Copyright magazine #4 by Copyright Magazine

Positive Movements

Discover how some of Bristolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s abandoned office buildings are being transformed into affordable homes

+ Urban farming Alan Johnson MP on the EU Art without borders

INT R O D U C TION

Copyright is a quarterly publication intent on celebrating positive news, grass-roots activism & ethical living in and around Bristol.

Issue 4 Spring 2016

Managing editors Kieron Allen Chris Chapman

Editor Kieron Allen

Art Director Chris Chapman

Contributors Blanca Munoz Ella Edwards Kathleen Steeden Carl Newland

Well Made Media Unit 20 The Coach House 2 Upper York Street Bristol BS2 8QN

copyrightmagazine.uk Facebook/copyrightmagazine @copyrightmag

POSITIVE MOVEMENTS

INT R O D U C TION

Forward I

t’s issue four and we’ve gone full circle. After an amazing 12 months, we are proud to be unleashing our prelude to summer on to the streets of Bristol. Over the next three months, the city will of course play host to some inspiring events, and we’ve covered our favourites at the back of this issue. Bristol’s empty office buildings are a travesty, but one group is working hard to turn these unused spaces into affordable homes, find out how they’re doing it and the many ways you can help them do more (page 10). We investigate some of the city’s most exciting farming projects, groups who are turning pavement into produce in an effort to encourage a more sustainable way to feed Bristol (page 16). Labour MP Alan Johnson gives his opinion on the UK’s position within the EU and why Bristolians should vote to stay in (page 4). And we discover how an inspiring scheme is using bike maintenance to help rehabilitate some of Bristol’s prison inmate (page 6). Enjoy the sun, stay smiling and be proud of the efforts taking place to make Bristol a beacon for change.

4. Opinion: Alan Johnson MP 6. A cycle of change 10. Recycled spaces 16. Cultivating concrete 20. Art from elsewhere 24. Upcoming events 26. Breaking free 31. Volunteering opportunities

Got an idea for a story? Tell us all about it by contacting: editorial@copyrightmagazine.uk

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Kieron Allen Editor

ISSUE 4 - spring 2016

O P INION

Alan Johnson MP

What does Brexit mean for Bristol? Alan Johnson MP Chair of Labour in for Britain

This June, the UK will decide whether or not to remain in

n 23 June, the British people

stronger at negotiating trade deals with

will face a choice, not on the

larger countries like China and the US

issues which David Cameron

as part of the EU. Because problems like

the EU, ahead of this momentous

has been negotiating on, but on whether

climate change, terrorism and organised

occasion Alan Johson MP,

to stay in Europe, or to leave. Labour is

crime don’t respect national borders, they

tells Copyright why Bristolians

fighting a campaign in this referendum to

are most effectively addressed by working

remain, because we believe Britain is

together with our European neighbours.

better off in Europe.

And because we are part of the EU but

should vote to stay.

outside the Schengen borderless zone, we Our campaign is separate from Britain

can take full advantage of Europe-wide

Stronger In Europe, the cross-party

security cooperation while keeping our

campaign, although we share the same

own borders secure.

objectives. We are campaigning to stay in Europe to protect the millions of jobs that

Protecting Britain’s interests means

are linked to British trade with Europe, and

ensuring we have a strong voice at the top

the investment and growth that being part

table. Like all institutions, the EU requires

of the world’s largest single market brings.

reform. But if we leave, Britain will still have to follow EU rules if we want to access the

Almost half of our exports go to EU

single market – we just won’t have any say

countries. Large companies from all

in making the rules anymore. That’s been

over the world choose to build offices

Norway’s experience.

and factories in the UK, and recruit staff here, because we are a gateway to the

Britain is better off in Europe. It brings

European single market.

us jobs, growth and investment whilst protecting British workers and consumers.

EU agreements also protect British

Leaving would put all that at risk and

consumers, saving the average family

diminish Britain’s influence in the world.

around £450 a year due to the lower

That’s Labour’s case in this referendum.

prices that come from being part of the biggest consumer market in the world.

Don’t lose your right to help decide the UK’s future, register to vote here:

Working with Europe gives Britain more

bristol.gov.uk/voting-elections/register-

influence than when we act alone. We are

to-vote.

