
Help Brilliant Bamboo build more dreams!
Donation protected
It’s about a year ago that I, Gemma, had my fortieth birthday and asked friends, colleagues, partners and the internet to support me to make my bamboo dreams come true. See the call to action below.
It was fantastic, that 26 people reached into their pockets and used their hard-earned cash to support me to develop the work. The unrestricted funding is a lifeline and proves the community of interest in the project.
I was able to register Brilliant Bamboo as a Community Interest Company (CIC), develop funding applications, stay in touch with partners, buy much-needed resources, work with colleagues to develop the brand and the website and undertake research and visits to develop the work further. It’s fantastic to have your support. If you have an organisation with Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility or Sustainability goals or support please get in touch directly.
We are still in early days with our Brilliant Bamboo anniversary approaching in August. We still have a lot to do, and our focus is to:
⁃ develop new strands of activity projects in communities.
⁃ identify land to use as a pilot site(s).
We absolutely need your help to do that. To support us with your goodwill and your pounds to start to showcase the opportunity the organisation and our projects will have on people and planet.
Thanks for considering supporting our GoFundMe.
Gemma and Brilliant Bamboo
www.brilliantbamboo.co.uk
Original post:
In June 2023 I was 40! Forty years old!
I’ve had some really thoughtful gifts from friends, family and colleagues that has also given opportunity to reflect on what I love, like and achieved and consider what the next forty years (if I’m lucky) might have in store.

After a couple of years of being a partner in a project with Orit Azaz and Imagineer alongside growers, engineers, artists, communities and a swathe of partners locally, nationally and internationally (Visit Imagine Bamboo here ). The work was a part of my brilliant day job at Appetite but has become much more. I’d love to build on the work so far and create a legacy. One I’m already working on with the same partners, new partners and collecting together brilliant people along the way.

I will be setting up a social enterprise and I need to raise some money to:
- make time for me to move it forward.
- help set up the organisation, meet new people, develop business plans and secure some of the core components for the next steps.
- raise more money for the project and organisation to put back into fairly paying people and the planet. This can act as ‘match’ funding.
- develop a model for individuals and companies to partner for social and environmental responsibility towards net zero and beyond.
- own some land, plants, and create plans for some exciting bamboo buildings co-designed with architects, artists, engineers and communities.
This gofundme will allow me make a start on the list above, which are the crucial building blocks to all the other steps in the big plan.

Help me make something brilliant happen with bamboo: grow, build, make and play! All whilst capturing carbon, cleaning air and soil quality and creating opportunities for people all at the same time.

If you’re interested in other parts of the plan. I’d love to have a chat.
I’ve been looking into community shares. You might have some land you’d like to donate, licence or long-term offer for the project. Bamboo as carbon offsetting. And more…
Thanks for reading and supporting! I’ll love you forever. Thank you for the birthday and bamboo love.
Organizer

Gemma Thomas
Organizer
England