Recent updates

The latest news from our projects

  • Calais Refugee Solidarity Bristol Public Meeting 7th December at 7.30pm

    An update for Calais Refugee Solidarity Bristol

    Dec 1 2016

     

    What a year it has been! Join us for our final public meeting of the year on 7th December at 7:30pm.

    --Are you wondering what happens now that the camp in Calais is gone? 
    --Would you like to be involved in providing ongoing support for refugees and aid organisations in France? 
    --What can be done to support children being settled in Bristol?
    --Would you like to take on a regular role as a volunteer in the CRSB coordinating group? We need help with admin, comms and volunteer coordination.

    We want to share our strategy going forward, our plans for the new year (both in France and in Bristol) and to recruit some volunteers who can help with admin and communications work.

    TELL YOUR FRIENDS! 7:30pm on Weds 7th December at The Palestine Museum, 27, Broad Street, Bristol.

     

  • Thank you for the Safer off the Streets support so far!

    An update for Safer off the Streets - Help Bristol's homeless night shelters

    Nov 30 2016

    From all at Safer of the Streets, we want to say an enormous thank you for all of your support of our campaign so far.

    In only a few days we already raised £6,000 from you all, so that we can provide a safe and supportive place for 353 people away from the street, which is incredible. We still have a long way to go so that we can cover three months of night shelter spaces – please keep sharing!

    The achievement of raising so much in three days is testament to the compassion that is here in and for our city. We are loving watching the donations flood in. Your support really does help keep a rough sleeper warm and safe off the streets while trained staff work and volunteers support them with longer term goals. The night shelters are just the beginning.

    Bristol update - You will no doubt have noticed that the weather has got particularly cold, dipping below freezing for a number of nights now. Because of this it has been a particularly busy few days for the charities across the city. The severe emergency weather procedure (SWEP) was implemented at the beginning of the week. This means that additional shelter has been put in place to get as many people off the streets as we can. While the weather is so cold, it can become an immediate life or death situation for people on the streets. Bristol City Council support SWEP and we rely on the goodwill of existing homelessness services to open up their communal lounges in order to ensure survival while people are additionally vulnerable.

    If you are concerned about someone who is sleeping rough please contact StreetLink via www.streetlink.org.uk

    Thank you again from all at Safer off the Streets for your incredible support.
    #SOSBristol
     

  • About the charities involved - please click Read More for full info

    An update for Safer off the Streets - Help Bristol's homeless night shelters

    Nov 29 2016

    St Mungo’s

    Registered charity no. 1149085

    Registered office: 5th Floor, 3 Thomas More Square, London, E1W 1YW

    Local office: 1 New Street, St Judes, Bristol, BS2 9DX

    T: 0117 954 2958   E: regional.sw@mungos.org  W: www.mungos.org

    St Mungo’s vision is that everyone has a place to call home and can fulfil their hopes and ambitions. We run 20 projects in Bristol providing supportive journeys, from street to home, for people facing homelessness and mental health issues.
    St Mungo’s run two night shelters, which are open from 10.30pm -7.30am, 7 days a week. These emergency night shelters provide crucial warmth and respite for people sleeping rough, while we work with them to find housing and support that will move them away from the streets for good.

    Julian Trust

    Registered charity no. 294751

    Registered office: The Night Shelter, 16 Little Bishop Street, St Paul’s, Bristol  BS2 9JF

    T: 0117 924 4604   E: helpdesk@juliantrust.org.uk W: www.juliantrust.org.uk

    The Julian Trust is run entirely by volunteers and voluntary donations to provide an emergency Night Shelter for up to 18 guests on a night by night basis and hot meals for those in need. The Night Shelter is open five nights every week throughout the year where a warm welcome and a hot meal awaits homeless people and rough sleepers. On most nights it is used by between 60 and 80 guests who are served dinner between 9.30pm and 10.30pm.

     

    Crisis Centre Ministries

    Registered charity no. 298528

    Registered office: Carpenter House, 32 Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0QY

    T: 0117 330 1230  E: admin@crisis-centre.org.uk W: www.crisis-centre.org.uk

    Established for over 30 years, CCM transform lives through offering food, shelter and support to most vulnerable in the community.
    Our women’s night shelter project is open 5 nights a week, 52 weeks a year to vulnerable and homeless women. Helping women with issues such as domestic violence, family and marital breakdowns, alcohol/drug addiction, mental health problems and prostitution.

