Issues faced by all are often amplified for the LGBTQ+ communities. Soaring rents have posed a challenge for many people, adding to the cost-of-living pressures coming from many different directions. For young people the affordability and availability of places to live have stripped them of options. Shared accommodation, or HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation), can […]

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At Caring in Bristol the idea of fighting homelessness without the support of our incredible volunteers is unthinkable. They are part of the DNA of our organisation, not least because volunteers kickstarted and supported it from the very beginning. Although many Bristolians may be familiar with the Caring at Christmas project, some may not realise […]

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Throughout Caring in Bristol’s projects, our workers think about mental health every day; not just during Mental Health Awareness Week (13th to 19th May, 2024). We’ve seen first-hand the devastation caused by homelessness, and the impact it has on mental health. The burden of homelessness and insecure housing situations is a terrible weight to bear. […]

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Two firmly held ideas at Caring in Bristol are that homelessness is not inevitable, and homelessness is an issue for everyone. It can be hard to know how to get involved in the fight against it, and we all have a different capacity to do so. Solution One organisation that is connecting people in Bristol […]

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Following 2023’s busiest ever Caring at Christmas project, we’ve taken a look at our feedback and monitoring systems to look at the project’s impact. We’ve put together some of the key areas of impact in a report. You can download a PDF of the 2023 Caring at Christmas Impact Report here. We’re grateful to all […]

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Winter brings added pressure to people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity, harsher weather bringing higher costs which can be impossible to meet, and unimaginable living conditions for people who are sleeping rough. It means we work harder to reach more people, helping them to move away from a homelessness crisis. Our teams of staff and […]

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Ravers2Runners are not just taking steps towards finding solutions for homelessness in Bristol, they’re running them! Founded by Jo Bryan-Smith, the group began with a weekly run around Bristol Harbourside with just a few people who had started to run more and rave less. Running provided an exhilarating outlet, with a shared bond based on […]

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Z House, our new emergency youth shelter, isn’t just bricks and mortar. The plans for these were finalized some months ago, and our building team are now in and hard at work. Everyday, a little more progress, taking us towards the early spring when the shelter can open its doors and do what it’s meant […]

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Week in, week out, staff and volunteers at Caring in Bristol work in many ways to move the city closer to solving homelessness. This might involve supporting individuals to navigate their way through complex systems that feel like barriers to a solution. Or it might be working with colleagues in other organisations or sectors to […]

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Before winter sets in, we wanted to share an insight into our busy summer period. It’s been a time of positive change and growth for Caring in Bristol. Imminent youth shelter Many of you kindly supported our appeal to help establish Bristol’s only dedicated youth shelter. We’re excited to tell you that this is now […]

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For those on the brink of homelessness, there are many mountains to climb. In a city experiencing a housing crisis, two such challenges are soaring rents, and demand for affordable accommodation outstripping supply. Caring in Bristol works to support people surmounting these challenges. In turn, we are supported by people, such as the intrepid team […]

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Solving homelessness in Bristol involves the whole of the city. A growing number of caring businesses here agree, including two much-loved independent businesses who have not only collaborated with us, but also with each other. Award winning restaurant COR and private hire firm Veezu are now raising vital funds and awareness to help deliver our […]

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Caring in Bristol is currently running an appeal to support the new emergency youth shelter due to open its doors later this year. With plans fully in place, we’re laser-focused on making sure that the service is effective from day one; it will fill a gap in resources for vulnerable young Bristolians, enabling them to […]

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Here’s our Bristol Pride 2023 photo album where we made a lot of noise with The Grit Awards. The awards were originally developed for Bristol Harbour Festival by our Early Doors homelessness prevention project, in collaboration with Bristol-based artist Rachael Clerke to shine a light on Bristol’s housing crisis. We spent the day sharing information […]

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Mel and Alv, both workers at Caring in Bristol, make the connection between a key time in LGBTQ+ history and an exciting new project that they are working on. Here they share their thoughts in their own words… “As Bristol prepares to celebrate Pride we take look into LGBTQ+ history and find links with our […]

