In partnership with St Paul’s Carnival/Trinity and Citizens In Power, we are exploring how to co-create a cultural strategy for the West of England region with citizens.

During this research phase, funded by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch), we invited a range of collaborators from the sector who place participation at the heart of their practice to hear from some of the best speakers working in democratic decision making right now.

Part 5: Deliberative Workshops

In January and February 2023 we organised three deliberative workshops with the aim of devising a long-term, citizen-led process that will shape a cultural plan for the area.

In our first session, we heard from Sarah James, the Creative and Cultural Programme Lead at West of England Combined Authority. She spoke about the Combined Authority’s Cultural Compact – a group consisting of representatives from four Unitary Authorities (Bath and North-East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire) that aims to focus and amplify the role of culture in the region as a driver for economic success, placemaking, community cohesion and personal wellbeing. Sarah talked us through the evolving Cultural Plan for the region and how this connects with other active cultural conversations in the area.

The group then briefly discussed the application process for previous rounds of the government’s City Of Culture competition, from the initial expression of interest through to the judges’ panel visit and interviews. It was agreed that it would be up to the Citizens’ Assembly for Culture as to whether an application for future competitions would be relevant or not.

The group then moved on to discuss the idea of Deliberation – a key methodology used in Citizens’ Assemblies. We heard from Professor Alan Renwick (Deputy Director at UCL’s Constitution Unit) who described the key components which lead to deliberative and consensus decision-making and how this differs from a more conventional debating approach.

Following this first session, we felt that it would be good to bring some of the principles Alan Renwick discussed to life with a couple of stories from inside a Citizen’s Assembly. Therefore, to start our second deliberative workshop, Executive Director of St Pauls Carnival and regular Citizens’ Assembly facilitator LaToyah McAllister-Jones shared some stories that helped immerse us back into the world of assemblies, understand more about their conduct, and remind us that there is expertise around these kinds of participatory processes in our teams and region for us to draw on.

Following this, we spent some time delving more deeply into the way Citizens’ Assemblies are organised and delivered. Sarah Allan, one of the UK’s leading experts in Citizens’ Assemblies, who is Director of Capacity Building and Standards at Involve, joined us to explore the way assemlies are designed along with some of the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the assembly model. She delved into the governance of Citizens’ Assemblies, and how the different stages of assemblies work. After considering the core components of a Citizens’ Assembly, we deliberated together to create a list of other exercises or approaches that we thought could add value to the assembly model.

In the final session, we came together to explore our ideas for a citizen-led process for the west of England region. We set out to create a long-term and affordable and citizen-led process that could create a Cultural Plan for the region. Our main questions and themes were: How can the process itself be creative & cultural? How can the process be inclusive and diverse at every stage? Who are the stakeholders in the process and how can we bring them on the journey? Could the assembly have a federal structure with sub-groups to reflect the different areas across the region? Based on the experience and discussions from all three of the deliberative workshops, we outlined a process as a basic prototype, to be tested with citizens and the wider sector in autumn 2023.

Find out more about the project

Join our mission to restore Jacobs Wells Baths and transform it into a dynamic space for youth, arts, community, and learning.

Together with the community, we've developed a plan to repair, renovate and revive this amazing building. We're now working to raise £4m to deliver a phased programme of works and we're asking the people of Bristol to give what they can to support this exciting and ambitious project.

“This is building is special for me. Here I learned how to stand up straight, and I learned where my feet were. Or rather, I learned how to learn those physical things, or I learned that they could be learned. My teacher was a dancer, Helen Roberts.” Jane Nortcote

With the condition of the building rapidly declining, we're on a race against time to stop the clock on any further damage. Working with a team of specialists led by Greenwood Projects, we're carrying out detailed surveys to assess the building's condition and delivering a programme of emergency works to give us time needed to raise funds for the full repairs programme.

So far we've concentrated efforts on the North wing, which has suffered from serious damage due to heavy rain and lack of maintenance over decades. We're clearing blocked gutters and fixing slumped sections to ensure proper drainage and prevent further leaks. We're clearing, repairing and sealing valley gutters and downpipes. To protect what remains of the roof, we're adding a durable membrane to improve waterproofing and prevent any further damage to the fabric and interior space.

