Enovert Community Trust funding

Bristol educational charity and science centre, We The Curious, has been awarded two grants totaling £100,000 from the Enovert Community Trust (ECT), to revitalise Millennium Square.

Millennium Square is part of the 11-acre Grade 2 listed site which is managed by We The Curious, which sees an annual footfall of over 5 million people. After 22 years of use, vital repairs are needed to maintain this valuable community resource.

The square is home to numerous public works of art, lighting installations, and water features and the Big Screen free film screenings. It plays host to festivals such as the Bristol Light Festival and Festival of Nature, community-focused activities such as edible gardens (maintained by Edible Bristol), as well as being enjoyed by rollerblading groups, dance classes, Tai Chi sessions and families.

The support from Enovert Community Trust is being used to revitalise iconic parts of Millennium Square and to implement the advice of strategic partners WECIL (West of England Centre for Inclusive Living) to improve overall accessibility, this includes:

Fixing the ever-popular ‘Aquarena’ water fountains by updating the plant room mechanics

Restoring the ‘Zenith’ artwork by David Ward; a light installation analemma set into the square which shows the position of the sun as seen from the square as it varies through the year

Maintaining safety and access to the space by replacing the ageing limestone paving

Replacing the Millennium Square tower lights with energy-efficient LED lighting

Improving accessibility with bollards, lamp posts and bins repainted in colour contrasting paint

New reserved disabled parking bays

New public WIFI, digital infrastructure and hearing loops which will enable a wider range of people to enjoy the events and free Big Screen screenings

During the pandemic, We The Curious was closed for 14 months, and saw a loss of income of £3.4million. Millennium Square remained open to the public and staffed 24/7 throughout that period, at a time when outdoor recreation and a safe outdoor space was needed more than ever.

We The Curious is currently closed due to fire in April 2022, and has been using Millennium and Anchor Square as part of its programme of ‘out and about’ activities across the city. The venue is expected to remain closed until January 2024.

Angela Haymonds, Enovert Community Trust Manager said:

“The Trustees of ECT could instantly see the benefit of supporting a project that will have such a widely felt impact for the people of Bristol and beyond. Millennium Square is a honeypot site and it is really important that the attractions that people come to see are in good working order to maximize the amenity. This grant ensures that the Square will be in fine fettle for years to come.”

Dominic Ellison, CEO of WECIL said:

“We The Curious investing in such an iconic space at the heart of Bristol Historic Harbourside shines a light on the challenges many face in our city and how simple adaptations can open up our public spaces to be fully inclusive and accessible. We hope this project will inspire others going forward.”

The renovation work is currently underway, with an expected completion date of the end of the year.  

For more information on supporting We The Curious and to donate, please visit https://www.wethecurious.org/charity/educational-charity

-ENDS-

For more information, images, interviews or to arrange a press trip, please contact the Jen Forster, Communications Manager – jen.forster@wethecurious.org or 07967 334152.

You can follow We The Curious on Twitter (@wethecurious_) Facebook (wethecurious) or Instagram (@wethecurious_). Visit www.wethecurious.org for more information.

Editor’s Notes:

About We The Curious
We The Curious is an educational charity and South West England’s leading science centre. We produce experiences that bring people together to play, get creative with science and explore different ideas. We work with partners locally and nationally, supporting people to be inquisitive, develop new skills and improve their wellbeing.

Our vision asks ‘what if everyone is included, curious and inspired by science to build a better world together?’

About Enovert Community Trust:  

1. Enovert Community Trust is an Environmental Trust set up in 2003 under the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF), an innovative tax credit scheme enabling Landfill Operators (LOs) to contribute money to organisations enrolled with ENTRUST as Environmental Bodies (EBs).  EBs use this funding for a wide range of community and environmental projects in the vicinity of landfill sites. LOs are able to claim a credit (currently 5.3% for 2020/2021) against their landfill tax liability for 90% of the contributions they make. Since its inception in 1996, over £1.5 billion has been spent on more than 59,000 projects across the UK. For further information, please visit www.entrust.org.uk or see HMRC’s general guide to Landfill Tax.

2. Project’s objectives must match one of the approved LCF criteria and may include refurbishment of churches or buildings of architectural or historical significance, or general amenity projects, such as improving disabled access or improvements to parks and nature reserves.

For more information on Enovert Community Trust, please contact Angela Haymonds on 01753 582513 or ahaymonds@enovertct.org or visit www.enovertct.org

About WECIL:
WECIL is an award-winning an organisation of Disabled people working together to enable choice. We support Disabled people to live the life they choose. Our approach is fully person centred. Our staff have lived experience which informs the support we offer. We challenge the barriers to independent living through the delivery of high-quality support and advice.