What we do / Community Climate & Nature Action / Bristol network and advocates
Bristol network and advocates
Advocating for community-led climate and nature action in Bristol.
Bristol Community Climate & Nature Action Network
The network is a thriving ’community of practice’ made up of representatives from 30+ community; climate & nature and equity organisations, who all have experience of, and an interest in, community-led climate and nature action which makes life better for local people.
The network aims to: champion priorities from community climate & nature action plans, engage with strategic climate and nature projects, policies and organisations, and provide a space for peer learning and the development of skills, leadership and collective action on community climate & nature.
Get in touch if you’d like to connect with the network.
Image © ShamPhat Photography
Network members
Community members: Ambition Lawrence Weston, BRICKS, Bristol Older People’s Forum, Eastside Community Trust, Gloucester County Cricket Club, Heart of BS13, Hillfields Community Garden, Hotwells and Clifton Wood Community Association, Knowle West Media Centre, Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust, One Green Kitchen, Redcatch Community Garden, Rising Arts Agency, Shirehampton Action, Southmead Development Trust and Windmill Hill City Farm.
Equity members: ACH, Black South West Network, Emma Geen, Ruth Nortey, Voscur and WECIL.
Climate & Nature Action members: Avon Wildlife Trust, Bristol Energy Network, Centre for Sustainable Energy and the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust.
Strategic members: Bristol City Council, Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership, University of the West of England and the West of England Combined Authority.
Community advocates
The community advocates are a group of paid community experts from community organisations across the city. They have diverse experience of community-led climate and nature action, and valuable insights into just transition and community engagement. Advocates come together throughout the year for monthly meetings (excluding August and December) and their role includes:
- championing CCNA plans; priorities and model
- bringing diverse community insights to strategic climate and nature projects, polices; events and spaces
- peer mentoring support for new West of England community organisations
- developing new opportunities for the Bristol CCNA Network
- advocating for a just transition through the Community Leadership panel.
If you have a strategic climate, nature, just transition or resilience related opportunity and would like to connect with the community advocates please get in touch.
“Advocates are able to contribute to local, regional and national platforms and have their experience recognised, listened to and valued.”
Community advocate
Meet the Bristol advocates
Annali is a creative practitioner supporting communities to imagine change working at Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC) over the past 12+ years. KWMC is a charitable arts organisation bringing creative tech, arts and innovative practice into the local community. Annali is a mum and loves cycling and being outdoors.
Annali Grimes
Knowle West Media Centre
Eleanor is the Project Coordinator for Really Wild Lockleaze at Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust, which is championing community-led urban nature recovery. Eleanor lives in Lockleaze, and has been a lifelong climate, nature and community activist. She loves walking in nature with her dog, watching the wildlife in her pond, and sitting around fires. Eleanor shares the advocate role With Melissa.
Eleanor Fairbraida
Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust
Emma works on the disability strand of the Community Climate & Nature Action Project. She has a background in climate activism and creative writing. In her spare time Emma enjoys writing, improv and painting.
Emma Geen
Climate and Disability Advocate
Isabel is Climate Action Lead at Windmill Hill City Farm. She has 20 years’ experience working in community development, leading programmes and organisations, and raising funds to change lives and create space for nature. She recently set-up a pocket park on her street, is Co-Chair of BS3 Community Development and enjoys wild swimming and walking her dog.
Isabel Kearney
Windmill Hill City Farm
Kirsty is a lifelong BS13 resident and Community Development Manager at Heart of BS13, alongside her role as Labour Councillor for Hartcliffe and Withywood. Kirsty’s work focuses on tackling inequality, amplifying marginalised voices, and developing inclusive approaches to engagement that meet people where they are.
Kirsty Tait
Heart of BS13
Melissa is the CEO at Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust, the Community Hub for Lockleaze in North Bristol. They’re continuing to build their fantastic nature recovery project Really Wild Lockleaze and are always up for a cuppa and chat to discuss new projects. Mel is a big reader and loves listening to people talking about their creative work. Melissa shares the advocate role With Eleanor.
Melissa Blackburn
Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust
Sophie is the Community Connector and Climate Lead at Hillfields Community Garden, which she helped establish. She has a background in sustainability and responsible tourism. Sophie is passionate about growing an inclusive and resilient community. She loves gardening and exploring the west country.
Sophie Turnbull
Hillfields Community Garden
“The Community Climate & Nature Action project aligns well with the council’s just transition approach, including both how we engage with citizens about environmental issues and ensuring climate action at a city scale does not exacerbate existing inequalities rather reducing them. The project has had direct, positive impacts on community engagement and empowerment as well as practical climate and nature action in Bristol.”
Martin Fodor
Bristol City Council