We're actively applying for grant schemes, including the Community Ownership Fund, to deliver a phased repair and renovation scheme and reopen Jacobs Wells Baths as a hub for community, arts, and youth provision by March 2025.

Now, we need your help to bring back Jacobs Wells Baths - together, we can make the magic happen!

• Fill in our survey tell us how you would like to use space
• Share your story e.g. images / memories of space #savejwb or to info@trinitybristol.org.uk
• Write a letter of support
• Join us on one of our pop up events to find out more about our plans
• Comment and vote on our Pol.is

Donate to the Jacobs Wells Baths Fundsurfer now

Image credit: Jacobs Wells Baths, Martin Booth

The future of Jacobs Wells Baths in Hotwells is one step closer to being secured, as the Council's CAT Group announced its decision to offer Trinity Community Arts a 35-year CAT lease, subject to receipt of a satisfactory business plan.

Trinity will also receive a six-month occupational license during the transfer phase, to enable us to undertake a detailed series of specialist surveys, funded by the Bristol-based Nisbet Trust. The Trinity team will be working with a team of professionals in conservation and historic asset preservation, led by Greenwood Projects.

"We are delighted that the Council listened to local people and everyone who campaigned to save Jacobs Wells Baths for community use. We very much look forward to working with Trinity and our community to breathe life back into this wonderful building. We can't wait to fill Jacobs Wells Baths with people, art, performance, music, laughter and friendship for years to come." Rachel McNally, Chair of Hotwells and Cliftonwood Community Association

The decision to award Trinity a CAT lease comes following a community-led campaign, backed with the support of Clifton ward Councillors, Katy Grant and Paula O’Rourke, alongside representatives from the Hotwells & Cliftonwood Community Association and Jacobs Wells Community Hub and high-profile endorsement from Actor and national treasure Miriam Margolyes.

Thanks as well to the mayor’s office and all the Council Officers who, despite limited resources, have pulled out all the stops to complete this process and to Norman Routledge, Bristol Historic Buildings who spearheaded an alternative bid for Jacobs Wells Baths.

Whilst we still have some distance to travel, this news marks the first step in the preservation and restoration of Jacobs Wells Baths - a building that not only holds immense architectural significance but also provides space to facilitate enhanced access to essential services and support for the community.

Read more about the story of Saving Jacobs Wells Baths here

How you can help:

• Amplify this news on your social media channels using #SaveJWB
• Share your story of Jacobs Wells Bath with us using #SaveJWB on socials
• Sign up to Power to Change's We're Right Here Campaign
• Support Jacobs Wells Baths by donating below

Thumbnail image credit: Jane Northcote

Many of the events this summer will take place in the community garden. Photo credit Alastair Brookes

Check out our free and affordable activities to take part in as part of our Summer programme of activity.

Meet the Unicorn

Head down to Trinity and uncover a mystical unicorn as part of this yrs city-wide arts trail that is raising money for Leukaemia Care, the UK's leading leukaemia charity. Trinity’s unicorn, named 'Silence Provokes', has been painted by Bristol-based artist Emma Blake-Morsi. People can visit the Unicorn during opening hours (9am-5pm Monday - Friday) and most weekends. However, as Trinity is an active community space, we do apologise but access may be restricted to the site during day parties or wedding.

Explore Somali Culture

As part of Playable City we are hosting 'The House Of Weaving Songs' (07 July-09 July) an outdoor interactive artistic installation celebrating Somali culture featuring 360 audio and tapestry.  Click here to find out more.

Nature and Play

Throughout the Summer we are teaming up with Central Bristol Children's centre for 'Stay and Play' for 0yrs-11yrs (and their grown ups). These sessions, on Friday's, will offer nature and play activities - for free. We will be also running a cafe where you can buy hot drinks and healthy snacks. Click here to find out more.

Family Theatre and Picnics

Following the success of The Ash the Oak and the Standing Stones early this year we have again teamed up with Tidel Tales Collective to bring another magical show The Hare, the Moon and the River Picnic Series (18 Aug). Come along - and bring a picnic.