POSITIVE MOVEMENTS

F E AT U R E

A CYCLE OF CHANGE

A CYCLE OF CHANGE Copyright talks to the team behind Bike Back, a cycle scheme in Bristol that aims to bridge the gap between the city’s free and incarcerated populations

But what happens when someone disrupts this balance? The How to Stop Prisoners From Re-offending conundrum is ongoing, but the answer is still very much obscured. Progress is being made though. Bike Back aims to help break the re-offending cycle. Poppy Brett, Chief Executive of Life Cycle (the charity behind the BikeBack scheme) explains what they do, ‘Bike Back is essentially a bike refurbishment scheme,’ she says. ‘We take donations of unwanted bikes from the public to our training workshop at HM Prison Bristol and teach prisoners the skills they need to refurbish them.

“The beauty of the project is in the sum of its parts. The parts being the prisoners, the customers with access to low-cost bikes and the WORDS

Ella Edwards

ander through Horfield, Bristol

environment”

and it’s hard to miss the imposing brick building surrounded by

barbed wire and the high-pitched whine of security equipment. This is HM Prison

‘Once they fix the bikes we give them a

Bristol. It has a maximum capacity of 614

thorough safety check and then we sell

and holds men who have been convicted

them back to members of the public to

of crimes or are serving time on remand.

encourage more people – especially

A report published by a prison watchdog

those on low incomes – to get cycling.’

in late 2015 concluded that 72 per cent of the men incarcerated in Horfield prison

The positive effects of Bike Back work on

and serving terms of less than 12 months

a number of levels – or overlapping circles,

would re-offend. The prison does focus on

like a lovely Venn diagram of proactive

inmate rehabilitation, but the system here

social change. As Poppy says, ‘The beauty

and on a wider scale obviously has

of the project is in the sum of its parts.’ The

its flaws. Enter Life Cycle UK.

‘parts’ being the prisoners, the customers with access to low-cost bikes and the

The saying goes that one good turn

environment, less bikes in landfill and,

deserves another, which make sense.

hopefully, less cars on the road.

POSITIVE MOVEMENTS

So how does the system work? The

‘normal’ price at Bike Back is still very

lowest priced bikes are reserved for those

much affordable.

who have been referred by other third sector voluntary organisations like Bristol

So Bristol’s cyclists are happy, Mother

Drugs Project, Bristol Mind, Second Step

Nature is happy (or as happy as she can

and St Mungo’s. These bikes cost just £20

be right now) and the scheme is opening

and, over the last year, roughly a third of

up new opportunities for the city’s

all refurbished bikes from Bike Back were

prison population. Bike Back helps

redistributed this way.

prisoners to contribute to society and the importance of this isn’t overlooked.

Then there are other bikes that are

In the words of one prisoner involved in

reserved for people who have declared

the Bike Back scheme, ‘It’s made me feel

themselves on low incomes. All

happy that I am doing something positive,

the rest are made available for general

something for the community out there.

sale at ‘normal’ prices, although a

I SS U E 4 - s pri n g 2 0 1 6

“We take donations of unwanted bikes from the public to our training workshop at HM Prison Bristol and

‘I had two nice bikes come in that I’ve stripped and put back together, I like to think that someone might get them for Christmas, it makes me smile.’ Bike Back operates without casting

teach prisoners the skills they need

judgement. And letting prisoners know

to refurbish them”

refreshing change, it can have extremely

they aren’t being judged is not only a positive repercussions. As Poppy puts it, ‘If you take the project in its entirety its something quite special.’ With so many elements to the scheme, how does Poppy and the rest of the team measure its success? This is a complex but necessary task. The charity is Lottery funded, which means it has to provide evidence of the positive difference it’s making.

POSITIVE MOVEMENTS

A CYCLE OF CHANGE

Bike Back collects all sorts of data

me realise I can do things without drugs.

including feedback from prisoners,

‘I can be a more socially acceptable

feedback from the people who receive

person and it’s not so hard. ‘I’ve come off

the bikes and, of course, the number of

all my meds and was still able to come

bikes that are sold. There’s a problem

over here, it helps the way I think, takes my

with this last one though. Development

mind off using.’

Manager Tamar Thompson explains, ‘The bikes are donated, they go into the

The scheme is helping break the cycle of

prison where they’re fixed and then they

re-offending by investing time into people,

come out,’ she says. ‘There’s a limit to

regardless of drug issues and lack of

what we can do.’ Last year Bike Back sold

qualifications. When Bike Back does

around 350 bikes. Of course they could

this, it can help a prisoner reform,

hire a prolific mechanic who would fix

reintegrate in to society and give

and sell on plenty more bikes than that,

something back. And after that? Well,

but the prisoners are learning to become

one good turn deserves another.

mechanics – and this takes time.

