Safer Streets - Bedminster

In 2023, a group of local residents were brought together to co-design a project that would encourage community action and build a more connected community based around creating Safer Streets. This process was facilitated by Community Development Workers at Bristol City Council, Lynn Parfitt and Claire McNeil.

The Safer Streets Bedminster Organising group worked together to design the project from the start. They made decisions on everything from deciding the application criteria to designing posters. They organised a Participatory Budgeting event where over 80 local people came and voted for their favourite projects which then received the funding.

Helen, a local resident, was part of the community organising group and said: "Being part of Safer Streets gave me the opportunity to meet and work with people from my local community that I am unlikely to have met otherwise. I had a great sense of belonging and community as I worked with others to deliver the Safer Streets Bedminster and Southville project." 

Safer Streets (4) was funding by the Home Office which the Council's Community Development Team made available to local people to build stronger communities, combat crime, and tackle anti-social behaviour. Nine projects were funded in Bedminster, and here are a few of their stories.

DAME EMILY PARK PROJECT - SUMMER PARK PARTY

Over 50 people came together in Dame Emily Park for a Community Summer Park Party, where all park users were invited to come together and share in the wonders of Dame Emily Park.

Zoe from Dame Emily Park Project (DEPP) planned their Safer Streets Community event with help from DEPP group members Ursula and Mario. Zoe Said: “With such a range of activities in the park, we wanted to bring everyone together to share in the wonders of Dame Emily Park. The community fun day was a brilliant opportunity for local residents to learn about what is going on in their neighbourhood from various groups in the area."

Several local groups shared their inspiring work with attendees. Action Greater Bedminster, a community partnership, shared about their collaborative work to improve the Bedminster and Southville area for everyone; South Bristol Climate Hub shared what they are doing to engage people in climate action; and the MAZI Project told about their work to tackle food insecurity among 16-25-year-olds in Bristol.

 Zoe continued "It was a joy to shine a light on the positive work happening in Bedminster and meet some new people. We have welcomed new faces at our gardening sessions and hope that the event has inspired others to take care of the park too.”

WELLBEING DAY AT ACTA

"The day was important to us so we could introduce the community to wellbeing activities, and offer them new things to try and get involved in. The event was very successful. It brought people together, and everyone was so happy and laughing all the time. Importantly, there were no barriers to being able to come along and enjoy the day and take part. Everyone went away with something: a new skill, a happy memory, or a new friend.” Said Dale.

Dale, Shivanni and Sarah all volunteer in the Creative Wellbeing Café at ACTA Community Theatre in Bedminster. Their Safer Streets project came about as they wanted to expand the ethos of the café into a whole community wellbeing day of free workshops, performances and feel good activities! The event they planned and put on was attended by around 100 local people.

Pilates, poetry, Indian dance, laughter yoga, singing, relaxation, tarot readings and henna tattooing were available on the day. To accompany this, they had delicious and healthy home-made food and drinks that were served in the café, and live music in the theatre.

Dale continued "The most important idea was that the activities, and the day itself, would improve peoples mental wellbeing as well as giving them the opportunity to meet new people and spend time with friends, reducing social isolation and loneliness. It was important to us that everything was as accessible as possible, so the activities were free, and the food and drink inexpensive."

Dales advice to anyone thinking of organising a community event is to; "Stick at it and don’t give up. Be determined in what you want to do, and do it for the good of your community."

CREATIVE WAVES - FAMILY FUN DAY

Catherine’s, Solomon’s and Martin are three young people who met through the Grassroots Activators Program. Their fun filled family day had everything from a Creation Station, music, fair games and refreshments and was held in Dame Emily Park, Bedminster.

"We received funding from Safer Streets to put on a Family Fun Day – which we held at Dame Emily Park. We had high hopes for the events and yet we managed to surprise ourselves with just how much we were able to provide as activities and refreshments to the community." Explained Catherine.

"During the event we engaged over 300 people with many being with us for several hours and really giving everything a go and getting involved with everything we had to offer. They were all from all walks of life. We had invited the local neighbourhood policing team and were delighted when they attended and interacted with the community."

"We finished the event with a whole new hope, inspired by the massive level of engagement. Things we hope that people watching, listening or reading take from our journey are that community should be free and accessible to all-taking money out of the equation is a great equaliser-and to liaise, listen, understand and respond to the opinions of the many and varied."

HOLLIDGE GARDENS - ART CLUB

David – a local resident, was supported by BS3 Community Connector, Leanne, to submit an application and provide ongoing support to the group. David was delighted to be awarded funding by his community.

"I am a community worker based at BS3 Community, as part of my role I spend some of my time at Hollidge Gardens, a block of council owned flats for those who are 65+ or classed as vulnerable. The residents mainly live alone. Some of them have severe physical difficulties and find it hard to get out and about. The residents mainly live alone. Some of them have severe physical difficulties and find it hard to get out and about. The residents have a communal room, however over the years it has fallen into disuse. When the Safer Streets project was announced, David was keen to apply. We worked together on the application, then we presented his idea at the public voting event, to 80 local people, where David was overwhelmed to find out that he had been awarded the funding." Explained Leanne.

When asked why the Art Club was important to him David said: “Simple, it’s what I love to do. It just gives me a feeling of peace and calm, being able to concentrate and create something out of your imagination. I felt a bit lost; that’s what happens to old people all the time. I wasn’t doing things I wanted to be doing. That’s why I like this."

Leanne added "Together the group have been able to create a fantastic resource for their neighbours, and people across BS3. The residents have brought so much energy and passion. Working with them has cemented for me, how important it is to listen and work with the voices of residents and empower them, regardless of age or ability."

Lynn Parfitt, Community Development Practitioner reflects on the Safer Streets project, "Well what can I say is the Participatory Budgeting event is one of the highlights of my career. The space it gave people to been seen and heard and the opportunities it has given people to contribute to their community was like nothing I have worked on before. Simply, an amazing project to be a part of, and its co-production at it's best. People stepped up to share their skills and gifts and it was a pleasure to be apart of this. Whether being on the grant planning group or a local group applying to do what they are passionate about, everybody shaped the way the community could respond to creat a community response to Safer Streets.