33 minute read
MOVING FORWARD
There was no Cillian Murphy wandering around in scrubs but the sight of Bristol without its bustle felt eerily filmic. This image, ‘First Day of the Holidays’ by Bill Ward, has been put into Historic England’s ‘Picturing Lockdown’ archive
98 days later
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Bristol has adapted at an almost unimaginable rate these past months and brought about positive change. As tentative green shoots emerge across the city, we find out how its different sectors are responding
Poetic licence has been employed here, yes – by the time of publication it will have been well over 100 days since we found ourselves in in varying degrees of state-imposed solitary confinement, depending on who, if anyone, we were locked down with. But that doesn’t quite as snappily bring to mind the Boylesque post-apocalyptic street scenes that left us blinking in amazement whenever we caught sight of central Bristol minus its bustle. As the city very cautiously began to ease restrictions, a few key figures from different sectors offered thoughts on the shape of things going forward, from economic recovery work and the ‘green restart’ to community initatives and the positive takeaways.
Technology – on which we have leant so heavily
“The world after covid-19 will look very different, and the deep-tech companies in Bristol are well placed for the changes,” says local technology journalist Nick Flaherty. “Touch-screens will be replaced by touch-free systems, mostly powered by technology from Ultraleap – a combination of Ultrahaptics in Bristol and Magic Leap in the US.” A key new trend, these touch-free displays can be safely controlled in mid-air, with the first of these rolling out in cinemas as they re-open.
Companies are increasingly turning to cloud computing for their post-coronavirus infrastructure although, according to Nick, the technology is complex and the options are vast and confusing. “YellowDog has used its software tools to create an index that will be used by companies around the world to find their way through over 23,000 options, including the environmental impact of the data centres. This will help expanding digital companies cut their costs and reduce their carbon impact as part of the covid-19 recovery.”
The move to touch-free interfaces and cloud computing will also boost other Bristol companies, he says. “Tiny, low-cost chips
Touch-screens will be replaced by touch-free systems and displays that can be safely controlled in mid-air. The first are rolling out in cinemas as they re-open
Good gestures: wave a finger to select
developed by XMOS are used in all kinds of smart speakers for voice control, while GraphCore’s huge, powerful chips are being used for machine learning and artificial intelligence in data centres. At the same time, the latest millimetre wave technology from Blu Wireless technology is carrying high-speed video data from 8K cameras and linking up smart cities.
“It has also been vital to support children and families across Bristol during this pandemic. DigiLocal, which runs coding clubs around the region, has moved online as a result, but has been going further. Many families need laptops and broadband connections to benefit, and DigiLocal is refurbishing donated laptops to make sure everyone in Bristol benefits from the recovery.”
Community – which has been a lifeline
In June, One City partners agreed a new economic statement of intent to reimagine a fairer, healthier, more inclusive and sustainable city that builds on Bristol’s strengths and tackles deep-rooted inequalities, instead of simply returning to all of its old ways. “So many partners all working together towards a singular vision is like gold-dust in city planning terms and a strength Bristol has taken time and effort to cultivate,” said James Durie, chief executive of Bristol Chamber of Commerce, and co-chair of Bristol’s Economy Board. “More than ever this is needed to meet the challenges we face going forward. Cities around the world are now desperately trying to replicate or invent their own versions while Bristol has made a real head-start.”
James Durie, Marvin Rees, Thangam Debbonaire
A mayoral commission on domestic abuse, supporting survivors and prevention activities, is to be set up in response to skyrocketing calls to helplines (they rose by 350% during the first few weeks of lockdown). Four themed workshops are taking place this summer to inform its principles, with findings to be published in the autumn.
Bristol West MP Thangam Debbonaire believes in the resourcefulness of the city. “Every one of us has gone through the portal of coronavirus into a new way of living, whether we like it or not. We’re still working out what it means for us as individuals, families, businesses and as a city. We’re a creative, diverse city, with masses of imagination and we’ve shown each other just how much taking care of each other matters to our sense of who we are. We’ve learnt some practical lessons about how to go about our daily lives and got a renewed sense of who is a key worker, who has really helped to keep us going in a very tough time and who has struggled because their housing was cramped or lacked access to open space. As we come through the portal, we will take that all with us and build an even better Bristol.”
