More than 63,000 individuals have participated in activities related to the Bristol Impact Fund!
A significant number of individuals throughout the city have gained from a funding initiative designed to assist organizations in Bristol that are focused on addressing inequality.
During its second phase, referred to as BIF2, the Bristol Impact Fund has engaged over 63,000 residents from various parts of Bristol in activities supported by grants, with 20% of participants hailing from the most disadvantaged communities.
Findings from an independent assessment conducted by JEM Associates indicate that organizations funded by BIF2 positively influence the quality of life for those they serve. This impact is reflected in improvements to mental health and wellbeing, increased knowledge and awareness of rights, as well as enhanced social connections.
Councillor Stephen Williams, Chair of the Public Health and Communities Committee, said: “Bristol has a diverse network of organisations with longstanding, trusted, and important connections to people and communities across our city. More citizens are seeking the support and services from voluntary and community organisations, but funding is stretched to the limit.
“We are consulting community and voluntary organisations on the approach to the third round of the Bristol Impact Fund program (BIF3) with a proposed budget of £8 million over four years.”
Bristol City Council is suggesting that the strategy for the upcoming Bristol Impact Fund’s third round (BIF3), scheduled from April 2026 to March 2030, be formulated based on insights gained from an independent assessment of BIF2.
The second phase of the fund has contributed to strengthening voluntary and community organizations by ensuring they possess the necessary resources to maximize their effectiveness.
In just the initial two years of this program, funded entities have secured over £5.2 million in additional funding for the city and generated opportunities for more than 3,100 volunteers who collectively provided upwards of one million hours of service, valued at approximately £15.3 million.
A spokesperson for Hartcliffe City Farm, a beneficiary of BIF2, said: “The grant has enabled direct employment for local people, delivery of services for the community and contributed to outcomes of greater wellbeing and resilience for the neighbourhood.
“The returns on this investment go well beyond those that are immediately apparent and captured in monitoring reports.”
The report from JEM Associates concludes that there are many positive but hard to evidence ripple effects throughout the communities that BIF2 invests into. A final evaluation will be published at the end of the BIF2’s grant period in 2026.
To have your say on how we deliver BIF3, please complete this consultation: https://bit.ly/3ZzoZjf
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