2015 was the year of Bristol Green Capital, a European award that celebrated our green city, inspiring us to be more green!

Trinity Community Arts got a year of funding from Bristol 2015 (Quartet) to run the "Grow it, Cook it, Eat it!" project. We wanted to get local residents of all ages excited about growing, cooking and enjoying healthy food together!

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 saw the Wild Walks for Well-being group grow in numbers and activities.

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 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.

Drummers (percussion) rehearsals, led by Jackson Lapes and Jordan Packham will take place at The Trinity Centre, every Wednesday, 6pm-8pm, from 18th March to 1st July.

Dance rehearsals will be held at City Academy. There will also be one rehearsal per month on a Sunday (dates tbc) and in June both the dancers and drummers will rehearse together at one of the venues.

As part of this project, Bris Arts is also looking to recruit a group of 16-18 years old to join the group as Young Music Leaders, to both perform with the group and attend training sessions specifically in leading music workshops and ensembles, run by Alex Lupo.This will be a great opportunity for young leaders to put their skills into practice by running Brazilian percussion workshops with the general public.  

The ideal candidates for Young Music Leaders should be willing and able to commit to the project, attend 3 training sessions (dates TBC) as well as the regular weekly rehearsals, and have a keen interest in developing their skills as a music leader or pursuing a career in music education. No previous experience as leader is required, just commitment and enthusiasm.

If you are interested in being a Young Music Leader, please contact Becky Stothart before the 13th March 2015: becky@brisarts.co.uk

For more information about the project and weekly rehearsals, contact Bris Arts directly: 07791505434

''I am a member of Trinity Walking group and have been with them for a few months. I have enjoyed the walks not been on all of them but I do when I can. I was introduced to the walking group while I was in hospital.

I suffer from mental health conditions and wanted to do something to make friends and keep active after I left the hospital. The hospital arranged a meeting here at Trinity and I came after a phone call and have been going ever since.

Due to losing friends after leaving work and neighbours passing away or moving, I have felt lonely for a long while.

Ever since I have joined this group I am developing friendships and have felt a lot better.

Not only do I get the enjoyment of of walking and the exercise that comes with it, I explore new places and visit places that has a strong family history.

It would be nice to have some more female walkers, as we are mainly men, but at the same time it's nice to walk with new people and develop friendships. During the walk we stop of somewhere and have a cup of tea and a chat. Its good for my well being.

Living on my own I sometimes get a bit lonely and this walking group has given me something to look forward to and the confidence to meet new people else where.''

Trinity runs several walking group activities, involving people from a range of ages and abilities. Click here, if you are interested in joining the Trinity Walking Group, or taking part in our other Trinity Community Garden activities.

Dot to Dot 2015 have also announced further headline bands including Swim Deep, Best Coast and Fat White Family for their 10th anniversary festival - we're looking forward to finding out who will be performing here at Trinity.

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I initially worked at Arts West Side (Trinity's arts café satellite project) for a few months, helping to finish work on the building for its grand opening.

After completion, I started volunteering several days a week at the Trinity Centre itself, splitting my time between working with the Facilities Team and participating in various activities and training courses put on by the Centre.

I also had the opportunity to help deliver workshops in Trinity's Garden and at Arts West Side during this time.

Volunteering at Trinity has allowed me to pursue many creative projects over the course of four years and has given me new confidence to take on responsibilities at the Centre. This ultimately lead to being offered paid work at the centre after 18 months. Then in 2014, I was given the role of Facilities Coordinator.

I have learned a lot of unique skills pertaining to the everyday operations of a community arts venue, working as both a member of the Facilities Team and a Duty Manager and feel that I have been able to bring some of my own previous skills and experience to the table as well to help shape the role of what a Facilities Coordinator does.

I'm really privileged to work in an organisation that allows me to interact with such a broad spectrum of users on a daily basis and help cater to their individual needs. I think Trinity is all about the personal touch, and I have seen a lot of positive things being achieved at the Centre, through this process of warmth and respect.

