Subscribe to receive our regular eNewsletters and hear about exciting opportunities at Young Bristol.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Young Bristol are delighted to announce that we have been awarded the NCS grant, funding a new community experience programme. This will support young people across Bristol!
The grant is part of a significant £20 million funding package that NCS Trust have awarded to organisations across England for the delivery of community-based experiences at a local and grassroots level.
These new experiences will complement NCS’ existing away from home residential offer by providing more opportunities for teenagers to engage in local activities that foster skills development, deepen their understanding of the community, and empower them to contribute positively to its improvement. The grants will also support organisations that cater to specific groups of young people who may not have participated in previous NCS initiatives.
In collaboration with the National Youth Agency and StreetGames, NCS assessed more than 400 applications and Young Bristol’s was selected as one of around 100 organisations to receive funding.
The grant will allow Young Bristol in partnership with Youth Moves, The Robins Foundation and Bath City Foundation to deliver programmes involving young people, allowing them to benefit from a mixture of themed discussion sessions, outdoor activity sessions, physical and creative sessions.
Young people will master new skills and form strong teams. There will be opportunities to build on teamwork and communication skills whilst doing something inspiring, motivating and fun. Built into each programme participants will be able to design, deliver and reflect on social action projects that help the local community.
Over the past decade, more than 800,000 young people have benefitted from an NCS experience, dedicating over 18 million hours to community based social action, while gaining invaluable life experiences.
Want to do something exciting, develop skills and make new friends all in your own locality? To find out more about programmes near you call Young Bristol on 0117 929 2513.
No items found.
No items found.
Related articles
Get all the latest updates from Young Bristol, our supporters, and your local community.
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!
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.
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'.
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.
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.
"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."
said Ellie, Marketing, Communications and Programme Administrator.
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.
We are pleased to announce that booking for our Summer Outdoor Activities now live to book!
Join Young Bristol and experience the thrill of the great outdoors! With a range of activities on offer, from paddling Bristol's own Harbourside to climbing through an underground adventure, there is something for everyone to enjoy! Book your Outdoor Activities sessionshere!
Full Day Adventure Club
Our Full Day Adventure Club will have you enjoying a jam-packed mixture of activities. From channeling your inner Robin Hood with archery sessions that build confidence and skill, to testing your competitive spirit in rounders, football and pool tournaments, every day brings something new to enjoy.
Our Half Day Kayaking session is perfect for beginners and those with a little experience. Spend the session learning about basic paddling techniques and take part in fun, confidence-building games that encourage balance, agility and teamwork!
Our Full Day Wet 'n' Wild Adventure will have you channeling your inner Robin Hood as you learn archery skills that will have you hitting a bullseye in no time! You will continue your day on the harbourside, experiencing the aquatic thrills of kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.
Spend the day with us learning about the basic paddling techniques and enjoy playing fun, confidence-building games that encourage balance, agility and teamwork. You will continue to work with your team mates to build a raft and paddle your team to victory. Find out more information and book your Wet and Wicked session here!
This is an intensive programme of back to back activities. From navigating through caves to mastering paddleboarding, rock climbing, archery, kayaking, bushcraft, and orienteering challenges, experience a wide range of adventures and activities. Find out more information and book your Wet, Wild and Wicked session here!
A perfect session for beginners, and those with a little experience. Spend the session with us learning about the basic paddling techniques and enjoy playing fun, confidence-building games that encourage balance, agility and teamwork. Find out more information and book your Half Day Paddleboaring session here!
We are pleased to announce that booking for our May Half Term Outdoor Activities now live to book!
Join Young Bristol and experience the thrill of the great outdoors! With a range of activities on offer, from paddling Bristol's own Harbourside to climbing through an underground adventure, there is something for everyone to enjoy! Book your Outdoor Activities sessionshere!
Full Day Archery & Climbing
Our Full Day Archery and Climbing will have you channeling your inner Robin Hood as you learn archery skills that will have you hitting a bullseye in no time! Your adventure will continue as you learn footwork, handholds, body positioning and clipping techniques while tackling climbing routes on the steep faces of the Mendip Hills.
