Stephen Frost

@sfrost

Managing Director, Bridges for Communities, supporting people to live well together 📍Bristol 🇬🇧 Posts on: Bristol, community cohesion & social inclusion, climate & nature, deliberative democracy, public engagement and positive news. Views my own.

1080 Siguiendo11.238 Seguidores4545 Publicaciones

Bluesky

¿Es tu perfil?Reclámalo y sfrost.dirty.social es tuyo.Reclamar perfil

Stephen Frost@sfrost· 13d

Got a fair few odd looks lugging my flip chart on the bus over to Filwood Broadway this morning. Now just gotta hope some people are up for a chat with me about community & how they feel about the neighbourhood.

Flipchart on a bus. Has a set of questions about community & issues impacting people

Stephen Frost@sfrost· 18d

The Persuaders by @anandwrites.bsky.social is a cracking read, especially if you’re worried about divisions in society and after practical ideas that might bridge them. Deep canvassing now firmly on my list of techniques to try in Bristol.

Photo of the cover of The Persuaders by Anand Giridharadas

Stephen Frost@sfrost· 20d

On 25th August we're hosting a special Peace Feast at the Folk House bringing together our own poet in residence, Leeza Awojobi, with Sukina Noor, Bristol's Poet Laureate. More details and tickets here: www.bridgesforcommunities.com/event/poetry...

Poster for 'Poetry Peace Feast' featuring images of Sukina Noor and Leeza Awojobi.

Date: Tues 25th August, 7pm-9pm
Location: Folk House, Bristol BS1 5JG

Stephen Frost@sfrost· 23d

Spot on from @involveuk.bsky.social “Bringing all of us into decision-making is absolutely central to how we tackle our biggest problems and seize the opportunities before us.”

$There is a positive reason to do this: the problems facing us are too big and too complex; politicians cannot solve them on their own and the idea that the state can and should provide is broken; we need all shoulders to the wheel. There is also a defensive reason to do this: our society is fracturing and community cohesion breaking down. Too many people say politics isn’t working and democracy is not worth saving. This is not a sideshow. Bringing all of us into decision-making is absolutely central to how we tackle our biggest problems and seize the opportunities before us. Our new PM has form in this agenda. This is a golden moment for him to grasp and lead from the get go.$

Stephen Frost@sfrost· 24d

Love Bristol

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Jul 12

Note to self: get up earlier if you don’t want to melt on a run. Bristol looking great in the sunshine though and celebrated every tree that gave me some shade on the way around.

Photo from Clifton Suspension Bridge looking over south Bristol & the river

Map of my route from Bedminster around the harbour, up to Ashton Court then home

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Jun 27

Love these. Cheers @camerados-org.bsky.social! Bought from: camerados.org/camerados-sh...

Two yellow Camerados mugs with the words “look out for each other” in black text

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Jun 21

Well that was fun!

A slightly haphazard multi-layer Lego bridge, with a Lego horse on top.

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Jun 21

For #RefugeeWeek, today I’ll be celebrating those who #showcourage at Bristol Refugee Festivals’ event on College Green from 12.30pm. I’ll be at the Bridges for Communities stall if you want to come say hello and help us build some LEGO bridges. See you there!

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Jun 12

The British Red Cross recently released three excellent podcasts as part of their work on Bridging Divides, more: www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved... In July, we're going to be hosting online 'listening parties' to discuss the podcasts. More + sign up: www.bridgesforcommunities.com/event/bridgi...

Screenshot showing the three podcast titles:

Episode one: How divided are we?
Episode two: Can we really change people's minds?
Episode three: How to listen without trying to win

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Jun 11

This is how communities show up for each other. Do read this by Nicola Browne from Act Now👇

Highlighted text:

A group of literally hundreds of people has sprung into action, coordinating, donating, providing lifts for families to get somewhere safe for the night, bringing food to those who don’t want to leave the house, offering shelter, car seats, toys and arts supplies for children. Ordinary people from every background, community and colour are carrying out thousands of acts of care and repair, looking after people they do not know, and showing clearly that none of this is in their name.

Stephen Frost@sfrost· May 24

I wonder how much effort is needed to choose a few shady spots in parks to make nature play areas? Maybe just put up a fence to keep dogs out & drop in a few extra logs. The kids playground here is already a bit hot for my red-headed youngest. An affordable action in a climate resilience plan?

Shady spot in Victoria Park, fun place to play that’s a few degrees cooler than the main play area

Stephen Frost@sfrost· May 24

Currently reading ‘How we show up’ by Mia Birdsong which has a similar message on “… the resilience, creativity, knowledge, and capability that exists in low-income communities.”

For many years, part of the economic justice work I've done has focused on shifting the public narrative around poverty and people who are poor. By using a combination of data and storytelling, I shine a light on the resilience, cre-ativity, knowledge, and capability that exists in low-income communities. In doing this, I counter a narrative that blames people for being poor instead of recognizing both the assets of poor communities and the systemic barriers people are up against. One of the things I focus on is how people who are poor often leverage social capital to mitigate their experience of poverty. Or, to put it more plainly, how connected people help one another out.

Stephen Frost@sfrost· May 23

Just hanging out in a play barn listening to bird song as Hartcliffe City Farm wakes up around us. Winning. Although I wouldn’t have said that when the kids woke me up at 5.30 this morning…

A 2 year old plays with toy blocks in a barn full of toys

Stephen Frost@sfrost· May 16

Gave the approach mentioned in the article a go this morning in a Bristol shopping centre. Had conversations with people with very different perspectives & backgrounds. Not seeking to persuade just listen & understand. Moving how ppl share their life stories to some random guy from a local charity!

Picture of a flip chart paper covered in voting dots against different questions.

