News and stories

We are delighted to announce the appointment of India Crawford, Fundraising Coordinator and Louis Goldspring, Fundraising Coordinator!

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India has experience of working with young people as both a Teaching Associate and a doctor based in Bristol. She has also previously helped with fundraising, supporting educational opportunities in the UK and abroad. India is looking forward to working with the Fundraising Team, ensuring Young Bristol can continue to make a positive impact through its programmes and services. Outside of work, India loves to cook and bake – and tries to balance this with a mix of long walks, cycling and Pilates!

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Louis recently graduated University, studying Politics and International Relations. He has also worked in the charity sector since graduating, where he has worked as a Street Fundraiser for a homelessness and housing charity. Louis also had experience coaching young people in cricket. Louis is excited to join us as part of the Fundraising Team, where he plans to help us to secure funding for our current and future projects, as well as helping us to continue supporting young people. Outside of work, Louis enjoys sports - in particular cricket!

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We hope you will join us in welcoming India and Louis to the Young Bristol team!

Recently, we nominated three Young Bristol staff members to receive an invitation to the royal families garden party, held at Buckingham Palace.

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Lucy, Head of Fundraising and Development, was nominated to receive an invitation as she has made significant contributions to our charity, enabling us to secure the resources required to deliver its strategic objectives, both now, in the past and in the future!

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Web and Jacky, from Hartcliffe Club for Young People, were also nominated to receive an invitation as the pair have shown incredible commitment to Hartcliffe's community and Youth Club for many years!

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Web Matthews said:

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I would like to thank Young Bristol for giving me the opportunity to attend this special occasion, I was deeply honored. The day was an excellent opportunity to visit the palace and see others who are doing so much in their communities. It has been a absolute pleasure serving young people. The relationships gained throughout the decades has meant so much to me.

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We would like to extend a huge thank you to our staff team and volunteers who continue to support Young Bristol. The contributions you make are invaluable to us!

Young Bristol are offering a NEW five-week programme called "Aspire" for 16-17 year olds, where they will learn the skills to become world ready and work ready! The programme offers the opportunity for you to meet new people and make new friends!

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Each session will be based around a number of different themes and activities to help you learn practical life skills such as: cooking, sports, discussion activities, planning budgets and decision making.

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Each week, our sessions will be based at Ashton Vale Club for Young People, Silbury Road, Bristol, BS3 2QE, from 3:30pm - 6:30pm. Each programme will be split into three parts across the year. To take part in our programme, register your interest here!

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Programme 1

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Part 1

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• 26th June
• 3rd July
• 10th July
• 17th July
• 24th July

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Part 2

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• 18th September
• 25th September
• 2nd October
• 9th October
• 16th October

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Part 3

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• 8th January
• 15th January
• 22nd January
• 29th January
• 6th February

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Programme 2

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Part 1

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• 7th August
• 14th August
• 21st August
• 28th August
• 4th September

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Part 2

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• 30th October
• 6th November
• 13th November
• 20th November
• 27th November

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Part 3

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• 19th February
• 26th February
• 5th March
• 12th March
• 19th March

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If you would like to find out more about our NCS programme or would like to register your interest, click here!

This week is Volunteer Week, and Young Bristol would like to share a special thanks to everyone who has chosen to support us in each and every capacity. This week, we would like to shine a light on our amazing volunteers, who help us to offer a safe and inclusive environment and facilitate a range of activities for young people.

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We heard from Soha, a volunteer at The Grove @ Bedminster Down, who spoke to us about her experience volunteering at our Community Youth Clubs.

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Soha began volunteering in 2023, after hearing about us in 2019 during an NCS programme. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to join us when she initially planned due to the Covid pandemic. She wanted to try volunteering as she hoped this would reignite her passions and hoped volunteering would help her to find herself! After meeting the team and joining in on her first session at The Grove, she knew she had made the right decision for herself and has loved volunteering ever since!

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"I love volunteering for Young Bristol because it reflects the journey I have been on and all the obstacles I have overcome throughout my life. But more than that, I feel like I am part of a team full of open-minded individuals who have the same goals as me!"

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Soha's favourite thing about volunteering at our clubs is that she has been able to work with a range of people, both staff and young people, who come from a range of different backgrounds, circumstances and walks of life, who all come together and support each other. She loves to see young people learn new skills and build new relationships and could not be prouder of what she has helped them to achieve.

