Eleri is one of Trinity’s part-time music tutors, working closely with young people to help them explore, experiment, and grow through music. Her one-to-one sessions cover a wide range of skills, from singing and music production to learning instruments like drums, always with a focus on building confidence, creativity, and technical ability in a supportive, nurturing environment.

Alongside her individual tuition, Eleri co-runs Move On Music in partnership with Bristol Drugs Project. This weekly group is a progression from BDP’s Beginners Music programme and offers a space for participants to build on existing skills, connect with others with shared experiences, and enjoy making music in a relaxed, judgment-free setting.

And there’s more to come. Beginning in March 2026, Eleri will lead brand new after-school music sessions with Year 6 children at Easton CE Primary School. This marks an exciting next step in strengthening our partnerships with local schools and expanding opportunities for children and young people to get creative through music.

Earlier this month, we caught up with Eleri. Here's what she had to say:

Hey Eleri, what do you enjoy most about teaching music in our community?

I love connecting with people of all ages from all walks of life through the universal language of music. Everyone has something to say, and providing my community with the means to express themselves in their own way, as well as the chance to be heard, is the best part of my job.

What projects are you involved with at Trinity Community Arts?

I have fingers in many pies here at Trinity! I run a weekly session in partnership with BDP's Creative Communities called Move on Music, aimed at anyone with a lived experience of drug and alcohol who would like to build on skills already learnt at BDP's beginner music groups. I also regularly help out with Next Gen, our open-access music group for 14-25 year olds, where young people can do anything from taking part in live instrumental jams to DJing and recording beats. When I'm not taking part in these groups, then I'm facilitating 1:1 music sessions in our studios or working live gigs and events as a sound engineer.

What things are you involved with coming up in 2026 that we can look out for?

Trinity will now be putting on after-school music clubs for primary and secondary schools in the area, taking in some equipment such as our new Ableton Push and teaching children how to make music in a fun and interactive way. We also plan on hosting a school holiday club over the summer, which would be building on the same skills. I will also be involved in various BDP Creative Communities Concerts that will be happening throughout the year at Trinity Centre, as well as a couple more projects that we're still developing. It's looking like an exciting year for our music department

Stay & Play is a regular Friday session, but these extended Stay & Play sessions  will be running for six weeks, every Friday, from the 23rd July – 23rd Aug.

No need to book or sign up, just come along.

Summer Family Sessions are programmed in partnership with Trinity and Central Bristol Children's Centre

Young people are invited to come along to the two-day consultation to share insights and experience of accessing culture and creativity and explore questions such as ‘what does creativity and art mean'.

On hand will be Speak Out facilitators Moyah and Natasha Gatward alongside Bristol City Poet Sukina Noor who will be present to help shape ideas, host creative games and lead sessions.

Plus - snacks and lunch will be provided and young people are able to claim vouchers for attending the sessions.

What you need to know:

When: Sessions are on 30/31 October 2024, 11am – 2pm

Where: The Trinity Centre, Trinity Road, Bristol, BS5 0NW

How to sign up: We are sorry but the event is now full. If you would like to join the waiting list please email sarahf@trinitybristol.org.uk

About Speak Out

Speak Out is supported by the We Move Fund: Youth Social Action aims to empower Black children and young people through Youth Social Action. Speak Out was developed following an Indepth consultation with over 150 young people that took place across in person events; performances and within education settings.

One day, a baby clown accidentally bounces off a passing circus train and is left in the middle of nowhere, separated from family and friends.

A little reluctantly at first, the farmer takes the clown in. As time passes, they discover that by being with each other, they find something new in themselves.

Made with consultation from Deaf Access and Visual Language consultants, Flibbertigibbet Theatre has adapted this picture book by award-winning author and illustrator, Marla Frazee, into a new wordless play for all ages.

Playing without words, the show is accessible to a wide range of audiences. They worked with  a Visual Language consultant and Deaf Access Support consultant, to ensure that the physical language created for the storytelling is clear and accessible for all audiences, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Anyone who does not speak English can still enjoy the show as language is not an issue.

The story delicately explores themes of loneliness, friendship, and care, across the divisions of age and community.

‘UTTERLY HEARTWARMING AND RELATABLE…. What Flibbertigibbet have created is a beautiful, simple, and charming piece of theatre, suitable for all.” Bristol 24/7

Buy Tickets

12pm Ticket Link

3pm Ticket Link

This is a Trinity Presents event.

