Young Bristol's 2025 Highlights: A Year to Remember!

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.

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 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.

We are pleased to share we have recently welcomed to our team Destiny Barwe, a university student undertaking a placement year with us.

Destiny is a psychology student, studying at the University of Plymouth, working with us Young Bristol between her second and third year of study. She was born and raised in Bristol and is pleased to take this opportunity to give back to the city she loves. Throughout her education so far, she has established a particular interest in child developmental psychology. She is conscious of the value of creating and nurturing spaces and relationships for young people, in terms of their social and cognitive development.

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Destiny is eager to get to know the young people, looking forward to both having fun with and providing support for them. During her time with Young Bristol, she hopes to gain a deeper professional understanding of youth work, both in terms of delivery and the work that enables youth charities to be able to provide these programmes. She aims to use the skills gained through her degree and apply her psychological knowledge to real-world situations, in a way that will make a tangible difference.

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

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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"