As you all may know, Trinity has been running 6 West Street Old Market for nearly 5 years, under Bristol City Council's Community Asset Transfer initiative, with the aim to support the regeneration of Old Market.

After a successful run of community cafe projects in the space, Trinity received many wonderful proposals for the use of the space, but we were only able to select one.

We are happy to announce that The Island submitted an innovative bid with a clear community engagement plan, which was close to Trinity's own aims and objectives for 2016.

The Island’s main vision for SPACE (Sound-Performance-Art-Community-Engagement) is to create a welcoming and open hub for the local community, supporting creativity in Bristol by showcasing work and sharing ideas. They will be curating a very exciting programme of monthly events, ranging from exhibitions, workshops, art & crafts pop-up shops, small theatre shows, fashion markets and so much more! This exciting partnership will allow us both organisations, Key Arts Providers for the city, to expand our involvement with the local community and offer in the locality.

SPACE launched on Friday 8th April, 6pm with “Vice & Virtue: Discovering the Story of Old Market Bristol” exhibition, based on Trinity's Heritage Project delivered between 2013-2015 by Dr Edson Burton and historian Mike Manson. It includes integrated extracts from oral interviews, photographs, and research findings of the area, covering the history of Old Market's pre 19th century through to the present.

If you would like further information regarding SPACE, exhibition/space or hire avails, please contact SPACE directly:

T: 01173 763 457

E: space@theislandbristol.com

W: http://theislandbristol.com/spaces/space/

Coming up, we are pleased to host The Global Playground Fundraiser on Thursday 24th March, who have secured The Carnyvillains. Zen Hussies & The Undercover Hippyalongside a great host of acts to get you dancing, raising awareness and money for Felix Road Adventure Playground in Easton and school projects in Dunkirk & Calais Refugee Camps. Join us beforehand for FREE pre-event: 'The Refugee Crisis: What Can We Do?' an evening of live music and talks about the refugee crisis at 6pm.

Spring is here and we have the next installment of Teachings In Dub, held on Friday 22nd April, with an exciting line up includingthe legendary Levi Roots, Stryda and Nick Manasseh. Set to be a very special night, join us in celebrating 20 years of Stryda's Sufferah's Choice Show.

Also, coming up is our very own annual Garden Party, Sunday 8^th May, proudly celebrating 40 years of music at The Trinity. We have secured, Rattle, The EvilUsses, Lionpulse and much more...check out our ever expanding line up as the day draws closer. We are still welcoming volunteers and ideasfor workshops, activities and stalls, so please get in contact if you'd like to contribute.

With summer not so far away, Mayfest 2016 has announced its program. The Trinity will behosting "The Castle Builder", welcoming back Kid Carpet from our 2010 Garden Party and his collaborator VicLlewellyn. Also being performed is "Can I start Again Please", a riveting and humorous investigation into the power and failings oflanguage. Plenty more great stuff in there - check the full programme here.

Check out our what's on pages for more info as there just isn't enough space to fit it allhere!

Would you like to join the team? We are currently recruiting for a Caretaker. Find out more info here.

With over one-million young people aged from 16 to 24 in the UK not in education, employment or training (NEET) according to the Office for National Statistics, Trinity's creative learning courses have historically provided a vital route back into learning for disengaged young people.

Trinity has been a youth training provider since 2005 and courses have become increasingly popular - working with up to 60 young people in a year across various learning programmes, combining creative-arts activities with more formal learning and accreditations.

We feel it is important to ensure that we continue to provide musical educational opportunities to young people who may otherwise not engage with mainstream provision in the city, as explained by our Patron, Miriam Margolyes OBE, "These days, the Arts have to fight for their place in our society & I saw when I visited Trinity that it is not only committed to encouraging & fostering the Arts in Bristol, but also to ensure young people from diverse backgrounds experience all aspects of Art & enable them to realise their dreams."

Between 2012-2014, 98 young people took part in Trinity's Youth Music project, with over half of the young people (57%) coming from local wards and 40% from BME backgrounds. 28 young people were able to achieve a Rockschool accreditation.

In 2015 Trinity worked with 68 young people across our ESF funded provision, drop-ins, 121s and outreach sessions.

