Bridges for Communities has remained up and running during the Covid-19 pandemic, acting within the Government guidelines.

Most of our programmes have been able to go online / over the phone, including b.friend, RefuLingua and Middle East b.friend. Volunteers and staff are continuing to provide support to those who are isolated, and some new initiatives have begun in response to the crisis and to the Black Lives Matter movement including Bristol School Linking, Walk With Me, and Face Masks being produced by our Craft Collective. 

We are currently recruiting volunteers to join our 'Walk With Me' programme. ‘Walk With Me’ matches local volunteers to refugees and asylum seekers in Bristol for a weekly walk together. The location, pace and length of walk are agreed by each partnership, and where possible same genders will be matched.
Volunteers receive online training around basic health and safety involved in planning and participating in a walk, cultural issues, supporting English learning and safeguarding.
Walking partnerships will provide an opportunity to meet someone new, promote regular exercise which will benefit physical and mental health, and provide an opportunity to practise spoken English and explore a neighbourhood or new places.
Support is offered to both the volunteer and the refugee / asylum seeker to set up the first walk, ensuring both parties know and agree to the expectations. The volunteer will then be responsible to initiate weekly walks after that, until the end of the summer.

COVID government guidelines are to be followed by the partnership at all times, and both partners must be 18 years old or over.

If you would like to become a volunteer walking partner, please email  to express your interest and receive the link for the training call, or to ask any questions.

The training session will be on Tuesday 16th March 2021, 7.30-9pm. 

If you would like to buy a face mask made by our Craft Collective, and give one away for free to someone in need, click here! 

New Year, new you! Fancy doing something practical, fun and positive in 2022? Why not join the Craft Collective? We started on 15th January, but it's not too late to join in with a small group of refugee and asylum-seeking women who are learning to sew, and build some new friendships in the process. Email angie.mack@bridgesforcommunities.com for more details.

Join us at Zion Bristol Community Café in Bedminster Down, to celebrate Bristol Refugee Festival with a delicious Sudanese feast cooked by our guest chef Negla from Food Without Borders!

The wonderful Jess will be sharing the story of Zion Community Café, and we'll be hearing from other guest speakers too. Live music is by Soufian Saihi.

Food will be halal and a vegetarian option will be available - click for more details of the menu.

Adult tickets are £10, children £5, and there is the option to purchase a 'Pay it Forward' ticket to enable somebody else to attend who would otherwise not be able to. 

This group walk is part of Bristol Refugee Festival, and is by invitation only. 

For more information, please email