Ward profiles 2021: Hartcliffe & Withywood – ‘The community spirit is just amazing’

The Withywood Centre may be closed to the public but it’s still busy behind the scenes, where volunteers are sorting boxes of essential supplies.

“There’s been such phenomenal generosity, we were overwhelmed by how much people gave,” says one of the volunteers with Carpenter’s Food Bank, which provides goods for those who are struggling to make ends meet.

The existence of the emergency support system is both an indication of the challenges faced in an area that has more than its fair share of deprivation and the community spirit that sees people look out for each other.

Fran Begley of South Bristol Advice Services is also based in the Withywood Centre. She grew up down the road in Hartcliffe and has run the service for the last 25 years, providing free support for people seeking help with welfare benefits and debt.

“A lot of people will band together and do things for each other,” confirms Fran.

She says it is a wonderful place to live and work, with beautiful views over Dundry Hill, but there is no escaping the fact that there is a lot of poverty in the area and the impact of the pandemic has hit many people hard.

“Work in this area is low paid, there are a lot of zero-hour contracts,” Fran tells Bristol24/7. “Things happening down in Southville don’t really affect jobs here. It was thought the ring road and airport access would bring more jobs, but they haven’t.

She believes the poor job prospects have also impacted people’s health, both physically – with the historical reliance on the tobacco factories and asbestos-ridden workplaces – and on mental health.

Fran Begley of South Bristol Advice Services says people look out for each other in Hartcliffe & Withywood

According to Bristol City Council’s quality of life survey, only 69 per cent of the population in Hartcliffe & Withywood say they are in good health, compared to a citywide average of 88 per cent, and premature mortality is significantly worse than the Bristol average.

But Fran says people pull together, adding: “We try to help each other out and put people first.”

Down on Gatehouse Avenue, Merchants’ Academy is quiet on Tuesday afternoon at the start of the Easter holidays, as is The Gatehouse on Hareclive Road, which would be a bustling community hub in non-Covid times.

Wilmott Park runs through the centre of Hartcliffe

“Want a loaf of bread?” Asks a man at the door of Fulford House on Fulford Road. Here, the former pub premises are operating as a grocery store and a steady number of people are coming in for their basics.

Landlord Clive Milkins says the grocery side of the business has been going for more than ten years but he has no plans to reopen the pub itself for the foreseeable future. The property is currently up for sale and its future remains unknown.

Bread and supplies are available at Fulford House

Where traditional community hubs such as pubs and youth centres have been lost, grassroots initiatives have sprung up to try and fill their place – from football sessions to mental health support charities, community meals and festivals (at least before the pandemic hit).

But long-term resident and Labour councillor candidate Kerry Bailes would like to see people in the neighbourhood benefit from proper investment in facilities and hopes it will be chosen as the location for the new multi-million-pound youth centre set to be built in south Bristol.

“Kids in this area have been let down so much and they deserve so much more,” Kerry tells Bristol24/7.

It is hoped Hartcliffe City Farm will also get a new lease of life after the people behind Windmill Hill City Farm and Heart of BS13, a charity addressing health and environmental problems in south Bristol for more than 30 years, agreed to take it on.

Hartcliffe City Farm is set to be taken on by new south Bristol charities

Speaking about the area in general, Kerry continues: “What I love is the community spirit, it’s just amazing. There’s a small group of women who went out of their way to make Christmas and Easter special and they do it all off their own backs.

“I have moved quite a bit and the amount of times I’ve needed a bed or something when I have nothing and people will just help.”

Kerry is not afraid to speak up on issues she feels are important, including the rights of families with children with special educational needs and disabilities. She also campaigned against the decision of the Labour administration not to raise council rents, arguing a small rise is needed to pay for essential repairs.

She will stand alongside Labour’s Helen Holland and Paul Goggin – who both currently represent the ward. For the Greens, Sam Marshall Evans, Alexander Sinclair-Lack and Jasmine Tribe will be contesting the ward seat.

The @Symes building that hosts the library, Hartcliffe community bus and more is currently closed to the public

All photos by Ellie Pipe

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