Trinity Presents: Bristol Dances, will include young people from Making Tracks performing. Photo @ Alexa Ledecky

Older people dance group Gerry's Attic will perform. The group are supported by Trinity through the community initiative scheme. Supporting community groups with over 4000 hours of free or subsided hall hire. Photo @ Gerry's Attic

 

Award winning youth urban dance outfit Hype will perform alongside other Bristol performers. Here they perform during Trinity's Annual Garden Party. Photo @ Jessica Bartolini

2 O'Clock Beauty Queens

BollyRed Dance Company: Bollywood with a twist

Swing  Dance and Bristol Swing Dance

Trinity Presents: Bristol Dances Stage

Head to Millennium and get ready to experience dance in its many forms this year at the first-ever Trinity Presents: Bristol Dances Stage (Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July 2019).

The programme offers an exiting selection of performances and workshops from some of the best dance companies and communities thriving in Bristol - from Hip Hop, street dance, Bollywood, swing, salsa, Brazilian styles, funk, cabaret and drag.

Not to be missed moments include a swing dance party hosted by both Bristol Swing Dance and Bristol Swing Riot, a Ceilidh Dance with Mr Medler, and a cabaret and drag extravaganza curated by Eat Sleep Drag Repeat.

Gerry’s Attic, an older peoples dance company who are known for their Dance festival Full Bloom, and the award winning young people’s street dance Hype Dance Company feature on this year's programme. Both are community groups that use Trinity to run regular activities - supported through our Community Initiative a scheme that offers over 4000 hours of free or subsidised hall space each year.

There is also an opportunity for young people who take part in our collaborative music making project Making Tracks to showcase their talents on the Making Tracks Showcase. The project is a partnership between Basement Studios, Aspiration Creation Elevation (ACE@Docklands) and Trinity who offer young people in Bristol who are struggling with challenging personal circumstances life changing music making experiences.

There will also be plenty of chances for younger visitors to move their feet thanks to family-friendly sessions each morning.

Check out the full Harbourfest programme here.

Making Tracks is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as support from match funders.

Why Join?

• Explore Trinity's music program: Discover the exciting opportunities available at Trinity.
• Learn from experienced tutors: Receive guidance from our talented and supportive tutors.
• Mental health support: Benefit from the partnership with Off the Record and create music in a safe and inclusive space.
• Develop your skills: Expand your musical abilities and gain confidence in your playing.
• Discover more: Learn about other activities and events for young people at Trinity

Sessions coming up

• Wednesday 02 October
• Wednesday 11 December

No need to register - just turn up

If you have any more questions, please email one of our Music Tutors: amos@trinitybristol.org.uk, and/or pete@trinitybristol.org.uk

These sessions take place on alternate months. If you wold like to come along to weekly music making sessions click here to find out more.

Movema Schools Workshops - Image Credit: Ted Stargatt

As part of our children and young people’s programme we are working with Bristol-based dance company, Movema to deliver a year long activity of dance in local schools and at Trinity.

“It's been incredible to see individuals participate and have a positive attitude” - Teacher feedback

For the first part of the project, delivered in the autumn/winter term, Movema connected with Hannah More, St Nicolas of Tolentine and Evergreen primary schools to deliver their ‘World in a Box’ dance programme. Children who attend these schools have higher levels of protected characteristics including Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).

In collaboration with teachers, the company identified children whose access to the arts may be limited by opportunity to take part in weekly workshops at their school. Across eight weeks, 174 children aged 5yrs-10yrs took part in the programme which included workshops exploring Indian, Caribbean and African dance, games and confidence-building activities and elements of arts and crafts.

The workshops had a positive impact on the children who took part; 80% of the children taking part said they had learned more about different cultures, 73% agreed they had learned new dance skills and 86% said they now wanted to do more dance as a result of taking part in the programme.

During the next stage of the programme in the winter and spring terms, children will be invited to take part in World Dance workshops during school holidays which will culminate in sharing what they've learned with their families and friends. Following this,  Carnival Dance Workshops will take place at Trinity. In these workshops, children will have the opportunity to celebrate celebrate St. Pauls Carnival.

Click here to read the announcement of our partnership with Movema.

Over the summer we joined forces with Travelling Light to shine a light on how, with the support of the Coutts Foundation, we are both working to create opportunities for some of the youngest members of our communities to take part in creativity and begin their creative journey.

“Its good to have this so close. Have been walking past for ages and I didn’t know they could come in. Would really like to come again because we don’t have anywhere to play outside as we live in a flat” Feedback from the family garden sessions

Travelling Light Theatre Company are based in Barton Hill - just up the road from where Trinity is based. They create theatre for children and families, run a youth theatre and programme free events and activities.

Their work, like ours, is embedded in local communities and they, like us, are committed to creating opportunities for children and families/carers to take part in culture, to play and celebrate together.

At Trinity this includes weekly Forest School sessions for children aged 12 and under and Family Sessions throughout the school holidays. The sessions aim to support children to develop or build upon their skills. In 2021/22, out of the 357 children who took part in Forest School activity, 97% showed increased confidence.

We also work in partnership with organisations to co-create a programme that responds to need. For example, the Creative Play Sessions - delivered with East Bristol Children's Centres - supports families with young children to connect through art. Read more about this project here.