Changes to provision

Trinity previously worked as part of a consortium led by the City of Bristol College through their 'Faculty for Foundation Education' - a consortium recognised by the Beacon Award for Widening Participation in 2010. Unfortunately Trinity, alongside a number of other community-based learning providers, no longer be receives funding to deliver training courses due to changes in the College's own funding. Between 2013-2015 we worked with Weston College to deliver training with European Social Fund (ESF) support, however this contract has also come to an end.

In the interim, Trinity has been using small project grant funding to continue our youth delivery. We have been working with Colston Hall's Third Space group to deliver activities for young people as well as existing project activity including 121s with Include and YOT and outreach sessions with the Teenage Cancer Trust. We have also developed a successful series of exclusive to Trinity master classes / Q&A sessions with artists as diverse as Devin Townsend, Jack Garratt and Nitin Sawnhney, which we are keen to continue.

Emma Harvey, Centre Manager at Trinity said; “We're receiving calls from referral agencies, parents and young people about our course, so it's disappointing that, at present, we are unable to offer them places on the structured course of their choosing. It's a great shame – but, I suppose, our story is just one of a number of successful youth programmes that have now been placed into positions of uncertainty following ongoing cutbacks to grass-roots training provision.”

Trinity is committed to delivering a varied and comprehensive youth training programme as a key activity for the community and are currently seeking alternative funding to continue to offer this provision.

If you are interested in supporting The Trinity Youth Training Programme or to find out more visit our Just Giving page or text TYTP99 £[and the amount you would like to donate] to 70070

“Trinity is important for me because it keeps me off the streets and gives me the space and time I need to express myself through my music and lyrics. It has helped me build my confidence in areas I wasn't sure about before and has challenged me to try things I don't usually do. They also helped me get a work experience placement at a local radio station that enabled me to get my music heard. I first came to trinity at a very tough time in my life and feel without their help my life would be very different now". Student feedback, 2015

"The Castle Builder tells the true story of an inmate in a Norwegian psychiatric institute who over five years built a castle on a remote headland". Welcoming back Kid Carpet (who previously headlined the Trinity Garden Party back in 2010) and his collaborator Vic Llewellyn who "re-imagine these stories, telling them with live music, projection and heartfelt storytelling".

"Can I start Again Please investigates the power and failings of language – language that tells and hide truths – sparring across the heard and the unheard, the spoken and the unspoken.

The script is poetic and full of humour and is performed by Sue MacLaine and Nadia Nadarajah with a bright, coursing and relaxed reciprocity".

Both shows are taking place in the Trinity Centre's Fyfe Hall.

The wider programme includes some of Bristol's finest as well as national and international performers, including a few companies we have had the pleasure to work with over the last year such as Greg Wohead, (Come Back Special) Massive Owl (Castle Rock) and Still House's Of Rider and Running Horses. Plenty more great stuff in there - check the full programme here

We want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to access high-quality arts and culture in Bristol. Prior to the installation, expensive PA hire costs restricted the abilities of local groups and promoters from staging events at the centre. The installation means that we can make sure we're better able to support diverse arts in the city.

The project has been funded by Cory Environmental Trust Britain and The Foyle Foundation. We have also recently received an award from Garfield Weston Foundation to further expand our technical capabilities.

Events hosted so far have included French-Cuban musical duo Ibeyi performing in November and 'Aadhunik' - an evening of Bhangra organised by the Asian Arts Agency. We were proud to have been part of this year's BBC6 Music Festival in Bristol. Having a high-quality sound system has enabled us to take part in events of this nature.

This year, we are working on development of our in-house programme so that we can support other community organisations to deliver events that reach local communities and represent the Bristol Sound.

Images courtesy of Khali Photography

More about the system

Main Left/Right System - 6 KARAi Line Source Arrays aside Subs

Bellow Stage Subs - 8 SB18i Subwoofer Array

Contact: jamell@3ca.org.uk / 01179 351200 for more information.

Click here to view the full specification document.

Our ideas were also supported by the Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighborhood Wellbeing Grant, to expand on our offer of sessions and activities exploring green themes under our "Garden to Tummy" project.

Our Project Coordinator Helen Winstanley, led on activities from March to December, involving 780 participants (including volunteers) from the local community, schools and target groups in a range of permaculture activities and events at The Trinity Centre, Garden and Arts West Side.

