How we’re going to make a Better Bristol
Bristol is an amazing city. It’s where Ribena was invented, and the first ever bungee jump took place off the Suspension Bridge. It’s a colourful city full of artists and creatives, brimming with excitement and innovation. But it’s also a severely divided city, the Runnymede Report found, where not everyone has easy access to its cultural bounty.
This is where our video partner Bristol24/7 are stepping in. They’re launching Better Bristol, an initiative that’s aiming to get Bristol businesses together to create a positive, meaningful change across the whole city. As a community interest company, and one of the biggest media outlets in Bristol, they are in a strong position to sit at the centre of a strong network of businesses that are striving for social change in the city.
We are proud to be working with them as a Founding Member of the Better Bristol project. We share with them a commitment to telling interesting stories and a desire for a more open-minded and integrated society.
We’ve worked with them over the last two years and have been part of some great campaigns, such as the Voices247 series and the Young Chefs Program, that connected with many parts of Bristol.
We also worked with them on our in-depth documentary about the LGBTQ+ community in Bristol: ‘Talking LGBT+ Bristol’. The film features interviews with people from across that community, and through moving and charming accounts, takes in their historic strides towards equality and progression.
Managing Director of Bristol24/7, Ben Wright, said of the film, “At the heart of our social impact agenda are our core values of investment, inspiration and inclusion. Talking LGBT+ Bristol encapsulates these values and hopes to inspire communities and celebrate Bristol’s diversity through storytelling, giving a voice for all.”
The film had an incredible distribution around the city, including a screening at Better Bristol partner Watershed cinema and on a large outdoor screen at Millennium Square during the city’s Pride celebration. It was featured on BBC local news show, Points West, where our CEO Jake was interviewed alongside Bristol Pride organisers Daryn Carter and Cheryl Morgan.
Being a part of Better Bristol will help us tell important stories for and about the city. It will connect businesses and communities across Bristol, forging new relationships and strengthening existing ones. Via engagement in schemes such as mentoring and sponsorship, Better Bristol has the ultimate aim of amplifying ALL voices across the city.
At Tusko, giving back to the community we make films about is really important to us. We’ve previously sponsored a kids football tournament in partnership with Community of Purpose. It was set up to support local youth teams and bring young people from different parts of the city together, when their paths might not normally cross.
So we’re really excited to be involved with this new initiative and see the positive impact it’s going to have.
Other founding members on the scheme come from a wide variety of industries across Bristol. They include: UWE Bristol, Wapping Wharf, Colston Hall (Bristol Music Trust), Bristol Beer Factory, Clifton College, O2 Academy Bristol, Steele Financial, and Watershed among others.
As Bristol24/7’s video partners, we’re looking forward to seeing what impact this bold vision of collaborative, inclusive businesses will have on the city.
We’re excited to tell more amazing stories about Bristol with them next year and beyond. Watch this space!
HOW TUSKO FEELS THIS WEEK…