Arts Workshops

We've got a selection of community-focused arts workshops running at Trinity throughout the summer.

During July and August Newtown residents are invited to take part in free community painting sessions where you can take part in a mandala painting activity. Hosted by Brick Project CIC the sessions will run between 5:00pm-7:00pm - the meeting point is located just across the Clarence Road, which is next to the Trinity Centre.

Starting on 17 July we have Creative Wellbeing Workshops at Trinity, delivered in partnership with Age UK Bristol and Alive Activities. Take part in free in art, crafts, and activities as well as learning ways to look after your wellbeing, while exploring ways to unwind and relax. These drop in sessions are open to everyone. Age UK and Alive Activities would particularly like to welcome Refugees and Asylum Seekers aged 50+, as well as locals living close to the Trinity Centre

On 21 July we will have an Artwork Design Workshop with artist Molly Mural. This is a creative workshop and help design a new public artwork for Stapleton Road, drawing inspiration from local culture, history, and community values you will be able to use various techniques. Click here to sign up.

Community Cafes

Starting on Weds 19 July we are inviting our key community partners to 'take over' The Den and Garden for the afternoon. We will be welcoming key community partners such as Newtown Network to host activities and celebrate the work that they do. We will provide free hot and cold drinks as well as healthy snacks.

Day Parties & Weddings

During the summer months (July-Sep) we will be hosting full-site Days parties. These are for 14+ (under 16's must be accompanied by an adult). This includes veteran soundsystem Downbeat Melody (16 July) and Booty Bass x RepresentAsian (29 July) - tickets start at £5.

Ice Road by Raucous performed in Jacob Wells Baths. Photo credit Jack Offord

In October 2022 a decision was taken to pause the process of awarding fixed-term funding to the arts and cultural sector of Bristol, in order to ensure transparency and independent decision making.

Trinity are advocating for a similar level of scrutiny regarding the future of our city's community infrastructure, given these decisions will have a far greater long-term impact on our social and cultural fabric.

Our work to promote the plight of the city's community buildings falls in line with Trinity's charitable objective to "provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare". Recently we outlined the value of our many community spaces in Bristol in our report: "A community canvas – building the case for community infrastructure 2022-2026"

The disposal of Jacobs Wells Baths

Since January this year we have been working with stakeholders to create a vision for Jacobs Wells Baths, a Grade II Listed building that holds within its walls a wealth of architectural and social heritage - from its time as a public swimming baths to its 30 year history as a dance hub.

Following the information that Jacobs Wells Baths is now being put forward for disposal Emma Harvey, CEO of Trinity Community Arts, has submitted a statement to Bristol City Councils Full Cabinet meeting 04 July 2023.

Emma Harvey CEO Trinity Community Arts Statement:

For over 15 years, I have been raising concerns about Bristol City Council's failure to adequately classify and protect its community buildings.

Today, I once again bring forth my concerns regarding the disposal process being tabled today. It highlights a lack of protective asset class for buildings like Jacobs Wells Baths and Ujima House, which have been listed for disposal alongside disused plots of land, an old lock-up garage and a former public toilet.

The reduction of irreplaceable community buildings to footnotes in a 400-page agenda pack raises questions about how irreversible decisions are made about the assets we own. Disposing of irreplaceable assets without adequate scrutiny or a consistently applied process jeopardises our connection to the past, erodes our present identity, and threatens the resilience of future communities. Such a decision should involve greater care than may given by an ‘estates rationalisation’ exercise, when these decisions risk eroding the city’s landscape of public spaces where our communities - growing in size and diversity - can connect, build trust, and foster unity.

"Bristol has the opportunity to lead the way and, rather than disposing of these cherished spaces with a dismissive wave, we could seek to adopt a new ‘Public Realm’ asset use class that can change the way we define and protect civic and cultural domains for all citizens. These assets belong to the people of Bristol and as our elected representatives you are entrusted by us to act as our guardians of these shared spaces."

