FRESH PINTS AND FRANK WORDS WITH THE MAZI PROJECT

At BRISTOL BEER FACTORY we brew world-class beer. Standard. But behind that perfect pint, we are also going the extra mile for our team, prioritising local suppliers, turning out for indie customers and integrating greater sustainability into our operations. We also ensure that every brew is stacked with Purpose. How? By donating 2% of every brewery sale to charities across the city.

Right now, 1 out of 4 Bristolians use charity support each week. From dementia care, mental health groups, food banks, holiday activity clubs, grassroot sports teams, hospices and so much in between. Bristol’s charities and community groups are holding this city together. They offer support, connection and opportunity when you need it most. They are the safety net preventing people from falling into crisis. Any one of us could need that safety net at any time.

And yet our charities are at breaking point. Across our city, charities are cutting services. Some are closing entirely. Those still open are running on fumes.

That’s why we pledge to give 2% of every brewery sale back to Bristol. We call it BREWED TO GIVE. One of the organisations we support is the incredible Mazi Project - helping marginalised young people access food, connection and independence when they need it most.

FOOD AS A TOOL FOR HEALING

The Mazi Project is an organisation dedicated to nourishing marginalised young people aged 16 to 25. But “nourishing” here means far more than simply providing meals. Mel Vaxevanakis, the Founder and Co-Director of Mazi gave us the low down, “We support young people who have recently left the care system, those seeking asylum, those experiencing homelessness, and those fleeing domestic violence. Some of these young people are navigating some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable - often alone, often without stability, and often without access to something as basic as nutritious food.”

For the Mazi Project, food is a gateway to something deeper: mental health support, community building, and personal empowerment. Their approach is rooted in trauma-informed practice, recognising that many of the young people they work with have experienced significant hardship.

Rather than simply handing out meals, Mazi works to break down the barriers that prevent access to nutritious food - barriers that are often financial, but also physical and emotional. They create spaces where young people feel safe, seen, and part of something.

Through meal kits, shared experiences, and opportunities to learn new skills, participants are not only fed but also equipped with tools for independence. Cooking becomes more than a task - it becomes a way to regain control, to build confidence, and to reconnect with others. life in a meaningful way. That sense of belonging isn’t a bonus. It’s transformational.

A COMMUNITY EFFORT

Since 2023, BBF have shown up for the Mazi Project with free use of space, raffle prizes and crowdfunder rewards, donated stock for their community feasts and fundraisers and a cash donation towards their kitchen fit out. All in, this has secured more than £10k towards their work – but we’re not alone.

Volunteers turn out every two weeks to help pack meal kits, turning raw ingredients into lifelines for young people across the city. Others attend Mazi’s monthly “At the Table” supper-club style event where different restaurants take over the community kitchen for one-off dinners. Whether it is Josh Eggleton, Bianchis, Root, Pash from the Lido, Pegs from Sonny Stores, Noor Murad, Dina Macki or others, the menus change but the events have the same vibe. Warmth. Vibrancy. Music. Purpose. Always incredible food.

Attending an event like this is special and impactful. Every person at that table and every donated BBF beer you buy is helping to support the Mazi Project’s work. It’s a win win.

But it’s only part of the story.

THE REALITY BEHIND THE VIBES

While volunteers pack boxes and guests enjoy beautifully prepared meals, the organisation’s leadership (like for many charities and CIC’s across the city) is grappling with constant uncertainty. Questions about funding, sustainability, and survival are ever-present.

How will we continue our services? How will we pay our staff? How can we ensure that 100 young people continue receiving nourishing food every other week? These aren’t occasional concerns. They are daily, persistent pressures.

For Mel, Lily and others working within the organisation, this creates a deeply conflicting experience. On one hand, they witness the joy, the impact, and the tangible difference their work makes. On the other, they put in long hours, take home the emotional strain, and are constantly chasing the funds. The risk of burnout for so many charity leaders right now is real.

It’s not just exhausting - it’s unsustainable.

£700K IS JUST THE START

What Mazi is facing isn’t unique. Charities are holding up parts of society that should never have been left to them alone. They are filling systemic gaps - quietly, effectively, and without the stability they need to survive.

We recently asked 100 charities about the state of the sector. 40 responded and revealed the hard truth.

• 97% of local charities report their operational costs are rising faster than their income.
• 95% agree that the demand for their services has significantly increased.
• 73% are likely to use unrestricted reserves to stay afloat over the next 2 years.
• 60% are at risk of reducing or suspending services due to financial pressures.

Since May 2023, we have raised over £700,000 for Bristol charities by brewing world-class beer and donating some of the profits back to local causes. That’s what we call DRINK WITH PURPOSE.

But so much more is needed – which is why we are hatching plans with other indie businesses to show up for Bristol.

A MEAL THAT MATTERS

So what would the ideal future look like for The Mazi Project? Unsurprising, Mel tells us it is simply stability, “Sustainable funding that ensures our work is consistent, ideally with six months of financial reserves in the bank, so we have the space to deliver our work, plan for the future and meet emerging needs without the constant fear of collapse.”

But beyond that, the vision is bigger. Mel is shouting from the roof tops that here needs to be a shift in how charities are viewed by government, decisions makers and businesses. These organisations are not optional extras. They are strengthening communities, building resilience, and shaping more equitable cities.

Charities like the Mazi Project are part of the solution. And they deserve to be recognised - and supported - as such.

This is more than world-class beer. This is more than an epic meal with your mates. This is about dignity. It’s about belonging. It’s about COMMUNITY.

Get tickets to a Mazi event - show up, take part, and directly support marginalised young people building independence and community.

Buy a BBF beer - 2% of every sale goes straight back into our city, supporting projects like The Mazi Project.

Cheers Bristol