Recent updates

The latest news from our projects

  • Convoy to Calais - The Big Send Off!

    An update for Calais Refugee Solidarity Bristol

    Nov 4 2015

    Time for Convoy to Calais !!

    The Calais Refugee Solidarity Bristol campaign was set up about 8 weeks ago in response to the horrendous reports in the media of children being washed up on beaches, boats sinking and people dying on their journey to safety - right on our doorstep ! The accompanying media hype from politicians was racist, scaremongering about swarms of immigrants coming to our country. We wanted a different narrative and the group in its formation called on people to help, alongside other groups formed across the country with the same ideals. 

    We could not have forseen the help we would get from the people of Bristol ! It has been truly amazing and heartwarming that so many people care about other human beings who are fleeing violence and war.

    The remit of the group was two-fold: As a grass-roots organisation we aimed to A: to collect unwanted goods, clothes, shoes, sleeping bags and tents for the people in the Calais camps , closest to our door, and deliver them to Calais. And B: to fundraise for goods too cheap or impossible to transport., such as firewood, food, shelters etc.

    The campaign has been very successful, so far. We were innundated!

    A Fundsurfer campaign was set up to raise money and in that short time has raised over £9600!  We have had a varity of events and gigs and raised a further £3000 ! We have donated money to Doctors of the World; bought 3 UNCHR fully equipped tents; bought waterproof jackets; medication and firewood.

    We did recieve a lot of stuff that was not needed in the Calais camps, particularly women's and children's clothing and some of that has been distributed to various Bristol Charities, including Homeless and Refugee groups. Some of the rest was sold at a pop-up shop on Stokes Croft and raised £1000 and there are plans for shop No.2 :)

    So the goods that are suitable are all sorted, boxed and stored in TWO whole warehouses ! And we are now proud to announce that after a few weeks of logistics we are READY TO GO TO CALAIS !!

    On Wednesday November 11th the lorries will load up at the warehouses and leave for Calais. That day and the next , a car and three minibuses full of volunteers will go to Calais to help in any way needed - in the warehouse, in the camp, litter picking and everything that helps for a few days !

    We cant let this go un-noticed ! The people of Bristol have been so generous, so many people have volunteered in Bristol, the response has been overwhelming. So we are going to send the convoy off ! The press will be there so let's get Bristol out to send it off and make some noise !!

    We would like you to join us on College Green on the 11th at 2.30 pm. 

    The vans and minibuses will be decorated with messages of support for the people in the Calais camps and then the vehicles ( except the lorries !) will cavalcade round an area of Bristol from 3pm till 4pm whereby we can distribute publicity about the campaign. 

    The motorcade will then return to College.Green for a rally,spee ches, music, circus troupe and more - all to be added to ! This will end at 5pm and then afterwards there will be a memorial service for the thousands that have died " on the journey "

    Come along, add your voice that says "Refugees are Welcome here" - "No-one is illegal" and Bristol Cares !!

     

  • It's a wrap!

    An update for Bristol Festival of Literature

    Nov 2 2015

    On behalf of the Bristol Festival of Literature team, just a quick update to say THANK YOU!

    Our 10 days of literary loveliness were great fun with the events being well attended, many sold out.

    The team are meeting this week to discuss what went well, what didn’t go so well and what we could do next year.

    We hope you enjoyed the events.

    If you have anything to add, please get in touch, we’d love to hear from the people who supported us.

    If you have any images, video, blog posts etc. that you created during the festival we’d love to see them. Please contact us via the website: unputdownable.org if there is anything you’d like to share.

    I still have some unclaimed Goody Bags and T shirts so please get in touch to arrange collection for your unclaimed rewards.

    A few of us went on Ujima Radio during the event and you can listen again here at these links:

    Hour 1 - Wednesday 14th October 12pm: http://listen-again.ujimaradio.com/index.php?page=64
    Hour 2 - Wednesday 14th October 1pm: http://listen-again.ujimaradio.com/index.php?id=25688

    We were also on BBC Radio Bristol and Made in Bristol TV

    I wrote a blog post last week with some links and shout outs for some of the people involved in the festival: http://authorpreneur.amymorse.co.uk/the-power-of-collaboration/

    And here’s a few images…

    Once again, thank you so much to everyone involved in organising the festival, those who contributed, got involved, gave up their time and visited the events.

    See you again next year... 

  • We're over the quarter mark! Thank you!

    An update for Victoria Klewin & The TrueTones debut album

    Oct 28 2015

    Hello all you lovely people. I'm trying to keep in touch with you all individually as much as possible, but just wanted to send a general thank you too.

