BOOK NOW: Easter Outdoor Activities 2025!

During the Easter half term, Young Bristol were pleased to deliver two weeks of Open Access and Holiday Clubs across our youth provision. We worked with new and existing young people, providing them with enriching opportunities and a hot, healthy meal!

‍

Young Bristol's Easter Holiday Clubs for young people aged 8-19 were located in 4 locations across the city, where our Community Youth Club staff and Outdoor Activities team ran a number of sessions for young people to enjoy! Our team provided young people with a number of exciting and enriching activities, a free prepared meal and a safe place, where they can have fun! Our programmes are all free to attend, with a focus on those in receipt of free school meals!

‍

This Easter, Young Bristol saw:

‍

• 792 contacts with young people
• 40+ open access and holiday club sessions delivered from our youth clubs
• 175 meals provided to our young people

This week, Young Bristol were pleased to receive a generous donation from local construction recruitment company, Leggwork!

‍

Leggwork have been a valued supporter of Young Bristol since 2021. They have provided financial donations, in-kind support and have regularly volunteered at our Community Youth Clubs. The team have also kindly supported us through numerous fundraising events.

‍

Young Bristol were amazed to receive a generous donation of 600 Easter eggs from Leggwork. These Easter eggs will be distributed to young people across our Community Youth Club network, including those attending our Holiday Clubs and Open Access sessions this month!

‍

"Donating Easter eggs to Young Bristol has been a cherished annual tradition for us at Leggwork since 2021. Seeing the children's excitement and happy faces is such a great feeling! Supporting Young Bristol is really important to us, and this is definitely one of the best parts of our ongoing partnership!"

‍

Justin, Director at Leggwork

‍

‍

It was incredible to see the excitement from young people when the team distributed some of the Easter Eggs to young people taking part in Grassroots Sports Holiday Clubs, who use our BS14 Youth Club during half terms!

‍

Thank you to Leggwork for your kind donation! If you would also like to help us support young people across Bristol, click here and find out more!

Are you looking to take part in exciting activities this month? Young Bristol have a range of activities, events and opportunities for young people and the wider community! Find out below what's on in your local area this month!

‍

Holiday Clubs

‍

During the Easter Half term, we have a number of Holiday activities and opportunities on offer for young people to enjoy, with a focus on those who receive free school meals. Each session, all young people will receive a free hot meal!

‍

When: Monday 7th April - Thursday 17th April

Where: Various Community Youth Clubs

For: Ages 8-16

‍

‍

Outdoor Activities

‍

Our Outdoor Activity Programme will be running half day and full day Holiday Clubs across April's Half Term. Take part in our offer of up to 16 water and land based activities! Places are limited and will need booking in advance. Click here to secure your place!

‍

When: Monday 7th April - Thursday 17th April

Where: Pooles Wharf Outdoor Activity Centre

For: Ages 8-16

‍

‍

Kayak Club

‍

Our Kayak Club is a weekly drop-in session that provides the opportunity to improve physical fitness and confidence, learn new paddle skills across Bristol’s harbourside and have fun! The sessions are for young people of all abilities!

‍

When: Every Monday, 4:30pm-6:30pm

Where: Pooles Wharf Outdoor Activity Centre

For: Ages 8-16

‍

‍

Also this month...

‍

Community Youth Clubs - For 8 – 19 year olds and are located in many areas across Bristol, open up to 5 nights per week. Each Club offers a safe and inclusive environment, staffed by caring, trained adults. Click here to find out more.

‍

Outdoor Employment Programme - Our free programme for young people aged 16-25 helps to develop new skills and gain nationally recognised qualifications in a variety of outdoor activities. Click here to find out more.

‍

Youth Club on Wheels - Our mobile youth service works with young people aged 8-19 in hard-to-reach areas of the city and rural areas where there is currently no youth provision. Click here to find out more.

Join Young Bristol's FREE Easter Holiday Clubs! We are open to all young people aged 8-19 across our Community Youth Clubs. From sports activities to creative workshops, we have something for everyone to enjoy! A free hot, healthy meal will be provided to all young people.

‍

Our Easter Holiday activities across our Community Youth Clubs are kindly funded by the Holiday Activity Fund, supported by Bristol City Council, The Department of Education and Your Holiday Hub!

