Learnings of the Bristol Warm Welcome Network: Hope in Bristol

The Bristol Warm Welcome Network has revealed not just the power of individual spaces, but also the sheer breadth of provision that exists across our city. Bristol is blessed with an extraordinary range of organisations, charities, and community groups serving diverse needs. Yet that very abundance brings a challenge: how do we keep track of it all, avoid working in silos, and make sure people can find the right support at the right time?

The importance of cross-sector partnership has already been highlighted in our conversations on mentoring and one-to-one support. It’s also at the heart of approaches like the “myteamaroundme” model, which reminds us that the services in a person’s life must be coordinated if they are to bring about lasting change.

Other cities are showing us what’s possible. In Swansea, for instance, the Hope in Swansea app acts as a one-stop shop for all local support services. It allows users to search by theme or geography and find the help they need - whether that’s a warm space, a food bank, or a specialist service. Organisations benefit too, since they can see what else is happening and signpost more effectively. Crucially, the app is kept up to date, with providers prompted regularly to review their information and a verification team ensuring quality. The fact that the local council and police have equipped their staff with the app shows just how valuable it has become.

Accessibility is also front of mind. While the app is digital, steps are being taken to ensure that people without smartphones can still access the information - including exploring touchpads in public places like train stations.

For us in Bristol, the Hope in Swansea story is both inspiring and practical. It shows how a city can bring together its diversity of provision into something coherent and usable, for residents and organisations alike. Partnership not only deepens the impact for each individual but also widens it, introducing people to forms of support they might never have considered.

As we explore whether a similar model could work here, one thing feels certain: the more we recognise, celebrate, and connect with the diversity of what’s already happening in Bristol, the more hope we will see in our city.

To explore anything in this blog post further please do not hesitate to reach out to alisha.palmer@goodfaith.org.uk