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600-year-old charity unveils £10m plan to tackle inequality across city
Bristol Charities, one of the oldest charity organisations in the UK, has unveiled an ambitious £10m plan to tackle inequality across the city at a recent event.
“A bold step for a fairer Bristol – Viva the philanthropic revolution,” was the rallying cry of the launch.
The 600-year-old charity said it is aiming to ensure that postcodes no longer dictate life expectancy, job prospects, or access to housing, but using its assets, partnerships and long-standing local knowledge to drive “lasting change for those who need it most”.
The charity is stepping into a more prominent leadership role, using the investment to drive system-level change while collaborating with other charities, businesses and public bodies.
The event, emceed by actor and radio presenter Joe Sims, featured addresses from Andy Street, chair of the board of trustees and Julian Mines, chief executive of Bristol Charities
A launch event at Bristol Beacon on Wednesday brought together some 270 attendees representing the breadth of the city, including politicians, business leaders, academics and fellow charities.
Its five-year plan focuses on three key priorities: investing in community hubs in some of Bristol’s most deprived neighbourhoods, expanding housing for people facing barriers such as homelessness or disability and strengthening the voluntary sector through major infrastructure projects, including a regional distribution hub for essential goods.
The event, emceed by actor and radio presenter Joe Sims, featured addresses from Andy Street, chair of the board of trustees and Julian Mines, chief executive of Bristol Charities.
Andy Street, with more than 50 years of experience in the sector, highlighted the historical significance of Bristol Charities, tracing its grant-making and social housing work back to the Middle Ages.
He praised the city’s VCSE (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise) sector for its “exceptional commitment” to partnerships.
“We’re sharing today our plans. I believe they’re innovative, far-reaching, groundbreaking, and will improve the lives of thousands of our city’s residents,” Street said.
“This strategy is about aligning everything we have – our assets, our investments, and our partnerships – towards lasting change,” said Julian Mines, chief executive of Bristol Charities
“Because we’ve asked ourselves: how can we use our assets, our investments, partnerships, and influence to align them more effectively, to make a real difference in Bristol, to truly move the dial?
“But alongside the amazing city we have, we also see increasing levels of need and deprivation. The level of inequality and injustice in so many areas is simply not right. It’s not acceptable.”
Building on centuries of local investment, Bristol Charities aims to move beyond traditional grant-giving, using its assets, housing provision and partnerships to address the root causes of deprivation, particularly in long-inequality areas.
Julian Mines said: “Bristol has extraordinary energy, creativity, and compassion – but inequality remains deeply entrenched in too many parts of our city.
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“This strategy is about aligning everything we have – our assets, our investments, and our partnerships – towards lasting change.
“We believe meaningful progress requires courage: the courage to think systemically, to back bold ideas early, and to commit for the long term.”
He added: “We invite investors, charities, housing partners, businesses, and community leaders to work with us to build a Bristol where opportunity is not determined by postcode.”
The refreshment for the evening included delicious canapes and cakes prepared and served by Props, a charity that provides support and work opportunities for young people and adults who have learning disabilities
Joe Sims urged the audience not to be discouraged by negative headlines on daily basis but praised the exceptional character of the city’s people.
“In actual fact, most people – 99.9 per cent in Bristol – aren’t mustache-twiddling monsters. They’re beautiful people. They want to try and orchestrate change. We might differ in ideas, but we all want to make Bristol better.”
The first-of-its-kind in the UK regional distribution hub for essential items, delivered in partnership with the West of England Combined Authority and other charities, drew praise from former prime minister Gordon Brown for its ambition.
Helen Godwin, mayor of the West of England, welcomed the strategy: “Bristol Charities has been supporting local communities in our region for over 600 years, and that history brings real credibility and deep sector experience to this partnership.
“Bristol Charities understands both the long-term challenges and the practical realities on the ground. This is exactly the kind of collaboration we need – public investment aligning with social purpose to strengthen the infrastructure that so many communities rely on.”
A launch event at Bristol Beacon brought together some 270 attendees representing the breadth of the city, including politicians, business leaders, academics and fellow charities
The refreshments for the evening included delicious canapes and cakes prepared and served by Props, a charity that provides support and work opportunities for young people and adults who have learning disabilities.
All photos: Milan Perera
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