Bringing new life to Bedminster – one thing at a time

This is a guest post written by Ian Hembrow and Anna Perry of Share Bristol, which operates the Library of Things at 47 East Street. This initiative has been supported as part of the East Bedminster Regeneration project.

The Library of Things and Community Hub, run by local charity Share Bristol, has become established as vital parts of the regeneration scene in and around East Street, Bedminster. They’re living proof of what can be achieved with very little, and how new life and belief is returning to this part of the city.

Since it opened last spring, the Bedminster Library of Things at 47 East Street has been busy accepting all kinds of donations, which people can then borrow for up to two weeks at a time. DIY, gardening and cleaning equipment are especially popular, and the Library is gearing up to offer its stock of camping, party, and event gear for the summer. Annual membership of Share Bristol costs £50 (or £20 unwaged), including all loans.

The simple message is ‘borrow don’t buy’. Why pay hundreds of pounds for that pressure washer, carpet cleaner or family tent you’ll only use a handful of times, which then just takes up space in your home? Joining Share Bristol’s Library of Things means you can have what you want, when you want it, and know that it’s always in safe, working order. Sharing also means that fewer things get manufactured and end up in landfill – so it’s good for the planet too.

The evidence from Bedminster and Share Bristol’s two other locations, in Kingswood and Frenchay, is that people love this idea. Over the past year, memberships have more than doubled to more than 1,000, and there are now at least 2,000 different things available to borrow – from musical instruments to wheelbarrows, projectors and chocolate fondue sets.

Connecting, learning and growing

Alongside the regular lending sessions, a grant from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and Bristol City Council has also enabled Share Bristol to use the East Street premises as a Community Hub – offering a diverse programme of free events and low-cost activities.

There are weekly yoga classes, free bike maintenance workshops, mindfulness and brain gym courses, and an array of creative arts and crafts sessions, including soap and candle making, macramé, sewing, printing, embroidery and upcycling.

In late March and early April, Bristol Community Festival came to BS3, with 16 days of special events, including free takeaway food, a samba band and sold-out comedy and film nights running from Share Bristol’s Community Hub.

It was wonderful to see passersby stopping, dancing, and enjoying the samba in the sunshine – it really lit up East Street and put smiles on people’s faces.

Next up for Share Bristol Bedminster is a partnership with Bristol Business and Enterprise Support (BrisBES) to provide free advice and support for existing and new entrepreneurs – encouraging mutual support and sharing of ideas and innovations to inject fresh energy into the local economy.

Bristol residents keen to know more about creating, running, growing or sustaining a business – of any sort and size – can register to get access to grants, one-to-one coaching, training workshops, networking events and online resources. From basic business plans, finances and marketing to specialist help with social media and low-carbon working, BrisBES has got it covered – and all at no charge.

Supporting the Bedminster business community in this way is new for Share Bristol, but sustainable businesses are the lifeblood of local communities. We’ve shown that it’s possible to increase the numbers of people visiting places like East Street, and to extend the times when these are lively, interesting and attractive places to be. So now we’re boosting confidence from the other direction – through the shops, eateries and other services that residents need.

This new partnership is about using our local presence, skills and facilities to reach out to anyone in the area who already runs a business, needs help to make it thrive, or wants to begin something completely new. We hope Bedminster’s business people and budding entrepreneurs will take advantage of the amazing support that’s available.

It’s free to register for BrisBES’s support. Visit Bristol Business Enterprise Support to find out more and check out upcoming events at the Share Bristol Bedminster’s Community Hub.