Environment – which cannot be forgotten
On his morning TV show, Jeremy Vine recently posited that we, the public, are unable to panic about more than one thing at a time, and suggested that while worrying about the climate emergency took precedence at the start of the year, it has been superceded by virus fears. Still, many in the city are making the most of the rethink that quarantine’s plummeting pollution levels prompted, illustrated by the e-scooter bids and pedestrianisation schemes that have been fast-tracked.
At plastic pollution campaign hub City to Sea, the vision is for all Bristol businesses offering food-to-go to be listed on the Refill App, promoting reuse over single-use, and to become the first UK city to ban the sale and distribution of plastic water bottles. “It can happen in 2020,” says CEO Rebecca Burgess. “Back in the autumn, City to Sea ran a three-month pilot in Bristol and Oxford where app users could find out where to fill up not just their reusable water bottle, but their coffee cup, lunchbox, groceries, cleaning products and toiletries. Nearly 70 independent cafes and businesses signed up, including: Neal’s Yard, Waitrose, Pret, Morrisons and Asda. The pilot estimates to have saved over 30,000 pieces of plastic entering the waste stream.”
Lots of Bristolians got in touch with Birdgirl, aka teen environmentalist Mya-Rose Craig, during lockdown. “Although it was really tough for many, it was also a time for listening and reflection,” she says. “Without the distractions of a busy life full of school and work, we wound down and allowed nature into our lives. People were talking about the loudness of the dawn chorus and the fearlessness of the birds in their garden. As we move out of lockdown we must remember the things that got better; the 50% improvement in
Bristolians got in touch with Birdgirl during lockdown to talk dawn chorus and the fearless birds in their garden
pollution for those in the inner city, the sight and sound of birds.”
Share the cycle lanes with a Voi E-Scooter
Transport – working towards a green shake-up
Bristol has got people talking nationally with plans to pedestrianise the Old City area by the end of the summer. “It has been a long-standing ambition,” said Cllr Kye Dudd, cabinet member for transport and energy. “The changes will offer significant long-term benefits for the people and businesses in the area.” The Bristol Street Space programme, one of the transport projects that has been accelerated, also includes the widening of pavements, the suspension of some parking bays and road closures to ensure people are able to socially distance. Others include prioritising walkers and cyclists across Bristol Bridge, while central government has announced £2bn for walking and cycling projects.
Meanwhile, e-scooters have been given the go-ahead as a way to capitalise on the moment of transport reassessment. The government has chivvied along pilot schemes as part of its ‘green restart’ designed to relieve pressure on public transport where capacity has been cut radically due to social distancing rules. With more than half of all car trips here between one and five kilometres, they’re very suitable for escooters, and more than 50 regional authorities are working to put tenders in place to select operators but they must start the pilots before the end of August. “Cities urgently need to give people more transport options as traffic rapidly returns to UK streets,” said Fredrik Hjelm, chief executive of Voi Scooters. “We have demonstrated across Europe that we can help replace short car journeys with e-scooter trips and hope this will help start a revolution in micro-mobility of all types.”
While e-scooters are shooting up the transport barometer, it is, of course, a less hopeful picture for the region’s aerospace industry at the moment, with the news of Airbus job cuts deemed “very disappointing news for the hard-working and talented team at Filton” by regional mayor Tim Bowles. The West of England Combined Authority is leading a multi-agency rapid redundancy response involving government departments including DWP, employers, education and training providers and unions to put together a package of options to help affected staff secure new roles or develop new skills.
Conversations have also begun with Talent Retention Solutions to develop a business-to-business platform to help workers find alternative employment and retraining opportunities.
“This sits alongside WECA’s strategic investment in the aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector, including the Digital Engineering Technology and Innovation programme – designed to help the sector move into a digitalised and low carbon future,” added Tim, who is also leading a bid for the South West to run a Made Smarter programme to support the supply chain’s resilience and adaptation.
In the 46 years that James Freeman has worked in the bus industry, he never thought he would see the day that he had to tell customers not to travel by bus. “We had to respond at very short notice to the massive drop in passenger numbers, down (in just three weeks) to just 8% of our pre-covid patronage,” says the First West of England MD. “Almost overnight we established a core service to ensure bus travel was there for key workers and transformed our entire fleet to make them social-distancing-friendly – the normal 75 seat double-decker has been reduced to just 20 spaces. The repeated re-writing of schedules and timetables has been a huge undertaking – we have had seven fullscale network changes in just over three months: usually it takes three months to put one major change into effect!”
