News, stories & updates

Young Bristol are delighted to be hosting our ‘Dinner for Young Futures’.

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This special dining experience will bring together local businesses and supporters to raise vital funds for our work with Bristol’s children and young people - celebrating 98 years of delivering life changing opportunities.

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More details about the event:

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• Thursday 26th March 2026, 6:45pm
• The Orangery Dining Room at The Pony Chew Magna, BS40 8TQ
• Tickets: £98 per person

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Ticket prices include a selection of canapés on arrival, a delicious three-course dinner and welcome drinks and wine on the table. The evening will include speakers; giving guests the opportunity to hear from those who have been supported and positively impacted by the fantastic work of Young Bristol. The event also offers fantastic networking opportunities with like-minded individuals, in support of a great cause.

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To book your tickets and find out more information, click here!

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Why support Young Bristol:

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Our youth workers are there for young people when they need them – listening, mentoring, and offering opportunities that help build confidence and brighter futures.

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Many young people face challenges no child should have to navigate: poverty, isolation, family difficulties, and the daily effects of the cost-of-living crisis. And demand for Young Bristol’s services continues to grow.

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Without a warm, safe building and a trusted youth worker inside it, there is no club, no conversation, no positive change.

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You already know the difference Young Bristol makes; and it is your belief in our work that has carried us through many years and allowed us to provide a lifeline to those who need it most. By supporting Young Bristol, you will help ensure that our doors remain open, our youth workers remain present, and young people continue to have somewhere they belong.

Youth Moves and 224 Youth Zone are delighted to announce Young Bristol as a new strategic partner, strengthening youth provision and opportunities for young people across South Bristol.

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The partnership brings together two organisations with deep roots in the local community and a shared commitment to empowering children and young people. By combining experience in open-access youth work and the development of the new, purpose-built 224 Youth Zone with Young Bristol’s extensive expertise in outdoor education, adventure activities and employability programmes, the collaboration will create a richer and more joined-up offer for young people.

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Young Bristol is a well-established youth organisation supporting children and young people across the city through a wide range of community-based youth work, mobile youth services, outdoor learning, and employability programmes. With a strong focus on building confidence, resilience and life skills, Young Bristol has a long-standing track record of delivering high-quality experiences that inspire young people to reach their potential.

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Through this partnership, Young Bristol will play a key role in delivering outdoor and adventure-based opportunities linked to 224 Youth Zone, including climbing, canoeing, kayaking and residential experiences. Young Bristol will also act as the preferred provider for adventure and outdoor learning, ensuring young people can access safe, engaging and aspirational activities both within the Youth Zone and beyond.

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The collaboration reflects a shared belief that working in partnership is essential to creating inclusive, high-quality youth provision that meets the diverse needs of young people. Together, the organisations will focus on delivering safe, engaging and aspirational opportunities that support wellbeing, confidence, skills development and positive life pathways.

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“We’re proud to be partnering with Young Bristol. Their experience, values and commitment to youth work align strongly with our own, and this partnership will play an important role in shaping the opportunities available to young people through 224 Youth Zone. Collaboration is at the heart of what we’re building, and this is a great example of that in action.”

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Matt Justice, CEO 224 Youth Zone

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“At Young Bristol, we’ve seen firsthand how access to the outdoors has the power to transform lives—building confidence, improving physical and mental wellbeing, and empowering young people to reach new possibilities. This exciting partnership with 224 Youth Zone will open up more opportunities for young people across South Bristol, inspiring them to embrace the outdoors and discover their full potential.” 

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Lee Williams DL, Chief Executive Young Bristol

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The partnership comes as 224 Youth Zone is getting ready to open its doors later this this year, with practical completion almost complete, preparations continue for the opening of a landmark youth facility that will support thousands of young people aged 8–19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs.

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Together 224 Youth Zone and Young Bristol are committed to working collaboratively to strengthen youth provision, widen access to opportunity and ensure young people across South Bristol can thrive.

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Young Bristol joins existing partners; Bristol Sport Foundation, Bristol Robins Foundation, Bristol Bears Foundation, Bristol Young Carers, WECIL, Off The Record and The Cause. All helping to shape an inclusive, diverse programme that supports sport, creativity, mental health, inclusion and personal development.

We are pleased to announce that booking for our February Half Term Outdoor Activities now live to book!

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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 sessions here!

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Half Day Canoeing

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Our Half Day Canoeing sessions  will allow you to paddle Bristol’s Harbour, passing the cities iconic landmarks. These sessions are suitable for beginners as well as experience paddlers, and are a great opportunity to improve your skills.

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When: Tuesday 17th February, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Cost: £20 per person

Book your Half Day Canoeing here!