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One of our Bristol Goods volunteers, Derrick, talks about his volunteering. In his words, “It’s a bit like stitching things together. Different parts of your life start to come together.” Volunteers have always been critical to Caring in Bristol’s work in pushing back against the causes of homelessness in Bristol. They bring a diversity of skills […]

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You may have seen BBC News reporting on Bristol’s HomeChoice system this week. This is the city’s social housing allocations process recently reviewed by Bristol City Council. Our Early Doors project worked alongside their coproduction group of residents from BS13 to feed into the now-concluded consultation. BBC News reported that new restrictions highlighted in the […]

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As the wintery weather recedes it would be easy to think that the homelessness situation in Bristol is somewhat easier. It’s true that being forced out onto the street by a broken housing system is even harsher during winter months, and fuel poverty has driven many towards homelessness. However, homelessness is complex. Our work is […]

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No information. Zero advice. Missing support. Losing hope. It’s hard to imagine facing the growing menace of homelessness in such an isolated position. What’s worse is that the push of circumstances forcing people into homelessness invariably gets worse. There’s never a point that is too soon to take action, and Caring in Bristol’s Early Doors […]

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Last year, with a rapidly changing situation pushed by the cost-of living crisis, we made the difficult decision to pause preparations for our youth shelter. We’ve used that time to create a stronger evidence-based foundation, and secure specialist funding to make the project viable in the current operating environment. Some of you will remember Mel […]

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At Caring in Bristol we regularly reflect on our work to ensure that what we do is needed and effective. Our Caring at Christmas project, a key aspect of our winter work, is a huge and complex operation involving specialist staff and over 450 volunteers. The hard work of creating a day centre and home […]

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The people of Hartcliffe have told us that there is a real need for a regular housing advice and support drop in. Our homelessness prevention project, Early Doors, has worked with Housing Matters (Formerly CHAS) and Shelter Bristol to make this happen along with Hartcliffe and Withywood Community Partnership. What is a ‘Housing Drop-In’? A […]

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It’s that time in January when we take down the Christmas tree and pack away the decorations. This year at our Caring at Christmas project at the Trinity Centre, the Christmas tree took on a special significance, reminding us of the care and dedication that our volunteers express. Gavin has been volunteering with the project […]

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We’re counting down! Bristol’s Big Christmas Dinner, part of our Caring at Christmas programme is almost about to be served. There have been many amazing donors who have helped us to move closer to our goal of making a place at the table for everyone who needs it. They know that an operation of its […]

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Making our short film to support Bristol’s Big Christmas Dinner was an opportunity for us to explore the different kinds of homelessness in our city, as well as conveying the impact that all our Caring at Christmas activities make. Working with the inspiring and creative team at Bristol’s Under The Wing Productions we told the […]

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For three decades Caring at Christmas has pulled out all the stops to make sure people experiencing homelessness are not left out in the cold throughout the festive period. This year it will feature Bristol’s Big Christmas Dinner, making sure that more people than ever have a place at the table. It’s the biggest Christmas […]

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Our Caring at Christmas project was a great success. With the support of our amazing donors, business and catering partners, staff and volunteers we provided some of the most vulnerable people in Bristol with a warm welcome, support and restaurant quality food. It was our aim that no one should be left out in the […]

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We meet our Early Doors Coproduction Group who share some of the work they have been doing in response to Bristol City Council’s HomeChoice consultation. The HomeChoice system in Bristol is a housing allocation scheme, and the way those registered can find out about and bid for available social homes in the city. They explain […]

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UPDATE: Please see our handbooks page for latest updated versions of our handbooks! Hot off the presses is the latest edition of our Caring Handbook. Compiled with up-to-date information for 2022/23, the handbook is a valuable resource for people who are experiencing homelessness. The information is there to point towards services and facilities in Bristol […]

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Taking and managing risks is an important part of our lives. Often this is done in crisis situations, and other points in our lives where we might feel out of control. This is the experience of many young people. For some it can lead to further issues, but for others it can lead to courage […]

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