Our Impact

Our Peace Feast events are at the heart of what we do at Bridges, giving people from different backgrounds the opportunity to meet and build friendships over a meal. The events help to increase people’s awareness of the diverse communities in the city, their understanding of other cultures and faiths, and their sense of connection.

• 531 attended 10 Peace Feasts, a 10% increase from last year.
• 61% of attendees gained understanding about another culture or religion.
• 80% of attendees intend to do more to make their communities more welcoming.

An awesome opportunity to turn distance into friendship.

I wasn’t expecting to experience the depth of connection to those I spoke with that I did – I found that moving and inspiring!

Our Listening Spaces Project was launched in September 2023 seeking to offer face-to-face opportunities for all people of different backgrounds, cultures, faiths and beliefs to intentionally listen and be heard by one another.

• 9 Listening Space events facilitated with 400 attending in total
• 300 attended the Grand Iftar at Bristol Cathedral

School Linking inspires and equips schools to support children in building meaningful connections across all forms of difference. School Linking connects year 5 classes from Bristol’s different communities. It encourages a sense of togetherness, challenges prejudice and stereotypes, and contributes to a more cohesive city.

• 22 classes from 14 schools took part in Bristol School Linking in 2024
• 660 children took part across the 22 classes

The opportunity to spend some time reflecting and personally developing has been so important for the children in among the busyness of a rammed timetable. Building connections and practicing social skills has been a key aspect of the linking programme and very supportive of the age group we are working with.

~ Year 5 Teacher

Befriend provides one-to-one support for some of the most isolated and vulnerable members of the refugee and asylum-seeking community in Bristol, with volunteers giving friendship, support and connection.

• 71 people received support during the year
• 32 different countries of orgin
• 41 new partnerships formed
• 791 hours befrienders spent volunteering

I am really grateful and happy that I found [Bridges]. It has really helped me in so many ways, most importantly helped me to control and manage my anxiety and depression.

~Befriendee

Throughout 2024, we have continued to work with families who have been resettled in Bristol, partnering with Bristol City Council’s resettlement team to help families adjust to life in the UK and get connected in their local communities.

• 54 refugees in active befriending partnerships
• 634 hours befrienders spent volunteering
• 263 hours volunteered to support with tasks
• 103 tasks referred by council support workers

The one year has gone very well with M visiting me. Me and my kids enjoyed the year with her, M is a lovely lady, she helped me a lot. I will always have contact with her and I will be very happy if she can keep visiting me. Thank you to Bridges for my friend.

~M, Afghanistan

Our programme of Welcome Events helps refugees and asylum seekers connect with others, have some fun, and find some respite from the challenges of daily life.

“M, her daughter and myself really enjoyed the day. M was happy to meet up with the other women too. And what fabulous weather! Thank you so much!” ~ V, Resettlement Befriender

Walk With Me welcomes people seeking sanctuary to Bristol by giving them the opportunity to meet local people with whom they can explore new places in the city and surrounding areas.

• 1,300 people attended 24 group walks through the year
• 90% feel more connected to their local community after the walks
• 95% state the walks have improved their physical and mental wellbeing

Walk With Me is access to fresh air, with nice and magnificent views and happy and joyful faces enjoying the day with their families. The impact for me is that I can be valued and noticed no matter who I am. I have enjoyed participating and volunteering to give guidance and support. ~P, North Africa

Stitching Together provides welcoming and supportive spaces for women seeking sanctuary in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Through stitching and textiles, participants learn new skills, express themselves creatively, build confidence and form lasting friendships.

• 153 sewing and hand-stitching sessions run for people from Afghanistan, Hong King and Ukraine
• 141 women took part in a sewing course

For me, this group, it’s like meditation. I really like sewing and embroidery. I did this in Ukraine before [the war] because Ukrainians very like embroidery, stitching, cross stitching. I have to do this because it’s meditation. #

~ Participant

RefuLingua is a grassroots language project that organises language and culture classes taught by people of refugee and migrant backgrounds. Tutors are able to develop new skills, meet new people, and gain work experience through teaching their native language.

• 15 tutors have taught lessons
• 6 different languages and dialects have been taught
• 91 students have studied a new language

“I meet lots of families in our church from Iran, Iraq, Syria and other Middle Eastern countries. It enables me to greet them at least and know basic information about them”

~ Arabic Student

Cultural Awareness Training at Bridges is designed to bring communities together through broadening our understanding of our own and others’ cultural influence and backgrounds.

• 15 people attended our ‘Lunch and Learn’ cultural awareness training sessions
• 48 people attended our ‘Welcome to the UK’ sessions