This year we finally had the capacity to explore city-wide partnerships and make the most of existing partnerships and links. We worked with residents from St Judes, SPAN (Single Parents Action Network) and early years, something we have not done before, and showed parents and teachers a green space for their children to play in and practical skills for all of them. Helen was also able to play an active part in the Bristol 2015 programme, attending events, training, carrying out meetings and networking with other partner groups, identifying opportunities for collaboration and joint delivery of activities.

Throughout the year, we explored green and seasonal themes suggested by you all, over 60 sessions including: Foraging Walks, Holiday Lunch Clubs, Stay & Play sessions, Cob Building, Spoon Carving, Willow Weaving, Chutney Making, Raw Food workshops as well as Monthly Community Days.

All of our sessions, as usual, were free but we welcomed small donations from participants, that helped us take our projects even further.

Trinity was also able to support the Community Garden group in their quest to fund, develop and deliver new gardening and skill based weekly sessions for all ages and abilities, funded by Awards for All and The People's Health Trust. We also enable the Wild Walks for Well-being group to grow in numbers and activities.

It's also worth mentioning that May saw our busiest Garden Party ever!

We finished our growing season with a Harvest Celebration in November, were 250 participants from all our projects, their families and friends joined a range of activities in our Garden, from foraging walk to apple pressing and pizza making in our new cob oven.

Thank you all for taking part in our Garden projects and events this year! We will continue sharing learning opportunities, projects and ideas with you to help us create a happier, more sustainable living in Bristol in 2016. Watch this space!

Do you programme your own gigs? Trinity is a 650 capacity venue and most music events are currently organised by promoters or individuals who hire the venue and run their own gigs/clubs. We programme a number of live music events including Garden Party and Fireworks. We also programme theatre and performance as part of the IGNiTE project.

How do I get a gig at Trinity? Much of Trinity’s live music programme is organised by regional and national promoters. If you would like to perform as a support act, please email to info@3ca.org.uk with the gig you’re interested in and a link to your music and we can forward onto the relevant promoter.

Do you give the venue for free for benefit gigs/fundraisers? Trinity is a registered charity and our live-music progamme provides a way of us generating vital revenue to fund our charitable activities. We cannot provide free use of Trinity for benefit gigs as there are associated costs that have to be covered (security, staff, technical costs). See Benefit Gigs: Tips for more info.

Can we have the bar revenue? Trinity receives limited public funding and we use our bar revenue to subsidise our own charitable activities, as well as paying for the running costs and ongoing repair of the Trinity Centre. For live-music events, including fundraisers, Trinity retains all bar revenue and you, the promoter, retain all door revenue - this is the incentive to sell as many tickets as possible in order to ensure your event is a success.

I know someone who's SIA - can we use them for security? We want to ensure that our venue is safe and that our licensing conditions are upheld. We have a regular security team who we use who know the venue and help us to deliver safe events. If you would like to discuss security arrangements further, please contact your bookings administrator.

Can we sell food? We can allow sale of food as part of live events and have a small kitchen, suitable for reheating of food. Food providers have to hold appropriate certificates and insurance and present evidence of how food is prepared and stored. If you would like to sell food as part of your event please discuss this in advance with your bookings administrator. Please be advised, use of kitchen may incur an additional cleaning deposit.

Can we use the garden and/or upstairs hall, as well as the main hall? Our upstairs and outdoor spaces have stricter curfews. Use of outdoor/upstairs spaces may incur additional costs for security, staffing and licensing and may not necessarily increase the capacity of your event significantly. Please discuss with your requirements with your bookings administrator.

Can we have fire-breathers? Pyrotechnics are not permitted within the internal spaces. We have a limited number of days per year during which we can host events externally and any use of flammables must be adequately insured and risk assessed. Be sure to discuss with your bookings administrator any fire-display ideas you have well in advance so that we can ensure your event runs smoothly.

Can you reduce the rates for a smaller capacity event? There are standard costs which are incurred including a minimum number of security and staff. Therefore there is limited room for reducing fees from our standard rates. If you feel you require a smaller capacity, it might be worth approaching a smaller venue who will be able to work with you to stage the event you want.

