Our Purpose

Our mission is to promote local trade, investment and business, whilst maintaining our commitment to charitable giving for the enhancement of the city.

 

One way we do that is by supporting young people through a series of awards and bursaries. We also provide a platform for charitable organisations to present requests for support.

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The City Waits Awards

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One of the things the Guild is most proud of, is the support we give to young musicians through the City Waits Awards. The name of the awards dates back to medieval times, when Bristol employed musicians to provide entertainment at civil occasions.

 

However, far from being a medieval bursary, the awards now focus on supporting outstanding young musicians and facilitating their continuing musical education. 

 

Young people from across the City are invited to apply for the awards and selected by a panel from Bristol Beacon. A celebratory concert is held at Bristol Beacon each year where the awards are announced, and the young people perform to an audience of friends, family and members of the Bristol musical community. The awards provide bursaries and money-can't-buy opportunities to perform and be mentored by professional musicians across the City. 

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We support young people in other ways too, through the Alfred Telling Scholarship which focuses on young entrepreneurs to the Tom Clark and Grant Watson Awards.