Bringing communities together in Bristol

Community cohesion in Bristol, how we're listening to residents, how community groups around the city are getting involved

In August 2024, Bristol was one of 27 cities and towns in the UK where anti-immigration demonstrations led to clashes with counter demonstrators and incidents of violent disorder.

We know that these events were deeply threatening and disturbing, particularly for many of Bristol's minoritised communities.

Since then, we have been focussing on how we can:

• listen to and support communities who feel unheard and disconnected
• make sure that everyone in the city feels safe
• make sure people from different backgrounds feel they belong
• create strong, inclusive communities across Bristol

Community cohesion report

We worked with consultants to help us understand the reasons behind the violent disorder and residents' views on community cohesion in Bristol.

They spoke to people, individually or in groups, from different neighbourhoods and communities across Bristol, particularly those who feel overlooked and unheard. The aim was to listen to and gather insights and ideas from a range of views and perspectives.

The findings were put into a final report, “ pdf Reflections of Community Cohesion in Bristol(788 KB) ” which was published in October 2025.

The findings included six key recommendations for Bristol:

• Bring key organisations together and work more closely with city partners to make progress.
• Make building good relationships between communities a real priority.
• Create safe spaces for honest and difficult conversations.
• The council and partners should be more proactive and robust in tackling misinformation.
• Take class and poverty seriously, not just race and ethnicity.
• Improve trust in local democracy through visible genuine leadership.

How we're listening to communities

We've been holding sessions with different communities in the city to give people a chance to speak openly and honestly to council leaders.

So far, we've spoken to:

• residents and voluntary sector organisations in Bedminster, Hartcliffe, Lawrence Hill, Lawrence Weston and Lockleaze
• sector partners from health, arts and culture, universities, schools, and business
• children and young people from north, south and east Bristol and the Bristol City Youth Council
• people at One City, Many Communities events. which includes voluntary sector organisations, community leaders and city partners

pdf Community conversations: what was said, what's happening and what needs to happen(116 KB)

pdf Conversations with young people: what was said and what is needed(72 KB)

Community-led listening

Ambition Lawrence Weston has led some community-led research to better understand local people's perceptions about what it means to be working class. This involved listening events in and around Lawrence Weston, exploring the question, What does it mean to be working class?

Voscur and SARI have led community forums for residents, community groups and partners to share experiences, concerns and ideas around community cohesion. The final outcome was a co-produced community resource pack that provides practical guidance to help organisations build cohesion, prevent harm and respond to community tensions.

Bridges for Communities have been working with Bristol City Council and voluntary sector partners to facilitate ‘Listening Spaces'. These events provide opportunities for people from different cultures, backgrounds and experiences to discuss issues that are important but challenging in a safe environment.

The Bristol Sanctuary Strategy 2025 to 2030 sets out how we intend to support people seeking sanctuary in the city.

Community-led action

Communities in Bristol are already leading work in their local areas to take action and bring people together.

Through one-off Community Sanctuary Support grants, 10 community hubs across the city are delivering activities to:

• connect newly arrived sanctuary seekers to community services such as co-created welcome packs for newly arrived families, and advice drop-ins
• provide opportunities for residents to come together such as local festivals and shared community meals
• make neighbourhoods welcoming for everyone such as culture connection events

The funding runs until December 2027 and supports the delivery of the Sanctuary Strategy.

Get involved

Communities are coming together to bring positive change locally and for the whole city. Find out what's going on in Bristol and how you can get involved in your community.

Find different volunteering opportunities to suit the amount of time you have and your interests on Can Do Bristol.

Sign up to the Communities quarterly newsletter and monthly news flash to find out about opportunities and events across Bristol, and how residents are making positive changes in their communities.

Financial support for community recovery

Following the violent disorder in August 2024, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) awarded Bristol City Council £600,000 to support the recovery of communities affected by the incident. This was called the Community Recovery Fund.

The money was targeted at:

• immediate clean-up and repair
• activities that improve community cohesion, including grants through the voluntary sector

How the funding was used

Quartet Community Foundation awarded over £300,000 to 37 voluntary organisations and community groups in Bristol including support for refugees and asylum seekers, established community hubs and anchors, groups led by racially minoritised people, women-led, and resident-led grassroots groups.

Funded activities supported one or more of the following priorities:

• the recovery of communities impacted by the disorder
• building and strengthening community connections between people who would not otherwise come together
• creating safe spaces for community conversation
• empowering communities who face multiple barriers to participation in community and civic life

Well-being activities were delivered by Black South West Network to support the recovery and resilience of Black and Minoritised community leaders who were disproportionately impacted by the disorder that took place in August 2024.

Funding was also used by SARI to develop a contingency strategy and protocol for community spaces and faith spaces.

Stay informed

Email kbsp@bristol.gov.uk to sign up to the weekly Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership community safety bulletin for updates on issues affecting Bristol's communities.