Bearpit (Bearpit Improvment Group)

Community Action Zone otherwise known as St James Barton Roundabout. On the way out (or in) from Stokes Croft to the city centre.

Venture under the busy roundabout via tunnels past panels of street-art into a diverse and interesting central, open, public space, featuring ‘Bearpit Outdoor Gallery’.

An ongoing development project between Community and Council after years of neglect. Colourful now, and full of variety; buskers and street-drinkers, street-art, giant billboards boasting about Bristol’s latest protests and a giant wooden Bear. New stair-ways opened up the in 2015, a small cafe (from a converted shipping container) boasting good value, sometimes vegan and always delicious food, a fresh fruit stall, a 1960’s bus turned into a Burrito diner and always something going on.

Perfect for people-watching, or better still, people being.

St James Barton Roundabout, Bristol, United Kingdom

http://bearpitimprovementgroup.co.uk/

Industries; Community space

Bristol Cable

A media co-operative – created and owned by people in the city. With free events, a multimedia website and a free quarterly print edition, The Bristol Cable is building the tools and platform for people to engage with their communities and hold power to account in the city and wider society.

17 Hillgrove Street, Bristol, United Kingdom

Phone: 07729 124080

http://thebristolcable.org/

Industries; Media

Bristol Drugs Project (BDP)

Alcohol & Drug Problems affect lots of people. A national poll in 2009 showed that almost 1 in 5 adults have been personally affected by drug addiction alone: that’s over 82,000 people in Bristol. Many more people have problems with alcohol.

And tackling an alcohol or drug problem can be tough – but there are people making major changes in their lives every day. As part of the new Bristol ROADS (Recovery Orientated Alcohol & Drugs Service), Bristol Drugs Project helps over 3,000 people a year to make those changes.

Whether it is Alcohol, Heroin or Ketamine, Cocaine or Cannabis, Ecstasy or Amphetamine we can help you make the changes you want – reducing the risks, controlling your alcohol or drug use, stopping using. If you are coping with someone else’s alcohol or drug problem, it’s a lonely place to be and we can help you through this.

There is no easy way to pick up that phone or knock on that door but take that step and you’ll find knowledgeable, free and confidential help from Bristol Drugs Project

11 Brunswick Square, Bristol, United Kingdom

Phone: 0117 987 6000

http://www.bdp.org.uk/

Industries; Health & Wellbeing

Bristol Housing Action Movement

Revived in 1984, Bristol Housing Action (BHAM) is a non-hierarchical collective of squatters and their supporters, helping to provide housing and other support for homeless people.

Committed to the opening of community spaces and to solidarity with existing social centres, they campaign against the privatisation of public land and housing and for the defence of public space. Their website states: “The land is a free gift to all mankind and not ‘private property’ in the ordinary sense. The right to shelter is enshrined in article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

17 Hillgrove Street, Bristol, United Kingdom

Phone: 07833 100399

http://www.public-interest.co.uk/bham/

Coexist

Hamilton House was a vacant and neglected office block for many years, until in 2008 when the owners, Connolly and Callaghan invited a group of friends to create a centre for the community. Ever since, Coexist has been working hard to create a space in which the community can grow, share, collaborate, and learn what it is to live in coexistence with each other.

80 Stokes Croft, Bristol, United Kingdom

Phone: 0117 924 9599

http://www.hamiltonhouse.org/about/

Industries; Community space