Shortlisted for the South West Business of the Year Awards 2025

This week, Young Bristol has been joining organisations across the country to celebrate Youth Work Week 2026. This year's theme, 'Where Futures Begin', celebrates the people, places and opportunities that help shape young people's lives and futures.

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For nearly 100 years, Young Bristol has been supporting young people across the city, creating safe spaces, building trusted relationships and providing opportunities for young people to discover what they're capable of.

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Youth work can mean different things to different young people. For some, it's somewhere to meet friends, have fun and try something new. For others, it's a trusted adult to talk to, a chance to develop their confidence or an opportunity that helps them take their next steps.

And sometimes, it's all of these things.

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This Youth Work Week, we're celebrating the difference youth work makes across Bristol, and the people who help make it possible.

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Safe places where young people belong

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Every young person deserves somewhere they feel welcome, included and able to be themselves.

Across Young Bristol's Community Youth Clubs, young people aged 8 - 19 can enjoy activities, make friends, learn new skills and access support from youth workers who genuinely care about their wellbeing.

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From cooking and creative activities to sport, games, trips and simply spending time together, our Youth Clubs offer much more than somewhere to go after school. They're places where friendships grow, confidence develops and young people know there's someone there to listen.

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Our Youth Clubs continue to play an important role in communities across Bristol, particularly where young people may face barriers to accessing positive activities and opportunities. During 2025 - 26, Young Bristol delivered 2,228 sessions across its Youth Clubs and wider programmes, creating thousands of opportunities for young people to connect, try new experiences, develop skills and feel part of their communities.

The people who make youth work possible

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Behind every Youth Club, activity and programme are people who believe in the potential of young people. And our youth workers do so much more than organise activities - they listen, encourage, support and build relationships that can make a lasting difference.

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They might be helping someone try something for the first time, offering reassurance during a difficult moment or celebrating a young person's achievement, however big or small. It's often these everyday interactions that mean the most.

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As Jackie, a Youth Worker from Hartcliffe Club for Young People, explains:

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"Youth work helps build resilience and supports young people to become more confident, capable adults with a social conscience. It's about helping young people to feel valued and believe in themselves."

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This Youth Work Week, we're recognising our dedicated youth workers, staff and volunteers who continue to show up for Bristol's young people, creating environments where they feel safe, supported and encouraged to thrive.

Creating opportunities and building brighter futures

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Youth work isn't just about what happens today. It's also about helping young people discover what might be possible tomorrow.

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Through our Outdoor Employment Programme, young people aged 16 - 25 who face barriers to employment can gain practical experience, develop confidence and work towards nationally recognised qualifications in outdoor activities.

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Based at our Pooles Wharf Outdoor Activity Centre, the programme provides opportunities to develop skills, explore career pathways and build connections that can support young people into employment, education or further training.

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Our work also extends beyond our Youth Clubs, with outdoor adventures, holiday activities and community programmes helping young people experience new things and develop skills they can carry into the future.

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And sometimes, the impact of youth work comes full circle.

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Shannon Ringland first joined Young Bristol's Outdoor Employment Programme around 10 years ago, when she was new to Bristol and unsure of her next steps.

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The programme helped her build confidence, find direction and feel that others believed in her potential.

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Today, Shannon is a Young Bristol Trustee, giving her time and experience back to the organisation that once supported her. Her journey is a reminder that the opportunities young people experience today can shape the paths they choose tomorrow.

Giving young people a voice

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At Young Bristol, we believe young people should have a say in the opportunities, activities and services that affect them.

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Through Young Leader roles, Youth Voice, youth forums and volunteering, young people can share their ideas, take on responsibilities and help shape the communities around them.

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Whether that's helping to run activities at their local Youth Club, supporting younger members or speaking up about issues that matter to them, these experiences can help build confidence, independence and leadership skills.

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Our Young Leaders are particularly important role models, showing other young people what they can achieve when given encouragement, responsibility and the opportunity to make a difference.

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By listening to young people and giving them meaningful opportunities to contribute, we can help ensure their voices are heard, valued and reflected in our work.

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Celebrating youth work across Bristol

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Youth Work Week is an opportunity to recognise the difference youth work makes to young people, families and communities, and the importance of continuing to invest in it.

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At Young Bristol, we see that difference every day; in the friendships formed, the confidence gained, the new skills learned and the trusted relationships that help young people feel supported.

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As we look ahead to our centenary year in 2028, our commitment remains the same: to ensure young people across Bristol have access to safe, inclusive spaces, trusted support and opportunities to realise their potential.

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Because every young person deserves the chance to discover what they're capable of.

And youth work is where so many of those futures begin.

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Discover what Young Bristol has to offer

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Whether you're a young person looking for somewhere to go, a parent exploring opportunities for your child, or someone who wants to support youth work in Bristol, there are lots of ways to get involved.

Explore our Community Youth Clubs and programmes to discover the opportunities available to young people across the city.

We are incredibly proud to announce that Izzy, Young Leader and young person at Hartcliffe Club for Young People, was awarded the 'Young Person of the Year' award at the NABGC Awards Evening 2026!

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The 'Young Person of the Year' Award is presented to a young person, aged 11-25, who has displayed a strong commitment to their local club, its values, and the programmes they deliver. The award also looks for young people who have volunteered or shown leadership at their club.

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We would like to congratulate Izzy from Hartcliffe Club for Young People, who was awarded the 'Young Person of the Year' Award at the National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs (NABGC) Awards Ceremony 2026!

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Izzy, aged 18 has been an invaluable member of Hartcliffe Club for Young People, demonstrating exceptional commitment, maturity, and reliability throughout her involvement with the Club since 2025.