    Caring in Bristol

    Registered charity no. 1151645

    Registered office: 18 Little Bishop Street, St Paul’s, Bristol, BS2 9JF

    T: 0117 9244 444 E: info@caringinbristol.org.uk W: www.caringinbristol.org.uk

    Caring in Bristol runs several projects aiming to support homeless people in Bristol, including a Nightstop project for young people at risk of homelessness, and the production of the annual Homeless Survival Handbook.
    We provide the Caring at Christmas project that supports 70 homeless and vulnerable people a night in Bristol during the Christmas period. Our 24 hour service also support many day guests during this period with hot meals, activities, and companionship, delivered with the help of nearly a thousand local volunteers.

  • Premises secured!

    An update for Bristol's First Cat Cafe

    Nov 25 2016

    Dear Supporters,

    Finally long-awaited news!

    I am thrilled to share with you all that I just got the keys to the property! :)

    Cafe will be located in the heart of Bristol City Centre, just by Hippodrome at 22 Denmark Street, BS1 5DQ.

    It has been a long journey to secure this place, but now looking back it was truly worth waiting (I have viewed 22 properties and this was absolutely the winner). 

    So what next? 

    From tomorrow onwards I will be doing the refurbishment work, and you can follow our progress on our Facebook page. In terms of the Opening Date, it needed to be moved for one month due unexpected delays and we will be opening end of January.

    The booking system will be ready 2-3 weeks before an Opening Day, more details to follow.

    Lastly, I would like thank to all of you for your patience and support. It has been full 8 months to secure the premises, it was very time consuming process, but with the persistence we are finally here and the doors to the cafe will open very soon.

    Thank you once again.

    Best wishes

    Ewa

  • Line-Up Announcement: Yuriko Kotani

    An update for Paint the Town Red - World AIDS Day 2016

    Nov 24 2016

    We're thrilled to welcome the fantastic Yuriko Kotani to Paint the Town Red, in support of World AIDS Day 2016 and Brigstowe in Bristol.

    "leftfield rising star" - Time Out

    Yuriko Kotani is a UK-based Japanese comedian and the BBC Radio New Comedy Award winner.

    Yuriko began performing stand-up in 2014. She was named as "One To Watch" by Time Out in 2015. She went on to become first runner up in So You Think You're Funny 2015?, won Brighton Comedy Festival Squawker Award 2015, won the BBC Radio New Comedy Award 2015, 3rd place in Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year 2015, and was nominated for Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2016. She has supported Joe Lycett, Rob Delaney, Steve Bugeja and Puppetry of the Penis on their tour.

    She has performed at Pleasance Comedy Reserve at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016.

    On the radio Kotani has been interviewed on The Comedy Club on BBC Radio 4 Extra. 

    In 2016 Kotani appeared on series 2 of Russell Howard's Stand Up Central.

    Come see Yuriko and others at the Paint the Town Red Night, Thursday, 1st December, The Queenshilling, 29 Fromore Street, Bristol, BS15NA

    For tickets, donate to Brigstowe here: https://www.fundsurfer.com/project/paint-the-town-red-world-aids-day-2016

    Money raised for the event will be donated to Brigstowe and the amazing work they do for people living with HIV in Bristol.

    Donate £10 to get 1 ticket
    Donate £18 to get 2 tickets
    Donate £34 to get 4 tickets

    Join us on Facebook for updates and invite your friends: https://www.facebook.com/events/2156164327941374/

  • Calais Refugee Solidarity Bristol Benefit Gig at The Stag & Hounds Fri 25 November 2016 from 7pm.

    An update for Calais Refugee Solidarity Bristol

    Nov 23 2016

    Make sure you get tickets for our fundraiser at the stag and hounds on 25 November! 

    Tickets available now at Bristol Ticket Shop.

    Thanks for your support! 

    Calais Refugee Solidarity Bristol Benefit Gig

    Featuring:
    SKEWWHIFF
    RITA LYNCH
    INVINCIBLE PIGS
    THE FANTASY ORCHESTRA
    CLAYTON BLIZZARD
    CENRIS
    +DJs & spoken word

    SKEWWHIFF
    http://skewwhiff.bandcamp.com/
    https://www.facebook.com/skewwhiffofficial/?fref=ts
    Worcester based female-fronted angular post-punk four piece, Skewwhiff evoke some of the classic early 80s political punk bands like the Au Pairs, Gang of Four with a hint of Pixies.

