About Us
The Julian Trust is a volunteer-led charity providing emergency accommodation and support to people experiencing homelessness in Bristol.
We provide a safe, warm place to stay for people who would otherwise be sleeping rough, alongside food, essential supplies and a friendly, supportive environment.
Our shelter opens four nights a week and is run entirely by volunteers. There are no paid staff - everything from welcoming guests and preparing meals to managing the charity and maintaining the shelter is made possible by our dedicated volunteer team.
Our aim is simple: to provide a safe place to stay tonight, while helping people take steps towards a better tomorrow.
The Julian Trust was founded in 1986 by a group of Bristol residents, including our founder Meg Grimes, who wanted to help people sleeping rough across the city.
Our first Night Shelter opened on 26 September 1986 at St Nicholas of Tolentino Church on Pennywell Road. As the shelter grew, we moved between several temporary locations before finally settling.
In 1996, ten years after the charity was founded, we moved into our permanent home on Little Bishop Street.
Over the years, the Julian Trust continued to grow and develop. We celebrated our 20th anniversary in 2006, when Meg Grimes received the Lord Mayor's Gold Medal.
In 2011, our 25th anniversary year, we were honoured with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, recognising the dedication of our volunteers. Sadly, Meg died suddenly later that year. Her loss was deeply felt by everyone connected with the Julian Trust, but the charity she founded continued, with volunteers carrying forward her commitment to supporting people experiencing homelessness.
In 2014, the Julian Trust purchased the Little Bishop Street building, securing a permanent home for the shelter. Further refurbishment followed in 2018, helping us improve the facilities we provide for our guests.
More than 40 years on, our purpose remains much the same as it was in 1986: to provide a safe place for people who would otherwise be sleeping on the streets.
Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do.
Around 120 volunteers help keep the Julian Trust running, from our evening and overnight teams to those who help with cooking, donations, fundraising, administration, events and many other areas of the charity.
There are no paid staff. Our volunteers give their time, skills and energy because they believe everyone deserves somewhere safe to sleep.
The charity is overseen by 12 volunteer trustees, who form our Board of Trustees and are responsible for the governance and strategic direction of the Julian Trust.
The Julian Trust is a registered charitable company. Our trustees serve three-year terms and can stand for re-election, with the Board appointing its Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.
We also have a membership of guarantors who elect the trustees, and hold an Annual General Meeting each November. Our finances and governance are subject to appropriate independent scrutiny, with our accounts available publicly.
Our Community
The Julian Trust exists because of the incredible support of the Bristol community.
From people volunteering their evenings and nights, to local businesses donating food and essential items, and individuals fundraising or making financial donations - every contribution helps us keep our doors open.
It costs around £3,000 a week to operate the shelter, alongside the food and other essentials needed to support our guests.
We are proud to have been part of Bristol's community for more than four decades, and we couldn't do what we do without the people who continue to stand behind us.
Volunteer. Donate. Support us.
Together, we can help provide a safe place to stay and a first step towards a better future.