Recognising past achievements

Highlight present contributions that are being made within our community

Prepare for the future

Development Programs

The aim of our workshops are to offer women an opportunity to experience and learn new skills, support personal development, and facilitate self realisation and continuous learning. All through a programme of integrated business and therapeutic practices.
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Events

We utilise the platform of events to promote Black Businesses, entrepreneurs in our city, as well as artist, entertainers and Community led promotions and activities.
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Rise Awards

The Rise Awards are an opportunity for the City to recognise individual successes and efforts within the African & Caribbean Community in the areas of Business, Entrepreneurship, contribution to the community and Lifetime achievements.
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Rise Hot Seat Focus

There are so many people from within the City who have worked tirelessly in the areas of community activism and creating a fair and equal city for all. The Rise hot seat will feature some of the foundation people, past and present who we would like to honour and thank for their commitment.
Go to Hot Seat focus >

Radio

The Risewomen show on Ujima radio is a platform to promote and share the successes and efforts of the African Caribbean heritage community of Bristol.

We began broadcasting in May 2015 and our popular weekly show features specific topics aimed at business, health and wellbeing as well awareness of events that take place in and around Bristol from within the African Caribbean Community and news from home and abroad.
It is vital that knowledge of our history is shared and the positive narrative of our achievements are made aware not only to our community but outside the Black community, we do this through our ‘Let’s talk our history’(LTOH) segment.

As well as giving a number of local entrepreneurs a chance to promote their businesses we have interviewed a number of prominent members of the community in the Rise ‘Hot seat’.

Our Events

The start of the Rise journey

Rise out of Covid program flyer

Rise Out of Covid Program

Women of The Windrush: 2019

Women of TheWindrush: 2018

Sisters with voices

Sisters With Voices II

Paintworks

About Us

Who We Are

Rise is a non-profit social enterprise that was established in 2013, by initial founders Sandra Gordon and Lynn Mareno who recognised the lack of visibility of black businesses on the high street. We specialise in providing opportunities for those businesses to promote what they do to a wider audience through organised events, exhibitions and our weekly radio program on the multi award winning radio station Ujima 98fm.

Our Vision

  • Create and showcase a platform for Business entrepreneurs from within the BME community
  • Support and facilitate personal development and self-realisation
  • Address social and economic inequalities within the BME community
  • Act as a catalyst towards the integration of the BME community into the broader social and economics’ of Bristol.

Rise Awards

The start of the Rise journey

Rise Award winners 2018 held at The Mercure Grand - Bristol

Rise Award Winners 2017 Held at City Hall -Bristol

Rise Awards Winners 2016 Held at the Marriott Royal- Bristol

Rise Awards Winner 2015 Held at the Mercure Redcliffe – Bristol

Development Programs

Although Bristol is a thriving city, the increase opportunities for both entrepreneurs and career advancement is not being seen across the BME community. Some of the reasons for this is a lack of access to quality skills and development and also low self esteem and belief that you can change your life.

During 2014, Rise applied and was awarded lottery funding to provide a series of Programmes and workshops to address the continuing gaps in achievement being experienced by women from within the BME community.

The BWI Rise & Shine programme is primarily aimed at Black ethnic minority women within the Bristol vicinity. We will be offering them the opportunity to experience and learn the skills and self belief required to achieve their life and business goals. This will be performed through holistic and alternative therapy, 1 to 1 coaching, group work and workshops.

Rise2inspirse Mentoring Program

Rise2inspire Mentoring Programme

Applications now Closed
Read more about this programme

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