What it is, grants available and who can apply to host an event.
The Bristol Community Festival is taking place 22 March 2025 to 5 April 2025 in community spaces across the city and will celebrate residents and voluntary organisations making a positive change in their communities.
What Bristol Community Festival is
Bristol City Council will be partnering with community groups and voluntary organisations to host events which will encourage those who took part in the Community Resilience Fund decision-making, social activists and residents of Bristol learn new skills, connect them to opportunities and get involved in community life.
These events will:
- celebrate the efforts of Bristol residents who are leading community activities and recognise the knowledge and experience of those who make these activities possible
- share stories of how citizens have successfully made their voices heard and influenced decisions in their community
- highlight lessons and best practices from projects that were created and carried out with community involvement
- connect people with opportunities to join together and make positive changes in their neighbourhoods
- inspire, teach, and connect individuals so they feel empowered to take action on issues that matter to them and set up a community group, join one, campaign for a cause or get involved in a neighbourhood group
We'll launch the programme of events after the grants application process is completed.
Grants available and who can apply
Voluntary organisations or resident-led groups can apply for up to £3,000 to organise an event during the festival.
These grants will be available to groups working in and with the top 30% most deprived areas in Bristol and citywide equalities communities.
pdf See the full eligibility criteria (261 KB) .
How to apply
To apply to host an event fill in the document Bristol Community Festival: event grants application form (122 KB) .
We also provide a document Bristol Community Festival: funding application form simplified version (1.02 MB) .
See the pdf Bristol Community Festival Event Guidance (134 KB) .
Hosting a self-funded event
If you're a voluntary organisation or resident- led group that doesn't need funding to organise an event, or are not based in a priority area, you can still apply to host an event as part of the festival.
You will not receive a grant, but your event will be included in the festival programme and associated marketing.
To apply to host a self-funded event, complete the document Bristol Community Festival: self funded event application form. (112 KB)
We also provide a document Bristol Community Festival: self-funding application form simplified version (922 KB) .
See also the document Self Assessment Access Audit Checklist (91 KB) .
Applications must be submitted by 9am Monday, 21 October 2024.
Other ways to get involved in the festival
Anyone can get involved in the Bristol Community Festival by coming along to an event or by volunteering to help out.
Tell us what you'd like to see at the festival and keep up to date with news and announcements.