Can we use our own tech and equipment? Any equipment you bring into the venue must be appropriately PAT tested. In order to ensure high quality of sound we stress that promoters use our in-house L'Acoustics PA and work with one of our preferred suppliers for other equipment and engineer requirements. If you wish to go it alone, your bookings administrator will need to know who's running the tech side of things, so that we can ensure your event is delivered to a high standard. Check out our Tech Spec for more info.

Can you help us promote the event? We list all events on our website and social media, as well as listing in our quarterly listings brochure. We also display and distribute posters and flyers, please speak to your bookings administrator about any help you need with this. The more lead-in time your event has, the wider we can push the event.

What is the venue's position on 'legal highs'? 'Legal highs' - along with other illegal substances - are not permitted by law at the Trinity Centre. The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 states that it is an offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess with intent to supply, import or export psychoactive substances (aka 'legal highs', for example, Nitrous Oxide).

How do I hold a date? If you're looking to hold a few dates while you wait to confirm artists, we are able to do this as long as there is adequate lead-in time. If you've pencilled a date and someone challenges this, we will get back to as soon as we receive the challenge. You will have 48hrs in order to confirm the date; we will usually require a 50% deposit to secure a date, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Image courtesy of Nathan Hicks

Trinity Community Arts (TCA) has been awarded funding from Heritage Lottery Fund for the Trinity Centre Conservation Project.

Funding for an initial development phase will enable the centre to carry out surveys of the Grade II* listed building, in order to come up with a plan for repair works in 2017. Works will focus on repairs to the north aisle and slate roof, original stained glass window and stonework.

Over the last few years, there has been much investment to improve the Trinity Centre's facilities. With a footfall of over 50,000 each year, the planned repair works will help to ensure the community arts centre can continue long into the future.

Emma Harvey, Centre Manager of Trinity said; “Thanks previous support from English Heritage and the Big Lottery Fund, The Trinity Centre was removed English Heritage At Risk Register in 2014. However, with an old building like this, there is still much work to be done to repair the building. This support from Heritage Lottery Fund will help to ensure the community can continue to enjoy the space for decades to come."

The project will compliment previous capital repair and redevelopment works and will be the final major-works phase relating to the repair and conservation of the historic fabric. The capital works programme will be complimented by a range of heritage learning activities, including training in traditional heritage trades.

Alongside funding from Heritage Lottery Fund, the project development phase has also been supported by the Ashley, Easton, Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Partnership and the Quartet Community Foundation, with other supporters including Bristol's Rotary Club and Burgess Salmon.

Over the next year, the Trinity team will be working to raise the total funds needed to carry out the repair works and there will also be a number of job opportunities relating to the project. If you are interested in showing your support for the project or would like to know more visit: www.3ca.org.uk/activities/renovation for more information.

About Trinity's heritage

The Trinity Centre, Bristol, has been a diverse hub of community arts activities since its de-consecration as a place of worship in 1976. The building has been a prominent music venue for 50 years and has played host to a spectacular role-call of acts, becoming an important landmark in the globally exported 'Bristol Sound'.

Built between 1829-1832, the 'Waterloo Church' is considered to be one of the finest examples of the work of architects Thomas Rickman and Henry Hutchinson. Trinity is an important Grade II* listed building, which retains significant townscape value in the context of Old Market Conservation Area, defined as "an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character and appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance."

Trinity's 41 stained-glass windows are one of the most striking but neglected features of the building. Built in an English Gothic Revival style, most of the mullioned windows and clerestory feature non-pictorial stained glass and have a Geometric Patten style using simple shapes. The building features a pictorial stained-glass panel in one of the South-East façade windows, with classical figures set against a background of vibrant colours, flanked by diaper quarries and foliage.

Trinity is situated within one of the most culturally diverse and economically deprived areas of the South West. Race, migration and the changing demographic of the surrounding area have played an important role in the history of the building. Over the years, the building has been managed by different community groups, who have all had a role to play in making the centre what it is today.

The Trinity Centre Conservation Project will help to explore some of this history and provide opportunities for people to share their stories and experiences, as well as learn about traditional heritage trades. Visit our Archive for more information.

Image by Jane Porter, BCC

Feeding back about the award to Trinity, the M&S Energy Community Energy Fund Team said; “We thought that this project was most in keeping with M&S’s core business values - integrity, innovation, inspiration, and in touch with the community. We were all very impressed with the level of community engagement [the] project has demonstrated and look forward to seeing the impact of our funding.”