These spaces are more than physical structures and worth considerably more than an old bog or a dumping ground. They represent a tangible connection to our city's heritage and have witnessed countless memories and community gatherings that have shaped our city's social fabric. Not only do these spaces connect and improve the daily lives of people in their surrounding areas, they can also act as significant local economic multipliers, generating jobs and supporting small businesses. Specifically Jacobs Wells Baths is the only community hub within a locality with a combined population of 25,000 residents.

As Trinity has already set out, it has every potential to service the needs of this locality’s diverse communities; residents of HMOs and adjacent social housing blocks, older and young people, who have no other hub for locally based service provision.

I ask the members of today’s Cabinet what is the legacy you want to leave behind?

I urge the Cabinet to re-evaluate this process, as the Mayor has done with other recent called-in decisions, such as the Cultural Investment Programme.

I urge members to consider the 2019 Land for the Many independent report, which advocates for changing the way we make decisions about these critical assets.

Bristol has the opportunity to lead the way and, rather than disposing of these cherished spaces with a dismissive wave, we could seek to adopt a new ‘Public Realm’ asset use class that can change the way we define and protect civic and cultural domains for all citizens. These assets belong to the people of Bristol and as our elected representatives you are entrusted by us to act as our guardians of these shared spaces.

Though your time in office may be limited, the decisions you make today will have lasting consequences for the communities of tomorrow. Please do not miss this once in a lifetime chance to make a positive impact to safeguard the legacy of these and other community buildings for the enrichment and well-being of present and future Bristolians.

Further information

We support Power to Change's We're Right Here Campaign that is building a united movement for community power.

Read more in George Monbiot's Land for the Many independent report that focuses on changing the way our assets are used, owned and governed

The unicorn at Trinity

We are pleased to be hosting a Unicorn as part of the magical arts trail taking place throughout July and August in celebration of Bristol’s 650th anniversary.

The art trail features 60 life-sized unicorn sculptures that have been individually designed and painted by some of the South West’s leading artists and will be raising money for Leukaemia Care, the UK's leading leukaemia charity.

" I recognise our health care systems aren't exempt from many of the inequalities in our society, and wanted to create a contrasting design that hopes to raise awareness of this while also celebrating the vibrancy of colours, patterns and textures commonly associated with some ethnically marginalised communities." Emma Blake-Morsi, artist Unicorn Fest

Trinity’s unicorn, named 'Silence Provokes', has been painted by Bristol-based artist Emma Blake-Morsi and is inspired by leading research by the British Journal of Cancer on ethnic disparities within cancer patients, with the intention of raising awareness about inequalities within healthcare.

People will be able to visit the Unicorn most days between 9am and 5pm. Throughout the summer holidays we will also be offering a programme of affordable/free to access activities as part of our Children and Young People's programme so if you are bringing family, or young people you care for, and want to plan your visit - click here to find out more.

Click here to find out more about the trail including how to download the app and buy a map.

Please note that Trinity is an active community space, visitors are advised to check our listings as access may be restricted to the site during day parties or weddings.

Community leader, Mr Fitzroy (Roy) de Freitas in an extract from a paper. image courtesy of Bristol Archives

To celebrate National Windrush Day we are looking back at our archive to shine a light on the Bristol Caribbean Community Enterprise group (BCCE), who were the first custodians of the Trinity Centre following the deconsecrating of the Holy Trinity church in the 1970's.

The year is 1978, and BCCE opens the 'Trinity Community Institute' as it was then named, on 01 July. The grand opening coincides 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.

In 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... 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 their annual report of 1978, the 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).

BCCE programmed community events with a strong Caribbean influence - sound clashes, dub, reggae nights marking the start of Trinity's sound-system heritage. "Trinity Institute," sometimes also known as "Trinity Hall," provided a space for music and Soundsystem culture, welcoming the likes of Jah Shaka and Quaker City alongside punk and new wave bands, including The Stingrays and New Order.

Sadly, in 1984, BCCE went into receivership, and the building was sold to Bristol City Council in 1985 – but was soon to be opened as a community space once again...

Get involved

We have a series of events and activities to celebrate National Windrush Day. Including partnering with Tamasha Theatre to explore hidden stories from the Windrush generation. Click here to find out more.

Then, throughout the July, August and September Trinity will host film screenings, lunches and other community events and activities. Check our website for listings.