Celebrating the Bristol Young Heroes Awards 2024!

Young Bristol are supporting World Mental Health Day, highlighting the importance of talking, listening and supporting better mental health together.

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This year, the theme of World Mental Health Day is ‘Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change’, which explores the importance of conversations,especially when we listen to people’s experiences.

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At Young Bristol, we are committed to continuing our Mission of providing safe places, and supportive environments, where both young people and our employees can feel listened too, supported and not alone.

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Prioritising mental health in the workplace

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Our people are central to creating positive outcomes for young people. By listening to, investing in, developing and supporting our staff and volunteers, we can create the most positive and impactful outcomes for our young people.

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In recent years, Young Bristol has focused and prioritised the importance of communication, wellbeing and workplace culture across the organisation.

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Andy, Head of Operations & HR said,

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"One of Young Bristol's key pillars is 'Our People' which relates to the dedicated staff and volunteer teams we have working throughout Young Bristol's operation supporting young people. To ensure young people have an offer they can benefit from it is important our staff and volunteers feel supported. Staff have access to a confidential 24-hour Employee Assistance programme, flexible and hybrid working options, Young Bristol's Right to Disconnect Policy and an extra day annual leave on their Birthday! We are committed to creating a culture where wellbeing matters every day.

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By creating a culture where staff and volunteers thrive, we create a culture where young people thrive."

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Our Youth Mental Health First Aider!

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Our Youth Mental Health First Aiders play a key role in supporting and providing guidance to young people aged 8-18,who may be experiencing poor mental health. They are committed to recognising signs, offering initial assistance and connecting young people to professional help.

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‍Jason, Head of Youth Work is a trained Youth Mental Health First Aider, and is passionate about supporting young people through situations they face around their mental health, and wants to be someone that our young people can trust, talk to and take advice from.

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"One moment that made me feel like I made a difference was when I first engaged with someone who was having a panic attack, and helped them through a grounding method. When a young person is in a crisis moment, being there and knowing you've helped is a great feeling!"

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Mental Health is important to him as he believes looking after your mental state of mind is just as important as looking after your physical health. Jason understands that this is something that everyone can be affected by, and as a young person himself, knew someone close to him that suffered with their own mental health. He saw how much a small amount of support can transform someone's state of mind, which inspired him to learn more!

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One piece of advice Jason would give to anyone struggling with their mental health and well-being would be to reach out and talk to someone - from a friend or family member to a youthworker, teacher or mental health first aider. Let them know how you are feeling and what's going on.

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‍Our Youth Mental Health Champions!

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A Youth Mental Health Champion plays a key role in advocating for young people's mental health and wellbeing by raising awareness, starting important conversations and signposting to important resources.

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Meet Kat, Senior Youth Leader at BS14 Youth Club. Kat is one of our Youth Mental Health Champions! As a Youth Worker, Kat is passionate about young people's wellbeing and believes in the importance of supporting their mental health, ensuring they receive the help they need.

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"We, as a society, are getting really good at recognising mental health needs in adults but I feel in that process, young people have been forgotten. That's where I believe Youth Workers step in."

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Youth mental health is important to her as she believes if you give young people the skills they need to manage their mental health now, you are giving them transferrable skills they can take forwards into their adulthood, which in the long run can help ease the strain on adults mental health services. When working at the club, Kat regularly checks in on young people's mental health and allows them to reflect on their own feelings, behaviours and management tools that work best for them.

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‍Where you can find support and advice

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Did you know one in five children face mental health issues? Whether you want to access helpful resources, start a conversation about mental health or are seeking professional advice and guidance, there are many ways you can begin to make a difference to a young person's mental health and wellbeing. If you or someone you know needs support, check out the links below for some recommended local and national services.

