The ‘Bristol 2015 Neighbourhood Partnerships Fund’, worth £250,000, is the first of three grant-funding streams to be announced this summer. The funding boost will open up opportunities for communities and organisations across the city, including the University of Bristol, to play an active part in identifying and delivering projects for Bristol’s European Green Capital year.
The Bristol 2015 Company has a board of independent directors responsible for its governance and direction. Led by Andrew Garrad, the board has 13 members, including Bristol’s Mayor George Ferguson; Professor Guy Orpen, Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bristol; and Dr Philippa Bayley, Manager of the University’s Cabot Institute. The CEO of Bristol 2015 Ltd is Kris Donaldson, former CEO of the Liverpool Culture Company.
Andrew Garrad, Chair of Bristol 2015 Ltd, said: ‘One of the reasons that Bristol won the European Green Capital bid was its commitment to sustainability at a grass-roots level. This fund will allow communities and neighbourhoods to build on the great work that is already happening, by enabling exciting new initiatives and projects that will ultimately help make Bristol a happier, healthier city.’
The ‘Bristol 2015 Neighbourhood Partnerships Fund’ has been set up to provide a grant of £10,000 to each neighbourhood to enable local groups to launch events and projects that will help change attitudes and behaviour towards sustainability. Interested groups are encouraged to attend their next local Neighbourhood Partnership meeting to find out more information; email neighbourhood.partnerships@bristol.gov.uk.
This £250,000 initiative is the first announcement from the newly formed Bristol 2015 Company. July will see the launch of the Bristol 2015 Small Grants Fund, offering a further £250,000 towards supporting citywide or multi-neighbourhood projects. Bristol 2015 Ltd will also launch approximately £1.5 million of additional funding in August for larger strategic grants of £25,000 to £50,000. The Bristol 2015 Highlights will be shared in September 2014.
George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol and Bristol 2015 Ltd Board member, said: ‘The commitment of £2 million in grant funding provides a huge opportunity for Bristol communities, neighbourhoods, organisations and businesses, as the city prepares to take on its title as European Green Capital. As Mayor and member of the Bristol 2015 Ltd board, I am determined that all Bristol's communities and diverse cultures reap the benefits of the environmental initiatives and increased attention and funding that the city is to receive next year.’
European Green Capital year provides a unique opportunity for the University to contribute to the city’s environmental agenda, and to ensure that the activities and legacy of 2015 benefit staff, students and facilities. Specific activities are still being discussed, but there will be opportunities for the University community to get involved with and benefit from the changes that will flow from the 2015 agenda, from collaborative research projects to sharing the success of campaigns such as Green Impact.