Recent updates

The latest news from our projects

  • Ploughing ahead with grant applications!

    An update for A preschool for Down Ampney and surrounding villages - Little Explorers

    Mar 18 2018

    Little Explorers are eight months into a capital grant application which if successful will pay 80% of the building costs needed to reopen the preschool(approximately £12,000). We have trawled through close to 150 different grants and it is hard to find one that fits.  Our project is eligible for this capital grant because it will grow the local economy and improve our community by providing access to a rural service.  We have been working closely with the grants office throughout the process which is both detailed and strict. We have passed through several stages already and they continue to encourage us to progress our application because our project - to reopen a preschool in Down Ampney - helps achieve their aim of increasing sustainable economic growth and jobs in our area.  A new preschool in Down Ampney would create 4 new local part-time jobs as well as providing a new high-quality childcare option which could help some parents return to work. The biggest stumbling block for our grant application is being able to demonstrate that all project costs are covered - hence our crowdfunding campaign. Please consider giving - any donation no matter how large or small will help us meet our target.  Do get in touch if you want to find out more http://thelittleexplorers.org  Thanks for reading Karen :0)

     

     

  • First week in!

    An update for A preschool for Down Ampney and surrounding villages - Little Explorers

    Mar 10 2018

    The Little Explorers crowdfunding campaign is one week in.  We would love to engage the community to help us reopen the preschool in Down Ampney.  We're having a particular push at the moment because by raising another few thousand pounds we will release significant funding via a capital grant to cover the building works (providing we are successful at the final stage of the grant process).  This week we have had our first 4 supporters via the crowdfunding campaign and raised another £330 to add to the pot!  Massive thanks to you -  I can't tell you what it means to have your support.  It is somewhat daunting to put this project out there and sit back to see whether people are going to engage with it especially when we've worked so hard on it over the last two and a half years.  I continue to feel excited and hopeful that we will bring a well-needed and well-regarded preschool to Down Ampney.  Other news this week includes a pledge from the Rotary Club to help out with painting and decorating and other small jobs which is fantastic.  We have also had an interview with the Glos and Wilts Standard this week so watch out for an article in the paper next week.  Thanks again all - and please do share our campaign with others you think might be interested.  Karen :0)

     

     

  • Four weeks in and over halfway

    An update for Nuts Over The Atlantic - Movember Fundraiser

    Jan 14 2018

    We are over halfway across the Atlantic and have just 1,100 nautical miles to go. In the last four weeks we have faced storms, seasickness, sleep deprivation and breakages on the boat. This has been tougher than we ever could have imagined, especially the night shifts when you can't see the waves coming towards you!

    After hearing that the first boat arrived in Antigua and smashed the current world record we couldn't be more motivated to row as hard as we can to dry land to see our families and supporters.

    Our biggest challenge throughout the whole experience has been to raise the funds required to get the boat ready and transported to La Gomera. With that complete we are now up against our next expense which is shipping the boat back to the UK, sadly we do not yet have the £6,000 required for this.

    We have some great rewards on offer in return for your backing so please take a look and share with your family and friends.

    Many thanks,

    Team Nuts

    @bythehundred

     

     

  • Tee Update... Apologies for the Delays

    An update for #SaveHamiltonHouse: Saving the House One T-Shirt at a Time!

    Nov 17 2017

    Hi All,

    Just a quick heads up. A few of you have been in contact regarding whether your orders have been received and whether the t-shirts have been sent yet.

    If you've filled out a form or been in contact with your order, then we have it and it's in the process of being printed.

    We've had a couple of delays mainly due to:

    • It taking a lot longer to get the 300 tee shirt orders in from everyone
    • The printer sadly having to move from their studio at HH with quite short notice

    We are thankfully now back on track, the orders have been taken, the designs and blank tees have been delivered and the new studio has been set up south of the river. We are hoping to get all the orders now fulfilled by the 10th December.

    Massive apologies for any confusion and delays and thank you for your patience. We know everyone is super eager to represent the campaign with their amazing new tees.

    #savehamiltonhouse

  • Tee Order Details Deadline: This Friday 27th October!

    An update for #SaveHamiltonHouse: Saving the House One T-Shirt at a Time!

    Oct 24 2017

    Hi All,

    As most of you have seen, an order form has been sent out all the people who have bought something through the 'Saving the House one Tee at a Time!' campaign.

    We only have 40 more order forms to get in and then we can start getting your tees produced and out to all you wonderful supporters.

    If you've not received a link to a form, check your spam/promotions email filters and if you've still not found it, get in contact with savehamiltonhouse@gmail.com and we can get it all sorted. 

    Deadline for orders is this Friday 27th October.

    Thank you all for your patience whilst we compile these 200+ orders and thank you to all who have responded so quickly.

    #savehamiltonhouse

    PS for all of you on twitter or fb check out this amazing animated infographic about the history, impact and current situation at Hamilton House and helps us share it as far and wide as possible.

    To view the video on Twitter Click Here
    To view it on Fb Click Here

  • Come and hear from a mother seeking asylum

    An update for A safe haven for refugee and asylum seeking children

    Oct 11 2017

    Thanks to your support the Early Years Project is able to meet the needs of a growing number of children and parents.  Each week the Early Years Team welcome new families and several of these children are coming regularly this autumn.  As well as the children belonging to our group, we are also facilitating children moving into nursery places and school through our partnership work with a local Children's Centre.  