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"I went into volunteering with the intention of rediscovering myself; which it certainly has done. However, volunteering has proved to be so much more than that and it has been the best decision I have ever made!"

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A huge thank you to Soha and all our other volunteers for all your continued support across our Youth Clubs, helping young people discover what they are capable of! If you would like to volunteer with Young Bristol, click here to learn more.

This week is Volunteer Week, and Young Bristol would like to share a special thanks to everyone who has chosen to support Young Bristol in each and every capacity. This week, we would like to shine a light on our amazing corporate partners, who have gone above and beyond to voluntarily raise money and support Young Bristol.

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One example, from our number of incredibly generous partnerships we have developed, is BBS Plumbing and Heating Supplies. BBS contacted us prior to their 90th birthday event, where they were looking to support a local charity to help benefit the next generation of Bristolians. Their initial fundraising efforts at their 90th celebration raised over £5,000 for Young Bristol!

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This week is Volunteer Week, and Young Bristol would like to share a special thanks to everyone who has chosen to support Young Bristol in each and every capacity. One group we would like to shine a light on is our Board of Trustees!

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Our Board of Trustees are a group of volunteers who help to drive our developing work with children and young people across Bristol.  We are pleased to work with 11 trustees, who are responsible for the strategic direction and development of Young Bristol.

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We asked our Trustees why they chose to support Young Bristol. Jonathan Webb, President, said:

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"Young Bristol is a wonderful charity. Its impact goes way beyond all the things it does for the young people of Bristol and the wider area. Whenever I meet people who have had their lives improved for the better through YB  I am reminded what a privilege and pleasure it is to be involved. "

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Carolyn Jenkins, Trustee, added:

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"Everyone at Young Bristol works hard to support young people, providing opportunities and experiences to enhance and transform lives - from youth clubs to outdoor activities and employment schemes. It is an honour to be part of such a committed charity and team, and so rewarding to see the many stories of positive impact across the city"

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Thank you to our Board of Trustees for your continued support and voluntary efforts to support Young Bristol and the young people of Bristol!

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If you would like to support Young Bristol but unsure where to start, click here and read more on how you can support us!

This week, we finished off the May Half term by hosting an Interclub Dodgeball tournament for young people across our Community Youth Club network to enjoy!

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Avon Youth Club kindly facilitated our Dodgeball tournament, where we saw representatives from Avon Youth Club, Hartcliffe Club for Young People and The Grove @ Bedminster Down, to compete and win this years dodgeball competition.

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The day saw young people take part in a junior and senior category, with a round-robin format. Each round consisted of 3 games, where young people competed against each other to win the most points and secure a place in the final!

This year, Young Bristol organised NABGC's 58th annual Canoe Test!

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Through the bank holiday weekend, young people from Young Bristol and those associated with the National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs took part in The Canoe Test 2024. The challenge took place over four days, with participants paddling down the River Wye.

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Young people completed this challenging event, with some achieving up to 100 miles of canoeing! The event taught all participants some life-changing skills in addition to canoeing, such as preparing their own food and setting up their own tents to camp in, which they can continue to use on future adventures.

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The four days of canoeing down the River Wye was all under the expert guidance of Young Bristol's Commercial Activities team, ably supported by a number of volunteers, all giving up their bank holiday weekend to to ensure all young people participating in this years Canoe Test had an amazing experience!

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Thank you to everyone who helped to make this years Canoe Test a truly unforgettable event full of learning, laughter and friendship-building!

Last week, Young Bristol were pleased to be in attendance at World Youth Clubs Leadership Institute 2024 in Atlanta, alongside some other great youth organisations from NABGC, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, Liberia and Georgia as well as states across USA!

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During the first few days at World Youth Clubs Leadership Institute, attendees were given the opportunity to explore the facilities on offer for young people across Atlanta! Our team were also able to meet and connect with individuals from across the globe, who shared their experiences of youth work from different countries!

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Later in the week, World Youth Clubs Leadership Institute delegates and 14 other nations were recognised at the Boys & Girls Club of America's 118th Annual Conference! It was amazing to connect with youth working peers to explore strategies and share insights. Later in the conference, we heard from some of Atlanta's alumni, including singer-songwriter Usher, who had previously attended youth clubs in Atlanta as a teenager.

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We would like to thank World Youth Clubs for hosting another great conference this year. Young Bristol representatives enjoyed their time in Atlanta and have brought all their learning and growth back to Bristol, ready to apply and benefit our young people! We are excited to hopefully attend next years conference.