James is seeing signs from the government that capacity will soon be increased back to 50% of normal passenger numbers, which will be a great improvement for routes that can only use single-deck buses.
“It’s hard to imagine that public transport will return to how it was pre-covid for both passengers and operators. The question is – what will the future look like? In the last few weeks we have introduced state-of-the-art technology that did not exist for bus travel in the UK before the outbreak. By using the First Bus mobile app, passengers can now not only track the location of the next bus on a map but also see the number of seats and wheelchair spaces available.”
In Bath, they are getting ready to pioneer the UK’s first trial of an Uber-style booking system. For the first time on a local bus, you’ll be able to book a place on a scheduled service, so you’re sure to get on. “It is one of the ways we are looking to give more autonomy to the customer and make bus travel one of the smartest ways to move around. As we approach the introduction of Clean Air Zones in Bristol and Bath, our buses need to be front and centre of mobility in the region, if we are to achieve these sustainable transport goals.”
James Freeman and First West of England are rolling out tech enabling passengers to see the bus seats and wheelchair spaces available
Team Babbasa are trying to prevent inequality gaps widening
Charities – performing virtual heroics
Many of Bristol’s organisations have adapted brilliantly to their new circumstances, with the likes of Bristol Stroke launching virtual Zoom cafes that have gone down well with those who rely on its services, and social enterprises such as Babbasa in St Paul’s –which supports young people with their professional aspirations – having started campaigns to help with the coronavirus impact. “Before the pandemic, young people from ethnic minority backgrounds were known to be 47% more likely to be on zero-hour contracts,” says founder and social entrepreneur Poku Osei. “Since, many have lost their jobs and are experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety and loss of purpose. The pandemic has also hit the voluntary sector hard, especially not-forprofit enterprises like Babbasa who do not receive core funding.”
Babbasa launched the #BeyondCovid appeal to help retain frontline caseworkers now needed more than ever. “Our team have been on the phone and using video chat to make sure that local young people are not left behind and to prevent the inequality gaps from getting any worse. It is vital to ensure that we have an open line of communication to assist these young people and their families, who rely on us for hope in these troubled times.”
Bristol Ageing Better, working on reducing loneliness experienced by older people in the city, has been involved in setting up the Support Hub for Older People. “A collaboration of more than 30 organisations
Bristol Ageing Better quickly responded to continue supporting those who need them across Bristol, providing practical, social and emotional support, it’s helped us reach more people than previously,” they told us. “The social element comes through telephone and online activities which have been a huge success, allowing people to stay connected while staying safe. For us, a post-lockdown Bristol will see the continuation of the ‘virtual’ activities we run to ensure that people who can’t leave their home are still included as a member of the community.”
The arts – which need us now more than ever
“From an events point of view, I think we’re going to see people get innovative,” says BBC Radio Bristol’s Chris Arnold. “Artistic minds will come together to work around the social distancing measures still in place. It’s going to be some time before we see a packed crowd of people watching an indie band in a tiny music venue, but we’ll see different spaces being utilised. As we gradually get back to normality (whenever that will be) we will appreciate more than ever the importance of large social gatherings. People with a shared passion, coming together for an evening or a weekend, will be welcomed with more than open arms.” On Thekla’s Isolation Discs podcast, which Chris has hosted to help the club keep in touch with its gig goers, DJ and producer Mr Scruff suggested reducing capacities in venues could be a good thing. “At my night in Manchester, the capacity of the club was 500,” he said. “When we had 500 in, the older regulars were moaning, so I cut the capacity by 50 and there was room for everybody to move. If you’re putting too many people in a venue, you’re actually creating the opportunity for disharmony.”