    23+ of you have given us a total of £1,250 so far!

    I've been really touched and pleasantly reassured by the amazing response and support from you all. Every single penny made will go into making the album better and giving it the release it deserves. I for one am so excited to see what can be achieved in this way, with no financial backing from any label or agency. I think it's potentially a very powerful new direction for the music industry and professional musicians in general! ;)

    I will be in touch like this at regular intervals with news on our progress and our general news, but I promise not to spam you with annoying messages every 5 minutes!  If you're a social media user, please do continue to help us spread the word about this venture using the hastags #vktt and #fundsurfer, if that's your thing! Likewise, email and good old-fashioned word-of-mouth are equally helpful.

    T H A N K     Y O U   ! ! ! !

  • NEW STUFF!

    An update for The Bristol Music Show

    Oct 26 2015

    We've not only added 2 weeks onto our end date, but we've added:

    A pair of tickets for Alan Barnes Octet: A Jazz Christmas Carol at St. George's - 17th December - £25

    4 tickets to see London based music and art group Beaty Heart at The Louisiana. More acts tbc. + a "thank you" in our credits - £5

    Please continue sharing our campaign and letting your friends know about our wonderful rewards!

    Thanks so much to all that have pledged so far :)

    Harriet & the BMS team. x

     

     

  • GOOD NEWS!!

    An update for The Bristol Music Show

    Oct 23 2015

    We've extended our deadline until 12th November!

    We felt like some people were only just getting their heads around our project, so we've given everybody a little more time to pledge and support The Bristol Music Show.

    Please do tell your friends, family and anybody that loves music about us and ask them to pledge!

    Still lots of amazing rewards left that need to go somewhere!

     

    BONUS INFO:

    Easy link: fundsurfer.com/bristolmusicshow

    First show: Friday 6th November - 8.30pm

    First session artist: Genie Marie

     

     

  • Latest update!

    An update for Calais Refugee Solidarity Bristol

    Oct 17 2015

    Hi everyone! 

    Amazing to nearly have hit 9K. Thanks and keep sharing the project so we can push up to 10K which is our next big milestone. 

    Our next PUBLIC MEETING will be held next Tuesday 20th October at 7.30pm @ The Palestine Museum, 27, Broad Street, Bristol.

    We'd really like to see you there and we have lots to tell you about our Week of Action, our pop-up shop in Stokes Croft, our November convoy to Calais, volunteering opportunities (both in Bristol & Calais) and the latest fundraising & campaign efforts.

    Thanks for your support! 

     

     

  • Less than 2 weeks left!

    An update for The Bristol Music Show

    Oct 16 2015

    We've got less than 2 weeks left to reach our target!!!

    Please tell your friends, tell your family and spread the word!

    We've got some truly amazing music and foody based rewards - all funds go straight into the pot to make a bigger and better TV show that celebrates and supports the hugely diverse music scene in Bristol.

    This weekend we've got pairs tickets left for - An Acoustic Evening with Yo La Tengo at Colston Hall October 18th - £30 pledge

    Plus vouchers for The Social for dinner and a drink for 2 people - £20 pledge (worth £30+)

    We can't thank you enough for your support!

    Harriet and the BMS team. x

     

     

  • We're gonna be on telly!

    An update for The Bristol Music Show

    Oct 8 2015

    If you're in tonight turn on the Made in Bristol channel!

    We'll be taking part in the station's first birthday celebrations (or 365 as they're calling it) from 8-9pm

    It's a live TV show and The BMS team will be there talking about our crowdfunding campaign and having a chat with singer songwriter, Fraser Anderson

    A huge thank you everyone who has pledged so far! We're at £630 - amazing!

    Can you help us go even further? 

    We've just updated our vouchers for The Social bar and cafe - now you'll get dinner and a drink for 2 people for a £20 pledge! YUMMY!

  • JUST ADDED!

    An update for The Bristol Music Show

    Oct 7 2015

    Gearfest 2016 ticket when you donate £45!

    (Worth £60)

    2 available...

    https://www.facebook.com/GearfestPresents?fref=ts

     

  • Rewards on their way!

    An update for Catacombs of Terror! by Stanley Donwood

    Oct 6 2015

    Hi Everyone,

    I've taken delivery of the excellent prints by Jacknife and these and the original editions of Cartacombs of Terror will be sent out on Friday. 

    Can everyone (including the new edition people) confirm their delivery address by emailing me at richard@tangentbooks.co.uk.

    Also we are launching the new edition at Jacknife studio, Jamaica Street, Bristol on Friday Oct 30. You are all v welcome. I'll confirm start time in next update.