St Werburghs City Farm was also among the winners of the awards. It received funding towards installing 15 solar panels to their new education centre 'The Connection Centre Solar Systems Project, which will educate children and young people about green energy.

M&S Energy Community Energy Fund
The M&S Energy Community Energy Fund has been established to enable more communities in the UK to generate renewable energy and become environmentally and financially sustainable. During September 2015 a public vote took place to decide which community groups across the country would win a share of the £400,000 funding available. There are plans to run a similar funding programme in 2016.

The Trinity Centre Conservation Project

The Trinity Centre Conservation Project will compliment previous repair and redevelopment works, helping to protect the building's fabric into the future. Trinity are campaigning to raise funds to carry out a final programme of works between 2015-2017.

Installing Solar PV panels on our community centre are a key part of this programme, to help the building become more sustainable and allow Trinity to continue to provide free and subsidised hall space for community activity.

This is the final major-works phase relating to the repair and conservation of the historic fabric. Capital works with be framed by an activities programme of workshops and events, including training in traditional heritage trades.

Photos by Jessica Bartolini

The Trinity Community Garden (TCG) has opened 2 new positions, each on different days so one could apply for both if one wishes!

Working in partnership with our Garden Co-ordinator and led by the direction of TCG Management Committee, you will plan, deliver and evaluate a varied programme that will draw in local people from all different backgrounds.

Both roles are freelance contracts for 6 months, fixed-term, from April to November 2016 - 7hrs a day for 1 day a week. Salary £10 p/hr.

1) Community Project Co-ordinator
2) Therapeutic Gardening Co-ordinator

Essential criteria for both posts:

• A strong understanding and knowledge about permaculture principles, sustainability practice, eco-systems, plants and wildlife

• At least 2yrs experience of working within community projects and vulnerable people

• Experience delivering outdoor cooking sessions with garden produce

• Knowledge of herbs and their benefits; food nutrition and healthy eating; organic food growing

• Proven ability to plan and co-ordinate a project

Desirable criteria for both posts:

• Experience working in a community/voluntary organisation

• Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds

• First Aid and Basic Food Hygiene qualifications

• Marketing Skills

Please note a DBS (formerly CRB) check will be required.

For more information, including role specifications and application form contact, Charlie Hanson:

T: 07787520837 / E: itsasigncharlie@gmail.com

Closing date for applications Monday 21 Dec, 7pm.

Interviews will take place on the 11 and 12 January 2016.

This week we have a mega weekend including Ausform Micro-fest (pictured above) featuring drag queen regulars from the London cabaret circuit, Maxi More and IMMA / MESS. Later the same night we open up for the DEEP Medi Weekender, two nights of sounds system culture and music curated in partnership with Teachings in Dub.

After that we come crashing in to December with a packed Friday night featuring Massive Owl Theatre's new show Castle Rock, a distortion of the film, Stand By Me and Bump's Christmas Special; expect all the usual fun just a few more crazy costumes and probably some pretty terrible/amazing festive tunes.

Saturday 5, The Fantasy Orchestra return this year bringing us their very special David Bowie Party, encouraging you to come dressed as your favourite Bowie personality and for those musically inclined they'll be starting the proceedings with a 'David Bowie Berlin period' open mic session!

There is also still time to bag yourself a ticket for an evening with Miriam Margolyes. All proceeds from this night will go to support our youth training programme so excellent entertainment and a good deed all rolled into one.

Later in the month we still have Netsky, Aadhunik, the return of Twinkle Brothers and the City Rockas Festive Link Up to come, presenting plenty of opportunities to get dressed up and strut your stuff before we reach the big NYE Party to end the year on.

The event on 6 December will see the BAFTA award-winning actress performing a rich-medley of stories, poems, Dickens, comedy & sing-song. It will be a unique chance to see one of the UK's most prolific performers in the beautiful and intimate setting of the Trinity Centre's newly renovated Fyfe Hall.

Miriam is an impressively versatile performer and storyteller, with a love of all things Dickens. Known for her roles in the Harry Potter movies, Blackadder and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, the marvellous Miriam Margolyes also performs widely across the UK and Australia, in her one-woman such as Dickens' Women - in which she plays 23 different roles (men and women) from Dickens' books - and The Importance Of Being Miriam.