Our Full Day Wet 'n' Wild Adventure will have you channeling your inner Robin Hood as you learn archery skills that will have you hitting a bullseye in no time! You will continue your day on the harbourside, experiencing the aquatic thrills of kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.
Our Half Day Kayaking session is perfect for beginners and those with a little experience. Spend the session learning about basic paddling techniques and take part in fun, confidence-building games that encourage balance, agility and teamwork!
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.
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.
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.
“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 100th and the Fiesta’s 50th anniversaries.
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.
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.”
said His Majesty's Vice Lord Lieutenant Lee Williams DL, Chief Executive at Young Bristol
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.
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.
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!
Young Bristol are proud to announce that our young people have been shortlisted for the Bristol Young Heroes Awards 20256!
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!
On Tuesday 5th May, our five shortlisted nominees attended the Bristol Young Heroes Awards Nominee reception at City Hall, hosted by Community of Purpose.
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.
We wish shortlisted nominees the best of luck at the Bristol Young Heroes Awards in July:
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
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!
Young Bristol are incredibly proud to share that five of our young people have been shortlisted in the Bristol Young Heroes Awards 2026!
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!
Juan, Outdoor Employment Programme - Action Hero
Juan was 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.
"Juan has grown into an incredibly dedicated, reliable and strong member of the Outdoor Employment Program. A real ‘yes’ person who approaches all challenges with a calm, positive approach. In my 25 years working with young people, I have not met a young person who is more resilient than them!"
said Phil Harris, Outdoor Employment Programme Lead
Lucas, Hartcliffe Club for Young People - Community Hero
Lucas was nominated for the Community Hero as he has grown into one of the most inspiring young leaders within the Hartcliffe community. When Lucas first began attending Hartcliffe Club, he was a quiet and reserved young person. Through consistent engagement, dedication, and a genuine desire to help others, he has transformed into a confident, articulate and deeply respected youth leader.
"Lucas is an exceptional role model, who leads with empathy, understanding, and integrity. He motivates others not through authority, but through kindness, encouragement and a belief that every young person deserves to be listened to. His impact is significant, and his potential is extraordinary! He uplifts others, strengthens his community, and shows what can be achieved when a young person is empowered to lead."
said the staff team at Hartcliffe Club for Young People
Poppy, Hartcliffe Club for Young People - Sporting Hero
Poppy was nominated for the Sporting Hero Award as she has shown extraordinary courage and maturity, and continues to work hard at school whilst pouring her energy into the sport she loves. Last year, Poppy faced an immense personal heartbreak, with the loss of close family members who were deeply important to her. Even in the face of adversity, Poppy continues to shine and channels her emotions into her dancing. Her positivity, resilience, and dedication inspires everyone around her.
"Poppy is a young woman whose dedication, resilience, and passion for dance make her an outstanding role model. Her commitment to dance is exceptional and she trains with determination, discipline, and a drive to continually improve. She has been selected to represent Great Britain at the Olympic dance competition. This honour reflects her talent, perseverance and unwavering spirit."
Rudi-Lee, Avon Youth Club - Learning Hero
Rudi-Lee was nominated for the Learning Hero Award as Club Leaders have seen increasing improvements in his overall behaviour and perspective; he has grown in confidence and now actively seeks out opportunities to get involved in activities. Rudi-Lee became a member of Avon Youth Club in 2024, where he struggled behaviourally at Club and at school. Rudi-Lee worked really hard to prove himself, and recently started back at his mainstream school, after attending a provision elsewhere and on the verge of permanent exclusion.
"Having previously finding aspects of school challenging, he is now beginning to approach his learning with renewed focus and resilience, alongside a clear desire to succeed. He is building strong and secure relationships with key trusted adults and is developing friendships with peers. Rudi certainly has a more positive attitude towards school."
said Alasdair Keys, Associate Assistant Principal at Oasis Brightstowe
Tico, Hartcliffe Club for Young People - Environmental Hero
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.