If you are a resident of Barton Hill, Lawrence Hill, Newton or the Dings and would like to find out more about taking part in family arts activities you can sign up to Trinity's mailing list here and Travelling Light's mailing list here.

Next Gen Sounds is a new open-access music education session for young people aged 14-25 that offers the chance to gain knowledge and skills from expert tutors in Trinity’s fully-equipped rehearsal room and production studios.

The sessions will be student-led, meaning that young people will be able to shape the programme to suit their interests and ambitions; whether that be learning to play instruments, music production, performing live, or anything in-between.

Trinity’s in-house music tutors, Fern and Pete, will also be on-hand to offer support and guidance to students during the sessions. Students will learn together as a group, offering a chance to work collaboratively and meet other young people.

Next-Gen Sounds is free to-access and is part of Trinity’s ongoing commitment to offering music education to young people that may not otherwise have access to music equipment. There will be free food at the end of each session, provided by Pret a Manger, as well as any travel costs covered (to and from the Trinity Centre) to ensure that the course is accessible to everyone.

The course starts on 9 Feb 2023 with an introductory session, allowing participants to meet the tutors and other students, to take a look at the space and discuss what musical skill students may want to explore.

To find out more about taking part in Next-Gen Sounds, click here.

Image Credit: Sophia Stefelle

Speak Out is a new project from Trinity and BBC 1XTRA that offers young people (16yrs - 18yrs) the opportunity to take part in a free-to-access course to learn how to use arts to address social issues.

"Speak Out is a really exciting project that will connect the next generation with present diverse grassroots artists and activists and the wider creative industry" Esther Afikiruweh, Speak Out Producer

Launching in September, the project will invite leading industry creatives to deliver master-classes and workshops that will give young people artistic tools to tackle subjects that matter to them and develop solutions to issues they and their local communities face.

In partnership with organisations including Noods Levels, as well as prominent Black artists and activists, young people will have the opportunity to explore different creative tools including poetry, design, audio and film through workshops and masterclasses.

Alongside this young people will be  able to help shape Speak Out, including co-creating elements of the project and its visual identity.

Throughout the programme, there will be an opportunity for participants to connect with creative industry professionals through artistic skills-based sessions as well as interactive workshops and external trips exploring the future of social action.

The project will culminate with Noods Levels collaborating with young people to create platforms for showcasing the content, stories and artistic ideas created throughout the project. Young people will have an opportunity to connect with broadcast media, film-makers and other professionals to kick-start their next steps as future change makers.

How to get involved:

Sign up to Speak Out here

As funded by BBC 1XTRA, we welcome attendees of Black heritage.

Students from local secondary taking part in an Industry Insights session

We have joined forces with leading youth providers Creative Youth Network (CYN), Aspiration Creation Elevation (ACE) and Basement Studios to offer the opportunity for over 2.5k young people to access free music-making provision. The project is supported by Youth Music using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

During the next 18 months, young people from Bristol and South Gloucestershire will have the chance to explore their musical talent and pursue careers in the music industry. Each organisation in the partnership are working closely with communities within Bristol and South Gloucestershire to ensure that there will be a variety of programmes to suit the interests of those taking part.

Across the project, Youth workers and mentors from across the partnership will work together with young people, helping individuals to plan out their personal journey to making music, building creative confidence and nurturing their ambition. Activity will focus on three key areas: building confidence, upskilling, and industry experience and insight and will include developing a 'youth voice' where young people will have the opportunity to be co-designers of the programmes.

As part of the project Trinity is hosting open access music sessions alongside Music Masterclasses where young people are able to meet and learn from professionals as well as network with other emerging musicians

Click here to find out more about the project or sign up to our mailing list to keep up-to-date about activities for young people (up to 25yrs).

Image Credit: Alastair Brookes

Our Next-Gen Sounds program has wrapped up its first term on a high note. The weekly open access music session for young people has provided a supportive platform for budding musicians to hone their craft and showcase their talent. This term culminated in an impressive performance that highlighted the remarkable progress made by the young musicians.

"Though anxious in the beginning, I feel, after settling, that Next-Gen has become a star part of my weekly routine." - Next-Gen Sounds Participant

The end-of-term performance showcased the progress and achievements of the young musicians. In total, 17 young people engaged with Next-Gen Sounds over the term. During the showcase, the audience was impressed by the quality of the music and the energy and passion of the performers. It was clear that the young musicians had grown in confidence and skill, a testament to the program's effectiveness.

Next-Gen Sounds has proven to be a valuable resource for young musicians seeking a safe and inclusive space to express themselves, develop their skills, and meet other like-minded musicians. With 50% of regular participants being first timers at Trinity, the program has successfully attracted a diverse range of young musicians who may not have otherwise engaged with Trinity’s programme. Participants have expressed their appreciation for the programme, with one stating "I wanted to come back! It’s easy, no judgement, no pressure, it’s fun."