“It’s made me realise I can do things without drugs. I can be a more socially acceptable person and it’s not so hard. I’ve come off all my meds and was still able to come over here, it helps the way I think, takes my mind off using”

Bike Back itself doesn’t have all of the time in the world though. It secured Lottery funding and won the bid from HM Prison Bristol seven years ago, but this funding will run out in March 2017. The team can apply again but nothing is guaranteed, and even then, money is always tight. Still, they’re doing everything they can to keep the wheels turning, because right now the scheme seems to be working. Here’s what another prisoner had to say, ‘It’s made

ISSUE 4 - spring 2016

F E AT U R E

D O MO R E

Monetary donations are always welcomed, you can make one on the Bike Back website: lifecycleuk.org.uk/bike-recycling If you’d like to volunteer, get in touch by phone to see how you can help: 0117 353 4580 Or, if you’d like to buy a bike go to: lifecycleuk.org.uk/buy-a-bike

POSITIVE MOVEMENTS

R ecyc l ed s pace s

F e a t ur e

Recycled spaces I M A G ES

Carl Newland

There are hundreds of abandoned buildings in Bristol, Copyright meets the group intent on turning these empty spaces into affordable homes. The work has begun, but there’s still a long way to go

alk through Portland Square in St Pauls, Bristol and it’s impossible not to notice the frenzy of activity taking place on the grand,

decrepit buildings proudly standing watch over this historic site. Banners cladding the façade of these once great houses (more recently offices) shout ‘luxury apartment’ or ‘exciting opportunity’. Regeneration? Maybe. But it’s hard not to adopt a slightly skeptical squint when you see the developers logos all gathering at once. Head to the other side of the city, much further than a stone’s throw from Cabot Circus, and you’ll encounter a very different project. A sensitive, grass-roots endeavor that’s attempting to turn empty offices into homes. Affordable homes. Abolish Empty Office Buildings (AEOB) is a housing project founded by writer and social campaigner Tony Crofts. The group’s mission is to address the issue of office and commercial buildings standing empty in the city, at a time when there is an urgent need for affordable housing.

F E AT U R E

R ecyc l ed s pace s

“We noticed that Bristol had over two

Instead of concentrating on building brand new homes, AEOB want to

million square feet of empty office

re-purpose existing properties into

buildings, so we started AEOB and set

a place to live.

about raising money to buy one of them”

The group’s vision is almost a political

homes for people struggling to find

manifesto, laid out as a series of points intent on giving residents a sense of ownership. AEOB puts people over profit and believes in accessible housing for all, with residents encouraged to develop the community they live in. They hope to do this by acquiring empty office and commercial spaces across the city and turning them into homes and other community venues. The AEOB model will offer affordable,

POSITIVE MOVEMENTS

R ecyc l ed s pace s

F E AT U R E

secure tenancies and grow as a result of input – financially and physically – from prospective residents. AEOB will assist tenants in any efforts to become housing co-operatives, responsible for managing the building in which they live. This is social housing, unadulterated.

“The completed building will be modest in scale, but the proposal addresses community and sustainability factors. We’re aiming for affordability through ultra-low energy use”

‘It started from a rich/poor reconciliation laboratory held at St Stephen’s church, at which we noticed that Bristol had, at

AEOB are also building two new flats

that time, over two million square feet of

on the adjoining garden at the site on

empty office buildings,’ Tony tells us. ‘So

Battens Lane, St George. Chris Askew,

we started AEOB and set about raising

from Askew Cavanna Architects, has been

money to buy one of them.’

involved with the project from the off, ‘We have worked with Tony Crofts and

And so began the group’s first venture.

AEOB from the start, helping to critically

The aim was to raise £400,000 through

review prospective sites before they

donations and Community Shares to

settled on the site in Battens Lane,’ he

purchase AEOB’s flagship building.

says. ‘They did an amazing job in raising funds through donations and a share

‘Investments in our Community Share

issue, which enabled them to buy the

came in from all over the UK - Scotland,

property.

Northern Ireland, East Anglia, the south coast and the Midlands and now stand

‘Through the construction phase, we

[March 2016] at £360,000,’ says Tony.

have continued to work alongside the site team, who are carrying out the work as

‘This has led to a match-funding

a custom-build, and are assisting them

mortgage from Triodos Bank for the

with quotes for trade packages, such as

same amount, and we are now forging

suppliers for the triple glazed windows.’

ahead with conversion and development of an office we bought with planning for

Both Chris and Tony have a shared vision

conversion to four flats.

in retaining as many of the building’s

ISSUE 4 - spring 2016

I M A G ES Overleaf: This vast expanse of space will soon become a welcome home. Far left: The shell of the building is taking shape. Above: More than £350,000 has been raised for the build.

