[BRISTOL, MARCH 2024] BSWN, a Black-led racial justice organisation that supports the development of dynamic, independent, and strong Black and Minoritised communities, businesses, and organisations, has been awarded £520,000 capital funding towards the refurbishment of the Coach House. Recently at risk of closure due to the need for urgent repair works, this funding helps to further its stated goal of transforming The Coach House into a regional Centre for Black Enterprise and Culture. The funding award from the Department of Levelling Up Homes and Communities comes with £50,000 of revenue funding to provide essential capacity to deliver the refurbishment project on time.
The Coach House has served the communities of St. Pauls for the last 100 years, and continuing its legacy aligns with BSWN’s strategic goals of inclusive growth and narrowing the gaps between racialised communities and society as a whole. BSWN’s project will not only save the Coach House as an asset for the community but also convert it into a centre of innovation, social enterprise, and cultural expression.
Photograph taken at a Coach House Community Consultation.
BSWN Director Sado Jirde said:
Photograph of Sado Jirde, Director at BSWN, at the UnMuseum Project Launch.
“We are thrilled with this funding award. It will enable us to save the Coach House from closure and transform it into a vital space serving the communities in which it is located. It will become a symbol of what is possible despite the innumerable barriers faced by Black and Racially Minoritised communities across the region.”
The funding forms part of the third round of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Community Ownership Fund, which has distributed £33.5million this month to save more than 80 community assets from closure or sale for commercial redevelopment. Jacob Young, Minister for Levelling Up, said: “We know how much these vital community assets mean to people across the country. They are an important lifeline for people young and old, and they’re the beating heart of our towns, cities and villages.”
BSWN Board Chair Marti Burgess said:
Photograph of Marti Burgess taken at BSWN’s Annual General Meeting in 2023.
“The Coach House is an important asset for the St. Pauls community. This funding will enable us to start on the refurbishment of the building and ensure that it is accessible to more people who can benefit from our programmes and initiatives, which are bringing out much-needed change, helping our community generate wealth and shifting the dial towards racial equality and justice. This is an exciting time for us, and I applaud the team for securing this funding.”
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Media Contact:
Communications@bswn.org.uk
About BSWN:
BSWN is a Black-led racial justice organisation based in Bristol that supports the development of dynamic, independent, and strong Black and Minoritised communities, businesses, and organisations to flourish whilst challenging systemic barriers. We drive racial equity in the UK society’s dimensions of research, policy, innovation, socio-economics, and health through a collective and meaningful community-led approach.