For a charity to work well, it must understand who it is working for, and which challenges they face.

The vast majority of our work is open access, providing a welcoming space for all young people. Most of our clubs are situated in areas where social and economic deprivation is high.

Families have been hit by an unprecedented cost of living crisis, which has been especially tough for those who were already struggling to get by. We also understand that we fill a gap for young people who might not have other available youth spaces or activities. Local authority spending on youth provision has been cut by 75% since 2010.

Young people today face mounting pressures from social media, and they are still processing the social and personal effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bristol is also witnessing a disturbing period of increased knife crime affecting young people.  

What does all of this mean for Bristol's young people?

‍Now more than ever, young people need our support to believe in and realise their potential.  

We complement our spaces with rich, varied programmes which engage young people, introduce them to new experiences, encourage their passions, and celebrate their skills. These programmes work across our club network, and bring young people from different areas of Bristol together: breaking down barriers and forging new connections.

We help young people to become effective advocators for their own needs, and we ensure that consultations with young people inform all that we do. We also engage young people in discussion groups and workshops on key issues relevant to them, so that they feel empowered, included, consulted, and not alone.

Our skills and learning provision is based on active, free participation and enjoyment which responds dynamically to our young people’s wants and needs. This allows young people who might not gain as much from a school structure to thrive in a more relaxed and social learning environment.