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Young people

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• Mind - A mental health charity, whose aim is to ensure no one faces mental health alone. Offering online support and guidance that young people that can access on their website 24/7.
• Shout - A free, confidential24/7 text support service for anyone in the UK who is struggling with their mental health. To start a conversation, text 'SHOUT' to 85258. Shout's team of trained volunteers are trained to listen at any time, day or night.
• Samaritans - Aims to provide support through phone, letter, email or in person. Whatever problem you are facing, Samaritans are available 24/7, 365 days a year!
• Kooth - an online wellbeing community where you can get free, safe and anonymous support. The forum is a judgement-free, safe place for anyone to get advice, help others and share their stories.

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Parents

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• Young Minds Parent Helpline - Offering tailored advice to parents, guardians and other family members who are concerned about a child's mental health. Advice for all young people who are under 25 over the phone or through their online chat.
• Shout - A free, confidential24/7 text support service for anyone in the UK who is struggling with their mental health. To start a conversation, text 'SHOUT' to 85258. Shout's team of trained volunteers are trained to listen at any time, day or night.‍
• Samaritans - Aims to provide support through phone, letter, email or in person. Whatever problem you are facing, Samaritans are available 24/7, 365 days a year!‍
• MindEd for Families - A free e-learning portal, offering information and support about mental health and well-being. Available 24/7 on their website!

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To find out more about our work with young people and the opportunities we provide click here.

On Thursday 3rd September, Young Leaders Lola & Eve from Sea Mills Boys' and Girls Club, alongside Young Bristol's Matt Donnelly and Andy Kimber were invited onto Joe Sims' Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Bristol.

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It was fantastic to hear Young Leaders Lola, aged 15 and Eve, aged 16 from Sea Mills Boys' and Girls Club, alongside Young Bristol's Head of Commercial Activities, Matt Donnelly and Head of Operations & HR, Andy Kimber on BBC Radio Bristol this week - sharing about our services and our Young Leaders once in a lifetime opportunity at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta last month.

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It was a great opportunity to raise awareness of the variety of opportunities that Young Bristol provides to young people across the city, as well as the importance of safe, welcoming spaces where young people can thrive in local communities. Highlights from the show included:

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"It was honestly the best experience I ever had!" Lola, aged 15

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"People are recognising the value, recognising the gaps that not having Youth Clubs and provisions for young people has created - but what we really need to celebrate and realise, is the longevity that Clubs like Sea Mills Boys' and Girls Club have." Andy Kimber, Head of Operations & HR

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A huge thank you to BBC Radio Bristol for allowing us to share the importance of our work across the city! If you would like to listen to the full interview, you can listen in on BBC iPlayer or click here [starting from 02:08:40].

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To find out more about our opportunities for young people across Bristol click here.

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On Saturday 15th August, we were delighted to see team members from Sanderson Government & Defence and AWW take on the South West Tough Mudder in aid of Young Bristol!

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The Tough Mudder South West is a challenging obstacle course that takes place at Badminton Estate, where participants navigate a variety of obstacles, including icy water, thick mud, rope climbs, fire, and electricity shocks.

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It has been amazing to see 9 team members from Sanderson Government & Defence and 5 team members from AWW prepare for this exciting fundraising challenge, all whilst raising funds for our young people.

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Katherine Dodd, from AWW said, "Young Bristol is invaluable in supporting young people and communities across the city, so we were more than happy to get knee deep in mud to raise money for a great local cause."

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Thank you to all 14 of our participants for taking part in the 2026 South West Tough Mudder - we appreciate your incredible ongoing support! If you would like to support our participants continued fundraising, click on of the links below:

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• AWW
• Sanderson Government & Defence

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If you are interested in taking part in a third party fundraising event for Young Bristol in 2027 click here and learn how you can help fundraise for us!

We are pleased to share that the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta has chosen Young Bristol as its official charity partner, marking the start of a three-year partnership from 2026 to 2028.

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United by a shared commitment to opportunity, belonging and community connection, the three-year collaboration will build towards a pair of milestone anniversaries. In 2028, the Fiesta will celebrate its 50th year, while Young Bristol reaches 100 years of supporting young people across the city.

