In these challenging times, Trinity and Cambridge Junction have come together to offer a £3,000 commission to a D/deaf or Disabled Artist(s) to create work for an online audience.

We will commission one new piece of work and want the brief to be as open as possible, so you can respond in a way that best suits you as an artist. We welcome artists of any practice, working in any art-form, to apply.

We want to commission:

• A brand-new online performance/exhibition that can remain available to experience for a set period of time – we want people to be able to experience your work safely from their homes

• One artist who identifies as D/deaf or Disabled, or a collective of artists where at least 50% of the collective identify as D/deaf or Disabled

• Work that will be completed and distributed online before the end of October 2020

Photo Alexa Ledecky

Photo Alexa Ledecky

Trinity has been selected to be one of 40 community arts centres to take part in Here and Now, a national and local celebration of culture within communities running alongside the National Lottery’s 25 year anniversary.

The Trinity Digs project will enable Trinity to host and support more community activity at the centre. Photo Paul Blakemore

We have been awarded a grant of £231,818 from Power to Change to deliver ‘The Trinity Digs Project’ to carry out capital improvements to the site so can host and support more community activity at the centre.

“We want to make sure Trinity’s ongoing development continues to be shaped and informed by those who use it. As part of the project we’ll be running a community activity programme so that people can get involved, have their say and kick-start their own ideas. More news on this coming soon - watch this space” Glyn Everett, Chair of Trustees and local resident

The project will install customised container-units on site, to provide affordable, low-cost, sustainable hot-desk space as a base for community partners, emerging artists and local start-ups. Improvements to the ‘Graffiti Room’ will also mean more activities can be hosted, such as neighbourhood meetings, rehearsals and workshops.

Match funding has been generously provided from local funders including The Nisbet Trust, who have donated £20,053 toward the capital project, alongside generous donations from members of the public. The project has also been supported by Derbyshire Environmental Trust who have supported with a grant of £28,315 towards costs of the container units. A £25,000 individual gift and a grant of £7,624 from the Postcode Local Trust to improve accessibility to our community garden.

The design scheme was produced thanks to support from Backstage Trust who helped us to revise and update our Feasibility Study, 2018-2019, to work out the next priority for capital works. Alongside the capital works we will be helping support people who have ideas within the community to get involved and set up their own initiatives through the Community Kick Start Project. We are particularly interested in working with small voluntary and residents groups with limited or no budget to support getting new ideas off the ground.

Set up to grow and support community businesses in England, Power to Change provides grants to community businesses run by and for the local community. Our aim through the Trinity Dig’s Project is to continue to invest in the Trinity Centre as a key cultural and community asset, and to build a varied and sustainable participatory community arts programme, that reflects the interests of Bristol’s diverse communities and cultures.

View the latest Trinity Digs plans on www.bristol.gov.uk planning portal application ref: 21/05771/F

Open to any disabled adults over 18 in Bristol and the surrounding areas.

Creative Challenges are short creative tasks that help everyone become more creative! Each challenge is different, and helps you think of different ways to do something creative. We'll have a selection of challenges for people to choose from, and lots of different materials to use. You can make pictures using card, fabrics and glues, draw  in ink and pencils, and even write poetry!

Art, writing, discussing, making, drinking cups of tea and creating!

Free refreshments

No need to book, just pop-in!

To find out more please contact the WECIL team on 0117 947 9942 or email peersupport@wecil.co.uk

WECIL Peer Support activities are free and transport can be provided.

Upcoming dates:

Nov 28 1 - 4

Jan 30 1 - 4

In their annual report of 1978, BCCE chairman writes "our aims and objectives are clear - a centre for youth and community activities; the philosophy is a multi-racial multi-cultural centre. The project is part of this community, and if it is to progress then the community must believe in it." (As quoted in Venue Magazine, no.70).

1 July 1978 - 'Trinity Community Institute' as it was then named - is officially launched, with a grand opening to coincide with St Paul's African-Caribbean Carnival to reflect the group's drive to embrace and celebrate Caribbean culture. The Centre is used every evening of the Festival week.

