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!

Saturday

Performing Live: Julian Cope; Saul Williams

DJ Sets: Dennis Bovell, Adrian Sherwood & Mad Professor; Jah Lokko Soundsystem

In Conversation: Underworld & Lauren Laverne; Misty In Roots & Mary Anne Hobbs; Making Music in the West with Roni Size, DJ Queen Bee, Blanck Mass & Nemone

Poetry with Murray Lachlan Young, Deanna, Holly McNish and Kojey Radical

Comedy with Shaun Keaveny, Mark Watson, Cerys Nelmes and Alice Matthews

Also featuring an exhibition of the Bristol music scene in pictures by local photographer Beezer, an Independent Record fair, screen printing, tea and cake from the Women’s Institute.

Additionally, attendees are welcome to bring their music memorabilia along to be documented for The People’s History of Pop project, a new BBC Four series.

Sunday

Performing Live: Floating Points (live); This Is the Kit; False Lights; Marry Waterson & David A. Jaycock; Rozi Plain

Ring The Alarm - The DJ Derek Story: Don Letts will be hosting an exclusive preview of a film about legendary Bristolian DJ Derek which Don has been making alongside Massive Attack’s Daddy G

In Conversation: Geoff Barrow & Gilles Peterson / John Grant & Cerys Matthews

Also featuring an exhibition of the Bristol music scene in pictures by local photographer Beezer, an Independent Record fair, the Jah Lokko Soundsystem, screen printing, tea and cake from the Women’s Institute.

Additionally, attendees are welcome to bring their music memorabilia along to be documented for The People’s History of Pop project, a new BBC Four series.

BBC Radio 6 Music Festival will be coming to Bristol from 12th –14th February 2016.

Some of the acts who’ll be performing at the festival, include Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie as well as Bristol’s very own – Roni Size, Tricky, Beak and The Blue Aeroplanes.

6 Music champions music with an alternative spirit and the Bristol music scene has always encapsulated this like no other. As well as reflecting the city’s extraordinary contemporary music scene and its heritage, the festival will also showcase Bristol’s diverse culture through food, street art and what will be an unmissable 6 Music Festival by Day – packed full of performance, film, speech and comedy events.

The 6 Music Festival will be housed in venues across the city – Motion, Colston Hall, O2 Academy, Basement 45 and Trinity with pop-up events in other venues throughout Bristol, big and small. The full line up will be announced on January 19th along with ticket sales information.

The 6 Music Festival is one of many real gems we have to look forward to in Bristol in 2016 and will give us a unique opportunity to showcase the very best of BBC Bristol and the city to the nation.

Tickets available in person from Bristol Ticket Shop - Monday 1st February!

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

The PE Class is an ongoing series of workshops exploring the essentials of ensemble theatre practice. They are a space for theatre-makers to experiment, to practice, to share ideas, and to meet.

Each session will be led by a different Bristol-based Director who is asked to try something new, to facilitate an extended practical exercise for the duration of the session.

Please book in advance: online or in person (from 3 Jan) at Tobacco Factory Theatres box office, or over the phone (t: 0117 902 0344).

This season’s facilitators:

Tue 17 Jan – Nir Paldi (Theatre Ad Infinitum)
Tue 24 Jan – Simon Day (The Plasticine Men, Mufti Games)
Tue 31 Jan – Karla Shacklock (Karla Shacklock Company)
Tue 7 Feb – Mike Tweddle (Babakas, Out of Chaos)

Session title/theme announced by 3 Jan on The Plasticine Men’s website

What will I get out of the classes?

As well as getting to develop skills and try out new approaches, learning from some of the best practitioners making work right now, PE Classes are a great way to meet other local theatre-makers, and to introduce yourself to a range of Directors developing work in Bristol and beyond.

Are the classes right for me?

PE Classes are aimed at active theatre-makers who want to collaborate to tell stories for their audience. They are peer led sessions, pitched at fellow practitioners who work professionally in the theatre, or who aspire to.

Actors, dancers, clowns and circus artists… performers from any discipline are all welcome, as are teachers/workshop leaders and current theatre/performing arts students (HE and 18+ only).

Other Directors are particularly encouraged to attend as particpants. Award-winning acting talent is not required, only openness, generosity, and an ability to support the groups’ improvisation and play.

Nuts and bolts

Places are limited and class size capped. Please note that you cannot pay on the door so places must be booked in advance, and that Trinity Arts do not sell tickets for these workshops. Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone or in person at Tobacco Factory Theatres up until 4pm latest on the day of each session. As long as you’ve paid-up by then, no need to bring paper-ticket with you to Trinity Centre.

PE Classes take place in Fyfe Hall, upstairs at Trinity Centre. Doors open at 6.15pm for chat, finishing coffee, wandering in, stretching if you want. Class starts 6.30pm sharp.

Please wear loose comfortable clothing and bring drinking water. Bring appropriate soft indoor footwear or be prepared to work bare foot.

Any questions, please contact simon [at] theplasticinemen.co.uk.

Funded by Bristol City Council Creative Seed Fund and supported by Tobacco Factory Theatres.

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

BBC 6 Music presenters Steve Lamacq and Mary Anne Hobbs broadcast live from the Watershed last night, announcing that Bristol is to host BBC6 Music Festival 2016. There will be a spectacular line-up of acts gracing the city, including Bristol based legends Roni Size and Tricky, as well as Primal Scream performing as part of the launch of their new album Chaosmosis.