Reviewer Diana Simmonds (Stage Noise) said of Miriam's performance at the Sydney Opera House in April this year; “Margolyes is a fabulous storyteller and the stories she has to tell range from hilariously ridiculous to gobsmackingly 'omigod, she didn’t say that, did she?' But of course, she did – and does!"

Recently returning from filming in Jaipur, India, Miriam will be performing in Bristol for one-night only, in support of Trinity Community Arts, bringing her unique style of entertainment to the city and helping to raise funds toward our youth training programme.

Joining Trinity as the charity's Patron last year, Miriam said; "These days, the Arts have to fight for their place in our society & I saw when I visited Trinity that it is not only committed to encouraging & fostering the Arts in Bristol, but also to ensure young people from diverse backgrounds experience all aspects of Art & enable them to realise their dreams."

Tickets for the event are £18 adv (£16 concessions), available from Bristol Ticket Shop.

Click here for more information about the event.

Photo: Kyte Photography

Trinity has been awarded £12,500 funding to contribute toward the installation of solar PV to Trinity Centre roof, which will match-fund £1,000 committed from the Naturesave Trust. Energy savings from the installation will help support ongoing maintenance costs of the much-loved, grade II* listed, community arts centre and ensure that Trinity can continue to provide free hall space to other community projects.

Installation of solar PV form part of Trinity's 2015 Green Capital Pledge to improve the centre's green credentials.

Emma Harvey, Trinity Centre Manager said; "A massive thanks must go out to all those who voted & supported us to win - we couldn't have done it without you!"

Feeding back about the award to Trinity, the M&S Energy Community Energy Fund Team said; “The judges felt [the] project was most in keeping with M&S core business values - integrity, innovation, inspiration, and in-touch with the community. We are all very impressed with the level of community engagement [the] project has demonstrated and look forward to seeing the impact of our funding.”

St Werburghs City Farm were also amongst winners of the awards. They received funding towards installing 15 solar panels to their new education centre 'The Connection Centre Solar Systems Project, which will educate children and young people about green energy.

About the Trinity Centre

The Trinity Centre is a unique is a Grade II* listed, deconsecrated Georgian church, now a thriving community arts centre and independent live music venue, based in the heart of inner-city Bristol.

Led by Trinity Community Arts, our mission is to empower communities through the arts, to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to access and shape arts and culture.

We deliver projects with arts, education and heritage focuses to encourage participation and promote cohesion within these areas. The centre was used by over 40,000 in 2014, including 8,498 people participating in our community projects and activities.

Trinity provides free and subsidised hall use to community projects through our Trinity Community Initiative (TCI). In 2014 we provided 1,080 hours of free or subsidised hall space, so that community and grass-roots groups were able to run their projects and events.

About the Trinity Centre Conservation Project

The Trinity Centre Conservation Project will compliment previous repair and redevelopment works, helping to protect the building's fabric into the future.

Trinity are campaigning to raise funds to carry out the following programme of works between 2015-2017:

• repairing lead-work on the remaining North aisle (with insulation) to prevent water ingress to the training spaces below
• re-felting and repair to pitched slate roof, to prevent water ingress and damage to the re-developed hall spaces below
• masonry works to the stonework (excluding South aisle) and towers to protect the building's fabric from cramp damage
• restoration of original stained glass, including installation of secondary/tertiary glazings (internally and externally) to improve the energy performance of the building and opening devices to North and South high elevation windows to improve ventilation
• installing Solar PV panels on our community centre, to help the building become more sustainable and allow Trinity to continue to provide free and subsidised hall space for community activity.

This is the final major-works phase relating to the repair and conservation of the historic fabric. Capital works with be framed by an activities programme of workshops and events, including training in traditional heritage trades.

Click here for more info about the project.

Make Sunday Special 2015

Event summary

Family friendly, alcohol free event, featuring contemporary World Music, headlined by 47 Soul. Food, Stalls, Dance, Performances and Film as well as 'Get Active' workshops including Sport & Fitness, Science & Nature and Art & Craft.

Event background

Make Sunday Special (MSS) was a Bristol City Council led programme, delivering events in and around Corn Street in the Old City, on the first Sunday of each month. In 2015, MSS came to Bristol's neighbourhoods, as well as keeping the fun going in the city centre.

