Current Status
The Society of Merchant Venturers comprises men and women, prepared to give their time and skills to support the organisation's objectives. The Merchant Venturers work closely with the wider community and many of its members play a role in Bristol’s commercial life and the institutions within the city. Its objectives are to:
- Contribute to the prosperity and well being of the greater Bristol area through active support of enterprise and commercial and community activity;
- Enhance the quality of life for all, particularly for the young, aged and disadvantaged;
- Promote learning and the acquisition of skills by supporting education;
- Act as effective stewards of the charitable trusts, heritage, ancient buildings and open spaces for which the society is responsible.
The Merchant Venturers aim to play an active role in education to help improve and sustain the quality of educational provision within Bristol. The organisation has been involved in education for at least 400 years, and in 2008 sponsored and supported two new Academies. Merchants' Academy in Withywood opened its doors in September 2008 to replace Withywood Community School. The Society has invested £2m in the Academy and additional support has been provided. Some concerns have been raised about the independence of the academy after the Society of Merchant Venturers awarded the contract for the building of the school to an architects firm connected to one of its members.
The Merchants also sponsor Colston’s Girls’ School which moved from the independent sector to become an academy in September 2008.
The organisation has a tradition for supporting the provision of high quality care for the elderly and is currently involved with St Monica Trust and the Cote charity. The Merchant Venturers also support, through the means of charitable grants, many other organisations and causes within the greater Bristol area. They also retain the custodianship of some historic buildings and, together with the City Council, the open spaces of the Clifton and Durdham Downs.
Membership is by invitation to men and women in the business and commercial life of the greater Bristol area, and who are prepared to give their time and skills in support of the Merchant Venturers’ objectives. A list of members and short biographies are available on the website.
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