In April, Nelson Street music hub Rough Trade Bristol was awarded a National Lottery project grant to enable it to continue supporting grassroots live music but many other venues are seriously struggling to stay afloat. “The industry is on its knees,” said Rough Trade’s Adrian Dutt. “Without specific sector support we are in danger of losing the majority of the country’s grassroots venues, which would have a catastrophic effect on the music world. In Bristol we are blessed with a vibrant selection of DIY promoters and bands, who fill the venues with incredible music and passionately programme a consistent calendar of forward-thinking culture. We also have amazing venues with rich histories of hosting artists who go on to international acclaim. It’s important now that, as a city, we pull together to support the
Social entrepreneur Poku Osei has launched a campaign to help young people who have lost their jobs
Chris Arnold (left) sees the events industry getting innovative and utilising new space
Our DIY promoters passionately programme a consistent calendar of forward-thinking culture. The collaborations already happening set our city out as a diverse hub for arts and culture
collectives and venues who are fighting for their survival.”
Music Venue Trust has facilitated crowdfunding at venue level, while promoters are cautiously firming up shows for next spring. “By buying tickets and supporting the fundraising we can ensure the survival of our internationally recognised music scene. The rest of 2020 is going to be a real slog, but it’s exciting to see collaborations already happening, which sets our city out as a diverse hub for arts and culture.”
Thinking about cinema with social distancing is a “real headscratcher” for Watershed curator Mark Cosgrove. “The very nature of cinema is the communal aspect. Before lockdown we were having one of our best years on record: admissions were fantastic, thanks in no small part to the success of films like Parasite and South West-made film Bait. One of the last events we had was an onstage Q&A with Bristol-based filmmaker Philippa Lowthorpe with her new film Misbehaviour. It’s a challenge to see us getting back to those levels of business or holding these events any time soon – restarting will be a slow process. However, we all recognise that the new reality means that we all have to be extra cautious. Watershed is working through how to make the venue feel welcoming and safe; yes cinemas will have reduced capacity but maybe a yellow brick road can lead you in and out! In terms of the programme itself that’s a work in progress – the great thing about Bristol audiences is they are wide-ranging in their tastes so the process of choosing what to show from the whole spectrum of what is available is a nice problem to have!”
‘Easing’ seems an incongruous description for the current state of the pandemic to writer, historian and curator Dr Edson Burton. “Potentially it’s as about as sensitive as performing a lap of victory in the face of a grieving family member. While shops and bars are emerging to a new normal the arts situation looks increasingly dire, but the precipice has given us time to reflect. How can organisations collaborate more effectively? What are the revenue streams that could bring in an income if venues are unable to trade for this protracted period? How do we take account of a new spirit of inclusivity in the face of the inequalities exposed by covid-19 and Black Lives Matter?
“I am not fond of Second World War analogies but perhaps what galvanised the NHS – ‘a land fit for heroes’ – might inspire a postcovid vision for the arts. Those who bore the brunt of the pandemic are, despite decades of effort, among the least likely to visit art institutions. The problems – cost, class, taste – are not new, nor are the solutions, but we must re-energise our efforts, sincerely embrace a changing of the guard and genuine sector diversification at decisionmaking level to effect dramatic change. We could then see city-wide interdisciplinary programmes delivered by an unheralded range of practitioners. Art institutions cannot do this alone, we need our corporate sector to grasp the radical possibilities of art – health, economics, community cohesion – and invest accordingly. To realise this vision culture cannot continue to be regarded as ephemera.”
Food – rallying round and resiliently diversifying
“Bristol’s hospitality sector has been particularly hard-hit because of the unique amount of small independent businesses, fabulous one-offs and local chains that make up our food network,” says TV producer and food writer Andy Clarke. “Many thought that they would never return but their strength, astounding creativity and resilience has shone through. Businesses have been diversifying, the people running them have changed the way they live their lives and how they work, and most importantly we’ve been supporting each other. Restaurants have become delis, dispensaries and take-aways and a city-wide charity, Bristol Food Union has been set up by people in the hospitality sector that care about others. All of this is reason to celebrate among the commiserations. During theatre studies in my teens, I read a theorist who was of the opinion that only the dead are beyond change and in the last few months I’ve seen this illustrated like never before. Keep going Bristol. We’ve got each other.”
“I’ve seen many local farmers lose their restaurant customers overnight but switch to direct sales to customers, and initiatives such as the Bristol Food Union have helped collate this information,” says Bristol Food Producers coordinator Steph Wetherell. “There have been inspiring creative solutions to make good food available to all – local market garden Edible Futures has started producing ‘solidarity veg boxes’ allowing those with the means to sponsor boxes of fresh farm produce to those who are food insecure. I really hope people continue supporting local producers long-term after lockdown is lifted.”