    Onstage they're like Debbie Harry surrounded by an interstellar dream team of Topper Headon, Mike Watt and John McGeoch. Regular faces on the festival scene, Skewwhiff are currently recording the follow up to their 2014 debut long player, Nice Little Upper, and playing a string of impressive Autumn support dates incuding Back to the Planet and Britpop legends Dodgy.

    “I absolutely LOVE your new album and am playing it in the car ALL THE TIME. It is THE TESTICLES!" -Attila The Stockbroker

    RITA LYNCH
    https://ritalynchx.bandcamp.com/
    http://ritalynch.co.uk/
    After leaving school in the late 70’s, Rita started her own band ‘Rita and the Piss Artists' - an all-female punk band, playing bass guitar, and she has been making music ever since. A legend on the Bristol scene, Rita Lynch's songs are an explosion of sexual, religious, and social imagery driven by an energy that comes across just as strongly in an acoustic set as when she plays with her band. Known for her insurmountable stage presence, Rita performs with her three-piece band as well as solo and has spent time as guitarist for Bristol art-rock band the Blue Aeroplanes.

    INVINCIBLE PIGS
    https://invinciblepigs.bandcamp.com/releases
    https://www.facebook.com/Invincible.Pigs/
    Bristol based Folk-Punk fusion five piece playing a lively mix of politically conscious songs, traditional jigs and contemporary covers. 

    THE FANTASY ORCHESTRA
    http://www.fantasyorchestra.org/
    https://www.facebook.com/FantasyOrchestraBristol/
    The Fantasy Orchestra is a combined community choir and orchestra created in Bristol in 2011 by Jesse D Vernon with the initial intention to play a set of tunes by Ennio Morricone, but since then has grown in size and scope and now has branches in Paris and Jersey. The Orchestra has a wide repertoire, performing music by David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and various exotic music and film soundtracks.

    "Bristol Fantasy Orchestra and choir are completely bonkers, amazingly talented musicians that had the most eclectic repertoire I’ve ever heard! It included the theme tune from Star Trek, John Lennon’s Imagine, two songs from the movie The Wicker Man, Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and an Indian song from a Bollywood movie!" - Keynsham Music Festival

    CLAYTON BLIZZARD
    https://claytonblizzard.bandcamp.com/
    http://claytonblizzard.com/
    Clayton Blizzard is a writer, singer, poet, musician and performer from Thornbury, Bristol, who expertly fuses together folk, punk and hip-hop, combined with genius lyrics laced with sardonic wit.

    CENRIS
    https://soundcloud.com/Cenris
    https://www.facebook.com/Cenris/?fref=ts
    Cenris is a Folk/Goth/Rock solo project from Bristol. It is a combination of traditional songs, along with original material influenced by Pagan, Irish, Scottish, English and modern folk alike.

    Plus various DJs and spoken word artists

  • Private launch TOMORROW (thurs) night!!

    An update for Victoria Klewin & The TrueTones debut album

    Nov 23 2016

    Hello everyone...

    Thanks to all who have RSVP'd aready...you're goodies are packaged up and ready for you to collect! I've done so much wrapping it feels like Xmas has come early. :)

    I have sent a few emails around to chase the rest of you up...so here is one final reminder for the party tomorrow night. It's at Bar Humbug on Whiteladies Road, Bristol from 7pm to 11ish! There will be some live music from us, photos + video projections and we will also be shooting footage for our next video on the night, so be sure to dress VINTAGE! :)

    Hope to see you there!

    V x

     

    BAR HUMBUG

    89 Whiteladies Rd
    Clifton

    Bristol

    BS8 2NT

    0117 904 0061

  • Venue Secured - Thank You Queenshilling.

    An update for Paint the Town Red - World AIDS Day 2016

    Nov 16 2016

    We are so thrilled to announce that we have a venue for Paint the Town Red. Thank You Queenshilling! 

    Loved and respected by its customers and the LGBT community, the award winning Queenshilling has a reputation for welcoming everyone and being Bristol’s friendliest nightclub, proud to offer clean modern surroundings, pristine sound quality and a warm welcome. 

