A well-known Bristol poet has written a new work inspired by the people who run community businesses in the city.
Vanessa Kisuule created the emotive poem - The Sum of Several Someones - and narrates the piece in a new film featuring the men and women powering Bristol's community organisations.
Businesses featured in the poem include Bristol Bike Project, a member-led co-operative which repairs and re-homes bikes; and Barton Hill Settlement, an inclusive community hub that provides support, education, recreation and social activities for all residents of Barton Hill.
The film, which was commissioned by charity Power to Change, also features Windmill Hill City Farm, Southmead Development Trust, Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bristol Ferry Boats and We Can Make community-led housing initiative at Knowle West.
Vanessa says the poem expresses her civic pride.
“As we all know Bristol really is a very special place - and it’s the people that make it so special," she explained.
"I wanted to write something that captured that magic that happens when people come together to share their hopes and aims and to make something new happen.
'Their power comes from their people'
"That’s what these community businesses are doing, their power comes from their people so I wanted that to be the focal point of my narrative.”
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Power to Change director of communications and partnerships Mark Gordon, added: “Bristol is a unique city with a wonderful and established sense of community and it has been inspiring to watch the community business network grow so vibrantly here.
“There are more than 30 community businesses across Bristol, all rooted in people coming together to make their neighbourhoods better for everyone who lives there.
"This film is a celebration of all that and more. We wanted to shout about the amazing things that are happening here and hopefully inspire others to take the lead and get involved in their own communities.”
Power to Change has invested nearly £3.8million through 46 grants to community organisations in Bristol.
The trust is also working with Bristol City Council and its partners to improve the way that communities can gain ownership of buildings and spaces.
Power to Change is also a partner of the Bristol City Fund, one of the first funds of its kind in the 海角视频 which brings together investment, grants and local authority support in a coordinated place-based approach to tackling inequality.
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