Bridge 5 Mill Centre for Sustainable Living is a hub and resource for groups, organisations and individuals working towards a more sustainable future, by this we mean a future that is greener, safer, healthier and equitable.

We aim to be an example of how it is possible to work in a sustainable, collaborative and ethical way. The refurbishment of Bridge 5 Mill was undertaken using as many sustainable materials and building practices as possible and we consider our environmental impact in the day to day management of the building. To see our full Sustainability policy click here.

Our conference and meeting rooms are hired out on a sliding scale; private and statutory organisations who hire our spaces at a commercial rate play a large part in our being able to subsidise charities, community and campaign groups to use them at a price they can afford. Some private companies use us for their conferences and as a training or staff away-day venue as part of their fulfilment of their Corporate Social Responsibility Objectives.

We are a Living Wage Employer (LOGO) and seek to procure goods and services from other companies who also pay a Living Wage.

As well as providing conference and meeting rooms, we have a number of offices and are home to a range of charities, campaign organisations and social enterprises. We offer affordable rent and meeting spaces, and also provide reception support, as well as staff members giving business, accountancy and campaigning advice. Through this we aim to build a supportive, collaborative co- working environment. The mill is owned by the environmental charity the Fairfield Environment Trust (FET). All profits we make go back into the trust to further their aims. These include supporting other charities, campaign groups, social enterprises and cooperatives through grants and advice.

Bridge 5 Mill was established and refurbished by a dedicated group of people who had a vision for a centre in Manchester which could be a hub and a resource for groups, organisations and individuals working on environmental and social issues, that would be a base and also an example of these ideas in action. Two of those people, Helen Woodcock and Chris Walsh, are still involved today. The original project was called the Manchester Environmental Resource Centre Initiative (MERCi) and was established in 1996 as an independent charity.

MERCi found and purchased Bridge 5 Mill and refurbished it with the help of grants from the European Regional Development Fund, a private trust, The National Lottery Community Fund and the Esme Fairburn Trust, and later the Tudor Trust and Comic Relief.

The Mill was refurbished using many reclaimed and recycled materials, eco paints, no pvc, water saving measures and low energy fittings; New Deal apprentices from the local community, 'Building on Equality' participants (a green construction course for lone parent women) and many volunteers, led by professional craftspeople who shared their skills. When it opened it was one of Manchester’s most sustainable buildings and Manchester Civic Society acknowledged this in 2001 when Bridge 5 Mill won the award of Manchester’s most energy efficient building. After the initial refurbishment of Bridge 5 Mill, MERCi focused on three key areas of project work: community, education and enterprise.

Sustaining Change: a project which offered specialist support to businesses, to help them implement sustainable practices into their business strategy. The project specialised in benchmarking organisations under eight key areas of sustainability.

The Environment Network For Manchester (EN4M) was formed by MERCi to give a voice to the environmental groups of Manchester. Its’ members were involved in a wide range of activities and issues, from wildlife conservation, renewable energy and pollution, to parks, open spaces, recycling and growing organic food. The Kindling Trust (our sister organisation) still manages the EN4M Facebook group and Bridge 5 Mill actively promotes environmental groups and their activities through our own Facebook page and Twitter account.

Sew Sow: an educational project to use brownfield sites across Ancoats, to grow flax which was processed to create an organic, local, sustainable material. The project culminated in an exhibition by local crafts people who used the yarn and material to make pieces; from wall hangings to bags, sculptures to cushions.

Herbie has been one of the success stories from MERCi. Starting life as a project funded by Manchester Public Health and Target Wellbeing the mobile greengrocer has the aim of providing affordable, fresh fruit and vegetables to residents living in areas of East Manchester with poor access to fresh foods.

Herbie also supplies boxes of fruit to schools and projects, and works closely with sheltered housing, churches, health clinics and resident groups to ensure that it reaches as many people in the local community as possible. After the initial funding period Herbie has been so successful that it has fulfilled its aim to break away from MERCi and become a self-funded social enterprise. Connecting to the local community is also important to us and outreach has included an ‘In Bloom’ competition and assisting local residents to set up and run a community garden. We continue to support local groups by publicising events, hosting fundraisers and offering affordable space for meetings and exhibitions.

In June 2016 MERCi merged with the Fairfield Environment Trust, a local charity who we had been working with unofficially for some time. During the year MERCi was gradually wound down.

Bridge 5 Mill is now a company in itself and is part of the Fairfield Environment Trust group, which also includes Fairfield Environment Services; a waste and recycling company and The Kindling Trust, a not for profit social enterprise with charitable aims, whose current work is based around food (production, consumption and activism) as a vehicle for tackling some of today’s most pressing social, economic and environmental problems.

Bridge 5 Mill continues to build on our reputation as a hub and resource for local, national and international organisations working in the areas of the environment and sustainability for people and planet.

Does your company have Corporate Social Responsibility aims in the areas of sustainability, the environment or social issues?

Using Bridge 5 Mill for your conference, workshop or event would show your support for our sustainable venue and could fulfil your CSR aims.

Choosing to book one of our rooms means that we are able to offer our spaces at affordable prices to local community and campaign groups and small charities on a low or no cost basis.

When holding your event at Bridge 5 Mill we can also help it be more sustainable through our sustainable and ethical purchasing policy. This includes the catering we provide as well as stationary and other resources needed on the day.

These smiley people are our staff members, Margot (Events and Social Media Assistant), Ingrid (Finance Officer) and Michelle (Manager). They will be here greet you when you visit as they are based in Reception. Say HI to them!