‍

We are pleased to share a confirmed list of dates for our sessions throughout the Easter period. All of our other deliver will continue to run as normal:

‍

Ashton Vale Club for Young People

‍

• Monday 7th April, 5:30pm-8:30pm (Ages 12-19)
• Tuesday 8th April, 5:30pm-8:30pm (Ages 8-11)
• Monday 14th April, 5:30pm-8:30pm (Ages 12-19)
• Tuesday 15th April, 5:30pm-8:30pm (Ages 8-11)

‍

Address: Ashton Vale Club for Young People, Silbury Road, Bristol, BS3 2QE

‍

BS14 Stockwood Youth Club

‍

• Monday 7th April, 5:30pm-8:30pm (Ages 12-19)
• Thursday 10th April, 5:30pm-8:30pm - booking required for this session (Ages 8-11)
• Monday 14th April, 5:30pm-8:30pm (Ages 12-19)
• Thursday 17th April, 5:30pm-8:30pm - booking required for this session (Ages 8-11)

‍

Address: BS14 Youth Club, Stockwood Lane, Bristol, BS14 8SJ

‍

The Grove @ Bedminster Down

‍

• Monday 7th April, 5:30pm-8:30pm (Year groups 3, 4 and 5)
• Tuesday 8th April, 5:30pm-8:30pm (Year groups 6 and 7)
• Monday 14th April, 5:30pm-8:30pm (Year groups 3, 4 and 5)
• Tuesday 15th April, 5:30pm-8:30pm (Year groups 6 and 7)

‍

Address: The Grove @ Bedminster Down, 27A Cheddar Grove, Bristol, BS13 7EN

‍

To find out more about our other holiday activities, including outdoor activities, click here!

This month, two incredible trainees from Young Bristol's Outdoor Employment Programme joined Super Sliders Ice Sports Foundation in St Moritz, Switzerland to take part in their Gold programme!

‍

Our Outdoor Employment Programme has been involved with the SuperSliders Ice Sports Foundation since 2022, where a number of trainees have been involved with and taken part in their Bronze and Silver Programmes at Bath Univeristy's bobsleigh track. Dan and Jack, two Outdoor Employment Programme trainees, took their sliding experience to the next level, being offered to complete their 'Gold Control' award at the Olympia Bobsleigh run in Switzerland!

‍

Over their three day trip in Switzerland, they completed seven runs of the track, tackling speeds of over 100km/h and incredibly tight corners, covering 1.7 km in under 90 seconds! Dan and Jack were awarded with the 'Gold Control' certificate for their time and efforts across the week!

‍

"Thanks Phil from Young Bristol and the Super Sliders team for the amazing experience, it's been phenomenal. Definitely a week to remember, one thing I'll miss is that morning ice track walk and going down it at 70mph plus the views."

‍

Jack, Outdoor Employment Programme Trainee

‍

We would like to extend a huge thank you to Super Sliders ISF, who have made this once in a lifetime opportunity possible for our trainees! If you would like to find out more about how you can get involved with our Outdoor Employment Programme, click here!

This February half term, Young Bristol have offered a wide range of activities for all young people to take part in. From sporting to creative activities, we’ve had something for everyone!

‍

This week, we hosted an Interclub Football Tournament at St Brendan's Rugby Football Club, welcoming over 50 young people from across our club network to take part. The day brought together young people from Ashton Vale Club for Young People, Hartcliffe Club for Young People, Sea Mills Boys and Girls Club and The Grove @Bedminster Down.

‍

The Interclub tournament started with teams playing 4-5minute matches in a round-robin format, with supporters cheering on their teams from the sidelines.

‍

After some intense matches, it was announced that Sea Mills Boys’ and Girls’ Club and The Grove @ Bedminster Down would play against each other for the junior trophy and The Grove @ Bedminster Down would play against Hartcliffe Club for Young People for the senior trophy!

‍

We are proud to announce that Sea Mills Boys’ and Girls’ Club were awarded our junior trophy and The Grove @ Bedminster Down were awarded the senior trophy!

‍

Well done to all the young people who took part. It was fantastic to see them interacting and making new friends, as well as engaging other young people from across our network.

‍

We would like to thank St Brendan's Rugby Football Club for facilitating our football tournament, as well as Rachael's Buffets, who supported us to provide food for young people!

‍

To find out more about our Community Youth Clubs, click here!

Young Bristol are proud to be one of fiveorganisations supported by The Genge Fund, who have raised and donated £4,000to our charity so far!

‍

Through Quartet Community Foundation, The Genge Fund was set up by Ellis Genge, an England Rugby player and proud Bristolian. The Genge Fund was born out of a deep-rooted love for the city and a passion for giving back to the community that shaped him, with the aim to empower children through sports and education.

‍

We were pleased to see Ellis visit BS14 Youth Club, where he joined young people in a number of sporting activities and answered any questions they had about rugby and his story!

‍

"The visit made Ellis feel emotional, as some of the young people reminded him of himself at their age."

‍

Miranda McRitchie, Athlete Manager

‍

Our team were excited to attend 'The Genge Funds' Gala Dinner at Ashton Gate, an evening celebrating the incredible work being done to support local charities. The event saw attendees enjoy a three-course meal and hear directly from Ellis Genge during a Q&A session. It was inspiring to hear about his journey, passion and the vision behind The Genge Fund.

‍

Thank you Ellis Genge and The Genge Fund for your incredible generosity. The money raised from the Gala Dinner will go towards funding our new 'Outdoor Activity Taster Programme', as well as our Interclub football tournaments! Thank you to everyone who has supported this fantastic initiative, helping to support Bristol’s young people!

‍

If you would like to find out more about supporting Young Bristol, click here to learn more!