F E AT U R E

R ecyc l ed s pace s

I M A G ES Above: Eventually, this old abandoned building will be transformed, but there’s still work to be done.

original features as possible. The aim is

south elevation there are Juliet balconies

to strike a balance between the old part

with double doors to ensure maximum

of the building, characterised by huge

light. The southern elevation also benefits

stone walls, and the new, highly insulated

from an integrated shading and growing

timber framed extension.

structure to maximise the opportunities for residents to grow their own produce.’

‘The completed building will be modest in scale, but the proposal addresses

Although small, this project will showcase

community and sustainability factors like

the group’s capabilities and, hopefully,

the inclusion of a common room and

encourage more investment.

laundry,’ says Chris. ‘We’re aiming for affordability through ultra-low energy

‘We hope to go on to another similar-

use.

sized project, which will give us property valued at one £1 million,’ says Tony. ‘We

‘The building is highly insulated and

shall be offering a three per cent dividend

airtight, with shared energy systems (a

on the share which we hope will then

pair of boilers, underfloor heating, solar

make us attractive to pension funds.

PVs on the roof) to keep things simple and costs down. DO M ORE

Support the work of AEOB here: aeobhousepeople.org.uk/invest

‘We are of course eager to collaborate with, or franchise our method to, groups

‘Space is at a premium, but it is important

in other towns. We aim to start a people’s

that the flats are not mean. So, for

DIY movement to provide genuinely

example flats on the first floor have high

affordable homes, which the government

ceilings over living rooms, and on the

is not doing.’

POSITIVE MOVEMENTS

F E AT U R E

cu l tivati n g co n crete

cultivating concrete

Many organisations are working hard on innovative plans to make the streets of Bristol ripe for urban harvest. Incredible Edible Bristol, part of a wider movement, is a fine example, with its ongoing work to grow free-to-pick, edible plants across the city, lettuce leaves from Castle Park? Don’t mind if we do. But a number of organisations have grouped together under one umbrella,

Bristol Food Producers, to change the

and entrepreneurs have joined forces to grow food within

way we perceive local food production.

Bristol’s city limits

The group’s members are made up of local independent growers, farmers, food processors and distributors who are working together to scale up local food production. Along with a number of initiatives from outside the city, a few surprising projects are taking place within the city limits, think you know about urban farming? Think again.

“The system is a way to

save water, adapt to climate ook a little closer at Bristol’s

change and reduce pesticide

meandering streets and you might

use, and is being powered by

spot something surprising. Out of

the city’s concrete corners a farming

renewable energy”

revolution is taking place. All over Bristol, livestock farmers, vegetable growers and urban horticulturists

Dermot O’Regan, Grow Bristol

are developing new ways of growing food

Grow Bristol is a small social enterprise

within the city limits.

with big plans for farming fish and greens in the city using the methods of vertical

Yes, fantastic local produce is farmed in

farming and aquaponics. Grow Bristol’s

the city’s surrounding countryside and

aims are to produce great food all-year-

thankfully, thousands of Bristolians make

round, in the heart of the community

the most of this bounty every day. But

where it is eaten, whilst farming in a

what’s happening within the city limits is

more sustainable way. We are part of a

different. It’s Bristol’s take on urban farming

movement that is changing the way we

and it isn’t half exciting.

feed our city, using innovative agricultural

POSITIVE MOVEMENTS

cu l tivati n g co n crete

methods and helping to re-connect

protein in the form of our tilapia fish. Tilapia

the people of Bristol to their food.

is a tasty, low-calorie and versatile fish for cooking and is slowly becoming widely

F E AT U R E

Above left: Grow Bristol’s aquaponicexperiment could save a lot of water. © Grow Bristol

We have been developing a way to use

available in the UK as a sustainable choice

Above right: Both fish and vegetables are

recycled shipping containers to create a

and an alternative to species like cod.

farmed together. © Grow Bristol

vertical growing system that incorporates both fish and plants. The system is known

The system is based on a symbiotic

as aquaponics, as it combines aquaculture

relationship in which the fish help provide

(raising water-living animals in tanks) with

the nutrients for the plants, while the plants

hydroponics (cultivating plants in water).

