Liberal Democrats to Introduce Community Contribution Fund

Bristolians will soon be able to support community groups and initiatives in the city through voluntary donations. The idea was proposed in a council budget amendment from the Liberal Democrats and received unanimous support from all councillors.

Mover of the amendment Cllr Stephen Williams (Liberal Democrat, Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze) said “Our amendment directs the council to set up a way for people to make donations to a Community Contribution Fund. This fund will supplement the Bristol Impact Fund, which focuses on supporting communities facing the greatest inequality in our city.”

The Bristol Impact Fund was established in 2017 and is currently in its second round of distributing funding. Both rounds have provided grants to projects aimed at tackling inequality and the current round is due to run to March 2026. Applications for the third round of funding, awarded from April 2026 onwards, will open soon. The Liberal Democrat’s Community Contribution Fund aims to top up the fund so that the council can fund more community work.

Speaking to the continued under-financing of councils by the Government, Cllr Williams said “We can’t leave any stone unturned in our quest to seek extra money to spend on local government services in Bristol. That’s why I’m pleased that the first we passed today will enable us, at some point in the future, to raise extra money for the council.

“The amendment I’m now moving is a more modest one to find some extra money for the council. The good news is that the people of Bristol will probably respond generously to it. In the council tax consultation, the third most popular option was for a 5% rise in the core council tax, not 3%. The fourth most popular option was for a 10% rise in council tax. So, there is an appetite amongst the people of Bristol for paying more for activities in Bristol.

“We can’t do that at the moment by voluntary contribution or a top-up to council tax, but we can tap into the generosity or altruism of the people of Bristol in another way. That’s why I’m proposing this Bristol Community Contribution Fund.”

Cllr Williams added that the idea is inspired by neighbouring authority Bath and North East Somerset, which is led by the Liberal Democrats: “It’s raised modest amounts there so far, but Bristol is a far bigger city and if we promote it well, it could raise significant amounts of money for the Bristol Impact Fund.”

Notes to editors:

1. Previous press releases from the Liberal Democrats regarding the budget:
   1. Local Government Finance Settlement Response from Bristol Lib Dem Councillors - Bristol Liberal Democrats
   2. Bristol Lib Dems fight against proposed library closures - Bristol Liberal Democrats
   3. Liberal Democrats Welcome City’s Draft Budget Proposals - Bristol Liberal Democrats
   4. Innovative solutions to Council’s budgetary pressures sought by Liberal Democrats - Bristol Liberal Democrats
   5. Bristol Budget Backed by Liberal Democrats - Bristol Liberal Democrats
   6. Liberal Democrats Lead Calls for a Visitor Charge in Bristol - Bristol Liberal Democrats
2. A Community Contribution Fund would follow a similar model as adopted by Bath and North East Somerset Council. More information: Donate to the Community Contribution Fund | Bath and North East Somerset Council
3. More information on the Bristol Impact Fund: The Bristol Impact Fund