“It will take a little while to get used to frequenting pubs and restaurants again in a somewhat unusual environment, but something Bristolians do particularly well is make the most of a difficult situation and support local businesses,” says baker and TV presenter Briony May Williams.
Retail – green shoots and social responsibility
“People thrive off social interaction and direct human experience and that’s where Bristol city centre, its retailers and hospitality businesses have a huge amount to offer,” says Keith Rundle, operations director at Bristol City Centre BID. “Already held up nationally as a hotbed of independents, we have seen a surge in love and loyalty to Bristol-born-and-bred business that looks set to continue. Equally excitingly, there’s been a shift in priorities for many so we are seeing sustainability, social responsibility and the quality of the shopping experience grow in importance.” Wapping Wharf has also welcomed people back to its dockside quarter with one-way systems in place and plans for an outdoor seating area for afternoons and evenings at the bottom of Gaol Ferry Steps between Wild Beer and CARGO 1, with pedestrians and cyclists to be redirected around the back of CARGO 1.
Professional services – thinking agile and inclusive
“The legal profession remains steeped in tradition,” says Salma Maqsood of BAME Lawyers Bristol, “although changes are being made to make it more inclusive and covid-19 certainly accelerated agile working, with lawyers adapting to video conferencing to remain connected with clients and courts. There was a concern when lockdown started that diversity and inclusion initiatives would be negatively impacted, however the BLM movement thrust equality to the forefront. The Law Society issued a clear statement committing to continue to promote diversity in the profession and stand against injustice. Bristol has been a key player with the much-debated removal of the Colston statue and it is heartening to see its people come together to promote equality.”
“Covid-19 has highlighted vulnerabilities among different groups at a time when the Black Lives Matter movement has surfaced strongly,” agrees Julian Hemming, partner at Osborne Clarke and co-chair of the firm’s international employment group. “Employers are going to have to pay more attention to the diversity and inclusion agenda, and employees will expect it.” He says covid-19 has altered the balance between home and office. “It’s clear that many workers who have worked from home extensively for the first time would like, in future, to have more of a balance between home and office working,” he says. “Employers are going to have to be flexible, enabling employees to work in an agile way, and consider health and wellbeing much more in the way they run their business. The best have taken the opportunity to communicate openly and honestly, and there will be pressure to maintain good employee relations. We have seen the establishment of more employee discussion forums through which employers can channel changes to the business and employee terms and conditions, and I expect these lines of communication will continue.”
Lee Sweeting, associate director at Smith & Williamson Financial Services, says his clients fall broadly into two camps as the economy eases out of lockdown. “Being at home has given people a lot of time to think about their circumstances in terms of financial forward Salma Maqsood says law firms are committing to inclusivity and adapting to video conferencing to keep in touch with the courts
planning. There are those consolidating, being cautious and waiting to see what happens, and those who may see a rocky road ahead but nonetheless take a more opportunistic viewpoint, believing there may be benefits in consolidating their wealth now.”
Meanwhile, Bristol’s ELM Legal Services has launched the UK’s first ‘webcam wills’. “With so many people, including older generations, now being comfortable using the likes of Zoom and Skype, I believe that the way wills are drawn up and witnessed will evolve rapidly,” says CEO Jim Emsley. “The pandemic really reinforced in people’s minds that we are all here for a limited period of time, and that we need to prepare for the end of life if we want to look after our nearest and dearest.” ELM is also partnering with cryptocurrency protection and insurance company Coincover to provide the first ‘crypto wills’ webcam service for people who want to leave financial assets to loved ones in the form of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Property and housing – back in action
“The home search portals suggested huge surges in online enquiries in June, and this translated to real time viewings,” says Rupert Oliver, MD at Rupert Oliver Property Agents. “Houses for sale pre-covid were snapped up, and new properties listed after 1 June often went to best bids. We saw a family home in Southville (circa £540k) attract 22 viewings in just two days (six best bids followed) and a townhouse in Clifton agree a sale within 24 hours, at a sniff less than £2m.
“That said there were, and are, casualties. Homes with no, or limited, access to outside space have suffered, and many first-time buyers have had their hopes dashed as mortgage companies pull products to those with a lower (circa 15% or less) deposit. But a family house or a good flat is still a highly sought-after commodity, as buyers pent up for months release themselves onto a market starved of supply.
