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Bristol Ferry Boats to star in short film
The blue and yellow vessels will be a familiar sight to most in the city, but now Bristol Ferry Boats are sailing into the national spotlight.
The unique collective that runs services and educational outreach activities throughout the year is starring in a new short film as part of a country-wide campaign to promote Community Business Weekend, which takes place from May 16-19.
Power to Change, an independent trust that supports community businesses, is behind the film, which follows Roisin Tobin and her team of staff and volunteers who work 364 days a year to connect disparate communities through their ferry service, education and volunteering.
The film follows Roisin Tobin and her team of staff and volunteers
Bristol Ferry Boats collective was formed after the private company running the service ran into difficulty in 1977. A group of residents took over to save the ferry by expanding the service to include a huge range of arts and wellbeing events, all hosted from the boat.
“It connects the disparate communities of Bristol – using the ferry boats as a platform to connect those communities,” explains Bristol Ferry Boats’ community outreach worker Kim Fielding.
Alongside the timetabled ferry service, the team now run regular educational and arts-based activities to tackle issues such as isolation, loneliness and mental health. A food service is also offered to reflect Bristol’s multi-cultural heritage.
The two-minute film is being released in the run-up to the national open doors event, aimed an encouraging people to learn more about the benefits of community-led business and how they can get involved.
Bristol Ferry Boats works to connect disparate communities
In 2018, more than 17,000 people visited 225 community businesses over the course of the event. Many of these visitors are now volunteers, regular customers and even shareholders of those businesses.
To mark this year’s Community Business Weekend, Bristol Ferry Boats are preparing to unveil a series of special events including; a Somalian Street Kitchen, the premiere of a new piece children’s theatre focusing on mental health challenges and a piano recital all onboard the boats.
Speaking about weekend, Power to Change CEO Vidhya Alakeson said: “The beauty of community business is that anyone can get involved, from setting one up, to becoming a shareholder, trustee, volunteer, employee or valued customer.
“One of our core priorities at Power to Change is to help communities to harness the skills, leadership and entrepreneurialism that already exist at the local level.
“Community Business Weekend is a great way to both celebrate and uncover the skills that can bring vibrancy and economic growth to local areas.”
Read more: Ferries at forty
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