Stephen Frost@sfrost· May 4

Excellent research & analysis from @lucyhbmort.bsky.social & @marleymorris.bsky.social of @ippr.org

We identify the following five key findings.

Perceived unfairness in housing and cost-of-living pressures is shaping attitudes to asylum accommodation.

Weak communication and low trust create space for misinformation.

Safety concerns reflect wider crime and disorder, with hotels sometimes becoming focal points.

National border anxieties coexist with local pragmatism.

Decline and community strength coexist.

Our research indicates that asylum accommodation must be embedded within wider housing and regeneration strategy, accompanied by proactive and transparent local engagement.

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Apr 26

Any Bristol-based time travelling facilitators on here? I’m keen to see what 2030 looks & feels like when we succeed in making more people feel safe, welcome & connected to their neighbours.* I’ve been inspired by reading this over the weekend👇

Photo of the book ‘How to fall in love with the future’ by Rob Hopkins

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Apr 26

For anyone wondering, yes it is the perfect morning to visit Hartcliffe City Farm. Especially if you’ve never been or haven’t visited in a while. It’s looking gorgeous & play barn is great for under 5s (the coffee is decent too). We got here on the M1 bus, can also do 75/76 and likely a few others

Toddler climbing on a bench in a lush city farm garden

Toddler running into a colourful & empty play barn

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Apr 15

Picked these up for my 4yr old from a charity shop and they’ve been a hit. Top marks to @nationaltrust.org.uk for partnering with Top Trumps to make something that can get a kid this enthusiastic about the Common Blenny.

Photo of a top trumps case. The set is focused on British Wildlife and made in partnership with the National Trust

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Apr 12

Cheers for the inspiration, cracking walk with loads of bluebell woods en route to Saundersfoot. Dylan loved it

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Apr 12

First trip to Tenby with the family. Absolutely gorgeous seaside town with, thankfully, quite a few places to enjoy the views from inside somewhere dry

Photo of a beach at Tenby with a rainbow above the coloured houses on the cliff

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Apr 8

Severn beach may not have much (any?) sand but if you like climbing on rocks, throwing things in the mud & pointing at bridges, which the 4yr old certainly does, then it’s a great day out!

Photo of Severn Beach, looking out at rocks & the bridge to Wales. A 4yr old boy is clambering on the rocks

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Apr 8

The 4yr old has spoken. Today is a Severn Beach adventure day ☀️🕶️ PS all of these are on public transport routes from Bristol. The wild card options considered were Arnos Vale, Troopers Hill and the river park. Shirley’s cafe has swung it for Severn Beach today.

List of options for a day trip given to my 4yr old. Severn Beach is ticked.

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Apr 5

Chipped into the crowdfunder for this and delighted it is in my hands in time for the sunnier days. The map captures all the green & blue spaces in Bristol. On the reverse is a whole bunch of inspiration for getting outside in nature. Get yours here: www.urbangood.org/products/bri...

Photo of the front cover of the Bristol Urban Nature Map

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Apr 4

Interesting piece arguing: “… everyone wants a village, but no one wants to be a villager” Here’s the call to action: “The question worth sitting with is simple: what small social risk will you take this week?” kasperbenjamin.substack.com/p/everyone-w...

What does it actually mean to be a villager rather than simply wanting a village? The distinction matters. Being a villager means accepting friction as part of connection. It means your neighbor might knock on your door when you are exhausted. It means the community potluck happens on the one evening you hoped to be alone. It means your carefully optimized routine is interrupted by other people’s needs. Annoyance, inconvenience, and unpredictability are not flaws in community. They are the cost of entry.

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Apr 4

Enjoyed this piece on Sweden’s communal laundries: theconversation.com/how-swedens-... Argues that: “… these shared laundry rooms spread costs, reduce waste and nudge people towards sufficiency. Just as importantly, they give us a reason to meet, compromise and practice our negotiation skills.”

But tvättstugor are also social spaces. Where I live the laundry room doubles as a small community centre. There’s a children’s book swap, a noticeboard with local events, and a steady trickle of neighbourly encounters. My husband has his gang of dads that he sees there every Sunday. They chat while folding, sharing tips about laundry liquid and life. Negotiations over booking times, cleaning lint filters and wiping benches are not always idyllic – there are passive-aggressive notes and the odd conflict – but they are also a form of everyday democracy. We learn, in a very concrete way, how to share resources, negotiate conflict, respect common rules and live together.

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Apr 3

We’re hiring a new Befriend Project Manager at Bridges for Communities. This role connect volunteers with people seeking sanctuary in Bristol. It’s part-time, permanent & we’re a flexible place to work. Details here: www.bridgesforcommunities.com/get-involved... Please share!

Poster advertising the role with photos of befriend partnerships and the words: Befriend Project Manager. Connect volunteers and people seeking sanctuary to foster friendships, wellbeing and stronger communities.

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Mar 21

Bridges challenge complete! 👏 45+ of Bristol’s bridges ran across over two days. Over 28 miles covered in total. Done as part of a fundraising challenge in support of Bridges for Communities, a Bristol-based charity that tackles social isolation, connects communities and bridges divides.

Me on Bristol’s banana bridge wearing a t-shirt that reads ‘Build Bridges Not Walls’

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Mar 13

A privilege to attend @playingout.bsky.social’s last Bristol event yday. A celebration of 17yrs of creating child-friendly streets & a call for others to take up the fight. Struck how many spoke about how children’s doorstep play brings neighbours together & connects ppl from different backgrounds

Playing Out… and Beyond! Photo of the stage at Bristol City Hall

Stephen Frost@sfrost· Mar 10

Nicely put👇 “It is even more vital that the government’s new plan recognises that social cohesion is made or lost in millions of everyday acts, and not just in moments of national celebration…”