Fairfield House Bath CIC

During 2024–2025 financial year, FHB CIC benefited local residents, visitors, partner institutions, and diaspora communities in the following ways: • 5000 members of the public and visitors accessed cultural learning and heritage through weekly historical guided tours and monthly Rastafari Sabbath observances. Fairfield House was recognised as a "top 10% global visitor experience" by TripAdvisor, strengthening Bath's cultural offering. • 15 students from Bath Spa University gained practical skills and learning opportunities through placements and collaborative projects. This partnership strengthens Bath's higher education sector and serves local residents. Fairfield House was awarded External Partner of the Year by the university. • Refugee communities and local residents participated in educational programming, such as the Bath Refugee Festival, and a presentation by Bekele Woyecha (Together with Refugees) as part of the Bath Welcomes Refugees programme. This helped build understanding around refugee experiences in the Bath community. • Community partners, heritage stakeholders, and local residents benefited from FHB CIC’s strengthened infrastructure and long-term sustainability planning. The CIC launched the Securing the Future Project (2025–2027), hired three staff members and developed the groundwork for a close partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We expanded our Partnership Board to include Bath Spa University, Bath Preservation Trust, Bristol Legacy Foundation, and cultural leaders. This governance work supports FHB CIC’s efforts to secure the long-term lease and Community Asset Transfer, ensuring Fairfield House remains a community resource. • 150 elders benefited from inclusive gatherings and wellbeing-focused activities organized by Fairfield House that helps sustain belonging and community support networks. • Fairfield House staff, heritage stakeholders, and the wider community benefited from a research and partnership-building trip to Ethiopia by the Operations Manager, Ras Benji, which strengthened institutional relationships with the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa City Hall, the Jubilee (National) Palace, the Ethiopian Parliament, and the repatriated community in Shashamane, supporting international cultural exchange and the long-term heritage mission of the house. • Local, national, and international audiences benefited from new partnerships and artistic exchanges, including hosting world-renowned pianist Girma Yifrashewa for a Bath Abbey benefit concert and a performance for BEMSCA elders, and receiving delegations from the Ethiopian Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Misgana Arega.