provide clean water back to the fish. The system is a way to save water, adapt to

From these systems we produce our ‘fish

climate change and reduce pesticide use,

and greens’ for local consumption; fresh

and is being powered by renewable energy.

and healthy greens like watercress, pea

It also provides a platform for education,

shoots, kale, radish leaf and micro-herbs,

engagement and work opportunities

together with a sustainable source of

around horticultural skills and the wider

ISSUE 4 - spring 2016

F E AT U R E

THE COMMUNIT Y FARM

“Instead of buying the vegetables,

food system, to help to reconnect city people with where their food comes from

members pay to support the growing

and reduce the food miles of what they eat.

and get a weekly share of the produce”

We have spent the last year transforming a disused industrial site near Temple Meads station into a productive urban farm and space for training and public engagement. We will very soon be supplying fresh produce directly to the public and through restaurants, cafes and retailers. Miriam Schoen, Sims Hill Shared Harvest Sims Hill was set up four years ago. We are currently growing organic vegetables for

I M A G ES Above: Plants grown in urban environments can thrive. © Grow Bristol Right: At Sims Hill, everyone is involved with the harvest. © Sims Hill Shared Harvest

POSITIVE MOVEMENTS

C U LT I VAT I N G C O N C R E T E

F E AT U R E

I M A G ES

90 members in Bristol. We are

Left: Members are involved

renting land, partly from the Avon Wildlife

every step of the way. © Sims

trust on the Feed Bristol site, which

Hill Shared Harvest

includes a large greenhouse. We also rent Below: Fresh local produce

two acres across the M32 next to Sims Hill.

is in abundance. © Sims Hill

There we have two large polytunnels and

Shared Harvest

grow the majority of our crops.

“Our main aim is to supply as many people in Bristol as we can with local, healthy, fresh vegetables”

Community supported agriculture is a model that started in the US. It is a member-led cooperative. Instead of buying the vegetables members pay to support the growing and get a weekly share of produce. We have several pick up points through Bristol where members collect their shares. Sims Hill Shared Harvest is member-owned and led, cooperatively run business. We are made up of veg share members, supporter members, workshare members and paid grower members. Within this structure, the day-to-day running of the business is handled by its board of directors, who are elected every year by all of the members

but also offer the opportunity for some

at the annual general meeting.

members to work for their weekly share.

D O MO R E

Other members support the cooperative in Our biggest aim and passion is to supply

other ways like running fundraising events

as many people in Bristol as we can with

or helping with the accounts.

local, healthy and fresh vegetables that they have played a part in producing. This

Although we, as an organisation, rent the

enables people to connect with the land,

land at Sims Hill, it is looked after by all of

the growing team and take an active role

us together and the harvest and risks are

and interest in how and where their food

shared between us.

is grown. We host members work days

ISSUE 4 - spring 2016

Follow the ongoing work of Grow Bristol here: growbristol.co.uk Discover how to get involved with Sims Hill here: simshill.co.uk

E v e n t F e a t ur e

A rt from e l s ew h ere

Art from elsewhere W o rd s

Kathleen Steeden

As the exhibition Art From Elsewhere opens in Bristol, Copyright considers the role art can play in broadening our global perspectives

‘I

tried very hard to cut the sky in half,’ proclaims Shilpa Gupta’s artwork There is No Border Here. Seen from a distance, the work is an anonymous

yellow flag drawn against a wall. As the viewer moves closer, it is revealed that the flag is actually a visual poem and, drawing nearer still, it becomes apparent that the lines themselves are composed of adhesive border tape, printed with the ironic declaration that ‘there is no border here’. The piece underlines the intangible nature of geopolitical boundaries and the absurdity of dividing the world along invisible lines. At a time when the control of those lines has precipitated a global crisis, the work stands as a strong example of the power of art to expose issues of injustice and prompt viewers to question the modern society we take for granted.

