Celebrating the Bristol Young Heroes Awards 2026!

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.

We are pleased to share that Ecosafe Group were awarded 'Highly Commended' for the 'Living Your Social Purpose' Award at the SNG Social Value Awards 2026, after their incredible Social Value work with Young Bristol!

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The SNG Social Value Awards recognise innovation, collaboration and meaningful community impact achieved in 2025-2026. The event celebrates suppliers, partners and individuals who have made a positive impact on local communities and individuals.

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At the event, Ellie Kershaw, YB Marketing, Communications and Programmes Administrator, spoke about the partnership alongside Carly Gray, Senior Marketing and Social Value Manager at Ecosafe Group about 'Making a difference through social value partnerships'.

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Ecosafe's Social Value work have included completing fire safety works at BS14 Youth Club, improving the protection of the busy community venue, used by children and young people, staff members and other service users. This work helps Young Bristol to continue providing safe spaces to young people, staffed with caring, trusted adults, encouraging young people to build confidence, engage in health relationships and develop new skills.

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Carly has also supported Ellie through mentoring over the last six months, where she has provided Ellie with practical guidance, confidence-building and professional development in her role. This has supported Young Bristol to continue achieving our 2025-28 strategic priorities, building sustainable roles and careers within a structure that supports long term growth and ambitions.

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"When I initially met Carly back in December, I didn’t really know what to expect from mentoring, and was nervous about what was to come. I’d never had a personal 1-1 mentor before but I thought it may be helpful in helping with new ideas or tools.

The confidence I feel I’ve grown as a result of these sessions, shows up both in my work life and personal life, and everyone at Young Bristol, my friends and my family have all noticed the positive change.

The experience I have had has shown me that mentoring is all about making you feel seen, heard and believed in, and feeling like you have a safe space to grow, develop and learn new things."

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said Ellie, Marketing, Communications and Programme Administrator.

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We would like to share a huge thank you to both Ecosafe Group and SNG for their incredible social value work at our buildings and with our team, helping us to continue to achieve our 2025-28 strategy. Congratulations to everyone who won an award at the event on Tuesday 10th June 2026. Watch more about their social value work here. To find out more about supporting Young Bristol, click here and visit our 'Support Us' page.

On Sunday 24th May, BBS Plumbing and Heating Supplies hosted a Charity Football Match at Ashton Gate Football Stadium to raise money for Young Bristol!

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BBS Plumbing and Heating Supplies are one of our incredible, valued supporters, who have previously supported us through donations of sanitaryware, bake sales as well as through their 90th birthday dinner!

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The Charity Football Match saw BBS staff and customers come together at Ashton Gate Football Stadium, competing head-to-head to raise money for Young Bristol! The day ended with a delicious meal and an awards ceremony for all the players that took part.

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The incredible event raised £1,100, which will help us to further support young people to improve their wellbeing, increase their physical activity, develop teamwork and communication skills, and build long-term confidence.

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We would like to say a huge thank you to BBS Plumbing and Heating, as well as everyone that took part, donated and helped make the event a fantastic success!

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Looking to support a charity but not sure where to start? Click here to learn more how you can support Young Bristol - our fundraising team are able to support you every step of the way!

On Saturday 16th May, Shannon Ringland, Young Bristol Trustee and former Outdoor Employment Programme Trainee, took on the Jurassic Coast Ultra Challenge as part of her birthday celebration, raising money for young people!

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The Jurassic Coast Challenge is a prestigious event that takes place across the Jurassic Coast. Participants can choose from various distances and either walk, jog or run at their own pace.

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Shannon Ringland, Young Bristol Trustee and former Outdoor Employment Trainee, took on the 100km challenge across two days as part of her birthday celebration to raise money for Young Bristol and Caring in Bristol.

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"Thank you to everyone that donated to my challenge, I would love to be able to do this event again! I had a great birthday weekend and the event was amazing."

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As a Trustee, as well as a former trainee that has benefitted from our Outdoor Employment Programme, Shannon has witnessed first-hand how our work supports young people across the city; providing engaging opportunities, creating safe spaces and building brighter futures.

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The challenge saw Shannon raise over £300 for both Young Bristol and Caring in Bristol. Thank you Shannon for raising money, helping us to continue providing engaging opportunities, creating safe spaces and building brighter futures.

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If you would like to support Young Bristol, and want support in getting started, click here and find out more!

