CITYIST

THE CITYist My BRISTOL

Meet social beautician and founder of The Beauty of Caring, Natacha Sullivan

BRISTOL OLD VIC ANNOUNCES NEW FREELANCE BUDGET

Bristol Old Vic’s Ferment programme is set to triple its commissioning budget for new work as part of a revamped commitment to freelance and independent artists across the South West, expanding strands of support and collaboration for artists and companies. After two years of conversations with artists across the region, the revamped Ferment model, marking its tenth anniversary, has responded to the urgent and evolving needs of the industry’s freelance and independent creative sector. Ben Atterbury, Bristol Old Vic’s New Work Producer explains: “Put simply, we believe that the best way to support artists and companies is to trust their ideas, guide their development, back their ambition and commit to presenting their work. We’re enormously grateful to the John Ellerman Foundation, whose support over the next three years contributes to the delivery of the biggest commissions for artists and companies that we have ever awarded. We’re also indebted to other organisations who have broken ground and tested their own models, blazing a trail in supporting new work that inspires us to go further and deeper than we have before.”

• bristololdvic.org.uk

I’m originally from Paris but my connection to

Bristol is through my English husband, who has lived here and been a part of the city’s music scene for many years. What makes Bristol unique for me is its very distinctive art, music and food scene, and the beautiful countryside close by. I find people here are very friendly and interested in what I do so the longer I stay, the more it feels like my city.

The Beauty of Caring is the name of my project

thatwas set up with the purpose of bringing ‘social beauty’ to the local community. A social beautician is a trained professional who works with vulnerable, physically and/or mentally ill people in hospitals, prisons, charities and care homes. We offer beauty treatments such as manicures, massages and facials, but, most importantly, we bring empathy to our work and provide people with an opportunity to speak about their lives. In my country, a social beautician is a recognised profession, but in the UK it’s relatively unknown. The motivation to launch The Beauty of Caring started while I was applying for jobs. It became clear that all the qualifications I had while working as a social beautician in France weren’t valued here. It made me realise that I either had to give up the job I loved, or I had to work hard to bring it to the UK via the city I love –Bristol.

Caring about others is the key point of my job.

Kindness and a non-judgmental perception are so important when the world feels as though it is falling apart. A beauty treatment is an incredible way to connect with others –it’s an amazing way of communication like dance or music therapy. When I do the treatments, even in France with various vulnerable people, I always see the positive impact it has on them. Accepting others the way that they are and understanding who they are and what they have is so important –it encourages me to do my best when I sit down with them. What I love about being a social beautician is that you see real life and see the world through other perspectives.

As ‘social beauty’ is an unknown concept in the

UK, I work on a voluntary basis. Volunteering with Bristol Outreach Services for the Homeless (BOSH: @boshoutreach) and Eddie’s Street Cuts (@eddiestreetscuts). I meet them in St James’s Park one Sunday per month. I do 1-1 sessions where I cut people’s nails and do a hand or a head massage –they choose what is best for them. These treatments encourage people to talk to me about anything and everything. I check in with them and find how they are and how their month has been. Once we have an inside space, I am looking forward to creating a therapeutic hygiene program and launching workshops with our street friends. I also volunteer with One25 (@one25_charity), who reach out to some of Bristol’s most marginalised women. For them it’s an occasion to rest and relax. Many regain selfesteem and learn new things –I am learning a lot from them too. There is mutual respect surrounded with kindness.

If I could give a shout-out to anyone this month, it

would be Julie Dempster at BOSH and Eddie Ilic who gave me a chance to be part of their team. Julie is such an incredible woman who’s doing so much for our street friends. Eddie dedicates his time to doing haircuts for various homeless charities in Bristol and Bath.

Japan has a special place in my heart and I love to

eat at Izakaya in the city centre –I love their Takoyaki. The Watershed is one of my favourite places to go for a drink. I also love to go to the Arnolfini to see an exhibition and spend time at their incredible library. They have a cool range of Japanese design books –don’t forget to stop at their café bar too!

If I could have dinner with anyone from any era, I

would love to spend time with all my family members who are not here anymore. Having them would be such a special and beautiful moment, especially with my Spanish grandparents, I would love to tell them about my English life.

My philosophy in life is: if you have an idea, a

project, anything that makes you happy, do everything you can to make it real –persevere and always believe on yoursef.

