History of Changes Bristol

How we began

Changes Bristol started in 2003 when a group of people with lived experience of mental health challenges came together to create the kind of support they couldn’t find elsewhere. Believing in the power of peer support, they launched our first group on Cheltenham Road — a safe space to talk, listen and be understood.

With the dedication of our founder Richard Pearce and the energy of our early members, we grew steadily. By 2007, we became a registered charity, offering more support groups in more communities — long before “peer support” became widely recognised or funded. In 2017, we became an incorporated charity and continued to expand, always shaped by those we support.

Where are we now?

Over the past five years, we’ve grown into a thriving, community-led charity supporting hundreds of people every year.

Today, we offer:

• A wide network of in-person and online peer support groups
• A one-to-one befriending service
• Volunteer opportunities and student placements
• Training and education for workplaces and organisations
• We now deliver workshops on Mental Health Awareness, Resilience in the Workplace, Peer Support, and more — including tailored sessions for junior doctors and community groups.

At our core, we’re still peer-led. People with lived experience — our staff, trustees, volunteers and members — continue to shape everything we do.

Looking Ahead

Our services continue to evolve in response to what our members and communities tell us they need.

Groups like our Men’s Group, Women’s Group, LGBTQIA+ Group, and Women of Colour Group were created through direct engagement with the people we support.

We’re also building strong partnerships with local organisations and community groups to reach more people, in more places, with the right kind of support.

As always, we’ll keep listening, adapting, and growing — together.