City Funds invested £300k in Bristol Together
Bristol Together is a Community Interest Company that provides full-time, living wage jobs for recently released prisoners, by building new homes and redeveloping and refurbishing existing properties.
Ex-offenders are employed full-time on a minimum of the National Living Wage for up to 2 years and are trained in a variety of building trades, learning on the job and being mentored and supported by experienced tradespeople and Bristol Together staff.
Once a property is developed, it is sold, typically to a local housing association for affordable rented accommodation or sometimes on the open market.
All profits are reinvested into the next project. Once an individual is ready to leave, Bristol Together help them to find ongoing further employment or self-employment in the industry.
BBRC invested £300,000 in Bristol Together to build affordable homes for local people in Knowle West on Tavistock Road, on a site that was formerly occupied by a derelict boxing gym, that had been unused for some time.
Knowle West is among the top 10% most deprived areas in England, according to the 2019 Index of Multiple Deprivation. Social Housing is particularly needed in the area.
Photo: Bristol Together
Bristol Together employed 5 ex-offender staff on the project at any given time, and a total of 10 over the course of the project. During this time they have worked shoulder-to-shoulder with site supervisors and skilled trades people, learning a wide range of construction skills.
The new apartments will be sold to a local Housing Association so that they can be offered to members of the local community as affordable rented accommodation.
“City Funds has been a key part in rolling out this new strategy – as a local investor City Funds has been able to connect us with the right people at the right time.
I can honestly say that this project wouldn’t have happened without City Funds’ involvement.”
Paul Morgan, Bristol Together, Managing Director
Deal Overview
Business name: Bristol Together
Website: bristoltogether.co.uk
Impact theme: Decent Work & Economic Growth, Sustainable Cities & Communities
Amount of investment: £300,000