculpture.

On average about ten people attend the weekly sessions at Trinity. The team delivering Putting Down Roots say that taking part can be an up and down journey, but it is proven to help people take positive next steps in their recovery.

One client, Miriam*, took part in Putting Down Roots for about a year and a half. She particularly enjoyed being in the garden and the St Mungo's team saw her benefit therapeutically through being able to get involved, for example, in pruning the trees or weeding an area enough to unwind and feel much better after a few hours than she did when she arrived. Miriam recently moved on to start a new role as a Forest School Assistant.

Clients who take part in Putting Down Roots are referred to the project through their key worker - they may live at the St Mungo's hostel or are recommended by a someone who has previously taken part.

If you would like to find out more about the project please visit the St Mungo's website.

*name changed to protect privacy

Trinity's Community Garden is a thriving, tranquil, nature-rich green oasis right in the heart of the city of Bristol. Together, we are building a resilient, connected and sustainable community.

'The growing in the garden is lovely and the sessions are very therapeutic and informative. It also appears to be a much-valued ‘sanctuary’ to the community in this inner city area of Bristol, and I would recommend them. It’s a wonderful use of what was once a very sad, decaying place.'' Eric

What we do:

- provide a space for health and well being for all the community to reflect, interact, grow

- deliver a range of educational workshops for children, families and local adults groups

- host a range of creative, diverse events responsive to our local community

- provide a safe, accessible space for everyone to enjoy

- showcase organic food growing techniques and grow medicinal plants, reactive to climate change

- offer volunteer opportunities for gardening and environmental education

The Garden hosts over 200 sessions and activities each year attended by over 600 partipants, with many attending regular weekly drop ins or workshops. The space also sees us hosting an annual Garden Party each May attracting an audience of 3,000 people.

See the Whats On area of our site for more info about events and activities in the Garden.

We're looking for people to get involved with the first ever Make Sunday Special on Stapleton Road and help us make it the best one in the city!

The theme of the event is 'The World On One Street' so we're looking for people who can provide world foods, crafts and produce to give people a taste of BS2/BS5! The event is alcohol free, so we're also looking for traders to assist us in providing tasty alcohol-free drinks options (lassis, smoothies, mocktails etc).

If you are interested in having a stall, please email Ripley: ripley@3ca.org.uk

Make Sunday Special, Stapleton Road - The World On One Street
Sunday 23 August, 12pm-6pm
Contemporary World Music headlined by 47 Soul
Food, Stalls, Dance, Performances and Film
'Get Active' workshops including Sport & Fitness, Science & Nature and Art & Craft

Plus, an exciting World Record breaking attempt! More details coming soon!

Click here to find out more about the event.

The Trinity Centre was pleased to welcome iconic poet Benjamin Zephaniah through our doors today as part of a national research tour into the history of black radical poetry in the UK. Writers and activists drawn from the local community attended a meeting to share ideas and sources with Benjamin.

The meeting was coordinated by writer and literary consultant Kadija George (of Peepal Tree Press), in partnership with Trinity's Project Coordinator Dr Edson Burton, through the Trinity Community Initiative. Trinity has been a base for community arts and creativity since the 1970s and the meeting served as a homecoming for Benjamin, as he recalled performing here in the Centre's early years as a venue.

This was an exploratory meeting to discover what information is available within Bristol. The project is ongoing and we may hear soon of a call for more sources to support Benjamin in his quest to compile a comprehensive anthology.

As part of Pay it Forward Week Trinity Community Arts, The Love of It and Let’s Do Nice Things are Free Alternative Royal Wedding Day on Friday 29 April 12pm-9pm.

The event is part of a week long programme of free arts and community activities that will encourage participants to pay the good deed forward and give something back to their community.

The expression "pay it forward" - inspiring a novel, a social movement and a film - is used to describe the concept of asking that a good turn be repaid by having it done to others instead, essentially giving forward instead of back.

With the Royal Wedding on it's way, we'll be dusting off our bunting and getting our picnic baskets at the ready for some wedding themed fun with an alternative twist. In true Trinity style we will be doing things our own way and focusing on bringing people together and giving our diverse, vibrant communities a day of music, dancing and celebration the only way we know how. The event will be by the people, for the people, with what people want.

Hosted for FREE at the Trinity Centre ,we will be working together to provide a range of activities for all ages including an Indoor & Outdoor Fun Day with a variety of arts, games and musical fun, a Wedding of Mass Distraction service where you can come dress up and get "married" in our beautiful upstairs hall to a lover, friend, or stranger and a Magic Lantern Secret Film Screening.

If you are interested in getting involved or for more information contact info@3ca.org.uk

We have two great projects for Graffiti enthusiasts taking place over the new few weeks.

Building Communities

Trinity has teamed up with Knightstone Housing to bring their project Building Communities, to life. Knightstone has invited Trinity and young people to get together and create a mural at Belmont Park in Easton. The project will help develop a more welcoming feel to the park which had previously been somewhat neglected. This project is is complemented by other improvements to the space including new gates designed by local school children.