In particular, the working relationships with weekly community groups who use the Centre have evolved and blossomed in my four years at the Centre and, in some cases, fundamental change in peoples perception of others - regardless of age, race or gender - has been made.

This kind of personal touch extends to all the various activities that go on at Trinity - from a 500 strong crowd at a rock gig to one-to-one advice and training for a youth music student. This is why I continue to work passionately for Trinity Community Arts and feel that it is an indispensable creative resource for the city of Bristol."

Shane Perry, Facilities Coordinator 2014

Interested in volunteering? Click here to view our latest volunteer opportunities.

Part participation-theatre, part dance contest, full out endurance contest, there’s only one rule: you keep moving your feet. “To say that Dance Marathon breaks down the fourth wall is an understatement. It eliminates it.” - Vancouver Sun, February 2010

Based on the the physically gruelling spectator sport from Depression-Era North America, Dance Marathon invites you to strut your stuff to the live band under the always watchful eyes of the judges. Buy your tickets now for what promises to be a unique experience both completely exhilarating and exhausting which has already been hailed with critical acclaim “★★★★★ - Dance Marathon is tremendous fun. Beg, borrow or steal a ticket for this original, life-affirming show. “ For more info on Mayfest line up so far visit: Bristol Old Vic's website

If you want to get your dance fix this next month then check out Get Lucky, a triple bill from Julia Thorneycroft Dance or for more live performance see the SOLO Showcase, two evenings of new shows including four premiers from Alice Human, Ale Marzotto, Bella Fortune and Hannah Sullivan as well as an installation piece from Jo Hellier and if you want to roll on back to the 80's then skate on down to Bump Roller Disco.

Don't worry if you can't skate or even don't own any skates, we have plenty of skates to hire and our lovely Roller Girls & Boys will give you a helping hand if needed.

Doors open at 2pm till 5pm and expect a mixture of good tunes and vibes from our roller-disco team.

Children must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.

More upcoming gig highlights include Drenge - successfully relying on the heavily distorted guitar riffs of the grunge era; Babes in Toyland - original late 80s post punk band whose raw live show "captured a musical and cultural moment; angry, talented and unfettered by societal norms"; Dunkelbunt + The Secret Swing Society - " labelled “a wizard of tone colours“ and “specialist for exquisite music & spice blends" are also new to the listings.

This month we still have Honeyfeet, Bombs, Simon Panrucker, Count Bobo,Eva Lazarus & Snareophobe + more all playing live Saturday 14th February and Teachings in Dub finally announce their line up for Deep Medi including Commodo, Kaiju, Kahn, Gantz and Compa. This goes on sale Thursday so get in quick as guaranteed to sell out.

For those interested in performance check out Get Lucky - fantastic triple bill from Julia Thorneycroft dance or SOLO Forum Showcase - two evenings of new shows including four premiers from artists Alice Human, Ale Marzotto, Bella Fortune, Hannah Sullivan and Jo Hellier all happening in March.

We have plenty more up on the events pages so check them out.

Through Trinity providing subsidized hall space for us, we have been able to put on social events for people with learning disabilities over the last 8 years.

It is very hard for someone with a learning disability to have a normal social life. So with Trinity helping us put on full on monthly nightclubs is amazing. We have nearly  200 people dancing the night away at each Rhythm of the Night event and it is getting bigger and better. Join us on the last Thursday of the month and see for yourself...everybody is welcome!

2017 has been the best so far and we are thinking of inviting DJs and musicians with disabilities to perform at these social events, as we did with Plymouth's Funky Llama in 2016.

Trinity has supported these successful nightclubs with staff time, facilities and equipment. This partnership approach has been rewarding for everyone.

We have also seen from their wider community work that Trinity is committed to being a centre for the people of Bristol. Trinity has made a fantastic use of a valuable building and given it a new lease of life.

Tony Holdom, Creative Director, Misfits Theatre Company UK.