Hosting and supporting people seeking asylum in Bristol
The Big Fish Bash!
ABC x BHN
Fundraising gig in collaboration with our friends Aid Box Community!
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It was an honour to team up to host a brilliant night of live music and good vibes, all to raise funds in support of refugees and displaced people in Bristol.
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We raised an incredible £2,277.01 from tickets and sales on the night, all thanks to YOU!
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Each organisation went home with £1,138.51 each after expenses, which we are really proud of.
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Thank you so much to everyone who supported the event - from the guests, to the dedicated volunteers, to the local raffle prize donors, it was such a pleasure to spend the night with you all!​​​​​
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A special thanks to the musicians for making this gig possible. We were delighted to be joined by greats in Bristol's music scene. Expect an eclectic evening featuring Bristol’s a cappella, comedy-infused singing group Kettle of Fish, followed by jazz-funk, neo-soul and math-rock grooves from Deems Experiment.
There was also a raffle with great prizes, tasty samosas, and a bar serving alcoholic and soft drinks.
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All proceeds went go towards ABC and BHN's vital work.
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About the musicians​
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Kettle of Fish (https://www.kettle-of-fish.net/) is an acapella band in demand all over the South West of England, delighting audiences large and small, young and old, with their unique blend of comedy and musical genius. Expect laughs, gasps of amazement and maybe the odd quizzical raising of the eyebrow, when KoF take to the stage with their eclectic mix of the weird and wonderful.
Deems Experiment (https://www.instagram.com/deems.experiment/) is a group of Bristol-based composers and instrumentalists whose style blends elements of jazz, classical music, hip hop, and math rock. For this night, the crowd will be graced with a duo composed of lead keyboardist Aondoyima ‘Deems’ Ioratim-Uba and bassist and drummer Munashe 'Kaps' Kapswarah (https://www.instagram.com/kaps.drumz/) from Grace Mack & The Pack, to take us through a journey of soulful melodies and smooth, mesmerising sounds.
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About the organisations
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Aid Box Community offers support, supplies and sanctuary for refugees and people seeking asylum in Bristol, providing essentials, guidance, and a warm welcome through our free shop, hub, activities, and one‑to‑one connections. We work to uphold dignity, safety, and belonging by creating a compassionate community where people can access practical help, build friendships, and find hope.
Find out more at www.aidboxcommunity.co.uk
Bristol Hospitality Network (BHN) works in solidarity alongside people seeking asylum who are facing destitution in Bristol. We source hosted accommodation for refused asylum seekers and support creative community work with our catering branch Moveable Feast. Through our weekly Welcome Drop-In Centre, visitors can access casework advice, ESOL classes, hot food, and take part in activities that build connections. Guided by mutual empowerment, BHN aims to place hospitality, integrity, and most of all, our members, at the heart of what we do.
Unity March
Saturday 14th February 2026
College Green
We were honoured to be included as part of the Unity march and rally this past Valentines day. Kicking off at 12pm on College Green, we set up our stall and spent the afternoon chatting to the lovely community, marching through Bristol city centre, and listening to inspiring speeches (including one by Jeremy Corbyn!)
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What other way would we want to spend Valentine's day?
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A huge thank you to Bristol Together and Stand Up To Racism Bristol for organising such a wonderful day, and including BHN in the event.
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Click below to hear the wonderful speech by our very own Director, Qerim Nuredini.
Our BHN Open Day!
On Monday 16th June, we opened our Welcome Centre doors to the Bristol public!
In addition to our wonderful BHN members, we were joined by partners in the sector, old friends, and interested locals for a day of games, chatting and community.​
Our Welcome Centre had it's usual activities of ESOL classes, the Advice drop-in, Scrabble, pool, and a delicious hot lunch. However, we had a few added extras - our fabulous ESOL teachers invited the public into their lessons, and our volunteers were presented with certificates celebrating their hard work. This was all with a member-curated music playlist in the background, adding to the community-feel.
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We had over 175 guests, and it was such a pleasure to meet new faces and catch up with the familiar ones.
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If you couldn't make the Open Day but would like to see what our drop-in is all about, please email our Welcome Centre manager, Helen, at helen@bhn.org.uk to organise a visit.
Our evening with the Bristol Lido!
On April 2nd, Moveable Feast and the Bristol Lido collaborated once again to host the night of all nights for the BHN Spring fundraiser. Delicious food, vibrant atmosphere, and good times were had all round. The event raised a whopping £4156.70 for BHN, with an additional £360.00 collected from raffle tickets sold on the night.
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On the night​
The evening began with a drink upon arrival, before seats were grabbed and we gazed out at the crystal blue water of the beautifully tiled Lido. Our guests sat back and relaxed as our renowned kitchen coordinator, Kule, and the expert Lido chefs led by Chef Pash, whip up a storm of mouth-watering Sri Lankan dishes.
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We want to say a huge thank you to all of the staff at the Bristol Lido, the wonderful guests who attended, and local Bristol businesses who donated to our raffle!
Photo gallery
Photography by Matt Inwood