Our resident Graffiti Artists, Mr Riks, will be running sessions on Tuesday 14th & Thursday 16th (15:30 - 18:30) and Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th (12:00 - 16:00)

If you would like to get involved contact us at info @ 3ca.org.uk - alternatively just come down and take a look...we will be painting live as part of the Easton Arts Trail!

Our Space Your Space

Our second Graffiti Project is taking place during the following weeks and is part of our Well Being Project funded by My neighbourhood. During this project, young people will be creating vibrant community wall, here in Trinity's Garden, which will reflect their ideas about their local area and will be a chance for young people from different backgrounds to work positively together.

The outside piece will be visible to all visiting Trinity's garden and will help create a more inviting space for young people and their families.

Sessions for this project will take place Tuesday 21st, Thursday 23rd, Tuesday 28th and Thursday 30th June (16:00 - 18:00). The final wall will be unveiled as part of our Free Activities Day for young people on Friday 1st July.

For more information please contact training @ 3ca.org.uk

Last weekend, Mr Riks could be seen creating a mural at Belmont Park, Easton with a group of local young people. He is now focussing his attention on leading another graffiti project here at Trinity as part of our project; 'Our Space Your Space' funded through My Neighbourhood - Well Being Grant.

If you would like to get involved or would simply want to pop down and observe the creative process contact us at training@3ca.org.uk / 0117 935 1200

To mark International Pay It Forward Day on 28 April 2011, a collective of Bristol based arts organisations are joining forces and hosting a week of free activities, to encourage participants to pay the good deed forward.

The expression "pay it forward" - inspiring a novel, a social movement and a film - is used to describe the concept of asking that a good turn be repaid by having it done to others instead, essentially giving forward instead of back.

Trinity Community Arts, The Love of It and Let’s Do Nice Things are organising a programme of free arts and community activities. From 23-30 April, activities will include a free family indoor picnic, workshops and more.

We are also keen to facilitate activities led by local people and groups so please get in touch if you would like to run an activity of your own in this week. Other groups and businesses are invited to join in and provide their own free fun - anyone can submit what they are doing to be included in our Pay It Forward programme and promotional material.

Individuals attending events during the week will be encouraged to pay the good deed forward.

From random acts of kindness and guerrilla gardening, to running a group activity or volunteering - a range of ideas to inspire individuals, schools and groups will be made available online as a resource pack available for download.

For more information contact us via email or phone.

Make Sunday Special - Stapleton Road

The World On One Street

Sunday 23 August, 12pm-6pm
Contemporary World Music headlined by 47 Soul
Food, Stalls, Dance, Performances and Film
'Get Active' workshops including Sport & Fitness, Science & Nature and Art & Craft
Plus, an exciting World Record breaking attempt for the world's largest Samba Dance! More details coming soon!

Alcohol free event

This year Make Sunday Special is coming to Bristol's neighbourhoods as well as keeping the fun going in the city centre. On the first Sunday of the month from May through to September there will be music, food, fun and shopping in and around Corn Street in the Old City, but you will also be able to make your Sunday special in our local event in Lawrence Hill where Trinity, Up Our Street and The Stapleton Road Working Group & Traders Association are holding an event as part of the programme on 23 August, 2015.

"We welcome this opportunity to work in partnership with others to make Stapleton Road ‘Make Sunday Special’, a true reflection of the diverse community in which Stapleton Road serves. We aim to showcase and celebrate local talent, skills and community spirit." Pat Usherwood, Chair of the Stapleton Road Working Group

"Come along for family fun, music, dance, workshops and more - there will be something for everyone and the event will be a great opportunity to have some Sunday fun in your neighbourhood!" Emma Harvey, Centre Manager of Trinity

For more details about the programme, click here.

The event has been made possible thanks to support from Bristol City Council. Visit www.bristol.gov.uk/sundays for all the latest news on everything that is going on as part of Make Sunday’s Special.

Make Sunday Special 2015

Event summary

Family friendly, alcohol free event, featuring contemporary World Music, headlined by 47 Soul. Food, Stalls, Dance, Performances and Film as well as 'Get Active' workshops including Sport & Fitness, Science & Nature and Art & Craft.

Event background

Make Sunday Special (MSS) was a Bristol City Council led programme, delivering events in and around Corn Street in the Old City, on the first Sunday of each month. In 2015, MSS came to Bristol's neighbourhoods, as well as keeping the fun going in the city centre.

Our local event in Stapleton Road (23 August 2015) took place as part of this wider programme.

Ideas for Make Sunday Special Stapleton Road came from a public meeting at the Trinity Centre, attended by over 40 local residents, traders, artists and community organisations. The group wanted to see lots of activities for children and families, as well as food and music that represented the community - 'the world on one street'.

Project steering group

From the initial meeting, a steering group was formed, made up of a range of community, resident and trader representatives. This helped us to balance the interests of the different parties involved.

