Bristol North West Action
Working with local people and organisations to build community campaigning power.
We are Bristol North West Action, a group of food bank community campaigners, many who have used the Foodbank, supporting others in our community experiencing hunger and hardship. Our aim is to:
Build Community Campaigning Power
We strive to reduce food bank use locally by creating systems change campaigns that tackle the drivers of poverty.
Work with Local People and Organisations
We collaborate with supportive organisations and individuals, as well as other campaign groups across the city to influence decision makers and create movements for change.
Build Organising Skills
We are equipping people in our community with the skills to identify systemic issues, propose solutions, develop campaign strategies, identify targets and plan actions. We often meet with local politicians, attend Council meetings and run PR actions.
Understand Issues that are Driving Food Bank Use
As food bank staff, volunteers and clients we are uniquely positioned to understand the key drivers of food bank use. We use data, surveys and conversations in food banks to understand the issues most impacting our community.
We are seeing a broader range of people than ever before in our food banks, especially people in work, young parents and families. Issues are broad, complex and layered. The most common issues include social security, housing, debts and cost of living.
Reduce Poverty by Creating Systems Change Campaigns
Our campaigns aim to reduce hardship and improve the lives of people who are forced to use the food bank. Our campaigns are informed and decided by the community, our current campaigns include:
Bus Pass Campaign:
The cost of bus travel being a significant barrier to day to day life for people using the food bank. We are asking The West of England Combined Authority Mayor, Helen Godwin to help people who facing severe hardship to access vital transport services.
Objectives:
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Gain Free Bus Travel Support for people who are using food bank.
*Updates: We have gained support from MPs and local leaders including Cllr Ed Plowden, Damien Egan MP, Claire Hazelgrove MP and the acting Bishop for Bristol RT Revd Neil Warwick.
Each of these local leaders has reached out to Helen Godwin to influence her to repurpose funds saved from national bus schemes to fund a 6 month pilot to deliver pass tickets to food bank users.
Night Storage Heaters
The inefficiency of heating systems in Council Homes in Bristol means that residents are unable to afford to heat their homes. We need Bristol City Council to bring forward proposed upgrades so that heating is efficient, affordable, environmentally friendly and easy to use.
Objectives:
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Update expensive night storage heaters in council properties to efficient, environmentally friendly and affordable alternatives.
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Give residents of council homes an opportunity to take part in decision-making.
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Improve energy literacy and information given to council residents so that they are able to use heating systems effectively.
*Updates: We have successfully, working alongside Cllr Zoe Peat and Centre for Sustainable Energy, passed an Energy Literacy Motion on Tuesday the 8th of September at City Hall. This motion fulfils our 3rd objective in that it will ensure that information on support on economical use of heating will be more varied, accessible and proactive. Read more here, including our statements of support.
In addition, a number of members have successfully joined Bristol City Council's High Rise Living Group, which meets every 6 weeks to discuss issues related to living in high-rise buildings, and holding the Council accountable for supporting tenants.
