Seven inspirational community organisations in Bristol have won funding and business support for their projects.
The winners were selected by M&S and charity Power to Change as part of the Community Business Challenge (CBC) campaign to find organisations transforming local economies.
The CBC launched last year as part of M&S’s Community Transformation Programme.
The retailer is trialling a range of actions in cities such as Bristol to help tackle the issues that matter most to communities – such as unemployment, skill shortages, loneliness, mental health and wellbeing.
The prizes were awarded at an event in Bristol last week, which saw finalists pitching to a panel of judges. The winners are:
APE Project CIC
The community interest company runs St Paul’s Adventure Playground on Fern Street and was given £8,000.
The project will use the funding and support to launch a new community bakery and teaching space at the site. This includes hiring a dedicated project manager to oversee the bakery launch.
Rachel Davies, co-founder of Ape Project CIC, said: “Receiving this grant and support is a huge relief to a community business like ours.
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“We don’t have a lot of people on our team, so we often have to do so many different jobs to keep the whole project running. This award will take some of the pressure off and allow us to keep building the business.”
Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust
The organisation, which manages a 45-acre Victorian cemetery and green space in the heart of Bristol, was awarded £6,000.
It will use its package of support to develop its on-site shop as a source of revenue and hire a paid member of staff to support the existing team of volunteers, as well as improving marketing and visual merchandising.
Ellie Collier, chief executive of Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust, said: “It’s absolutely essential that we maximise all income generation opportunities so that we can continue to offer an open, safe and accessible space to the community.
“This support will really help us to grow and develop the whole site.”
Community In Partnership Knowle West
The business runs Filwood Community Centre for people in Knowle West and south Bristol and was given £6,000.
The organisation is now planning to launch a six-month outreach programme to grow awareness and find out what services people want to access.
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Makala Cheung, creative director and business manager at Filwood Community Centre, said: “This support will help us to stay true to what the community centre is all about – being for the community and growing and responding to what the community wants us to be.”
Redcatch Community Garden
The community space focused on growing fresh, healthy food, was awarded £8,000.
The business plans to refit its commercial kitchen so that it can expand its food production operation and train volunteers.
Kate Swain, co-founder of Redcatch Community Garden, said: “We’re delighted to receive this funding and support, which opens up so many doors for us.
“It’s a foundation to look at how we become a food centre and connect with more people and groups in the community.”
St Werburghs City Farm
The farm, which works with volunteers to grow vegetable and herb plants that are then sold at a discount to local allotment holders, schools and community groups, was awarded £8,000.
The business is planning to use the money to improve its operations and computer systems, as well as installing an irrigation system that would free up more time for staff to spend with volunteers.
Esme Worrell, project lead at St Werburghs City Farm, said: “This support means a great deal to all of us.
“It’s important for our volunteers to be involved in every aspect of the business, so this will have a very positive effect on everybody.”
The Ardagh Community Trust
The trust provides employment and volunteering opportunities at a community café, and was awarded £6,000.
The business plans to use the funding to move from being a seasonal café to opening year-round and for longer hours.
Sam Thomson, chief executive at the Ardagh Community Trust, said: “All of our staff currently work part-time, so this funding and support will allow us to spend more time working to grow the business and ensure it’s a success for the whole community.”
Windmill Hill City Farm
The 4.5-acre site that works to improve the lives of local people through education and community development was awarded £8,000.
The business plans to use the package of support to open a new farm shop that would act as an additional source of revenue for the business and supply healthy food to the community.
Anna Ralph, café manager, said: “This support is a real game-changer for us, enabling us to do more of the great work we’re already doing in the community while helping us to grow the business for the future.”