There is No Border Here is one of the works on display in Art From Elsewhere, which opened in Bristol on 22 April. The piece was purchased by Bristol Museum and Art Gallery through the Art Fund International programme which, since 2007, has awarded six museums and galleries across the UK over £4 million to enrich their collections through acquiring global

POSITIVE MOVEMENTS

Image: There is No Border Here, 2006 ÂŠ Shilpa Gupta. Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Yvon Lambert, Paris

E v e n t F e a t ur e

A rt from e l s ew h ere

“It is not art’s job to ‘tell’ anyone what

contemporary art. Art From Elsewhere, the resulting group exhibition, showcases

they should do or think but the experience

work by 39 artists from 22 countries, and

of it may well trigger feelings, thoughts

in the different realities of global change.

or reactions which consolidate or change

The show’s curator, David Elliott, speaks

other fields of perception.”

engage with art from outside of the US

provides visitors with the chance to share

about how important it is for galleries to and western Europe, and that such work is presented as contemporary art in its own right without being patronisingly cast as exotic, ethnic, or confined to a ‘folk’ context. ‘It’s contemporary, yes, but why do we have to say contemporary?’ asks Elliott. He emphasizes that this is not about unfairly prioritising some artists, but providing an equal platform: ‘If

I M A G ES Right: Crossing Surda (a record of going to and from work), 2002 (film still) © Emily Jacir’s. Courtesy of Anthony Reynolds Gallery, London

Far right: The 13th History of the Human Face (The Portal of H.), Airmail Painting No. 95, 1991 (detail) © Eugenio Dittborn. Courtesy of Alexander and Bonin, New York. Photo: Alison Bettles

POSITIVE MOVEMENTS

A rt from e l s ew h ere

E v e n t F e a t ur e

you privilege the artwork you can be so privileged that you’re not being equal any more. Well this really is equal.’ Common themes run through the work exhibited: conflict, political oppression, capitalism. But the pieces are diverse in media and focus, representing the concerns of individual artists working in very different ways. Jitash Kallat’s painting Sweatopia, for example, depicts workers on the streets of his native city, Mumbai, their heads composed of jumbled auto parts, road maps and human figures. Emily Jacir’s video installation Crossing

Surda (a record of going to and from work) documents her daily commute from Palestine through the Israeli checkpoint where she was threatened at gunpoint. And Brazilian Bank, an installation by Beninese artist Meschac Gaba, takes the form of a roadside stall selling obsolete coins and banknotes. A sense of place is central to many of the works presented in Art From Elsewhere, but as Shilpa Gupta explains, the perceptions invoked can be misleading. ‘Yes, a sense of place and the past is part of my work. However, associations like memory are always partial, fragmented and not always true,’ she says. ‘Consciously or unconsciously, we always belong in large, small, fragmented or temporary ways to many worlds.’ Art can be an agent for social and

Taken together, the works reinforce a

political change. ‘I think that all art, if it

sense of global community and shared

is any good, is at some level socially or

humanity. Faced with these realities, we

politically engaged but not in an obvious

may well ask ourselves, what do we mean

way, as it is complex, multi-layered and

by ‘elsewhere’? Is it really somewhere else?

often ambiguous,’ says Elliott. ‘It is not art’s job to ‘tell’ anyone what they should

Art From Elsewhere is a Hayward Touring

do or think but the experience of it may

Exhibition supported by the Art Fund. It

well trigger feelings, thoughts or reactions

takes place at Bristol Museum and Art

which consolidate or change other fields

Gallery and Arnolfini from 22 April to

of perception.’

17 July 2016.

ISSUE 4 - spring 2016

D O MO R E

Donate to Art Fund, the national fundraising charity for art, to support more projects like this: artfund.org

Events

M A Y - ju l y 2 0 1 6

Upcoming events

Bristol BIG Green Week

jun



19 jun

Want to promote your event? We’re currently on the lookout for upcoming events running from August to October. If you’d like to be featured, please send an email to editorial@copyrightmagazine.uk.

Stay updated

Get involved in eco-events accross the city during Big Green Week, an annual celebration of Bristol’s continuing advance towards a carbon-free future.

For the latest news and information about upcoming events, follow us on Twitter, @copyrightmag, or like our Facebook page,

Tickets: TBA Various locations biggreenweek.com

facebook.com/copyrightmagazine.

21 Climate Utopias and Dystopias

may

University lecturers Stephan Lewandowsky and Mike Page, alongside author Chris Goodal, discuss a world where climate change governs all our lives. Tickets: Free Watershed bit.ly/1o1DeaD

05 Make Sunday Special 2016 jun



04 sep

Enjoy art, music, theatre and some delicious local produce when Bristol’s old quarter gets pedestrianised, a welcome Sunday tradition returns. Tickets: free Various locations bit.ly/1UiBpEh

15 Bat Walks

june



aug

Explore Tyntesfield by torchlight as the warden takes you on a tour of the estate’s bat haunts. An amazing opportunity to see these shy mammals in the wild. Tickets: £8.00 (child) - £44.00 (family) Tyntesfield bit.ly/1pXdVYU

POSITIVE MOVEMENTS

M A Y - ju l y 2 0 1 6

09 Bristol Pride 2016 July

Events

Mayfest

may



22 may

Celebrating Bristol’s thriving LGBT community, Pride Day, taking place on the city’s harbourside is a culmination of a week of fun and eclectic events.

