Features / Help Bristol's Homeless
Transformation of empty Bedminster site for homeless
A skip sits in the middle of the barren Spring Street site, where piles of rubble await clearing from the rusty-coloured concrete ground.
This little council-owned plot nestled in the shadow of Victoria Park may not look like much yet, but the directors of Help Bristol’s Homeless have big ambitions for the site that is to be transformed into a safe accommodation complex to help rough sleepers off the streets.
Jasper Thompson is the brains behind the operation that started in 2017, when he – and volunteers – turned their first shipping container into a self-contained home for a homeless person.
is needed now More than ever
“We have about 12 weeks to get off the Malago Road site and onto this one,” he said on Friday morning.
“I want to make it really nice and now we have big players on board, things can get moving.”
Jasper is on the lookout for volunteers and financial donations
Help Bristol’s Homeless – which gained full charity status early this year – has a five-year lease on the site and intend to install at least 15 shipping containers to provide self-contained homes for up to a year, as well as a restaurant and training facility, and the converted bus that provides emergency accommodation for 12 people.
A number of companies, including EDF Energy, Ecotricity, Barrett Homes, Burgess Salmon, OVO, Oregon 3, Balfour Beatty, Green heat, Rollo Homes and Cleverley Builders have pledged support to get things up and running.
The plan is to transform the site over the next three months
An artists’ impression of the finished site
“We want people to come down and help plant and stuff,” says Jasper, gesturing at a spot where the team plans to create a garden.
“It needs to be just like a home for everybody – that will be a great achievement.”
Gesturing at the far wall, he points out where the restaurant will go and revealed plans to also use the space as a classroom for training and practical courses in first aid, cooking and more.
There will also be a large container with supplies such as clean sleeping bags for people on the streets unable to get a space in the accommodation.
“Ecotricity are doing solar paneling on top of the containers for the site,” he continues, “we are trying to minimise the carbon footprint and keep it as eco-friendly as possible. We will have on-site recycling and minimum food waste – we just need companies to engage with us.”
Explaining more about the ethos behind the project, Jasper adds: “What we are trying to do with Help Bristol’s Homeless is get homeless to help other homeless. They’ve lived it so they have knowledge of what it’s like being on the street.”
He believes this is key to tackling the city’s homelessness crisis, rather than a top-down approach, as he reveals that the charity gets calls on a daily basis about emergency accommodation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRdXkHRVVu8
The charity has launched an ambitious fundraiser to generate £100,000 for the development of Spring Street.
As Jasper praises the generosity of people in Bristol who have supported the charity’s work, his phone rings. It’s a comedian calling about a fundraiser gig he is holding for Help Bristol’s Homeless.
It’s an ambitious target, but with the collective will to make it a success, Jasper and his team are optimistic about the future of the project.
To find out more and donate, visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/helpbristolshomeless?utm_id=1&utm_term=AV7qw98BQ
Help Bristol’s Homeless has a five year lease on the site
Read more: Breakfast with Bristol24/7: Jasper Thompson
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