A key strength of Izzy’s contribution is her mentoring role with young people who experience challenges with confidence, social interaction, and participation. She approaches this responsibility with patience, empathy, and a calm, supportive manner. Her ability to build rapport and encourage others has made her an excellent role model within the Club!

Izzy has also taken an active and meaningful role in fundraising efforts, supporting with initiatives that have enabled essential building improvements and expanded the range of activities available to young people. Her involvement reflects a strong sense of responsibility and a genuine commitment to improving opportunities for others.

We are pleased to share we have welcomed to our team Zulaikha Afsar, a Social Work student completing her placement with Young Bristol.

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Zulaikha is a Social Work student at the University of the West of England and is currently completing her placement with Young Bristol from September 2026 to February 2027. She is passionate about working alongside young people and supporting their wellbeing.

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Zulaikha was drawn to Young Bristol's commitment to empowering young people, building confidence, and creating safe, inclusive spaces across the city. She is particularly looking forward to meeting young people from different backgrounds, hearing their stories, and learning from the staff and volunteers who make such a positive difference.

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Through her placement, Zulaikha hopes to develop her skills in communication and relationship-building while supporting Young Bristol's ongoing work. She is keen to bring enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, and a social work perspective to the team and be part of helping young people feel heard, valued, and supported.

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Find out more about our opportunities to volunteer and get involved with Young Bristol here.

‘Food Skills for Life’ project launched at our BS14 Youth Club in partnership with Square Food Foundation, bringing vital skills and learning to young people in Stockwood.

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Young Bristol were thrilled to launch our new partnership project with Square Food Foundation this autumn, inviting members of BS14 Youth Club to engage with an exciting new programme - giving them valuable life-long cooking skills, as well as confidence and independence in the kitchen.

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The 6-week programme is open to young people ages 12+ and will explore basic cooking skills, as well as learning about how to budget and plan healthy, balanced meals. The programme aims to support young people to make informed food choices both now and in the future.

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During the first session, 6 young people aged 12 – 19 got involved from the Youth Club’s Seniors and Looked After Children group – making spaghetti bolognese with garlic butter rolls. It was brilliant to see everyone taking part; learning new techniques and trying new things. At the end of the session, young people had the opportunity to sit down together to enjoy what they had created. We cannot wait to hear what they cook next!

This month, Young Bristol's Programmes Team and Youth Workers were invited to a number of staff training opportunities - providing them with the valuable tools and insight, as well as the opportunity to discuss and improve on how we better support the young people we work with.

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Training highlights included:

- Dr. Roz Stewart-Hall delivered Evaluation Framework training, on 'Creative and Inclusive Evaluation' through the Bristol Play and Youth Alliance. Staff learned how to gather meaningful feedback, ask better questions, and create safe spaces for reflection - ensuring young people's voices remain at the heart of everything we do.

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- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) awareness training was delivered by Senior Youth Leader, Kat from BS14 Youth Club. Training explored how SEND can present in young people, shared experiences from our clubs, and discussed practical ways to adapt our approach to better support individual needs. The session reinforced our commitment to creating welcoming, accessible, and inclusive environments.

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- Trauma-Informed Practice training was provided through the National Youth Agency's training platform, gaining valuable insight into how trauma can impact the lives of young people. The course explored practical ways to recognise and respond to trauma with empathy,creating more supportive spaces across our youth clubs and services. The training also encouraged staff to reflect on their own well-being, recognising that supporting others starts with looking after ourselves too.

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At Young Bristol our people are central to everything we do, and it is important to us to provide everyone with the best and most relevant training to them to ensure they feel confident and comfortable in their youth work delivery. To find out more about what we do click here.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Paul Lawrence, Head of Fundraising and Communications.

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Paul joined Young Bristol in July 2026 as Head of Fundraising and Communications. Prior to joining Young Bristol, the majority of his 30 year career has been spent in the voluntary youth sector, having come through similar organisations to Young Bristol in London and Essex. Paul was also CEO for Oxfordshire Association for Young People for six years. Recently, he was Head of Fundraising for a global charity and CEO of a large youth centre in London. Paul has over 20 years of experience with charity fundraising, with a particular focus on events and has taken part in many fundraising events that include climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and running the London Marathon.

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Paul’s passion for this work comes from seeing young people have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. He strongly believes that youth clubs and activity-based programmes are powerful ways to achieve this, shaped by his own experience of youth networks and activities as a young person, which set him on his chosen career path.

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We hope you will join us in welcoming Paul to the Young Bristol team! To find out more about our team click here.

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.

Join Young Bristol's Outdoor Employment Programme for a free Introductory Session on Thursday 10th September 2026.

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Aged 16 - 25? Interested in gaining new qualifications, learning new skills and improving your future work opportunities?

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Young Bristol's Outdoor Employment Programme is running an Introductory Session for young people to come along and find out more about the programme and outdoor industry. The free programme supports young people aged 16 - 25 with barriers to employment, by developing skills and gaining qualifications in a variety of outdoor activities, including kayaking, canoeing, powerboating, rock climbing, archery, bushcraft, first aid and high ropes.

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Based from our Pooles Wharf Outdoor Activity Centre, young people aged 16 - 25 will have the opportunity to take part in paddling sessions on Bristol's iconic harbourside, find out more about the programme and sign up for 2026. Parents, carers and support workers are also welcome to attend alongside their young person.

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Paddle sessions will take place from 2:00pm - 4:30pm and 5:30pm - 8:00pm. Young people are welcome to attend one or both sessions. You can find our Pooles Wharf Outdoor Activity Centre on Hotwells Road, Hotwells, Bristol, BS8 4RU.

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To sign up to our Introductory Session please click here to complete a consent form and email ph@youngbristol.com to confirm your attendance.

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.