The success of Next-Gen Sounds reflects Trinity’s wider commitment to providing accessible opportunities for young people to engage with the arts. The programme has proven to be an invaluable resource for young musicians seeking a supportive environment to hone their craft. Trinity looks forward to continuing to support the musical aspirations of young people through this exciting programme.

Next-Gen Sounds continues every Thursday - click here to find out how you can get involved.

Movema Easter workshop at Trinity. Photo credit Alastair Brooks

Due to high demand, applications are now closed

Trinity Community Arts are offering free supermarket vouchers worth up to £150 to help with the cost of living.

The vouchers are available to anyone aged 18 and over who meets one or more of the following criteria

• lives within a 0.5 mile radius of the centre
• takes part in regular community activity at the centre, including Gentle Dance, ROTN and Hype Dance
• takes part in youth activity at the centre, including Next Gen, Stay and Play and after school clubs
• is a parent/carer of a child in local schools including Hannah More, Easton CE Academy, St Nicholas of Tolentine Primary School, Evergreen Primary school and Central Bristol Children's Centre

The voucher scheme will run in May and June 2023 and is supported by The Society of Merchant Venturers,

Movema Carnival Workshop - Image Credit: Alastair Brookes

Since autumn 2022, we have been delivering a programme of Dance and Movement based workshops in partnership with award-winning dance charity Movema and two local schools, Hannah More and St Nicholas of Tolentine.

'I liked that we had parents and children together, not just drop them off, they still need our (parent/carer) support, its good to dance together.' Parent at after-school Carnival Dance workshops

We recently celebrated the end of the project with a series of weekly after school Carnival Dance workshops. Held at Trinity, children and their parent/carers, along with Movema, created their own carnival procession that celebrated and took inspiration from the rich cultures and heritages of the group.

The project began with Movema connecting with local schools, Hannah More, Evergreen and St Nicholas of Tolentine, to deliver movement and dance workshops to children from reception to Year 6. Following this they hosted an Easter Holidays Dance Club where children were invited to come along and take part a mixture of dance games, routines and craft activities. Across the project a total of 190 children took part.

This schools-based project is part of Trinty’s Children and Young People programme which is co-created with our partners to enable children and young people to take their first and next steps in creativity. The project was supported by funding from the Coutts Foundation.

Gerry's Attic - Image Credit: Alastair Brookes

This World Mental Health Day, we are shining a light on some of the activities at Trinity that are specifically programmed to offer support and help improve mental wellbeing.

Next Gen Sounds

Our weekly, drop-in music sessions for young people, Next-Gen Sounds, serves as both a place for young people to collaborate on their musical projects in Trinity’s music studio, but also acts as a safe space for young people to seek support and engage with musicians as a way of improving mental wellbeing. Supported by Bristol-based Mental Health charity ‘Off The Record’, Next-Gen Sounds has played a vital role in supporting young musicians – many of whom are from challenging circumstances – by harnessing the transformative potential of creativity to enhance their mental and emotional resilience.

Community Volunteer Gardening

Trinity's fortnightly Community Volunteer Gardening sessions are relaxed, informal, practical gardening sessions to support the Trinity Community Garden's maintenance and upkeep. Gardening is known to have a profoundly positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. The act of nurturing plants and witnessing their growth fosters a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Gardening encourages mindfulness, reducing stress and anxiety while promoting relaxation. Trinity's Community Volunteer Gardening sessions are very important to people living in the local area, many of whom live in high-rise flats and therefore may not have access to green space of their own, and without Trinity's Community Garden may not gain the positive effects that gardening has on improving mental health and wellbeing.

FAB Disco

FAB Disco is a disco for anyone over the age of 50, delivered in partnership Friends Ageing Better (FAB) and Eastside Community Trust. Isolation and loneliness are all too common among older people, and FAB Disco offers a space for people to socialise, listen to music, and dance together, all of which are proven to have a positive impact on mental health. Music can significantly enhance the mental health of older people by offering emotional support, triggering positive memories, and promoting relaxation. It fosters social connections, reduces stress, and provides an avenue for self-expression, contributing to improved emotional well-being, cognitive function, and overall quality of life.

Creative Wellbeing Workshops

At Trinity, we run Creative Wellbeing Workshops in collaboration with Age UK and Alive Activities. These workshops are a safe and welcoming space for people to take part in arts and crafts activities and to learn more about ways to look after themselves and relax. The sessions are aimed at bringing together individuals from different cultures within the community to explore and share their emotions in a creative and fun way. Using different art materials to express emotion acts as a valuable means of expressing and connecting with emotions, and engaging in this process in the company of other people from the local community can provide the opportunity to increase our understanding of and empathy for each other