Your say / South Bristol
‘The Factory Foundation is dedicated to supporting people and projects in south Bristol’
Bristol has often been characterised as a tale of two cities: a relatively privileged north and a deeply deprived south.
While this is an oversimplification, there is some truth in this claim. In spite of some excellent public and private initiatives, south Bristol contains the largest area of deprivation in the South West.
It is therefore a real pleasure to be able to announce the formation of a new charitable foundation, the Factory Foundation, dedicated to working with others to support people and projects in the urban area, currently defined by the constituency boundary of Bristol South.
When, 30 years ago, I made a paltry offer to buy Factory No. 3 on the disused Imperial Tobacco Raleigh Road estate – money I did not have at the time – I didn’t seriously think my bid would be accepted.
With a strong belief that change requires risk, I chanced my arm, in a desperate last throw in a campaign to save the whole estate of robust century-old brick buildings from the wrecking ball.
It is a huge regret that we were unable to raise the funds to save them all, as the then property market gave more value to the empty sites than to these magnificent turn-of-the-century buildings.
The near million square feet of generous floor space had potential to contain a rich mix of uses to make a thriving urban village – a model of development so lacking in today’s number driven commercial world.
Wills workers get ready on Raleigh Road for a staff outing in 1923 – photo: Wills’s Work Magazine
The Tobacco Factory building on the corner of North Street and Raleigh Road represents a fraction of what stretched North to Factory No. 5 on Upton Road – now part of Ashton Gate Primary School.
All between was lost through weak planning powers, a failure to recognise the historic significance and a corporate lack of imagination.
However, what remains has exceeded my aspirations to become a vibrant cultural and community hub with a mixture of theatre, education, hospitality, retail, creative industries, social enterprises and a thriving Sunday market.
Every year seems to bring something new to what is now a buzzing hub of activity.
There are always dozens of stalls to explore at the Tobacco Factory Sunday Market – photo: Martin Booth
Having been a south Bristol resident for 18 years, pre-Covid, living at the top of the Tobacco Factory, as well as having had the privilege of being Bristol’s elected mayor, I am only too aware of the need to share the love and to help spread the regeneration benefit to a wider south Bristol.
I have been extremely fortunate that, in spite of my priority being that of cultural regeneration and community building, the former factory now generates almost as much income a year as its original capital cost – and certainly more than I need to live on.
The freehold of the Tobacco Factory building and its rental income will eventually be transferred to the Factory Foundation to secure its future and purpose forever.
Meanwhile, a substantial proportion of the annual income is being transferred to the Factory Foundation to enable grants to be awarded on a quarterly basis to four different categories.
My fellow initial trustees are two remarkable people who have done so much for south Bristol in their different ways, Georgina Perry who has 30 years’ experience in health and social justice, and Ade Williams, Bedminster’s award winning community pharmacist.
Grants will be awarded on a quarterly basis; with the first grants of between £1000 and £5,000 to be awarded for climate and environment projects this spring with a deadline for applications of January 1 2026.
The four categories are:
- Climate & Environment: spring
- Children & Young People: summer
- Arts & Culture: autumn
- Health Equity & Food: winter
Details regarding applications for grants can be found on our website, www.factoryfoundation.co.uk
In preparing the ground we are extremely grateful to Quartet, Bristol & Bath Regional Capital, and other local charities and individuals for sharing thoughts and considering potential funding partnerships to help scale up support where it is relevant to do so.
We are open to working with other public, private and not-for-profit partners with an interest in south Bristol’s success and to charitable donations by individuals and businesses who share our concern for the welfare of our very special city.
This is an opinion by George Ferguson, former elected mayor of Bristol and chair of Trustees at the Factory Foundation
Tony Dyer, Bristol City Council leader
“As a lifelong resident and a ward councillor in south Bristol, I’m delighted to support this brilliant initiative that will bring much-needed investment into the area and help tackle long-standing inequalities. Through these generous grants, we can continue to unlock the latent potential of this thriving community and empower local people and projects to create lasting change.”
Helen Godwin, mayor of the West of England
“Just as the Tobacco Factory regeneration helped kickstart the transformation of North Street, the Factory Foundation promises to help drive a new chapter for communities in south Bristol. George and his fellow trustees are well-placed to guide investment into projects supporting young people, health, climate and culture. I can’t wait to see the contribution that the Factory Foundation makes for local people, from BS3 to BS14 and beyond.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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