New community hub in Bristol promises to be a 'lifeline'

The Vassall Community Hub has emerged as a much-needed anchor for one of the Bristol’s most overlooked areas. Launched earlier this month, the event featured a ribbon-cutting by Great British Bake Off competitor Briony May Williams.

The new community centre, housed in the Vassall Centre on Gill Avenue, Fishponds, promises to be much more than a space for occasional events. It aims to be a foundation upon which local residents can build stronger, healthier lives.

Bristol Charities, with a history spanning 600 years, has long been dedicated to uplifting the city’s communities. Establishing the Vassall Community Hub represents a new chapter in this legacy, directly responding to a community in need.

Jasmine Williams, the hub’s marketing and communications coordinator, explained the motivations behind its creation: “The Vassall Community Hub is a natural extension of Bristol Charities’ 600-year commitment to serving Bristol’s communities.

"We identified Oldbury Court as an area that would benefit from additional community resources. The hub addresses several local needs through practical initiatives, including a food club offering affordable groceries, a family support programme, and a lunch club. We’re also offering grassroots grants to help residents develop their own community projects.”

At its core, the hub intends to be accessible to all, with inclusive programmes designed to foster community spirit and meet the demands of various age groups.

"The Vassall Community Hub is designed to be barrier-free and accessible to everyone," Jasmine said.

Inclusivity is a foundational principle, with programmes for young families, elder groups, and culturally specific activities like Bangladeshi women’s yoga. As a dynamic space in its early stages, the hub actively seeks input from the local community to further refine its offerings.

The realisation of the Vassall Hub was made possible through resilience funding from Bristol City Council. This financial support allowed Bristol Charities to convert a section of the Vassall Centre into an inviting, well-equipped space.

Jasmine said: “Community resilience funding has been crucial in transforming a section of the Vassall Centre into a welcoming community space. The funding enabled us to create distinct areas including a community kitchen, soft play facilities, and sensory spaces for children with special educational needs. We’ve invested in clear signage and equipment to ensure the hub feels different from a typical hired venue.”

The kitchen and play areas are just the beginning of the hub’s ambition to serve as a lifeline for the community. These facilities aim to bridge gaps in essential services. The soft play area addresses concerns from local schools about the lack of early play opportunities impacting children’s motor skills.

The community kitchen is home to the food club and hosts Secret Soup Society, providing free, fresh meals made from surplus produce—a service well-aligned with Bristol’s One City Food Equality Action Plan.

The hub partners with several organisations to create an interconnected network of support. Some of the partnerships extend to local schools, children's centres, and charities located within the Vassall Centre itself.

Jasmine said: “The hub acts as a bridge between the Vassall Centre’s charities and the local community, as demonstrated by our collaborative launch event. We provide a platform for these organisations to connect directly with people who need their services. A practical example of this collaboration is our café space, which is run by Props, one of our resident charities.”

By working together, the hub and its partners bring vital services directly to those who need them. For instance, the Children’s Centre refers families to the food club, and NHS social prescribing connects individuals to tailored hub activities. These partnerships mean that residents can access everything from family support workers stationed at local schools to community gardening and lunch clubs, all within one welcoming space.

Zoe Williams, the Community Hub manager, brings a personal dedication to her role. With a background in corporate marketing, she felt driven to make a difference in her community. Reflecting on her transition to the charity sector.

Zoe said: “I volunteered at surplus food charity FareShare South West, and eventually got a job there. In that role, I met so many inspiring people who were out in their communities, helping people every day and providing vital services, and I hoped I could do the same. Community hubs most simply, are places that bring people together, but that is so important – building community helps to stop loneliness, tackles poverty, and helps families get back on their feet.”

The hub represents a shared vision of growth and resilience, and for Zoe, it is an opportunity to create a tangible, lasting impact in Fishponds.

“Every day I am inspired by the amazing people who come into the hub,” she said. “If you haven’t been to your local hub lately, get down there and join in! You’re sure to feel the benefits.”

Bristol Charities is committed to the hub’s long-term success and sustainability. In a time when economic challenges can create barriers to community engagement, the Vassall Community Hub ensures that its programmes remain accessible. Most activities are free or pay-what-you-can, making the hub an affordable place for people to connect, learn, and grow.

Full details of activities and events can be found here, while a notice board by the Vassall Centre's main entrance displays weekly timetables. Local residents are encouraged to drop in to learn more about getting involved with services.

The ambitions for the hub are expansive. Jasmine explained: “Our vision centres on building strong local partnerships and enabling residents to lead activities they want to see happen. We’re already working closely with local schools, charities, and organisations, and developing networks focused on children and youth services. Based on community feedback, we plan to expand successful initiatives like our food club and introduce new services such as debt advice. The hub’s development will continue to be shaped by local needs and partnerships.”

The ultimate aim is to create a legacy of support and community cohesion, providing a model for future hubs throughout Bristol. Bristol Charities is already putting plans in place to launch a hub in Stockwood, working in partnership with the Greater Stockwood Alliance. Zoe says the impact of these hubs will start to be felt more widely in the community, helping to eliminate poverty in Fishponds, Stockwood, and beyond.

The launch of the Vassall Hub has already garnered the attention and support of notable figures, including Briony May Williams. Reflecting on the significance of community hubs, Briony said: “It’s fantastic to see such a welcoming, accessible space being created for the community, and I can’t wait to see all the wonderful activities and events planned. There is already some amazing work going on and I think community hubs like the Vassall Hub can make a really big difference to the lives of local people.”

For Briony, who remembers visiting the Vassall Centre as a child for prosthetic fittings, this project resonates personally. Her words encapsulate the community’s hopes for the hub and the positive changes it stands to make.

“The media can really help support initiatives like this one by raising awareness of the good work being done, and also inviting local people to come along and have their say about what is really important for them and their local community,” she added.