An exciting showcase of original contemporary theatre, Mayfest returns to Bristol. Browse the festival’s extensive programme for a performance to suit you.

Tickets: Donations Various locations bristolpride.co.uk

Tickets: Various prices Various locations mayfestbristol.co.uk

22 Ten Centuries of Records mar



july

Going back a staggering 1,000 years, the range of documents on offer at this fascinating exhibition tell Bristol’s long and varied history.



03 july

Salaam Shalom aims to encourage unity with a Muslim and Jewish Arts Festival showcasing work from local and national Muslim and Jewish Artists. Tickets: Free Grant Bradley Gallery salaamshalom.org.uk

21 Circadial

MAY

may

Tickets: Donations Bristol recors office bit.ly/1VuGWY0

18 Shared Spaces Festival

may

07 Community Farmer Day

This performance piece brings together the sounds of Bristol’s streets, from wildlife to nightlife, the whole piece is an experiment in the construction of music. Tickets: free The Wardrobe Theatre bit.ly/1pF2qpo

ISSUE 4 - spring 2016

Part of Bristol Food Connections festival, The Community Farm in Chew Magna is opening its gates to the public. Get your hands dirty on a day at the farm. Tickets: £3 (donation) The Community Farm, Chew Magna thecommunityfarm.co.uk

june



June

Festival of Nature Enjoy a wide range of nature-themed events across Bristol and Bath. The festival is organised by the Bristol Natural History Consortium. Tickets: TBA Various locations bit.ly/21DqT9O

06 Imagined Landscapes feb

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June

This fascinating exhibition explores the relationship between person and place. Artists use a range of mediums to re-imagine their environment. Tickets: free (student) - £6.95 (adult) Royal West of England Academy bit.ly/1Mxhp9g

Image: Volunteers support street sex workers at night from One25â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s van.

POSITIVE MOVEMENTS

B rea k i n g

free

F e a t ur e

breaking free w o rd s

Blanca Munoz

Copyright discovers how one Bristol charity has, for over two decades, been addressing the plight of the city’s street sex workers

ristol’s streets are famous for hosting some of the best graffiti artists in the world. But beneath this thin veil of urban chic, they

harbour extraordinary stories of the women who work on them. Many of these stories, however, would have remained unheard if not for the laudable work of One25. The St Paul’s-based charity has been reaching out to women trapped in a cycle of sex work and addiction for over 20 years. Last year, their team of 20 staff and close to 120 volunteers, helped 55 women in Bristol break free and begin new lives. ‘More than 150 women currently street sex work in Bristol’, says Amy Sutcliffe, Fundraising Manager for One25. ‘They are among the most vulnerable in society with 99 per cent of the women we treat, addicted to drugs or alcohol and around 80 per cent homeless. ‘Our mission is to provide the best for them because that’s what they deserve.’

F E AT U R E

B rea k i n g

free

“The biggest thing we do for

One25 are the only organisation in Bristol dedicated to helping women engaged in

women, initially, is to tell them

street sex work. Their services tackle all

that they are valued and important”

justice, healthcare and family issues.

areas of need, including housing, criminal Most of this support is delivered by their extensive team of volunteers who assist in running One25’s information dropin centre, fundraising activities and van outreach programme. ‘One of the things that the women really comment on, is the fact our volunteers

Image: Through training and support, many women are able to leave the streets behind.

POSITIVE MOVEMENTS

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F E AT U R E

are not getting paid to help them, this is

I M A G ES

something really powerful for them,’ says

Left: The charity’s van outreach programme goes directly women in need of support.

Amy. ‘That sense of love and care is hugely important to these women and we couldn’t

Below: One25 are determined to show Bristol’s street sex workers that they matter.

do what we do without our volunteers.’ One25 look for certain skills in their volunteers. They highlight the need for anyone involved to genuinely support their philosophy: to help street sex workers by meeting them where they are, free from judgment and willing to support them in whatever capacity is required. In return, volunteers gain new skills in supporting vulnerable adults, as well as training in mental health, public speaking and welfare and benefits, along with many other development opportunities. ‘One25 gives you the opportunity to be part of something really special in our city; part of something that makes a huge difference to the women who are most in need,’ Amy explains. ‘When you come and volunteer here you become part of the solution.’

