Our Big Give Community Campaign – One Year On
Posted on Mon 5 Oct
It’s been nearly a year since you supported our Big Give Christmas Challenge to help keep Watershed a place where culture builds community – and what a year it’s been!
Thanks to your incredible generosity, you helped us raise over £17,000 (including Gift Aid) showing your commitment to keeping culture alive in our accessible, inclusive venue in the heart of Bristol city centre.
Watershed: Where Culture Builds Community
We focused our 2025 campaign on community. Watershed is more than a building; with your support we have been able to bring people together, whether to watch films, engage in conversation over coffee, or connect through creativity. Culture was at the heart of our campaign, and together, we have been able to continue to build on our community of artists by supporting their practice in the Pervasive Media Studio, and share experiences that fire up the imagination. We are excited for another year of the Big Give Christmas Challenge, which will be launching in December.
“I love everything that Watershed stands for - independent cinema, creativity, inclusivity - it feels like a safe and welcoming place for everyone.” - Anonymous, Supporter Survey 2025
What your support has made possible
Over the last year, your support has made a real impact:
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Connected audiences to over 3,771 screenings which championed creativity, diversity, and diverse storytelling.
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Provided a welcoming space for 625,833 people who visited Watershed.
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Screened over 300 films with Descriptive Subtitling, over 2,000 films with Audio Description, and over 50 relaxed screenings and masked/socially distanced screenings.
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Hosted 11 Deaf Conversations about Cinema events, featuring BSL interpretation.
Supported over 200 residents at the Pervasive Media Studio and provided mentorship, funding and peer support to emerging talent. -
38,913 young people engaged with our programme.
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Hosted our annual Earth Day short film showcase which featured 6 short films around the themes of water and climate action.
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Trained more of our staff in carbon literacy training. Now over 80% of our staff have completed this certification.
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Continued to be a welcoming meeting place for community groups to gather. Such groups include Queer Reads Book Club, Bristol Queer Parents, and Bristol Doc Club.
“[Watershed is] somewhere I can go to celebrate, to pick myself up when I’m down, or just to catch a movie or go for a drink, either with friends or alone. It feels like a home away from home, where I always feel comfortable.” - Anonymous, Supporter Survey 2025
Looking ahead
We’re so proud of what your support has made possible. This December, we’ll be taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge once again. From Tue 1 – Tue 8 Dec, the first £10,000 donated via the Big Give website will be doubled. If you would like to know more about how you can get involved, get in touch with Bella Whately, Head of Development, at bella.w@watershed.co.uk