✨ Connection, conversation, collaboration – and cake.
Bristol Charities was proud to welcome partners, supporters and friends to a packed-out Bristol Beacon for the launch of our new five-year strategy: Working together to address poverty in Bristol.
The evening was both a call to action and a celebration – bringing together the “great and good” of the city alongside community partners, residents and changemakers, all united by a shared commitment to tackling inequality in Bristol.
From the moment guests arrived, the energy in the room was unmistakable. Whether reconnecting with familiar faces or sparking new relationships, the event was filled with meaningful conversations, genuine laughter and a real sense of collective purpose. ✨
💜 You could feel the spirit of collaboration throughout the evening – and see the joy shining through in every interaction.
A strategy for long-term change
At the heart of the evening was the launch of our ambitious new strategy, backed by a £10 million investment and focused on long-term, system-level change.
Bristol is a city full of opportunity, creativity and potential – but those opportunities are not shared equally. Our strategy sets out how we will work in partnership with others to change this, ensuring that opportunity is no longer defined by postcode.
Key actions include:
- Investing in community hubs in some of Bristol’s most deprived neighbourhoods
- Expanding high-quality housing for people facing homelessness and other barriers
- Creating a major regional hub to redistribute essential goods and reduce waste, in partnership with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority
This builds on the impact we are already delivering – from thriving community hubs to our almshouses providing secure homes for older people, and our support for the VCSE sector through affordable premises.
An evening of voices and inspiration
The event was hosted by the brilliant Joe Sims, with contributions from Andy Street, Julian Mines, Sophie Jerrold, David Hussey, Ellie Mills (Props Bristol trainee), Lucy Bearn, Stephen Peacock, and Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, via video message.
Alongside powerful messages and bold ideas, guests also enjoyed incredible cakes from the talented team at Props Bristol – a reminder that celebration and community go hand in hand.
Working together for change
Collaboration will be central to delivering this vision. We are committed to bringing together partners across sectors to drive radical thinking and ‘constructive disruption’, creating lasting change for the people of Bristol.
As Joe Sims put it on the night:
“Viva the philanthropic revolution!”
If you would like to support this work – or have a bold idea to share – we would love to hear from you:
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