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Full Day Wild Adventure

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Our Full Day Wild Adventure is the perfect challenge for those looking to climb a series of waterfalls in the picturesque Mendip Hills. You will continue your day channeling your inner Robin Hood as you learn archery skills that will have you hitting a bullseye in no time, as well embracing the art of bushcraft and cooking over an open fire!

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When: Wednesday 18th February, 9:00am - 4:00pm

Cost: £45 per person

Book your Full Day Wild Adventure here!

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Full Day Adventure Club

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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.

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When: Thursday 19th February, 9:00am - 4:00pm

Cost: £30 per person

Book your Full Day Adventure Club here!

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We know that in the coming weeks and months, young people will need our Youth Clubs and programmes more than ever before; providing them with positive activities, support, advice and a safe place to go.

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This year you can make a difference by taking on a challenge whilst supporting a local cause. Whether you want to take part in a fun run, build up your physical fitness with a half marathon, or push yourself to the limits with an Ultra challenge – grab your trainers and get fundraising!

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With your support at one of the following events, we can continue to provide vital opportunities for young people:

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• Winter Green Man Ultra - Saturday 26th March 2026, Bristol. Run the 30 or 45 mile route of the Winter Green Man Ultra. Pledge minimum - £350
• Bath Half Marathon - Sunday 15th March 2026, Bath. Race the 44th Bath Half Marathon in the heart of the World Heritage City of Bath. Pledge minimum - £250
• AJ Bell Bristol Run - Sunday 10th May 2026, Bristol. The AJ Bell Bristol Run returns offering 10K and Half Marathon routes. Pledge minimum - £250‍
• Cheddar Gorge Challenge - Sunday 14th June 2026, Bristol. Fun Runs of 1k and 3k, as well as 6k, 10k and Half Marathon routes. Pledge minimum - £250
• South West Tough Mudder - Saturday 15th August 2026, Gloucester. Take on the 10+ mile Tough Mudder course in 2026! Pledge minimum - £300

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Running for Young Bristol is straightforward and FREE! We'll cover the place cost for you, and you'll get your own complimentary Young Bristol branded vest to wear on the day. All we ask is you pledge to fundraise for us!

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With your help, we can continue to improve the lives of young people of Bristol and beyond! Click here to find out more and sign up for a third party fundraising event!

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What our previous runners had to say...

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"Fundraising for Young Bristol was a real priviledge. What's more, as soon as I explained to people what the charity does, and how it does it, they immediately 'got it' and could see how their financial support would make a real difference in a real community"

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Justin, Bath Half Marathon runner

2025 has been a year full of milestones for Young Bristol. Throughout the year, we have seen amazing opportunities, impactful partnerships and incredible transformations!

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As we reflect on an amazing year, we are proud of everything we have achieved over the last 12 months!

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January

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Celebrating our people and impact. In January, we launched our 'Young Person of the Year' award at our Celebration, Awards and AGM 2025. We were delighted to announce that our first Young Person of the Year was Eve from Sea Mills. The event also featured young people’s achievements, highlighted our impact, shared inspiring stories, and showcased exciting future plans.

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To watch the highlights of this years event, click here!

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February

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Connecting young people across the city. In February, we hosted our annual Interclub Football Tournament, bringing together young people from four different communities across the city. Throughout the year, we delivered and provided tournaments, workshops, and activities that celebrated creativity and sportsmanship, and bridged new friendships outside of their local communities.

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If you would like to take part in one of our Interclub tournaments next year, contact your local Club Leader here.

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March

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Ensuring young people can explore new, exciting possibilities. In March, two trainees from our Outdoor Employment Programme attended the SuperSliders UK Gold Programme in Switzerland, training with Britain’s Olympic and National Ice Sports Squad to complete their certification. This year, 51 trainees on our Outdoor Employment Programme received 44 nationally recognised qualifications in outdoor pursuits, enabling them to access future employment prospects.

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Interested in joining our Outdoor Employment Programme, click here for more information.

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April

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Transforming our venues and investing in our infrastructure during 2025! In April, BS14 Youth Club’s Art Room was upgraded, creating a safer, more usable space for young people. This year also saw a number of other exciting developments across our community venues, including improvements to Avon Youth Club’s external facilities, The Grove’s outbuilding and storage, and Ashton Vale’s front door. Since launching our strategy in 2022, an incredible £753,280 has been invested into our buildings.

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Find out more about the impact of our investments here.

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May

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Our fundraisers took on new challenges, ran marathons and volunteered during 2025! May saw 17 runners raise £8,500 by taking part in the Bristol 10k and Half Marathon. During 2025, we supported 29 runners, cyclists and other athletes take part in 11 third party fundraising events. Thank you to the individuals, groups and corporates who pledged to fundraise for us this year!

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If you are interested in taking part in a third party fundraising event for Young Bristol, click here for more information and sign up today!

