Meet the categories: Bristol’s community legends

Nominations are now open for our new project, Bristol Legends.

We want to celebrate the incredible people, projects and groups that are shaping Bristol’s communities for the better.

We’re calling on you to help shine a light on the unsung heroes, everyday champions and inspiring initiatives that are making a lasting impact in our city.

This year’s Bristol Legends community category is sponsored by Great Western Credit Union – Money@Work

Now is your chance to nominate the individuals and organisations that deserve recognition and honour.

In the community category, we’re looking for inspiring legends across areas including:

Activists, Campaigners, Volunteer and Mentors 

Inclusive Communities 

Youth Groups/ Projects 

And more

Once nominations close, our expert panel of community leaders will carefully review all submissions and select the winners who will be honoured at the Bristol Legends Awards in March 2026.

This year’s Bristol Legends community judging panel is made up of passionate individuals deeply rooted in Bristol’s neighbourhoods and committed to celebrating the people who make a difference. They are:

Andy Street

Andy Street is the head of this year’s community panel – photo: Andy Street

Andy Street is the head panellist of this year’s Bristol Community Legends panel. He is the chair of the board of trustees at Bristol Charities, an organisation supporting communities across the city for over 600 years. A civil engineer by trade and founding director of SLR Consulting, Andy now channels his expertise into social impact. His focus is on driving community transformation and actively tackling inequality in Bristol, working closely with several charities to address critical issues like food insecurity, homelessness and social inclusion.

Amy Kington 

Amy Kington is a respected business and community leader in Bristol – photo: Community of Purpose

Amy Kington, the founder and chief executive officer of Community of Purpose, is a respected business and community leader in Bristol. Former head of Bristol Community Trust, she is a passionate advocate for using sport, education and leadership to drive positive social change. With experience across health, local government, policing and professional sport, Amy is dedicated to inspiring young people and creating life-changing opportunities through sport and mentorship.

Stacy Yelland

Stacy Yelland is the chief executive of the Eastside Community Trust – photo: Evoke

Stacy Yelland serves as the chief executive of Eastside Community Trust, a pivotal community hub for Easton and Lawrence Hill. She led the successful merger of three local charities to form the trust, bringing them together under one shared vision. Under her leadership, the Trust delivers impactful programmes specifically designed to strengthen community relationships and effectively reduce social isolation. She is deeply passionate about advocating for community spaces, ensuring they are recognised as essential to wellbeing, belonging, and local connection.

Sangeetha Wynter

Sangeetha Wynter is the head of services at Babbasa – photo: Babbasa

Sangeetha Wynter is head of services at Babbasa, a Bristol-based social enterprise empowering young people from under-represented backgrounds to achieve their professional ambitions. She directs crucial initiatives centred on inclusion, training and career development. Sangeetha’s work plays a key role in improving minority representation in the workplace and creating pathways for social mobility.

Heather Williams

Heather Williams is chief executive of Knowle West Health Park – photo: Heather Williams

Heather Williams is the chief executive of Knowle West Health Park and a dedicated member of the Knowle West Alliance. She has been instrumental in supporting the health and wellbeing of residents in south Bristol, notably through her crisis coordination, which included managing community hubs and outreach for vulnerable people throughout the pandemic. Heather is passionate about promoting community-led approaches as the best way to reduce inequality and build local resilience.

Alison Hope

Alison Hope is the director of The Nisbet Trust – photo: Alison Hope

Alison Hope is a community leader and director of The Nisbet Trust, celebrated for her commitment to local collaboration and empowerment. Her efforts focus on strengthening neighbourhood connections and championing projects that successfully bring people together to create meaningful, positive change directly across communities.

Main photo: Coexist Community Kitchen