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Across the partnership, Young Bristol will work alongside the Fiesta to open doors for young people to explore opportunities. From engineering and logistics to creative production and live events, the collaboration will shine a light on the pathways that sit behind one of Bristol’s most distinctive global industries.‍

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Together, we aim to broaden horizons, raise aspirations and create a lasting impact that extends far beyond the moment the balloons take flight.

Young Bristol are delighted that our Outdoor Employment Programme has been shortlisted as a finalist for the 'Tackling Youth Inactivity Award' at the Children and Young People Now Awards 2026!

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The Children and Young People Now Awards showcase innovation and outstanding practice across the children’s services sector. The Awards champion the vital work of services supporting children, young people and families across the UK.

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Our Outdoor Employment Programme (OEP) was nominated for the Tackling Youth Inactivity Award - recognising the programmes pivotal work across Bristol for the last 13 years. The OEP supports young people aged 16-25 who are not in employment, education or training (NEET), and those who face significant barriers to employment.

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The OEP acts as a vital lifeline and key steppingstone for young people who have experienced times of homelessness, young carers who have responsibility of looking after parents, those with refugee or asylum seeker status or have learning difficulties, and struggle with the structure of a traditional school or education environment.

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Since the launch of the programme in 2013, it has transformed the lives of hundreds of young people from across Bristol:  

• Over 360 young people age 16 – 25 years old supported since 2013.

• Over 250 hours of training provided each year.  

• Nearly 1000 Instructor and NGB Qualifications awarded to trainees since 2013

• 50 young people supported by Redpoint Bristol’s volunteering scheme, with 7 trainees undergoing the mentoring programme this year alone.  

• Over 100 trainees employed through the Go Aloft! Programme with SS Great Britain. Over 98% of those employed through the partnership remain in employment or have moved into full time education.

• 7 NEET trainees volunteered at the Glastonbury Festival (2 of those have returned for 2 years and volunteers are managed by 2 more OEP alumni)

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Thank you to the Children and Young People Now Awards for recognising the fantastic work of our Outdoor Employment Programme. We look forward to celebrating alongside services from across the UK later this year.

On Friday 3rd July, we were pleased to attend the Bristol Young Heroes Awards to support our four young people who were nominated as finalists.

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The Bristol Young Heroes Awards recognises and celebrates the valuable contribution that Bristol's young people make to the city. The awards shine a light on those who have overcome difficult circumstances, made a difference to the lives of others, or have achieved something extraordinary this year!

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‍Juan, Outdoor Employment Programme - Overall Hero

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Congratulations to Juan from Young Bristol's Outdoor Employment Programme, who was awarded the Overall Hero Award at the Bristol Young Heroes!

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Juan was originally nominated for the Action Hero Award as they have faced considerable adversity, prejudice in their community, and financial instability. Since joining the Outdoor Employment Programme, Juan has shown incredible determination to succeed against all odds, where they have already gained a number of qualifications in outdoor pursuits, encouraged and supported others to join and engage with the programme, and enrolled into college to take their GCSEs this year.

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Phil Harris, Outdoor Employment Programme Lead said,

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"J initially comes across really quiet, but underneath there is so much strength and resilience. Everything we do at the Outdoor Employment Programme, he always attends, even when he has faced so much adversity and is trying to complete college courses within a year. You have changed how I look at the world, and your kindness, consideration and calmness in the face in such difficulty every day is outstanding!"

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Tico, Hartcliffe Club for Young People- Sports Hero

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Congratulations to Tico from Hartcliffe Club for Young People, who was awarded the Environmental Hero Award at the Bristol Young Heroes!

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Tico was nominated for the Environmental Hero as he is an outstanding young environmental leader whose passion, commitment, and hands‑on action are transforming the way young people in Bristol understand and care for the natural world. His work goes far beyond personal interest—Tico is actively shaping a greener future for his community by educating, inspiring, and mobilising others.