20 September 1978 - Official notice is given by the Church Commissioners that an Order in Council came into operation on 21st December 1977, allowing Holy Trinity building and its land to be used as a community centre.

October 1978 - The Easton Christian Family Centre newsletter contains an update on Trinity Church building: "The old Holy Trinity Church has been taken over by the Caribbean Community Association, who are a division of the West Indian Community. They have made extensive alterations, putting in a stage in the main auditorium for a theatre, and changing the side aisles into separate small rooms. The vestries have been changed into offices. They are currently negotiating plans to turn the graveyard into a large play area including tennis courts."

In 1992 Trinity was reopened by the New Trinity Community Association.

The new tenants and a dedicated team of volunteers began a second round of development and renovations, which included the installation of the sprung wooden floor downstairs.

In 1991, almost a decade after the BCCE group ceased to exist, the new landlords Bristol City Council leased Trinity to the New Trinity Community Association who reopened the building as 'The Trinity Hall' in 1992.

The new tenants and a dedicated team of volunteers began a second round of development and renovations, which included the installation of the sprung wooden floor downstairs.

It was under this new management that Trinity would again gain international fame, playing host to the biggest domestic and international music stars of the time. This helped to bring Bristol to the world's attention as a creative melting pot with its own distinct flavour - The Bristol Sound.

As well as the successful music nights there were also daytime community activities from bingo madness to a boxing club, the two levels provided a much needed space for local people's use.

Designs were produced by Architect Daniel Pacaud, which at the time caused great controversy with the Church Commissioners Advisory Board for Redundant Churches, who felt that the proposed works compromise the architectural heritage of the space.

The Church was at the time considered to be one of the finest examples of the work of Architect Thomas Rickman, who built the church between 1829-1932 with Henry Hutchinson.

Pacaud's plans for conversion, involved the installation of a dividing floor. But, despite the Church Commissioners' discontent, the build project went ahead.

The images found show this development in full flow and include pictures of a visit by politicians - including a rather young looking Kenneth Clarke - to see first hand the "Community Initiative" in progress.

Works included:

• Installing the first floor and sprung wooden floor on the ground level
• Repairing many of the windows which had been smashed over the years
• Cleaning the exterior sandstone, using a sandblasting method, to remove graffiti and pollution dirt

However, the costly process meant that many of the works proposed by Pacaud - particularly the developments of the upstairs hall spaces - were eventually abandoned.

Today, Trinity continues to renovate and develop the space to try to avoid any further compromising of the interior and realise this original vision to make a multi-functional community hub.

"Although the very fine interior of this church would be ruined by the proposals as the building now belonged to the local authority Board members felt that it would be a waste of time to try and say it by fighting a rearguard action. It was RESOLVED: That the Church Commissioners be informed that the Advisory Board regards the church of Holy Trinity, Bristol, Diocese of Bristol, as a building of considerable architectural and historic interest with a fine interior that would be entirely compromised by the present proposals for conversion to a community centre" - Church Commissioners Advisory Board for Redundant Churches, June 1987.

Jan 21-22 Arts Opportunity Theatre staged 'Black & White in Colour' in 1983. The play explored causes of the St Paul's Riots in 1980.

Trinity Centre during the Festival of Light event in 2018 Photo Khali Ackford

This year Trinity will not be hosting our annual fireworks display.

Having run the popular free community event since 2004 this year we have decided to take a well earned break to focus on developing our Community Activities programme.

Our newly announced Community Kickstart project will launch on the Nov 3 during our very first Community Feast.

We are calling local residents who have an idea and the passion to start an activity (BS2, BS5) to join us for a hearty veggie meal (cooked by our friends at CoExist Community Kitchen) and to find out more about how to get support and small amounts of funding to get their ideas off the ground.

