Listen to our Ben talk with John Darvall on BBC Radio Bristol about Bristol Birdman
00:00:00:00 – 00:00:22:13
John Darvall
Do you fancy going up? Up, up and down. Well, if jumping into the docks in a flying contraption of your own making is your thing, then Birdman is back. It’s hosted in Bristol for the first time. The competition takes place all over the country, usually on a pier at the seaside town. Bristol, though it’s got a harbour.00:00:22:14 – 00:00:31:45
John Darvall
Ben Carpenter is the CEO and founder of Grassroot Communities and the organiser of Birdman in Bristol. Ben. Morning.00:00:31:49 – 00:00:32:49
Ben Carpenter
Good morning. John. You alright?00:00:32:54 – 00:00:35:20
John Darvall
I’m very well. Thank you very much indeed. Have you done this before?00:00:35:20 – 00:00:52:35
Ben Carpenter
This? So in what sense? I mean, I’ve done it about, I dunno, 18 years ago I ended up winning some bird competition in New Zealand and that was the the beginning point of thinking this is definitely something that Bristol will love.00:00:52:35 – 00:01:08:26
John Darvall
So. So what made you do it, 18 years ago? What made you decide to create an I do the thing with inverted commas. Something that will fly, and aim yourself at water.00:01:08:31 – 00:01:30:49
Ben Carpenter
Well, first of all, I should state that what we created didn’t fly very far, but, I basically, I was quite young. My mum passed away when it’s quite young. I ended up going traveling and I blagged myself onto loads of different boats. I was in New Zealand trying to, work in the boatyard, sounding down boats, trying to blag on to other boats, to sail around some more.00:01:30:57 – 00:01:51:54
Ben Carpenter
Someone said that there was this Birdman event and I was like, that sounds interesting. What is it? And they explained a bit more. So I ended up getting a load of people from the backpackers that were staying there, and they picked up a shopping trolley, put together, made some costumes and then various other silly bits and pieces with our speech.00:01:51:59 – 00:02:04:39
Ben Carpenter
And we won the radio DJ Funniest Team award. And that was the beginning of me thinking Bristol would love this. And after last year, I think it’s fair to say they did.00:02:04:44 – 00:02:24:51
John Darvall
Well, here’s the thing. This isn’t about, as you say, trying. I mean, I mean, that’s the ethos, isn’t it? Trying to get the furthest you can. It’s all what you’ve just described there, Ben. It’s about teams coming together, working together, having a bit of a laugh, and you never know, it might get slightly further than the other teams.00:02:24:55 – 00:02:48:15
Ben Carpenter
Yeah. I mean, there’s multiple layers to this. Really? Yeah. I guess the first thing to say is that the opportunity for businesses or teams or whatever description to come together, to create a flying contraption, whether that be wearing some kind of, bird-related fluffy outfit or it’s, you know, something that looks a bit more like a Boeing 747.00:02:48:19 – 00:03:10:10
Ben Carpenter
The choice is that there is kind of a few different rules people to kind of follow. But yeah, the teams that entered last year, different businesses, big and small, their big thing was the the impact of coming together and actually having the fun to create these things. The other angle on this is and this is the real thing for, for us.00:03:10:10 – 00:03:29:16
Ben Carpenter
So Grassroot Communities is a youth and community work organisation. We are the people that are organising the event. We are only a small organisation based in South Bristol, we’ve been around forever in a day and, you know, one of the other reasons is, yes, great, fun day out for everyone that costs no money.00:03:29:16 – 00:03:52:34
Ben Carpenter
So everyone is inclusive to everyone so they can all come and watch. But as well as that, to try and raise awareness of the Youth and community work that we do across South Bristol and other parts of the city with certain projects. And to help raise funds because, you know, like you probably know with lots of people you talk to, and lots of listeners might know, we deliver lots of different youth and community to00:03:52:39 – 00:04:04:10
Ben Carpenter
underserved communities, and support young people in ways that matter to them, but being able to fund and actually deliver this work is getting harder and harder, and the needs are getting bigger.00:04:04:10 – 00:04:22:04
John Darvall
But the here’s the thing. It highlights teamwork. It highlights an awful lot more. But it also raises money for a very, very good cause. And as you say, it’s one of those things that is just a little bit nuts, and it will just be brilliant to see in the docks.00:04:22:04 – 00:04:32:01
John Darvall
So when’s it happening, Ben? When are people, when are people aiming to get their magnificent mark flying machines ready for you.00:04:32:06 – 00:04:55:39
Ben Carpenter
So the we’ve just got the, the date confirmed by, the Bristol city council and The Harbour. That’s the 14th of June. That’s a Sunday. We’re still in the process of, confirming particular time. So this year we’ve got the potential for longer. So last year the event went from, for two hours. And obviously, no one knew what it was going to be.00:04:55:39 – 00:05:36:36
Ben Carpenter
So it’s something completely new. Now we’ve got the opportunity for it to go on longer. So we’ll be able to confirm times. But 14th of June, is the day I guess you have a thing to say to people is if anyone’s interested, go on to our website which is www.grassrootcommunities.org and you’ll see a section called Bristol Birdman and it’s got all the info, a little film about last year, the opportunity to sponsor the event, and the business opportunity to entertain.00:05:36:41 – 00:05:39:39
Ben Carpenter
And you get to find out more about what we do as well.00:05:39:48 – 00:05:52:52
John Darvall
Brilliant, brilliant. Ben, thank you very much for that. Ben Carpenter, CEO and founder of Grassroot Communities. Ben. Hope it goes well on the 14th of June.00:05:52:57 – 00:05:53:54
Ben Carpenter
Cheers John.00:05:53:56 – 00:05:55:37
John Darvall
Thank you.