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Sian Williams, Youth Worker at Hartcliffe Club for Young People said,

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"Tico really stood out when I first met him, he was naturally inquisitive and had a passion for the environment. He's helped us develop our green space, and has been involved in making our building more environmentally sustainable - he is best known for planting over 100 trees during a summer project. We cannot thank you enough for your passion, drive and knowledge. You not only inspire others, but inspire me!"

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When receiving his award, Tico added,

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"My one piece of advice to be more environmentally friendly is to start by not littering and trying to plant more plants"

This month, we were excited to invite 6 young people from across our Community Youth Club network to join us at the NABGC Essex Adventure Weekend!

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We were pleased to see young people from Ashton Vale Club for Young People, Avon Youth Club, BS14 Youth Club and the Youth Club on Wheels Hengrove session take part in a jam-packed weekend full of activities at Thriftwood Scout Camp Site, from Friday 3rd July - Sunday 5th July 2026!

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Across the weekend, young people were involved with a number of sports activities, including axe throwing, archery, rifle shooting, Jacob's ladder, postmans mate, kayaking, raft-building, cresta run and bush craft. Our young people were also involved in a variety of other group activities including tug of war, assault courses and smores making. During each activity across the weekend, we saw our group meet new people from across the country, try new opportunities and build friendships for life!

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"She hasn’t stopped taking about it since coming home. She loved the Essex Adventure Weekend!"

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said parent of a young person

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"As a Youth Worker, it's always an amazing feeling when you take young people who don’t know each other away and starting to see them forming friendships. It’s great to see that, even though we had young people from four different areas of Bristol, they were able to come together and form a strong-bonded group for this weekend."

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said Jason Beckhelling-Terry, Head of Youth Work

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Thank you NABGC and Essex Boys and Girls Clubs for arranging an amazing weekend, giving young people the opportunity to try new things and learn life skills!

Young Bristol and members of our Outdoor Employment Programme were delighted to take part in the 2026 Bristol Rotary Dragon Boat Race, joining teams from across the city on Bristol's Harbourside.

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The Bristol Rotary Dragon Boat Race is an annual event organised by the Bristol Breakfast Rotary Club. The event aims to raise money for local charities, and is open to everyone, regardless of experience, to take part in. The day is well known for its fun atmosphere and community spirit.

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The Dragon Boat Race was an incredible opportunity for Young Bristol and our Outdoor Employment Programme Trainees to meet local organisations, build new connections and raise awareness of the vital work we provide young people across the city.

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"I had an amazing time taking part in the Dragon Boat race, I'm excited to come back next year to win!"

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said Outdoor Employment Programme Trainees

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Our team also enjoyed speaking with local businesses, charities and groups who wanted to learn more about Young Bristol, and how we support young people across the city, providing them with a safe space and caring, trusted adults.

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We would like to share thanks to the Bristol Rotary Club for hosting an incredible event, we look forwards to hopefully joining again next year! If you would like to find out about accessing opportunities through our Outdoor Employment Programme, click here. If you would like to support Young Bristol, click here and find out how to get started.

On Thursday 18th June, Young Bristol were delighted to host our annual Golf Day & Dinner. We invited golfers to the Tall Pines Golf Club, all competing to win the trophy on the 18-hole course.

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Our Golf Day & Dinner saw a number of golfers taking part in our annual Golf Day & Dinner at the Tall Pines Golf Club. The event saw teams put their golfing abilities to the test, competing to win a range of amazing prizes!

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Guests began their day with a bacon roll, hot drinks and a goody bag, which were filled with golf tees, golf markers, balls, snack bars, water to keep our golfers hydrated throughout the day, and some other amazing gifts donated by our Title Sponsors, Burges Salmon!

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Many of our teams arrived early, excited to kick off the day around the course with a putting competition! Teams also took the opportunity to network with their competitors whilst waiting for their tee time.