Young Bristol's 'Young Person of the Year' finalists 2025!

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!

‍

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.

‍

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!

‍

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.

Young Bristol are supporting World Mental Health Day, highlighting the importance of talking, listening and supporting better mental health together.

‍

This year, the theme of World Mental Health Day is ‘Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change’, which explores the importance of conversations,especially when we listen to people’s experiences.

‍

At Young Bristol, we are committed to continuing our Mission of providing safe places, and supportive environments, where both young people and our employees can feel listened too, supported and not alone.

‍

Prioritising mental health in the workplace

‍

Our people are central to creating positive outcomes for young people. By listening to, investing in, developing and supporting our staff and volunteers, we can create the most positive and impactful outcomes for our young people.

‍

In recent years, Young Bristol has focused and prioritised the importance of communication, wellbeing and workplace culture across the organisation.

‍

Andy, Head of Operations & HR said,

‍

"One of Young Bristol's key pillars is 'Our People' which relates to the dedicated staff and volunteer teams we have working throughout Young Bristol's operation supporting young people. To ensure young people have an offer they can benefit from it is important our staff and volunteers feel supported. Staff have access to a confidential 24-hour Employee Assistance programme, flexible and hybrid working options, Young Bristol's Right to Disconnect Policy and an extra day annual leave on their Birthday! We are committed to creating a culture where wellbeing matters every day.

‍

By creating a culture where staff and volunteers thrive, we create a culture where young people thrive."

‍

Our Youth Mental Health First Aider!

‍

Our Youth Mental Health First Aiders play a key role in supporting and providing guidance to young people aged 8-18,who may be experiencing poor mental health. They are committed to recognising signs, offering initial assistance and connecting young people to professional help.

‍

‍Jason, Head of Youth Work is a trained Youth Mental Health First Aider, and is passionate about supporting young people through situations they face around their mental health, and wants to be someone that our young people can trust, talk to and take advice from.

‍

"One moment that made me feel like I made a difference was when I first engaged with someone who was having a panic attack, and helped them through a grounding method. When a young person is in a crisis moment, being there and knowing you've helped is a great feeling!"

‍

Mental Health is important to him as he believes looking after your mental state of mind is just as important as looking after your physical health. Jason understands that this is something that everyone can be affected by, and as a young person himself, knew someone close to him that suffered with their own mental health. He saw how much a small amount of support can transform someone's state of mind, which inspired him to learn more!

‍

One piece of advice Jason would give to anyone struggling with their mental health and well-being would be to reach out and talk to someone - from a friend or family member to a youthworker, teacher or mental health first aider. Let them know how you are feeling and what's going on.

‍

‍

‍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, Senior Youth 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.

‍

‍

‍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.

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

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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!

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.

‍

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.

‍

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:

‍

"It was honestly the best experience I ever had!" Lola, aged 15

‍

"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

‍

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].

‍

To find out more about our opportunities for young people across Bristol click here.

‍

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!

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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."

‍

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:

‍

• AWW
• Sanderson Government & Defence

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.‍

‍

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.

‍

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

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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