This week, Young Bristol are supporting Children's Mental Health Week, celebrating young people building resilience, embracing self-awareness and forming connections with others, between Monday 3rd February and Friday 7th February.

‍

This year, Places2Be is exploring the theme 'know yourself, grow yourself', which aims to empower young people to understand their emotions, reactions and motivations, helping them to grow and thrive!

‍

At Young Bristol, we are committed to continuing our Mission by providing safe places, a supportive environment, and activities and opportunities where young people can feel empowered, included and not alone.

‍

Our Youth Mental Health Champions!

‍

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.

‍

Meet Kat, Club 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.

‍

"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."

‍

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.

‍

‍

Providing safe places for Bristol's young people

‍

Our work provides young people with safe, welcoming, inclusive places where they can be themselves, build friendships, and access support when they need it most.

‍

Our Youth Clubs and services continue be at the core of communities, giving young people the safety and support that they cannot find on the streets, acting as the bridge between home and school life.  

‍

• 1,345 young people were supported through our open access sessions throughout 2023 – 24.
• Our 9 community venues in North, East and South Bristol continued to open their doors up to 4 nights per week.  
• During 2023 – 24, 16 communities were positively impacted by our work, with 3 new communities supported by Young Bristol who had not previously received any youth services.
• We’ve invested £528,280 into capital improvements at a number of our community venues since 2022; making improvements that would help to create environments that young people can thrive in.

‍

‍

Where you can find support and advice

‍

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.

‍

Young people

‍

• 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.

‍

Parents

‍

• 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!

‍

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

2024 has been a year full of milestones for Young Bristol. Throughout the year, we have seen amazing opportunities, impactful partnerships and incredible transformations!

‍

As we reflect on an amazing year, we are proud of everything we have achieved over the last 12 months!

‍

January

‍

In January, Jesse and Cheralee completed their Level 2 Youth Work qualification!

Throughout 2024, 8 members of staff were supported as they worked towards their Youth Work qualifications.  At Young Bristol, we remain committed to supporting our teams personal and professional development, prioritising their long-term growth, and ambitions.

‍

‍

February

‍

A year of incredible recognitions! February saw the first of many celebrations, with Kyle from Hartcliffe Club for Young People awarded ‘Volunteer of the Year’ and Hartcliffe Club for Young People winning the ‘Your Park’ Award. Young Bristol, staff and young people received 9 local and national awards.

‍

‍

March

‍

Our website is live! We launched our new website in March, showcasing a new and bright look, with an improved user experience that better allowed us to showcase our impact and work.

Check out our website to find out how you can support us, hear what’s on and read our latest news!

‍

‍

April

‍

And the winner of our competition is… in April we announced the winners of our Creative Writing Competition, Peyton and Orla!

Throughout the year our team developed a programme of exciting opportunities which engaged 464 young people from across the city, taking part in events, activities, competitions and trips away.

‍

‍

May

‍

We built new and existing relationships in 2024, with Computershare volunteering at our Youth Clubs and young people visiting Glastonbury Festival in May!

Corporate partnerships continue to make a huge difference – helping us to develop our provisions through fundraising, volunteering, donating and raising awareness of our work. Thank you to our partners who go above and beyond!

‍

‍

June

‍

Young Leaders were excited to receive their new uniforms in June – making them feel part of the team at Young Bristol!

Throughout the year the number of young people who volunteer across our programmes continued to grow, with 27 young people volunteering their time and giving back to other young people!

‍

‍

July

‍

Another year of amazing opportunities, reaching even more young people!

July saw a jam-packed city-wide programme of activities, workshops and exciting offers during the summer holidays. From caving and kayaking with our Outdoor Activities team to cooking workshops, trips and a sports day at our Youth Clubs.

‍

‍

August

‍

Our fundraisers took on new challenges, ran marathons and competed at our annual Golf Day during 2024!

August saw 8 runners raise over £2,200 by taking on the South West Tough Mudder! Thank you to the individuals, groups and Corporates who pledged to fundraise for us this year.

‍

‍

September

‍

We celebrated our impact in September!

We were proud to share our 2023 – 24 Impact Report which highlighted how we continue to support thousands of young people to feel empowered, included and not alone.

‍

‍

October

‍

Our Youth Club on Wheels featured on the BBC One Show in October!

The feature highlighted the profound and life-changing work that the team behind this programme have delivered over the past five years – supporting nearly 1,000 young people across 16 communities.

‍

‍

November

‍

Transforming our venues and investing in our infrastructure during 2024!

November saw the transformation of Ashton Vale Club for Young People, with a new multi-media suite, heating system, flooring and ceiling. Alongside our Clubs, Pooles Wharf Outdoor Activity Centre had exciting developments to the centre’s facilities and outdoor area!

‍

‍

December

‍

As we come to the end of 2024, it has been incredible to look back at another impactful year, as we continued to play a crucial role in supporting young people and their communities!

Thank you for all your fantastic support!