This week, Charlie Ferdinando and Charity Wallis from Bristol Charities met with Emma Harvey from Trinity and Beth Wilson from Wellspring Settlement to share ideas, strengthen connections and reflect on the future of community spaces in Bristol.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing community organisations, and the vital role that trusted local spaces play in helping communities thrive. From tackling loneliness and isolation to supporting wellbeing, creativity, learning and civic participation, community hubs and centres remain at the heart of resilient neighbourhoods.
A key focus of the conversation was the growing Roots of Resilience campaign and manifesto, a pioneering movement that is gaining strong support across Bristol and beyond. Led by Trinity Community Arts and community partners, the campaign seeks to protect local civic spaces and advocate for reforms to the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) process, helping ensure that community organisations have the stability, security and long-term stewardship they need to serve local people for generations to come.
The manifesto argues that community spaces are far more than buildings. They are places where relationships are built, creativity flourishes, support networks develop and communities come together to tackle local challenges. Yet many of these spaces face increasing pressures from rising costs, insecure tenure arrangements and processes that can make long-term community ownership difficult to achieve.
Bristol Charities is proud to support the campaign and its vision. As an organisation with a long history of investing in communities and creating places where people can connect, belong and thrive, we recognise the critical importance of protecting the social infrastructure that underpins community life.
What was particularly encouraging was the sense of shared purpose around the table. Community organisations across Bristol are increasingly coming together to share learning, align ambitions and advocate collectively for change. In a challenging environment, collaboration remains one of the sector’s greatest strengths.
The Roots of Resilience campaign demonstrates what is possible when organisations unite around a common goal: protecting the spaces, relationships and opportunities that help communities flourish.
Together, Bristol’s community organisations are not only responding to today’s challenges – they are helping shape a stronger, more resilient future for the city.
Get Involved
The future of Bristol’s community spaces matters to all of us.
We encourage community organisations, residents, partners and decision-makers to learn more about the Roots of Resilience campaign and support its vision for stronger, more sustainable community ownership and stewardship of local assets.
📖 Read the Roots of Resilience Manifesto:
https://www.trinitybristol.org.uk/roots-of-resilience
🌱 Find out more about the campaign and how to get involved:
https://www.trinitybristol.org.uk/roots-of-resilience
Together, we can help ensure that Bristol’s community spaces continue to be places of belonging, creativity, resilience and opportunity for generations to come.
Get in touch with Charity or Charlie here:
📸 Pictured: the beautiful event space at Trinity Centre, where the meeting took place.