    One Mum recently reflected “My daughter loves the project. She sings us the songs she has learnt at home.”  

    One of the project's regular volunteers noted the positive impact that the project has upon the children’s lives, “Within a matter of weeks, you can see their confidence growing, their sense of security returning. It is very moving.”

    Tomorrow BRR will hold its Annual General Meeting at the Assisi Centre Community Hall in Bristol.  Our Fundraising and Communications Manager will share her experience of the crowdfunding campaign and one of the mothers who uses the Early Year Project will share her experience of how it has helped her and her child.

    We warmly invite you to join us.

    Whilst we celebrate the achievements of the last year we also look to the sustainability of the different services BRR offers to asylum seekers and refugees.  We know that many people who contributed to the crowdfunding campaign support BRR in a wide range of other ways (volunteering, governance, donating items, organising fundraisers and giving regularly).  If you would like to support in one of these ways but are not at the moment please get in touch.  If you would like to set up a regular donation to the Early Years Project visit our Localgiving page and leave a comment to ask for the donation to go towards the EYP.

    Thank you so very much

    from the EYP staff team, volunteers and parents

     

     

  • LAST WEEKEND FOR THE CROWDFUNDER!!! Less than 72hrs to go...

    An update for #SaveHamiltonHouse: Saving the House One T-Shirt at a Time!

    Oct 7 2017

    Due to the overwhelming success of this crowdfunder, we'll be closing it early so we can get the near 200 T-shirts out to all you wonderful people and start moving forward with organising the next event.

    We need your help now! 

    Please get on twitter and retweet this link 

    Get on fb and post this crowdfunder link: 

    https://www.fundsurfer.com/crowdfund/savehamiltonhouse

    Let people know there is less than 72 hours to get themselves one of these amazing limited campaign tee designs. 

    We don't want anyone who planned to get themselves one who left it to the last minute to miss out.

    We've started getting in contact with some of you for your order details and will be in touch with the rest of you over the next week. 

    Thank you all for your continued support! 

    #savehamiltonhouse

     

     

  • Thank you..

    An update for St George's Bristol Crowdfund

    Oct 3 2017

    A final update to say a huge Thank You to everyone who has supported and shared our Building a Sound Future crowdfund appeal which is now officially closed.

    This has been our first ever crowdfund and with matched funding and gift aid, has reached the incredible total of £140,508 with a total of 370 backers.

    The support of so many has ensured we have reached the final target of our overall Building a Sound Future appeal, £6.3M. We were delighted to be able to welcome audiences back to a reopened hall for our new Autumn season last Friday evening with the fantastic news that the appeal target has now been reached.

    We announced two lucky Golden ticket winners last Friday evening and will also be in contact with all supporters regarding any remaining rewards (such as the Education reward draw for the school to benefit from their very own Minibeats performance) in the course of this week.

    Do please continue to follow progress with all aspects of our Building a Sound Future project via our website (www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk) and you will soon be able to see first hand, from February next year, just how the money raised is being spent when the project completes. 

    We are open for concerts now throughout the Autumn and then from February 24th for a week of reopening events to celebrate the new St George's with the new extension completed, the reconfigured crypt with its heritage interpretation space in place, the redecorated and fully accessible hall and restored gardens, steps and boundary walls all completed... all contributing to completing the vision for St George's as a world class centre for music and ideas for the people of Bristol.

    Thank you so much for all of your support!

     

     

  • ------ WE HAVE REACHED OUR TARGET ------

    An update for #SaveHamiltonHouse: Saving the House One T-Shirt at a Time!

    Sep 29 2017

    Only 2 weeks into the campaign and we have raced past the £3000 target! Well done all of you. We still have 17 days to go and there are still a few Tees to sale, so once the crowdfunder has officially finished, we'll get your orders out to you.

    For all of you who aren't aware, this weekend is Hamilton House's annual open day. Perfect time to show your love and support for this valuable community asset.

    We'll be their representing the cause getting as many signatures on the petition as possible and unveiling the new #savehamiltonhouse infographic animation to the people of Stokes Croft.

    What ever you're up to, thank for your support, spread the word and have a very pleasant weekend!

  • Stay Classy People! The 'Hamilton House' Campaign Cocktail is here.

    An update for #SaveHamiltonHouse: Saving the House One T-Shirt at a Time!

    Sep 24 2017

    When we asked for people to contribute in whatever skills they had, I'm not sure we expected to get such a delicious contribution. 

    Our kind and creative neighbours at MEATLiquor have thrown in their skills to support the campaign by creating the 'Hamilton House' Cocktail for Bristol Cocktail week. (25th Sept - 1st Oct). 

    Dry Gin, fresh lemon and orgeat syrup, served straight up with a lemon twist and a #savehamiltonhouse badge on the side with 50p from every cocktail going to the campaign. 

    They've also donated a a cocktail for two reward for the crowdfunder, so all you guys are getting the first bottoms, sorry I mean heads up!