"Tico demonstrates every day that young people are not only the future of environmental action—they are the driving force of it right now. His work is already leaving a lasting legacy of increased biodiversity, stronger community engagement, and a generation of young people who feel inspired to care for the planet."
said the staff team at Hartcliffe Club for Young People
Young Bristol would also like to recognise Esme, Evie, James and Lola who were nominated and have achieved incredible things during 2025. Thank you Bristol Young Heroes for highlighting everything our young people have achieved in the past year. We wish all the shortlisted young people and teams the best of luck in July 2026!
We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting our annual Golf Day & Dinner 2026! If you are a business in the South West with some keen golfers or an ethos for supporting local charities, this is the event for you!
When: Thursday 18th June 2026, arrival from 8:00am for a 9:30am tee off
£300 per team of 4 - sponsorship opportunities available!
After the success of our Golf Day & Dinner 2025, we are pleased to welcome 18 teams to take part in raising vital funds for Bristol's children and young people. Our Golf Day & Dinner offers the perfect opportunity to network with other local businesses, whilst supporting the excellent work that Young Bristol does across the city!
Ticket prices include a bacon roll and hot drinks on arrival, refreshments at halfway house and a 1 course-meal after the golf. We are also offering a fun package of competitions including Longest Drive, Nearest the Pin and Putting Competition!
If you would like to sign up your team, please get in touch by emailing info@youngbristol.com!
It has been incredible to see the impact of our Outdoor Employment Programme during 2025–2026, where this year has become one of the most successful years since the programmes pilot in 2013. This year, we have supported more young people than ever before from challenging backgrounds, and many facing significant barriers to education and employment.
Our Outdoor Employment Programme is an entirely free programme, targetting young people aged 16-25 with barriers to employment. The programme helps young people to develop new skills, gain nationally recognised qualifications and build positive futures into employment.
Our Impact
During April 2025 - April 2026, the programme delivered 134 sessions, providing 335 hours of training, to 60 young people, with 42 new trainees joining the programme this year. Our contact and engagement remained strong throughout the year, resulting in 599 session attendances. The programme supported a diverse cohort of young people:
30% from ethnic minority background, including asylum seekers and refugees
80% with learning difficulties or barriers to employment
Majority were not in education, employment or training (NEET), or were at risk of becoming NEET
Despite their ongoing challenges, over 60% of our trainees have gained nationally recognised qualifications, and more than 70% have achieved a positive progression into employment or education.
Young Bristol are delighted to share that Web Matthews, Volunteer and Manager at Hartcliffe Club for Young Peopl, was awarded the Bristol Lord Mayor's Medal!
The Bristol Lord Mayor's Medals are awarded to highlight the local, unpaid community work and achievement that's helped to improve the lives of Bristol's citizens.
Web was nominated for the Bristol Lord Mayor's Medal for his leadership and commitment, that has transformed the opportunities that are available for young people, families and the wider community at Hartcliffe Club for Young People. He leads the team with integrity, compassion, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by the young people we serve - all in a voluntary capacity. Under his management, the youth club has become a safe, vibrant, and inclusive space where young people feel valued, supported, and empowered to grow.
He continually goes above and beyond for Hartcliffe Club for Young People, building long-term partnerships, securing resources and advocating for local families. His calm, steady presence has guided the team through difficult moments, and his vision has strengthened our provision in ways that will benefit the community for years to come.
Web's contribution is not only deserving of recognition — it is a testament to the power of dedicated leadership in shaping a stronger, more hopeful future for our young people and community.
said Kathryn Dawe, Trustee of the Youth Club Support Group
Thank you to Cllr Kirsty Tait, Jack Jones, and Kassim Hanid for nominating Web for this incredible recognition - your belief in Web’s impact has helped to highlight work that truly matters. Congratulations to Web on your receipt of this fantastic award, and thank you for your outstanding voluntary service!