What has he learnt? “As with the recession a decade ago, demand for homeownership is a fickle market to predict. For the first time in generations we haven’t needed to love our homes as much as we have over this last quarter. As an agent, I had my belief that this is a ‘people business’ further reinforced. While virtual viewings and tours provided a handy strapline for a market on lockdown, they don’t provide a longterm solution to buying an owner-occupied property. And I, for one, am heartily glad that, the odd mask and glove aside, I get to see my
clients again and meet my buyers face to face.”
Bristol City Council has also submitted plans to build more than 327 new affordable homes, with Lockleaze set for the biggest transformation with over 260 planned for Bonnington Walk, Muller Road and Branwhite Close. “We need to make sure we are building housing people can afford, to make sure that those who have been financially affected by the pandemic are not further left behind,” said Marvin Rees. Other sites submitted for council and shared ownership properties include the former Brentry Elderly Persons Home, Knole Lane, St Peters House, Horfield and Lawrence Weston.
Healthcare – to which we are forever indebted
“The re-introduction of routine services across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire gives us a real opportunity to make improvements and provide more joined-up care for people,” says Julia Ross, chief executive of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group. “Significant changes have been made, with video consultations available in all GP practices in our area, a 24/7 mental health telephone support line established, and virtual outpatient appointments in place. We know from our engagement with local people that two-thirds are now comfortable with the idea of a video consultation with a healthcare professional. We have also had positive feedback from those who have experienced remote consultations, although we know they won’t be ideal for everyone. There is a lot more to do, and one of the most important things is that we continue
From September, the careers hub will support 95 schools and colleges and focus more on engaging young people in low carbon and ‘green’ careers
to listen to people’s experiences and ensure that developments are informed every step by the views of people using services, their carers and families.”
Dr Dan Magnus, paediatric emergency medicine clinical lead at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, tells us his visions of the future and what the city will feel like after the lockdown are in a state of flux. “I see masks all around me in the hospital now. I see bright eyes but hidden faces; children looking curious about this brave new world. I see a hospital and its brilliant staff doing what they can to prepare for our first pandemic winter. I see pubs and hairdressers opening but many children still not in school and a quiet concern about what might happen in the months to come. The certain uncertainty for all of us is unnerving but looking to the future, there is still a certainty that remains in our Bristol hospitals, in our NHS: we will be here when people need us, with dedication, commitment, love and care.”
At Bedminster Pharmacy, Ade Williams appeals for togetherness. “I pray we can emerge from this a more generous and loving society,” he says. “Bristol has shown the world a passion for justice and building a community that cares for all. We want to be a city full of compassion and hope. Let the memory of what we have come through together be the legacy of those we have lost and all the collective sacrifices, and drive us to remove barriers that steal dignity and equity. To say; this is us, our arms locked together, Bristol united.”
Sport – stepping up for the community
Bristol Sport has massively mucked in for the community
While Bristol’s NHS recently received an healthy 72nd birthday gift of £750,000 from city-centre hospitals charity Above & Beyond, fitness folk and those in other parts of the world of wellbeing have also been in the business of kind gestures. Some gyms, such as Torque Training – in the former Bristol General Hospital on Bathurst Basin – found new ways to serve their clients and community while embracing the lockdown. Founded by Bears team manager Nick Fenton-Wells and his brother Ant in 2018, Torque began to deliver virtual sessions and wellness seminars and launched a fundraiser in support of NHS frontline workers. Now it’s welcoming members back for outdoor sessions in small groups, as well as one-onone training.
“Safety was the most important thing, but we understand just how big a part mental health has to play too, so we wanted to help people stay focused, healthy and upbeat,” said Nick, who also represented Bristol Bears during his playing career. “We’ve been working
Team Torque
relentlessly with a full renovation of the indoor gym and redesign of our offering to ensure we meet the strictest health regulations. It’s also proved the perfect time to critically reflect on where we are and assemble a strategic team to take the business forward.
“What’s been great is the way the local business community have rallied around. We’ve had amazing support from Paco Tapas and Casamia in letting us use the outdoor space. We understand the need to adapt because the fitness sector is going to look very different going forward, certainly in the short term. Obviously, alongside a full-time role with Bristol Bears and planning to restart the season, it’s a busy time – but Torque are looking at this as an opportunity to show what we can do and the foundations are in place for us to be successful.”
