BRISTOL’S FORGOTTEN COMMUNITY BEHIND CABOT CIRCUS IS PREPARING FOR CHANGE

Nestled between Easton and Cabot Circus, the community of St. Jude’s has existed for some time, though it can often be overlooked. The people who live here face a number of challenges, including poor housing conditions and a rise in food prices. These issues have taken their toll on the aging public housing within this area.

While social housing residents at St Matthias House have an optimal view of Cabot Circus and the increasing number of new housing developments in the area, the simple task of doing laundry means taking the laundry to a separate block and then lugging the clothes up a flight of stairs because the building has no elevator. And like many high-rise dwellers, they only have an hour a week to enjoy the privilege of a washing machine.

Residents say problems with damp, mold and overcrowding are not uncommon, and while complaints aren’t always addressed, sometimes they go unreported. Many of the women on the St. Jude’s properties come from refugee backgrounds and are too proud to ask for help or just don’t know how, explains Fadumo Galib, a worker at a local CIC. Bristol Horn Youth Concern (BHYC), which operates the only welcoming women-only space in Bristol.

Like most small grassroots organizations, BHYC is short of funding and eventually has to rent buildings for its youth work in Lawrence Hill, Easton and St. Pauls. The women’s welcome room at St. Jude’s is no different – they have to borrow a room from the Quakers, who have a building in the area.

Fadumo ran the free community meal project, which comes with food packages for the participating women. What struck her most was how little the neighbors knew about each other before they started regular meetings.

“Some of these people are neighbors and they’ve never had a conversation with each other, which is one of the most fascinating things I’ve seen. There’s a couple of them four doors apart, some of them on top of each other and they’ve never spoken,” explained Fadumo, who said the sessions are just as important for tackling social isolation as for supporting the community people rising bills.

The staff and volunteers cook a free community meal every Friday morning in the welcoming women-only space.

BHYC receives funding from the Merchant Venturers for 30 grocery packages per week, but has to offer this on a first-come, first-served basis as they regularly turn up more than 30 people per week and they may soon run out because of funding is due to come to an end.

Residents of St Mattias House get a panoramic view of a newer student residence that has been built in the area. (Image: Yvonne Deeney)

St Matthias House does not have a lift and residents currently have to take their laundry to an adjacent block to have their clothes washed. Typically, those in public housing are allotted one hour per week to do laundry.