As we step into a new year, we find ourselves reflecting on change, growth and the people who make Eastside Community Trust what it is. New years always bring fresh starts, but they also invite us to pause and honour the chapters that are coming to a close.
After ten years with Eastside, we said goodbye to Emily Fifield, whose impact on our organisation and community will be felt for many years to come. Emily has been part of Eastside through times of change and transformation, from her early days at Up Our Street to her role most recent as Community Project Manager.
Emily played a leading role in embedding climate action at the heart of Eastside’s work. Through the Community Climate Action Project, she helped shape an approach that placed local priorities first, showing that caring for the planet and caring for people can go hand in hand. We wish her every success and happiness in whatever comes next.
This year also marks a pause and a change at Felix Road Adventure Playground. After five years of dedicated service, our Adventure Play Manager Ollie Fournier has begun a six month sabbatical. Ollie is travelling across East Asia with his partner Caris, and we hope this time brings rest, inspiration and many new stories. Ollie has been a passionate advocate for adventure play, championing the importance of freedom, managed risk and creativity in children’s lives. His work has helped Felix Road remain a space where young people can build confidence, resilience and strong community connections.
Alongside this, we say goodbye to Senior Playworker Kate Bilsborough, who has decided to begin a new chapter. Kate has been a valued part of the Felix Road team, and we thank her for the care and dedication she brought to her role. We wish her all the very best for the future.
While goodbyes can be bittersweet, we are delighted to share that the brilliant Shaniem Biggs is stepping in to fill Ollie’s role during his sabbatical. Shaniem grew up at Felix Road and embodies the spirit of adventure play. She is the mastermind behind our much loved Wavey Nights youth sessions, and we cannot wait to see her ideas, leadership and energy continue to shape the playground in the months ahead.
Finally, we also say farewell to two of our Community Centre Assistants, Mel and Amaia. Both have played an important role in keeping our community spaces welcoming, supportive and running smoothly. We thank them for their hard work and wish them every success in their next steps.
Looking ahead, there is more change on the horizon in a really positive way. We are currently recruiting for a new role that will support our Bristol City Council funded Nature and Cities project, Greening Eastside. This work will focus on helping Easton and Lawrence Hill become even greener, more nature rich neighbourhoods, working alongside residents to nurture local spaces and strengthen our connection to nature close to home.
While the recruitment process is underway, we are excited about what this role will bring to Eastside and to the wider community. We will be sharing updates soon and look forward to welcoming a new face to the team, as we continue to grow, evolve and step confidently into this next chapter together.
