Warmest Season’s Greetings From Southmead Development Trust

Dear community members, partners, volunteers, and friends.

As we reach the end of the year, we send our warmest Season’s Greetings to everyone. Thank you all for your support and energy this year.  Everything we do is only possible because of the people who are involved in the community and our work in Southmead.

It has been a challenging year in many ways, and like lots of you we have been concerned by what we see happening in the world; there is rising division and ongoing conflict, with less attention given to issues that matter deeply – from climate change to opportunities for young people.

Here at our two community hubs, Greenway Centre and The Ranch Adventure Playground & Youth Space, we have shown that there is hope, and that we can tackle inequality and improve lives.

This year, together, we have:

• Campaigned, secured funding for, and launched new services, including a new service supporting children who are not attending school, and adults not in employment or training.
• Delivered more than £2m of investment and improvements across our community hubs, including six new rooms for therapeutic work, a boxing zone, gym changing rooms, a youth music studio, outdoor play and learning spaces, car park improvements, and a new community garden.
• Worked with City partners to launch the new Horizons Drug and Alcohol Service North Bristol hub, rooted in peer learning and community strengths.
• Shown how food, nature, and shared experiences can bring people together through community Peace Feasts, cooking, trips, youth sessions, and holiday programmes.
• Hosted some of our busiest and best events yet, from Fitness Fiestas, Southmead Festival, Spring and Autumn Connect events, Winter Celebration Week, and the Christmas Panto.
• Gained local and national recognition for our work, with major funders backing us and our work with young people featured across local media.

As we move into the new year, we are focusing on what we can do here in Southmead to build friendship, compassion, and opportunities in 2026.

In the year ahead we will:

• Launch our ten-year plan with community cohesion and tackling social division at its heart.
• Develop new projects including growing the community garden, skills workshops, shared spaces, and new ways for people to connect.
• Continue to prioritise investment in children and young people, improving holiday provision, activities, and food offers.
• Explore ideas around retrofit, repair and sustainability, and keeping our community buildings high quality, welcoming, and future ready.

Thank you for being part of this journey. We wish you a peaceful, restorative season and a hopeful start to the year ahead, whatever and however you choose to celebrate.

Amy Kinnear, CEO
Email: amykinnear@southmead.org