• Follow Natacha Sullivan on Instagram and Facebook at: @thebeautyofcaring_uk and keep up to date with The Beauty of Caring at: thebeautyofcaring.wixsite.com

BOTTLE YARD STUDIOS’ SECOND SITE SET TO OPEN

Bottle Yard Studios, which sit at the heart of Bristol’s thriving TV and film industry have announced the name of their brand new second site, which opens this Autumn.

TBY2 is The Bottle Yard Studios’ state-of-the-art second facility, offering three premium quality sound stages, now available for advance booking from September 2022 onwards.

Less than half a mile from the main Bottle Yard site, TBY2’s fully sound insulated and acoustically treated stages offer 20,000, 16,500 and 7,000 sq ft of clear span studio space.

More than 40,000 sq ft of ancillary space is also available, including serviced production offices, prop stores, construction workshops, costume/ makeup and break out areas. All supported with up to 10GB secure connectivity and 24/7 site security.

Sustainability has been placed firmly at the heart of TBY2’s development, from concept to delivery. The studio has been designed and built with premium insulation in mind and boasts a sophisticated building management system that optimises energy conservation at all times.

• thebottleyard.com

RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW WINNER ARRIVES AT HARTCLIFFE CITY FARM

Bristol charity Mothers for Mothers won a Silver Medal plus a People’s Choice Award at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, for its specially designed garden created to raise awareness about maternal mental illness.

Plants from the garden have now been relocated to Hartcliffe City Farm, allowing members of the local community to experience the garden for themselves. This includes two trees that will form part of The Queen’s Green Canopy – a special project inviting people around the UK to plant a tree for the Jubilee. The trees were planted by Bristol Lord-Lieutenant, Peaches Golding OBE.

First established in 1981, Mothers for Mothers supports women and families affected by maternal mental illness and emotional wellbeing needs across Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. The charity provides a range of services including a helpline, group trips, one-to-one support and home visits, and has seen demand for its services double since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden was titled ‘This too shall pass’, with design and planting to echo the road to recovery for mothers experiencing mental health challenges. Created by designer Pollyanna Wilkinson, the garden was inspired by the theme of hope and reassurance.

As well as raising awareness around maternal mental illness, the project is aimed at drawing attention to the need for improved funding to support maternal mental health.

COMBATTING PLASTIC POLLUTION

To support and protect the Cornish coastline, volunteers from Original Cottages and Beach Guardian have launched the first of a series of beach cleans due to take place this year. From plastic bottles to abandoned buckets and spades, a team of over 20 participated in the first beach clean session. In collaboration with the Beach Guardian, a Cornish father and daughter duo who drive action through organised community beach cleans, the ambition of the scheme is to ensure Cornish wildlife and ecosystems are protected for residents and holidaymakers alike. The beach clean is also recognised as part of the Million Mile Beach Clean, a scheme operated by Surfers Against Sewage. Original Cottages have previously worked with the marine conservation charity, who are currently the biggest clean volunteering service in the UK, to clean up litter on beaches across the UK. The launch of the initiative coincides with the 30th anniversary of Original Cottages, the national holiday let company with the local touch. To mark the milestone, the team in Cornwall are dedicating 30 hours to local community projects, including this series of beach cleans.

• For more information about Original Cottages visit: originalcottages.co.uk. If you are interested in staying in a property with Original Cottages, please visit the website or call 03332 020 899. For more information about Beach Guardian and to see what they’re doing to support the local community visit: beachguardian.org For more information on the Million Mile Beach Clean and Surfers Against Sewage visit: sas.org.uk

About Plastic Free July: Plastic Free July is an annual global movement that encourages people to reduce their plastic consumption for the month. What started from humble beginnings in 2011 has since attracted the attention of millions around the world. By inspiring people to consider their everyday plastic usage and make small lifestyle changes, the campaign shows how we can help to reduce the impact of plastic on our planet. Plastic doesn’t biodegrade. Five trillion pieces of plastic are already floating in our oceans, and scientists have estimated it to outnumber fish by the year 2050. Supermarkets in the UK have pledged to go plastic-free by the end of 2023, with some committing to making sure all ownlabel packaging is recycled, reusable or home compostable by this date. So, for the month of July (at least), why not get out your reusable bags, re-fill your bottles and recycle as much as possible.

• For more information about the campaign, visit: plasticfreejuly.org