Steering group members:

Pat Usherwood (Stapleton Road Residents Group), Sonny Richards (Stapleton Road Traders Assc), Antonio Jordan (Felix Watch), Emma Harvey & Ripley Bullock (Trinity Community Arts), Stacy Yelland and Lorena Alvarez (Up Our Street), Clara Shuma (Afrika Eye), Cameron Bate (Easton Leisure Centre).

Event highlights

Having the ability to programme a diverse live-music and arts offer for the street brought people out to dance and celebrate in a way not usually seen on this street. In spite of the weather, those who turned out really enjoyed the activities that were on offer. Activity providers that did push through weather engaged the public well, in particular the offer for children.

In particular, children enjoyed taking part in circus activities including stilt-walking and tight-rope walking, provided by the Invisible Youth! It was great for children to have the chance to skip and play freely in the middle of the street, facilitated by Playing Out, who got everyone involved in chalking on the pavement. Literati and Mufti provided indoor activities in the Trinity Centre and Stapelton Road Chapel and all had strong engagement from the community in their offer.

Easton Leisure Centre provided a great activity day as part of the event, offering tasters in classes and activities from Sea-Scooters to Zumba - it gave people the chance to try out something different, have some fun and get fit in the process.

People we spoked to on the day said it was just great to see something like this happening in the area as, with lots of things happening elsewhere, people felt that Stapleton Road often gets forgotten or left out. Traders and residents on the day said that the event was a great opportunity to have a positive public event for Stapleton Road.

'' The event had a lovely atmosphere''

''A wonderful showcase of Stapleton Road....had a great day''

“Kids love the circus and dance activities!''

''Just wish it was less wet!”

Future plans

If only we'd had sunshine! It's fair to say that the torrential rain put many people off. However, this did mean that those who did attend were from the immediate and local area who came out to see what was going on. Others braved it and came out in their wet-weather gear to take part and dance along with Bristol Samba and World Jungle Samba and everyone who came said that they just wished the weather had been better for us all.

As this was the first event, traders did not quite know what to expect! But hopefully, now that they have seen the first event along Stapleton Road, they will be keen to get involved in future events and benefit from the audience brought out by the event.

Event supporters

Trinity would like to say a big thank you to all those who came along to the first Make Sunday Special Stapleton Road. In spite of the weather, over 1,100 people came out to celebrate 'The World On One Street' and bring some good vibes to the neighbourhood. Thank you to all those who took part!

Special thanks go to:

• Bristol City Council for generously funding the costs of the event
• Steering group members for their time, effort and dedication
• Generous suppliers including Renteq, MJ Church and Kings Sound Reinforcement
• Activity providers for braving the weather and engaging children and young people in fun, creative activities
• NCS Engage young volunteers for sticking it out on a long, wet day and helping to collect donations toward event costs
• The Trinity team for their hard work and unrelenting commitment to delivering great events for the community
• Volunteer photographers Khali Ackford (images, top and below-left) and Jessica Bartolini (images, centre and below-right)
• Var from Telling Tales Film (view above)

Over two years, the project saw us bringing older and young people together to produce a series of artworks exploring themes around different generations and cultures, funded by the Quartet Community Foundation.

“We don't get any visitors so it is really nice to see young people – we don't really have any activities here and there is not full-time warden so it was nice to create an activity that we can meet the community”. Elder participating in Project Respect, 2010

Project Respect 2008

During the first phase on the project in 2008, we created a mural in the Trinity Gardens.

A group of young people from a range of ethic and cultural backgrounds studying English at the Bristol Academy worked with groups of Elders from Upper Horfield Community Trust, The Golden Ages from Easton Church and local residents from Knightstone Housing Association and the St Pauls area.
These unique workshops are designed to provide a safe space for two generations to meet, share experiences and create artwork together.

Local artist Victoria Appleton who will be delivering the next programme of workshops said; “We are looking at the role of Elders in other societies and in the UK, exploring beliefs and concerns about older and young people.”

Project Respect 2010

As part of the second intergenerational project in 2010, over 30 participants contributed across the programme – this included volunteers who are unemployed and were looking to gain skills and meet new people.

The biggest achievement was getting two very disparate groups together – older people who were white British with young people from a range of cultures and backgrounds, some of whom didn't speak English. It helped both the young people develop their language skills and the older people to gain a deeper understanding of the complex challenges facing asylum and refugee seeking communities.

What worked particularly well with this project in comparison to past years was we took the young people to work with older people residing in Brunel Care Home in St Georges. While this posed many new challenges, this also meant that we worked with older people who were otherwise not engaged at all with any community activity, unlike past groups of older people we worked with who were already engaged with organised social meeting groups.

The main benefit was the improved communication skills and a better understanding of each others cultures. It gave the older people a chance to share their memories and talk about their experiences and allowed the young people to feel valued and accepted within their new home country.

The community will benefit from the legacy of the project and through other activities shaped alongside this proven model. The prints produced will be on permanent display in Trinity's new lobby area, which will create an improved sense of what Trinity's role is within the area and give a sense that this is an open and inclusive environment.