    Located in Frogmore Street just a short walk away from Park Street, The Hippodrome and The Colston Hall, Queenshilling is easy to spot, Our Art Deco 20s building is colour washed in vibrant LED lighting.

    Where better to Paint the Town Red. Want to join us? Donate on our main page and choose your reward!!!

     

     

  • Independent reviews of The Imperial Plan

    An update for The Imperial Plan by The Fable

    Nov 11 2016

    As promised here is a link to one of the reviews of the album. I am extremely delighted - especially as I didn't have to pay her much (joke).

    http://www.shufflco.com/2016/11/11/fable-imperial-plan/

     

    And this review was sent to me a week or two ago and again is very comlimentary.................

     

    "This is a concept album in the traditional sense and is largely the brainchild of Mike Isaacs. Covering the futility of the First World War it looks at the experience of an unnamed 17 year old volunteer who survives three years in the trenches and lives to over 100 years of age. It has been inspired by Harry Patch ‘the last fighting Tommy’ and real events.

    Mike has been assisted in its production by a host of artists and performers, in particular Jason Flinter. In some ways this album is reminiscent of Jeff Wayne’s ‘War of the Worlds’ only this may bring a tear to your eye. That said this album if nothing else will make you think about the futility of war.

    It has been extremely well produced and performed painting an aural image of those terrible events 100 years ago. The lyrics and music will take you on a roller coaster ride of different styles of music and invoke all sorts of emotions in the listener  such that they will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand, always a good sign for me and a feeling I have not had in a long time, which makes this album ABSOLUTELY  STUNNING AND GOBSMACKINGLY GOOD so much so that it has all the makings of a great stage show so Cameron Mackintosh pay attention!

    This is an album which must be bought and listened to over and over again. It will be available online at ALL of the major stores such as iTunes, Amazon and Spotify - in fact over 90 stores in total. Hard copies of the CD will be available from 11th November, but you can contact Mike Isaacs at his Facebook site who will gladly sell you a copy."

    Brian Inglis

    Director Jelli Records

    www.jelli-records.com

    Tel +44(0)7971 966982

  • Tomorrow is launch day!

    An update for The Imperial Plan by The Fable

    Nov 10 2016

    The Imperial Plan by The Fable. Launch Date: Friday 11th November, 2016

    Available from midnight tonight on over 150 online download stores and streaming sites including Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, etc

    Hi pledgers,

    Well at last after more than two years the date has finally arrived. I'm exhausted and skint but I guess I now have my work cut out promoting it to get the return on my investment. On that note:

    1. I have been collecting reviews of the album (2 in so far) which I am delighted to say are fantastic. I shall send a separate email about the reviews.
    2. I will be on the Jonathan Ray Breakfast Show for BBC Radio Bristol at 8.30am this Sunday (Remembrance Sunday) discussing the album and Harry Patch. The show runs from 6am till 10am and I will be on at 8.30am for about 10mins and they will play a track. It should be on iPlayer for a month so no need to get up early ;-) Here is the link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04d31jr
    3. I will also be appearing on Kizzy Morrell's afternoon show on Thursday 17th November for Ujima Radio (98fm) and she is trying to persuade me to play a track live in the studio (gulp). Here is that link: http://www.ujimaradio.com/on-air/shows-old/matinee-kizzy-morrell/
    4. Interest has also been shown by a theatre producer from Taunton, Ged Stephenson. Ged is also a college lecturer. Here is a link to his Weston College overview: https://www.weston.ac.uk/content/ged-stephenson. I have an initial meeting arranged with him on 2nd December to discuss options so I will report back on how that goes.

    The feedback so far on the album (and the artwork) has been amazing and I thank you all for your contributions. I know that some of you prefer to have the tracks in digital format only (and I couple only pledged for that anyway) but the finished CD and 16-page booklet look fantastic so I hope you will get in touch for a copy.

    Physical CD's and other pledged items

    I am now delighted to say that I collected the physical CD's last night and have in place ALL the other pledge items ready to ship to you. What I lack are your addresses in many cases so could you please get back to me by phone or email and I will make the arrangements to ship everything to you ASAP.

    Mobile: 07985 252517

    Email: thefable@btinternet.com

    I do hope you will find the album was worth waiting for. I am certainly proud of the finished result and particularly proud of everyone that has contributed, especially you for helping me to fund it.

    Best wishes,

    Mike