The project
Bristol Thriving Communities provides an opportunity for Good Faith to explore a place-based expression of many of their key areas of work; supporting communities through developing Warm Welcome Spaces, and convening opportunities for churches to collaborate with key city partners, including local government.
Bristol Thriving Communities has three key aims:
1
Develop and strengthen inter-church partnership
2
Invest in building cohesive communities through Bristol Warm Welcome Spaces
3
Create opportunities for the church to strategically partner with city partners
Since launching in August 2024, the project has enabled the development of a new city-wide Warm Welcome Network offering a monthly newsletter packed with funding opportunities and community news, regular training workshops on key topics such as mental health and impact evaluation, and in-person and online meetings to enable spaces to build relationships and share best practice. Undertaking a piece of research into the landscape of church-led social action across Bristol framed a number of key recommendations including the development of Bristol Churches City Fund, exploring the possibility of a VCFSE ‘one-stop-shop’ app in Bristol, and hosting a regular series of strategic meetings between church leaders and Bristol City Council’s children and education directorate to coordinate efforts and drive positive change.
Impact
By trialling and testing a range of solutions in pilot form, this project has enabled us to develop a diverse range of new infrastructure and partnerships for the city: created the Bristol Warm Welcome network with more than 250 local members, delivered a series of 10 training sessions and workshops for Bristol Warm Spaces in 2025/26, held two conferences between Bristol City Council’s Children and Education Directorate and over 45 churches represented.
Impact
By trialling and testing a range of solutions in pilot form, this project has enabled us to develop a diverse range of new infrastructure and partnerships for the city:
250+
Local members
10
Training sessions and workshops delivered for Bristol Warm Spaces in 2025/26
Two
Conferences held between Bristol City Council’s Children and Education Directorate
68%
Churches represented
“Being new to the city, there is a real sense of networks of Christians working together; in collaborative projects, shared desires, examples of serving and supporting one another, and engaging with city council leaders.”
“It’s really exciting to have this opportunity to talk about partnerships in Bristol – working with the community, working with churches, working with faith groups, particularly in localities, to support children and young people from the earliest possible opportunity.”
Bristol Thriving Communities is hosted by Good Faith Foundation, the charitable home for this project.