Hobbs said; “The 6 Music Festival is such a special event because it brings all the elements of what we do as a digital radio station into a physical space: the artists, the whole of the station’s staff and presenters, and of course our wonderful listeners.”

She went on to state that “this year, the festival is coming to Bristol, a place where music is such a primary element of the DNA of the city. It’s going to be a truly unforgettable experience.”

The festival will take place between 12–14 February, across venues including Motion, Colston Hall, O2 Academy Bristol, Basement 45 and the Trinity Centre.

Blue Aeroplanes and Geoff Barrow (Portishead)'s band Beak will also be among the performers, with full line up to be announced on 19 January. Check out the BBC6 website for more information.

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.

The Trinity training department was pleased to arrange an incredible opportunity for young people from the local area to observe legendary producer, composer, DJ and multi instrumentalist Nitin Sawhney sound check just hours before his much anticipated packed out show here at Trinity Centre.

Backed by a full 8 piece band, including three vocalists, flutes, tablas, guitar, bass and drums. Nitin kindly allowed the students access to the technical process providing a rare glimpse into the intricacies involved with the professional music industry practice of sound checking for a high profile show.

Nitin Sawhney is one of the most distinctive and versatile musical voices around today. Firmly established as a world-class producer, songwriter, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, orchestral composer and cultural pioneer, Sawhney has become a latter-day Renaissance man in the worlds of music, film, videogames, dance and theatre.Sawhney’s output as a musician is highly prolific.

He has scored for and performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras, and collaborated with and written for the likes of Paul McCartney, Sting, The London Symphony Orchestra, A.R. Rahman, Brian Eno, Sinead O’Connor, Anoushka Shankar, Jeff Beck, Shakira, Will Young, Joss Stone, Taio Cruz, Ellie Goulding, Horace Andy, Cirque Du Soleil, Akram Khan, Deepa Mehta, Mira Nair, Nelson Mandela and John Hurt. Performing extensively around the world, he has achieved an international reputation across every possible creative medium.

Nitin was also kind enough to have a chat with our students afterwards to discuss his experiences and share insights into the music industry. Everyone at Trinity would like to express our sincerest thanks and gratitude to Nitin, his band, crew and management for making this opportunity possible.

Line-up:

Braincell (Boom! Records) LIVE
Tongue and Groove (Nano Records) Exclusive 2 hour warm-up set
DJ Liquid Ross (Liquid Records)
Moonquake (Hadra Records/Chrysalid)
Sean Shift (Planet Shroom)
Lurk (Liquid Records/Planet Shroom)

Expect the usual weapons grade decor, lasers and lighting from inOrbit, Ink Junkie and Illumashroom Lasers

Tunes delivered on The Best Rig in Bristol(tm) - the new L-Acoustics in-house trinity sound system which has to be heard to be believed, and even then you have to get your head around it.

Expect the usual weapons grade decor, lasers and lighting and tunes delivered on The Best Rig in Bristol(tm) - the new L-Acoustics in-house trinity sound system which has to be heard to be believed, and even then you have to get your head around it.

Jack's biography states: "Jack combines electric guitar, drum machines, keyboards, and an R&B-friendly falsetto to fashion smooth, club-ready electro-pop. Hailing from Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire, England, Garratt started writing songs at the age of 12. When he got his first laptop in his late teens, he began experimenting with more advanced music production, eventually releasing the single "I Couldn't Want You Anyway" in early 2014. It made waves on the Internet, especially in the U.K., and led to festival appearances as well as a sold-out London record-release show later that year for Remnants, his debut EP on Island."

Jack kindly took time out of his busy touring schedule to speak to students, answering questions that covered a wide range of topics. These included the creative process, approaches to song writing, the perils of touring and how to go about establishing a successful career within the modern music industry.

His main piece of advice was simply to enjoy what you do and stay to true to yourself.

Everyone here at Trinity wishes Jack all the best of luck and success with his album release early next year.

DJs TO BE ANNOUNCED play (grown up) dance music on the multi-sensory dancefloor with glitter cannons, bubbles and giant parachute dance. Craft tables with giant colouring mural, themed crafts and playdoh table. Play area with tents and tunnels and baby chillout space with mats and small ballpool.

Licensed bar, free transfer tattoos, glowsticks and Happy Monkeys smoothies at the end.

We’ll also be joined by Monkey Trousers Theatre, who will be performing a very special show just for us! Monkey Trousers Theatre is a new children’s theatre company, producing the original family theatrical sitcom Mr Gotalot's Gotalot Shop, in Bristol and the South West. The colourful and exciting shows, featuring Mr Gotalot the kindly puppet shopkeeper, Ms Barnet the evil landlady, and Sidney the eager shop boy, have been an instant hit with children and adults alike. Previous episodes have included The Pants of Power, The Snot Rocket, and The Chinchilla Thriller, with their special Christmas show, Santa School, coming in January 2016.

For more information on Monkey Trousers Theatre:

Website: http://monkeytrouserstheatre.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monkeytrouserstheatre/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/monkey_trousers

For families with younger children (8s and under) though older siblings are welcome. Adults are not admitted unless accompanied by a child. A max of 3 children per adult. A max of 4 adults per child (and such groups must be pre-approved by emailing infosw@bigfishlittlefishevents.co.uk before buying tickets).

Tickets are non-refundable but if anybody with tickets finds they cannot attend a sold-out event please email infosw@bigfishlittlefishevents.co.uk and BFLF will attempt to put you in touch with people seeking to buy tickets Each member of your group must have a ticket, adults £7.00, child £7.00 and pre-walking infants free (but must be ticketed). More on the door (if available).