Our local event in Stapleton Road (23 August 2015) took place as part of this wider programme.

Ideas for Make Sunday Special Stapleton Road came from a public meeting at the Trinity Centre, attended by over 40 local residents, traders, artists and community organisations. The group wanted to see lots of activities for children and families, as well as food and music that represented the community - 'the world on one street'.

Project steering group

From the initial meeting, a steering group was formed, made up of a range of community, resident and trader representatives. This helped us to balance the interests of the different parties involved.

Steering group members:

Pat Usherwood (Stapleton Road Residents Group), Sonny Richards (Stapleton Road Traders Assc), Antonio Jordan (Felix Watch), Emma Harvey & Ripley Bullock (Trinity Community Arts), Stacy Yelland and Lorena Alvarez (Up Our Street), Clara Shuma (Afrika Eye), Cameron Bate (Easton Leisure Centre).

Event highlights

Having the ability to programme a diverse live-music and arts offer for the street brought people out to dance and celebrate in a way not usually seen on this street. In spite of the weather, those who turned out really enjoyed the activities that were on offer. Activity providers that did push through weather engaged the public well, in particular the offer for children.

In particular, children enjoyed taking part in circus activities including stilt-walking and tight-rope walking, provided by the Invisible Youth! It was great for children to have the chance to skip and play freely in the middle of the street, facilitated by Playing Out, who got everyone involved in chalking on the pavement. Literati and Mufti provided indoor activities in the Trinity Centre and Stapelton Road Chapel and all had strong engagement from the community in their offer.

Easton Leisure Centre provided a great activity day as part of the event, offering tasters in classes and activities from Sea-Scooters to Zumba - it gave people the chance to try out something different, have some fun and get fit in the process.

People we spoked to on the day said it was just great to see something like this happening in the area as, with lots of things happening elsewhere, people felt that Stapleton Road often gets forgotten or left out. Traders and residents on the day said that the event was a great opportunity to have a positive public event for Stapleton Road.

'' The event had a lovely atmosphere''

''A wonderful showcase of Stapleton Road....had a great day''

“Kids love the circus and dance activities!''

''Just wish it was less wet!”

Future plans

If only we'd had sunshine! It's fair to say that the torrential rain put many people off. However, this did mean that those who did attend were from the immediate and local area who came out to see what was going on. Others braved it and came out in their wet-weather gear to take part and dance along with Bristol Samba and World Jungle Samba and everyone who came said that they just wished the weather had been better for us all.

As this was the first event, traders did not quite know what to expect! But hopefully, now that they have seen the first event along Stapleton Road, they will be keen to get involved in future events and benefit from the audience brought out by the event.

Event supporters

Trinity would like to say a big thank you to all those who came along to the first Make Sunday Special Stapleton Road. In spite of the weather, over 1,100 people came out to celebrate 'The World On One Street' and bring some good vibes to the neighbourhood. Thank you to all those who took part!

Special thanks go to:

• Bristol City Council for generously funding the costs of the event
• Steering group members for their time, effort and dedication
• Generous suppliers including Renteq, MJ Church and Kings Sound Reinforcement
• Activity providers for braving the weather and engaging children and young people in fun, creative activities
• NCS Engage young volunteers for sticking it out on a long, wet day and helping to collect donations toward event costs
• The Trinity team for their hard work and unrelenting commitment to delivering great events for the community
• Volunteer photographers Khali Ackford (images, top and below-left) and Jessica Bartolini (images, centre and below-right)
• Var from Telling Tales Film (view above)

A public vote will decide which community groups win a share of the £400,000 available to enable more communities in the UK to generate renewable energy and become environmentally and financially sustainable.

If successful, the funds will contribute toward the installation of solar PV to Trinity Centre roof, to help support ongoing maintenance costs of this much-loved, grade II* listed, community arts centre.

We already have £1,000 committed from the Naturesave Trust toward the project and are seeking support from Heritage Lottery Fund as part of a wider building works programme to repair the windows and masonry.

Voting commences on the 17 August and closes on 30 September.

Cast your vote here!

You can show your support for the project directly by supporting our crowdfunding project here.

There's also still time to vote for Trinity as Just Giving's Charity of the Year.