‘It’s a place free of bias, with inclusivity at its core’

The first time I walked into Zion, it was 2015.

I was a new mum, I didn’t know too many people in the area as we’d only lived here a couple of years, and I was completely terrified.

My baby wouldn’t feed, and I’d heard about the breastfeeding support group that was held there every Friday.

I walked  in, and was met by a group of local women and a sense of calm. These women welcomed me in, sat with me and my baby, and offered help, advice, and a listening ear. It was everything I needed.

It’s a complete safe space, something that’s so needed – a place where all people can feel confident and welcomed – photo: Zion Community Art Space

Over the next seven years, Zion became a firm favourite. As a new mum, it was an ideal place to meet other young mums in the area. We’ve been to sing & rhyme and stay & play, the perfect sessions to take your little one and keep them entertained whilst enjoying some of the amazing coffee and cake.

As my son got older, we’ve taken advantage of the other things Zion offers, such as Halloween parties (a massive favourite with my ghost obsessed child!) and the massively popular Lego days, where he can build spaceships and warriors and let his imagination run completely wild.

As an adult, I’ve personally enjoyed the table top sale days they have there, where you can see all the local crafts and art produced by the local community.

It’s been an amazing place to meet neighbours, and the sense of community you get in there has only grown stronger over the years.

Throughout the pandemic, when restrictions allowed, it was so important to be able to meet friends and sit in the garden with a coffee and reconnect with people we had been unable to see for so long.

My dad has also enjoyed visiting the Memories Cafe they have on there for the elderly community. It really is a place for everyone to be able to use, and it’s so important to us.

Zion Community Art Space – photo: Zion Community Art Space

More recently, I’ve been able to use Zion as a place for work meetings for community projects. If it wasn’t there, I genuinely don’t know where we could have met instead, there isn’t another place like it around here.

It’s the ideal place to walk to, one of the only places we can meet locally without having to get in the car and drive!

As well as providing amazing food, from full English to vegan and gluten free options, Zion has catered for all in other ways.

It’s a complete safe space, something that’s so needed – a place where all people can feel confident and welcomed.

Zion Community Art Space – photo: Zion Community Art Space

It’s a place free of bias, with inclusivity at its core.

I personally feel like it would be a huge blow to Bedminster Down and its community’s future if it was lost.

So much has changed in Bedminster Down over the last ten years I have lived here. There are so many new faces and new parents within the area, and it’s a great place to raise a family.

But because of this, we need the facilities to support these families, and at the moment, there isn’t that much.

Zion is one of the only spaces we do have, and it would be a travesty if it ended up being bought by property developers and turned into yet more flats.

One of the great things about Bedminster Down is its sense of community, and that is exactly why we need Zion.

It’s the heart of our community, and if it goes, it will be devastating. I really hope the Community share works out and we don’t lose such an important asset to us all.

Main photo: Ellie Pipe

Read more: Much-loved venue to launch community share offer in bid to secure future

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