25th September 2023
Bristol Charities to sell city centre head office to boost charitable work
Bristol Charities, one of Bristol’s oldest charities, has put its city centre head office up for sale with a guide price of £895,000. The building at 17 St Augustine’s Parade is being sold through Alder King and offers 4,149 sq ft of very prominently located retail and office space.
Bristol Charities has already moved its head office to the Vassall Centre near Oldbury Court in Fishponds.
Julian Mines, Bristol Charities’ chief executive, said: “I am keen that the charity is based in the communities it serves, as well as keeping its costs down. Any cost savings we make can be reinvested directly in our charitable working and grant-making. People and communities across the city, including in Oldbury Court, are severely impacted by an increasing cost-of-living and we are committed to offering more support. The Vassall Centre, with its some 25 impressive existing tenant charities, makes it an ideal environment for us to do our work.”
The charity’s former head office at 17 St Augustine’s Parade is a Grade II listed, mid-terrace building adjacent to the Bristol Hippodrome and fronting The Centre and Broad Quay. The property includes a self-contained ground floor retail unit, which is let to gaming café Geek Out, and vacant office accommodation to the three upper floors.
Tom Dugay, partner in Alder King’s office agency team, said: “This is a strategic disposal by Bristol Charities which will have a significant impact on their grant-making and outreach work. It also offers a unique opportunity for a purchaser to acquire one part of a historic parade of buildings with fantastic visibility and profile.
“With the ground floor retail unit generating rental income, the vacant upper floors could of course continue to be used as offices but would also be suitable for a range of alternative uses, subject to planning.”
Alongside the charity’s almshouses for vulnerable older people, Bristol Charities provides over a quarter of a million pounds each year to individuals of all ages in need of essential household items and furnishings, laptops for education, and carers’ respite breaks. It distributes this money through a large pool of sponsors ranging from Bristol City Council to the Salvation Army.
The charity is also looking to work with other charities in its localities across the city to solve some of the more intractable problems people and families face.
Julian commented: “Communities’ issues to do with poverty are complex and often no one charity can solve these. We are keen to work in strong partnership with other charities to solve these problems for individuals and families. Importantly, we are looking for more funding to support the good projects tackling poverty that go on around the city, especially in the areas in which we operate and are best able to assist.”
Donations to Bristol Charities can be made at Donate – Bristol Charities
The sale of proceeds from the head office in St. Augustine’s Parade will go into an investment fund managed by Bristol Charities which generates income to support various charitable grants across the city. For more information about 17 St Augustine’s Parade and to download the brochure click here.