On Sunday 10th May, we were pleased to see 45 runners from a number of our valued corporates sign up to the Bristol 10k and Half Marathon to raise money for Young Bristol!

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The Great Bristol runs, set off from the heart of Bristol's City Centre, and lapped around some of the cities most iconic landmarks, with the race being known for its scenic views.

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It was amazing to see teams from our valued corporate partners, including AECOM, Leggwork, New Work Trust, Sandersons and The Bristol Hotel preparing and fundraising for their challenges!

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“Taking part in the Bristol Half / 10k was a brilliant day for everyone at Leggwork. We wanted to support YB because the work you do with young people in the city has a real, lasting impact on their futures, and it is important for us to give something back to the communities we work in. The atmosphere on the day was amazing, and it was great to see our team come together for such a positive cause.”

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said Justin, Director from Leggwork

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“Proud to have taken part alongside some of our team members at The Bristol in the Bristol 10K and Half Marathon in support of YB. We’re excited to be working with them this year, with our team able to use their Step Forward day to support charitable causes; whether that’s spending time at their centres or getting involved in fundraising activities.”

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added Mehmet Kandemir, General Manager, The Bristol

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Thank you to the 45 runners who took part in both Bristol 10k and Half Marathons to raise money for Young Bristol - we appreciate your ongoing support!

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If you are interested in taking part in a third party fundraising event for Young Bristol, 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 their official charity partner, marking the beginning of a three‑year partnership that will build towards a pair of landmark anniversaries in 2028.

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The partnership will begin in 2026 and will run for three years, until 2028, culminating in the Fiesta’s 50th anniversary, which coincides with Young Bristol’s 100th year of supporting young people across the city.

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To celebrate the start of this incredible partnership, a hot air balloon visited BS14 Youth Club, offering young people from across our Community Youth Club network and Outdoor Employment Programme, families, local ward councillors and staff a rare, behind‑the‑scenes introduction to the world of ballooning. Young people and their families helped tether the balloon, pack it away, and spoke directly with pilots and crew about ballooning as both a sport and a potential career pathway.

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“We’re incredibly grateful to have been chosen as the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta charity partner for the next three years, which will see us celebrate both Young Bristol’s 100^th and the Fiesta’s 50^th anniversaries.

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Young Bristol is dedicated to enabling young people to build brighter futures, and is rooted in some of Bristol’s most deprived communities. The partnership will allow us to open doors for young people to discover new career opportunities, grow their confidence and develop essential life skills through structured visits in our community venues and on-site engagement at the Fiesta.

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We’re excited to see what’s to come across the three‑year partnership, and look forward to broadening horizons, raising aspirations and creating a lasting impact during Bristol’s famous heritage event.”

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said His Majesty's Vice Lord Lieutenant Lee Williams DL, Chief Executive at Young Bristol

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In 2026, our partnership with Bristol International Balloon Fiesta will focus on opening doors for young people to gain experiences within the ballooning industry, helping them understand how the sport works and the many roles involved beyond the moment of flight. 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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During the Fiesta on Friday 7th August - Sunday 9th August, Young Bristol plan to create a brand‑new 'Young Bristol Hub', where we hope to feature our Youth Club on Wheels, a climbing wall, live performances, creative workshops and sport taster sessions, offering hands‑on activities for young people and families throughou tthe three‑day event.

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We would like to share a huge thanks to the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta for their incredible support. Find out other ways that you can support Young Bristol here!

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Photographs taken by Linda Meaton Photography

Young Bristol are proud to announce that our young people have been shortlisted for the Bristol Young Heroes Awards 20256!

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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 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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On Tuesday 5th May, our five shortlisted nominees attended the Bristol Young Heroes Awards Nominee reception at City Hall, hosted by Community of Purpose.

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The evening was an amazing event for all finalists of the award to meet the other nominees, collect their finalists certificates and were introduced to the awards fantastic supporters who can offer young people potential life changing opportunities.

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We wish shortlisted nominees the best of luck at the Bristol Young Heroes Awards in July:

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• Juan, Action Hero - Outdoor Employment Programme
• Lucas, Community Hero - Hartcliffe Club for Young People
• Poppy, Sports Hero - Hartcliffe Club for Young People
• Rudi-Lee, Learning Hero - Avon Youth Club
• Tico, Environmental Hero - Hartcliffe Club for Young People

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Young Bristol would also like to recognise Esme, Evie, James and Lola who were nominated and have achieved incredible things during 2025. To find out more information about their nominations, click here!