Barnwood Connect – September 2025
Welcome to the September edition of Barnwood Connect
This is my first time writing the introduction as Chief Executive, and it’s a pleasure to be doing so. I feel very lucky to be here and will be doing all I can to contribute to the changes we all want to see. Of course there is tons to do, it never stops, and these are difficult times in many many ways, but it’s also important to remember that there is still so much good going on, so many determined people leading change and contributing in such positive ways to community, so many vital collectives and organisations tackling barriers and supporting and developing the good stuff of life, so much potential, so many good ideas…
I have seen many glimpses of that in my first month here and been heartened by it. So, in this edition, you’ll find updates about our Annual Public Meeting ‘Together with Barnwood’, news about our Accessibility Fund now being open for applications, and a look at some of the interesting and important projects our Barnwood Circle colleagues and funded partners
have been working on.
To finish, I also want to say a particular thank you to Sally, my predecessor in this role – her leadership leaves us in such a strong position for the future and it is a real privilege to be following on from her.
Thanks,
Matt Little
Chief Executive
Together with Barnwood – 13th November 2025
‘Together with Barnwood’ is our annual event where we share the work taking place across the Trust. You’ll hear directly from Barnwood staff, partners, and Circle members about the projects we’re leading, the ideas we’re shaping, and the change we’re building together.
Keep an eye on your inbox – tickets for this year’s event will be available from Thursday 2nd October. Attendance is free, but places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Accessibility Fund open
A new funding programme from Barnwood Trust, supporting projects that improve access to indoor and outdoor spaces for disabled people and people with mental health conditions.
Eligible projects may include physical improvements, sensory-friendly adjustments, staff training, and better visitor information.
The fund is open for applications now and closes on Friday 31 October at 5pm.
Further information about this funding, dates for online drop-in sessions and application criteria is available on this page.
Funded Partners: real stories, real impact
3 new stories are live on our website, sharing the impactful work of partners supported through Barnwood Trust funding.
Sunflowers Suicide Support have strengthened their Liaison Service, which offers support to families and individuals following a bereavement. The team has improved their training and have reached more people, including in rural areas.
Horses for Wellbeing uses Equine Assisted Learning. This means spending time with horses to support the physical and mental wellbeing of young people aged 5 to 18 facing challenges, such as mental health conditions and trauma.
The Family Haven offers parents and carers meaningful workshops, guidance and activities, to learn practical skills and promote confidence, independence and improve their wellbeing, taking steps toward brighter futures.
Barnwood Circle
Barnwood Circle members have been key in shaping a range of work over the past few months.
Accessibility Fund – Panel
6 people with lived experience from Barnwood Circle helped design the Accessibility Fund and took part in making decisions about where the money should go.
They brought valuable insights into the barriers people face and helped shape the funding criteria to focus on what makes a space truly inclusive, not just physically accessible. Their involvement continued beyond the design stage as some Circle members went on to play a role in the decision-making – reviewing applications, scoring them, and making recommendations to Barnwood’s Funding Committee.
We caught up with each of them to find out about their experience of being on the scoring panels.
Building Belonging – Podcast Release
Later this year, we’ll be launching our Building Belonging podcast. It’s been created with 5 Barnwood Circle members and 6 staff, who have been working together since 2024. Through a series of sessions, the group has explored how we can better welcome and involve people of different races, ethnicities, faiths, and cultures, and how to make Barnwood Circle a truly anti-racist space.
Along the way, the group learned more about the language and ideas that help us talk about racism and anti-racism. The group was keen to share this learning to help make a positive difference in Gloucestershire. The result is a podcast that shines a light on Barnwood’s commitment to inclusion and anti-racism.
Keep an eye on our social channels for the release date.
Annual Members Event
This year’s Annual Members Event was a chance for members to connect, reflect, and hear more about the Trust’s work. The event was designed and delivered by a team of 6 Circle Members, who created an enjoyable and accessible experience for everyone.
2 of our members also took over our social media during the event, sharing highlights through photos and videos to give a first-hand look at what it’s like to attend as a guest.
If you missed it, you could catch up with a video recap of everything they posted here:
Feedback welcome
We want to learn as much as we can about what works, and what doesn’t. If we can make this newsletter better, please let us know.
If you want to get in touch with us, please email us at info@barnwoodtrust.org