Better Business / Member profile
‘Bristol has a thriving collection of neighbourhoods with their own identities and communities’
Stacy Yelland is the chief executive of Eastside Community Trust, a charity dedicated to supporting local communities in Easton and Lawrence Hill.
Stacy is a committed and experienced leader, currently overseeing the community anchor organisation which focuses on supporting children to thrive, empowering citizens, and fostering connections within the community.
With a strong belief that the best outcomes are achieved through collaboration with like-minded partners, Stacy led a successful merger of three charities to form Eastside Community Trust in 2020. This strategic move significantly increased the organisation’s social impact and resilience.
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What’s the one thing that inspires you to get up in the morning?
I am really lucky to work somewhere where there is a lot to inspire me. The news these days is often upsetting and concerning, and it is easy to feel a sense of powerlessness. What is great about Eastside Community Trust is that it is full of kind, community-minded people who restore your faith in humanity.
Our organisation and the neighbourhood we work in are full of passionate people doing things big and small to make the local area a better place. We often quote from the anthropologist Margaret Mead when she says: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” I am lucky enough to be reminded of this every day in my work.
So, I am inspired by my colleagues and all the volunteers and activists who are taking action and caring for each other. In times of mistrust and division, it is a powerful reminder that there are so many people who are helping each other and doing things to make a positive difference.
If you could pick one thing to change about Bristol, what would it be?
If I could change one thing about Bristol, it would be the cost of housing – it is so expensive to buy or rent in the city now. When I first moved here, you could easily find an affordable shared rental property and get on the property ladder. Now those same terrace homes are selling for over £1m in parts of the city, which is just crazy.
The city is very segregated, and there is a lot of inequality, and I would certainly change this. It is a wealthy city which feels like it is thriving in many ways, but with public services strapped for cash, there are lots of parts of the city which feel left behind. In the past few years, we have seen more homelessness and people struggling with addiction and poverty. This isn’t just a Bristol problem, but it is one that underscores inequality.
Stephen Williams, councillor and senior counsel in public affairs at Bristol City Council, meeting the team at Eastside Community Centre recently
What does a Better Bristol mean to you?
To me, a Better Bristol means that the benefits of a creative, entrepreneurial, vibrant, and wealthy city are felt by all the people who live here. Bristol has a thriving collection of neighbourhoods with their own identities and communities.
Many of those have wonderful community and creative spaces run by organisations like mine. A Better Bristol would be ensuring these community spaces are safeguarded into the future. There are lots of empty properties in the city centre, and the council is having to sell off assets to raise much-needed funds. Once a community space is sold to a developer, it is lost forever.
What action could you as an individual take? What action could your company take?
Individuals can use their community spaces. Find out what is near where you live and visit your local community venue. They rely on income from room hire, cafes, events, and all kinds of other services they provide.
Why not consider being a trustee for a local charity? There are loads we can do as individuals to change things for the better with a bit of time and energy and connecting with others who also care.
What do you want to see from the Bristol business community in the next five years?
Over the next five years, I’d love to see businesses working hand in hand with community organisations on the challenges we face. We have skills we can share, and our impact can be much stronger by working together.
All photos: Eastside Community Trust
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