What We Do - Bridges For Communities

We are a Bristol based charity that connects people of different cultures, races and faiths, enabling them to build friendships, grow in their understanding of one another and live well together.

The Problem

Our society is fractured and divided. Political views are polarised, hate crime is on the rise, government policies towards refugees and immigrants are hardening, and our asylum system is widely acknowledged to be broken. The latest census figures show Britain to be increasingly diverse, and yet diversity is seen by some to be a problem rather than something to be celebrated. In Bristol, where we are based, systemic inequalities exist along lines of race and class, reinforcing the perception that this is a segregated city.

The Solution

And yet there is hope. Much of the mistrust and division is caused by stereotypes and misperceptions that are rooted more in the distance between people (the fact that they don’t know one another or interact meaningfully) than in the differences between them. By connecting people of different cultures and faiths, we can enable them to understand one another better and recognise their shared humanity. By working together to make our communities more welcoming for people who have fled war and persecution, we can build bridges and enable people of different backgrounds to live well together.

We do this by connecting, welcoming and equipping people in Bristol and beyond.