With fixtures on hold, the Bristol Sport group also shapeshifted to support those in need of a feed – by the end of June, more than 30,000 meals had been delivered to the local community as part of a partnership between Ashton Gate, FareShare South West and team foundations. A relief fund was established to spearhead the fundraising with key donations from the Masonic Charitable Foundation and Bristol-based Sanderson Solutions Group enabling the programme to expand. “Our stadium sits in the heart of the community and the need for help was immediately apparent, as it already exists during normal school holidays but with the unexpected school closures it has grown even more rapidly,” said Bristol Sport chairman Jon Lansdown. “Bringing together our sporting charities alongside the facilities (both storage and kitchens) at Ashton Gate, we worked fast to grow an efficient operation ensuring thousands of meals could get to those who need them. We’ve gone from 300 meals per week to more than 4,250. Working with schools, teachers, coaches, Avon and Somerset Police and the council, it’s been possible because of the knowledge our charities have of their community.”
Education – on a learning curve
On National Employability Day in June, regional mayor Tim Bowles announced that, from September, every secondary school and college across the West of England will be part of the West of England Careers Hub which works with schools to inspire young people and prepare them for the world of work.
Young people who have regular, meaningful contact with employers while at school are more likely to find employment or pursue further education, according to research, and from the autumn the hub –currently working remotely – will support 95 schools and colleges. These will include special educational needs schools and pupil referral units, with the focus on engaging young people in low carbon and ‘green’ careers, helping ensure the West of England has access to the skilled workforce it needs to tackle the climate emergency.
“This partnership is a critical point of difference from the past and means we are better positioned to weather the storm and help our next generation navigate the choppy waters ahead,” said John Yarham, interim CEO of The Careers & Enterprise Company.
There is no denying that universities will be different, says Professor Steve West, UWE Bristol vice-chancellor. “However, students will continue to benefit from excellent teaching, support and life-enhancing experiences – all those aspects of university life will remain unchanged.
“At UWE, degree courses will be more varied than ever with a mixture of online and face-to-face teaching. This will provide students with greater flexibility and more opportunities to access resources online, anywhere and anytime, while still benefiting from in-person teaching and learning with their peers in smaller groups and settings.
“Students have shown incredible creativity, flexibility and resilience; developing vital skills and gaining valuable life experiences which will help them to thrive in the workplace and realise their aspirations. From completing work in makeshift home studios and adapting to remote learning, to volunteering to tackle the spread of coronavirus and supporting the NHS, they continue to make UWE Bristol proud.”
The collective ingenuity at University of Bristol, meanwhile, has ensured its students will continue to enjoy an inspiring, research-rich and world-class educational experience throughout the next academic year – no matter what public health guidance is in place – according to vice-chancellor and president Professor Hugh Brady. “While covid-19 has brought unprecedented challenges, I’m tremendously proud of all the teaching and support staff. And we can all be proud of the Bristol researchers working at the frontline in the global effort to understand covid-19 and develop potential vaccines and anti-viral treatments. Their work, with the support of clinical trial volunteers across the city, could save hundreds of thousands of lives around the world.
“As Bristol emerges from the lockdown period, the university will continue playing its full civic role and contributing to what I hope will be the very quick post-covid recovery of our city.”
Science has, indeed, never been more talked about or more relevant in understanding the pandemic, and how we connect with our neighbours, friends and family, says Donna Speed, chief executive at We The Curious. “We’ll be opening a brand-new exhibition space; within that, you’ll see areas which specifically relate to big, relevant ideas, such as illness and happiness. We’re adapting how we work to create a safe welcoming space for all.
“We The Curious thrives on connection and collective curiosity, and we want to be there to represent the voices of our city; to create a space accessible to a rich diversity of people, where people are truly at the heart of science and can continue to explore the experience we’re all working through now.” ■
The future waiting to be discovered at We The Curious. Image: Simon Galloway
The Bristol Magazine would like to thank everyone included for their time and comments in making this feature happen. We look forward to seeing how our communities and the city’s governers develop their ideas over the coming weeks and months. For regular updates and more commentary please keep an eye on our website: thebristolmag.co.uk