“Our volunteers come from so many places, we have paramedics, gardeners, nurses, decorators, they are a multi-talented bunch’’

volunteers with everything they need,’ says Amy. ‘Our training programme is very comprehensive and covers all the different issues that the women are facing, so our volunteers know and understand these issues and are able to provide the best for the women.’ ‘The biggest thing we do for women,

From taking part in their van outreach

initially, is to tell them that they are

programme during the night to provide

valued and important,’ concludes Amy.

hot drinks, advice and health support to

‘They have suffered years of abuse and

the women, to bid writing, undertaking

carry a lot of trauma.

drop-in information sessions, social media and admin tasks, the volunteering roles

‘We step in and together, challenge that,

offered by One25 are wide-reaching. ‘We

telling them that they are brilliant and

feel that it is really important to equip our

holding out hope for a better future.’

ISSUE 4 - spring 2016

D O MO R E

You can register your interest by emailing iwanttovolunteer@one25.org.uk Or, by visiting thier website: one25.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer

S P ONSO R E D C ONTENT

Does your local cafe support your community? The Surplus Supper Club is an ethical catering company with a green twist. We use produce from the charity FareShare South West, who work with supermarket suppliers to help prevent perfectly fresh, in-date food from going into landfill. So if you are looking for an eco-friendly caterer for your wedding, event or lunch, we can feed anywhere from 10-600 guests and offer a range of hot and cold options, from finger buffets to 5 course fine dining meals. • Buffets • Weddings • Fine Dining

• 10 - 600 people • Ethical and Sustainable • Cater for all dietary requirements

All profits go directly back to FareShare South West plus we offer exciting volunteering opportunities in our kitchen, there are many way to support this amazing cause. To find out more or volunteer:

 surplussupperclub.org  07761 695989

 sscbooking@faresharesouthwest.org.uk

may - J u l y

VOL U NTEE R

Volunteer listings Computer training

Advocacy for Mind

Womankind helpline

Bristol, all year round

Help support older people in learning to use computers and technology and how to access all the benefits this can bringto their lives.

Become a mouthpiece for vulnerable people through Bristol Mind and help them get their views heard. An ability to communicate effectively is a must.

Support the work of charity Womankind and become a helpline volunteer. Listen and offer guidance to women affected by domestic abuse and other issues.

bit.ly/1rzjJcg

bit.ly/1BQT3Ht

bit.ly/1Kpmaor

Windmill Hill City Farm opportunities

Appropriate adult volunteer

Befriending opportunities

Bedminster, Bristol, all year round

Bristol, all year round

Help Windmill Hill City Farm continue to thrive by volunteering, there are many ways to get involved, visit the farm’s website for the latest news.

Provide guidance and support to young people aged 11 to 16 whilst they are being interviewed by the police for an alleged offence.

Help Silverlinks and support older people at times when decisions need to be made about housing repairs, adaptations or moving home.

bit.ly/1pFgLC7

bit.ly/1NSbLU9

bit.ly/23c8Taa

Restorative justice

Gardening Volunteers

Singing for the brain

Bristol, Avon & Somerset, all year round

Bristol, all year round

Could you facilitate restorative justice sessions between victims of crime and offenders? Visit their website to find out more about this important service.

Join a strong network of volunteers at The Golden Hill Community Garden in Horfield. The garden offers flexible opportunities for all who wish to contribute.

Help Alzheimer’s Society in a rewarding community engagement programme based around the power of song. Assist in running and facilitating events.

bit.ly/1Ly7RgF

http://bit.ly/1n7qwXY

bit.ly/1Jt5fBa

Hospital volunteer

Foodbank volunteer

Supporting the homeless

Taunton, all year round

Bristol, all year round

Help the Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton by becoming a volunteer on a number of projects, from meeting and greeting to hospital radio.

There are a number of ways to get involved. Sort donated food ready for distribution, work in a foodbank centre or help out with supermarket collection.

Volunteer for St Mungo’s and play an important role in supporting clients. Make a huge difference to the lives of the Bristol’s homeless.

bit.ly/1LQGjRE

bit.ly/1RQZqBT

bit.ly/1U9cFLr

ISSUE 4 - spring 2016

Printed using FSC paper & vegetable inks

WELL MADE MEDIA