Award-winning social enterprise Community of Purpose, which supports hundreds of local families each year, is fundraising to expand a wheel-y vital service. The Driving Bristol Forward campaign is asking twenty businesses to donate £2,000 each to fund a new van, which will be used to deliver their transformative programmes to even more kids.
Community of Purpose has been making a difference in Bristol since 2016, and provides an essential safety net for young people in disadvantaged areas. The Break Free holiday club has become a staple for families who might otherwise struggle during the school holidays, with more children signing up each year for the activities, day trips and nutritious free meals on offer.
Other projects are designed to boost confidence, raise aspirations and break down cultural and social divides. The Bristol Together Championships bring together young people from different postcodes and primary schools for a sporting tournament, culminating in a trip to Bordeaux. Participants speak the universal language of football, and build friendships across the racial, class, geographical, and faith boundaries that can sow division within the city.
The team at Community of Purpose are making a transformative impact on the lives of kids in Bristol, but founder and CEO Amy Kington wants to do even more to improve social mobility and inclusivity.
Amy said: “Young people in Bristol face real challenges, from hunger during school holidays to knife crime and cyber bullying. They deserve the same access to activities and experiences as children from more privileged backgrounds.
“Programmes like Break Free and the Bristol Together Championships provide a safe, supportive place to spend time, learn new skills and just enjoy being kids again. A new van will allow us to transport food, equipment, and volunteers without taking up vital room on the vehicle we already have. By donating, you’ll help us to keep our foot on the pedal when it comes to our work with young people.”
This isn’t the first time that Community of Purpose have fundraised for a new vehicle. Business who donated towards the last Driving Bristol Forward campaign have fuelled the future of the social enterprise by helping to expand its reach.
Lucelia Lucas, Finance Director at JeffWay Group, explained why they felt inspired to get involved: “The Jeffway Group has always chosen to support charities that we have a personal connection with. As a business based in South Bristol, we’re singing from the rooftops about the work of Community of Purpose. They do so much to uplift local children, many of whom face challenges.
“The van we helped to buy is having an immediate impact – we can see exactly how our donation was used to improve a vital service. It’s fantastic to know that we’re giving back to the community on our front door in a really tangible way.”
Any business that supports this campaign will see their logo printed on the side of the new van. They will also be invited to spend a day volunteering with Community of Purpose, to see the impact of their donation firsthand.
Mark Burland, Director of First Class Comms, described why his business chose to donate:
“There are so many important causes to support in Bristol, but the work of Community of Purpose keeps drawing us back. They make a huge impact on the lives of young people and families.
“Supporting the campaign for a new van to help transport the kids was a no-brainer. When we heard that Amy was looking for 20 companies to give £2,000 each, we knew that this was a way for us to make a big difference with a relatively small donation.
“I’ve actually seen the van we helped to purchase driving around Bristol, and felt immense pleasure and pride to see our logo on the side.”
Amy Kington shared her message to any businesses keen to support the campaign:
“This is a fantastic opportunity to help accelerate impactful and important youth programmes. By investing in a new vehicle, you’re also investing in the next generation of Bristolians. Join us on our journey to transform young lives!”