We also have lots of regular activities happening in our garden including Play & Learn Sessions for 0 – 5 and their carers, as well as regular volunteer work. You can always join us on the Nov 5 at our annual Heart & Soul Celebration as we welcome members, friends and supporters for an evening looking back at all the wonderful events, projects and activities that took place at Trinity in the last year.

This is a great opportunity to ask us any questions about getting involved with Trinity and how to get your own ideas or projects off the ground and out in the community.

During the celebration we will welcome resident artist Roxana Vilk who will be sharing her project 'Lullabies' and our Communities team will be running an easy drop in workshop to create bird feeders. Plus, there will be food from Pieminister who have kindly donated vegan and veggie pies.

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A playful and gentle dance movement class specifically designed for people living with Parkinson’s. Bring your partner or carer along to join in too. All welcome, no previous dance experience required, just a willingness to have fun!

The classes are lead by Dancers from The Original Spinners who are trained to deliver dance to people living with Parkinson’s and currently lead sessions at Southmead Hospital.

Details
Classes run every Tuesday from 10.30am – 12pm
(Dancing from 10.30am-11.30am followed by tea, coffee, biscuits and a chance to socialise)
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

“It makes me feel good, it gives me a workout, it has emotional content, and it requires interaction with other dancers. And all these benefits enable me to live with a little more ‘Joie de vivre’ in my life!” (Southmead class participant)

Dates when the class will not be running
24th Dec 2019
31st Dec 2019
7th April 2020
14th April 2020
26th May 2020

Bristol Caribbean Community Enterprise Group had debts of more than £100,000.

Midland Bank was the company's biggest creditor, but the Inland Revenue (who was owed £23,000) brought legal action.

Its Chairman at the time (from November 1983), Mr Richard Davis, said in Venue no.70:

"We had several months' work to do on improving the appearance of the place...it's tragic and we feel very bad about it all."

He believed they could turn their losses around but needed to overcome the drawbacks (like the gravestones outside the road widening and the state of the building) which were thought responsible for people's reluctance to use the place: "We inherited a lot of problems. It's been a long, hard slog and it seems everything's been against us."

Centre Manager, Fitzroy De Freitas was accused of stealing money and running away to Jamaica. It transpired that he was actually living at his sister's house in Clevedon, penniless, with massive loans out on his former property due to Trinity. Sadly, the rumours stuck anyway.

Nick Fyfe epitomised the indomitable spirit that led to Trinity's reopening.

Nick Fyfe joined the campaign whilst managing a full time business building skate parks across the South West.

He had for many years combined his successful business career with active involvement in local voluntary sector.

Nick brought a vast reservoir of experience and skill to the 'Save Trinity' campaign.

Former business partner, friend and Trinity colleague Matthew Hewitt describes Nick's key contribution to the campaign:

“Nick was so good at writing documents. In half an hour he could write a two page A4 document of several thousand words and it would all make sense. Nick prepared the meticulous cash flows, business plans, and letters underpinning the campaign that were edited and reworked by the core campaign group. Armed with these documents the eclectic group presented 'a professional image' to the Council. Having secured the lease the team subsequently learnt from an informal Council source that Trinity's bid was by far the most professional and the most well thought out.”

Nick's commitment to Trinity persisted after the lease was secured. Despite 'hard graft' on the skate park he committed his time and energy to supporting the organisation. Combining long demanding hours on site with managing Trinity may have damaged his health. Matt reflects:

“I didn't see that he was passing away because he was getting weaker and weaker. He'd had pneumonia not got over it and..he was just such a stunning character none even thought that he was near checking out..He worked on site, a building site right up to the day he died. I had a phone call from him an hour before he died saying “Matthew I'm gonna drive to Trinity can you take me somewhere when I get there. A day later his son phoned me and said he died about the same time he phoned me. He was just not going to give up...”

Our upstairs 'Fyfe Hall', was named such in memory of Nick Fyfe, one of the founding directors of Trinity Community Arts. A plaque on the downstairs north wall, has also been installed in memory.