Community Response Fund

We are seeing a rising number of threats against our communities, the racist riots last year, proposed cuts to disability benefits and the Supreme Court ruling on gender identity, to name a few. Often its those most affected who are first to respond, and often they have to do the work and fund it out of their own pockets - this fund exists so they don't have to. 

What the fund is for

• Quick responses to recent events or situations

• Getting money to people and/or communities fast, when it is urgently needed

• Helping communities take action during emergencies or a time of crisis

Past community responses that are examples of the kind of activities this fund would support: 

• Emergency support was organised for evacuated residents of Barton House

• Community meetings were set up after Ras Judah was tasered by police

• A community activist organised a public meeting after two teenagers were stabbed in Knowle West

• A campaign was launched to stop the St Paul's dentist being closed down

• A vigil was organised after trans teenager, Brianna Ghey, was killed

• Local groups provided support to those hurt and arrested during demonstrations against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

• A campaign was organised to resist a Bristol City Council policy that would have forced disabled people into residential or nursing homes

What the fund is NOT for

• The usual, ongoing activities of your group - this is for more urgent or emergency responses to something that has just happened

• Activities you're planning to do in a few weeks or months time - this is for activities that need to happen straight away (i.e. that you don’t have time to fundraise for)

How much you can apply for

Up to £150

Example of types of activities you can apply for

• Meeting room hire

• Printing leaflets and posters

• Welfare and access costs of meetings and demonstrations

Groups that can apply

Groups need to meet our usual criteria: 

• Set up and led by a community most affected by inequality (eg women, non-binary, LGBTQ+, working class, disabled, migrant, Black and racially minoritised people) with first-hand experience of the issue the group is working on (eg a group led by disabled people who are responding to the proposed cuts to disability benefits)

• Based in Bristol

• Annual income (eg from fundraising) of under £10,000 

We hope to increase the amount of money we can give out as we raise more funds.  We also aim to start fundraising for non-urgent, ongoing work soon.

To request the funds, groups need to complete this short form. Please email [email protected] or call/message/whatsapp 07784 771 272 if we can help or take the details over the phone. We aim to respond to requests within a week. We can make payments direct to venues, printers etc. 

If you are in a position to donate to this fund so there are funds available to groups when needed, please do, now is the time. If there is a group you care about, and you want to support their work, please donate to them directly if you can - and let them know about this fund.