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June

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Working with organisations to provide further opportunities. In June, we were excited to take 13 young people on the Essex Adventure Weekend residential, which for some was their first time camping and being away from their families. Our partnerships with organisations locally, nationally and internationally supported us to further our reach, expanding our offer for young people, giving them access to new opportunities to learn and develop.

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To find out more about local, national and international opportunities, click here!

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July

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Celebrating 25 years of our outdoor activities centre. In July, Young Bristol celebrated Pooles Wharf Outdoor Activity Centre 25th anniversary. To mark the quarter-century anniversary, we worked in partnership with Burges Salmon to raise money through the '25 for 25 Challenge' which saw employee's of Burges Salmon paddle Bristol's harbourside for 25 continuous hours. With the aim to raise money to support the future of the centre, the team raised an incredible £32,000.

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To find out more about the history of Pooles Wharf Outdoor Activity Centre, click here!

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August

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Inspiring young people to discover new horizons and unlock their potential. This summer, we delivered 77 Holiday Clubs and Outdoor Activity sessions from Pooles Wharf Outdoor Activity Centre, encouraging young people to get out on the water, and explore local caves and mountains. At Pooles Wharf, we run 16 land and water‑based activities, saw 2,516 total contacts with young people through our Outdoor Activities Holiday Clubs.

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Click here to book our upcoming Holiday Clubs.

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September

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We built new and existing relationships in 2025. In September, Tockington Manor School announced Young Bristol as their 'Charity of the Year' for the 2025–26 school year. Students, parents, and teachers are all helping us to make a difference by participating in a range of fundraising events. Throughout 2025, we were proud to work with 34 valued partners, supporting young people to reach their full potential. Thank you to all our supporters who went above and beyond this year.

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There are many ways you can work with Young Bristol and support our work. Click here to find out more - start our journey together today!

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October‍

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Providing exciting activities and tackling holiday hunger. We delivered another year of amazing opportunities to young people, with October seeing a jam-packed, city-wide programme of activities, events, workshops and other exciting offers through the October Half Term. From a performance of 'Wonderland' by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, a Well-Being and Social Action event and an annual Halloween Disco, there was something on offer for everyone during the week!

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Find out more about our Holiday Clubs here.

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November

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2025 was a year of incredible recognitions! In November, Young Bristol was honoured to receive the 'Community Impact Award' at the South West Business of the Year Awards. Throughout the year, Young Bristol, staff, and young people were recognised for a total of 9 local and national awards, including two young people recognised at the Bristol Young Heroes Awards and our Chief Executive shortlisted for the 'Public and Third Sector Leader' at the South West Leadership awards.

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Find out more about our awards and recognitions here.

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December

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And the winner of our competition is.... In December, we announced the winners of our annual Christmas Card Competition, Phia and Eva, who were awarded an incredible prize package that included a visit to Bristol's Hippodrome to watch the Christmas Pantomime! Throughout the year, our young people took part in a number of creative competitions and exciting opportunities developed by our team, which saw a total of 80 entries from across the city!

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Find out more about how you can get involved with our upcoming competitions here.

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As we come to the end of 2025, it has been incredible to look back at another impactful year, as we continued to play a crucial role in supporting young people and their communities!

Thank you for all your fantastic support!

Are you looking to set a New Years resolution that will make an impact in 2026? As we approach the new year, why not set yourself a resolution that will create lasting change to young people across our city?

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Our vital work relies on the amazing volunteers, corporate partners, donors and fundraisers that go above and beyond to support us each year. By supporting us, your help can provide safe places, a supportive environment and activities which support young people to feel empowered, included and not alone. Here's how you can help:

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Run for us

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Now more than ever before, young people and families across Bristol need the support of local charities!

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In 2026, make a difference by taking on a challenge whilst supporting a local cause. Whether you want to take part in a fun run, build up your physical fitness with a Half Marathon, or push yourself to the limit with an ultra challenge - grab your trainers and get fundraising! Sign up for a running event here!

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Volunteer for us

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Volunteer at our community venues, help us to up-skill young people or support us to raise the profile of our work, volunteering your time as an individual or company will help Young Bristol to broaden the horizons of our young people, offering them even more transformational opportunities.

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Volunteering is an amazing way to give back, make a positive impact and feel great. Your time and support will make a difference, get involved here!

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Fundraise for us

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Come together with other supporters to raise money for Young Bristol through one of our annual fundraising events. Every pound raised will make a huge difference to young people across the city.

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If you would like to host your own event, we have an A-Z guide to fundraising to help you get started or find out more about how you can raise funds here!

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Become a corporate partner

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It is thanks to the generous support of local corporates that Young Bristol is able to develop our provision and thrive in local communities across the city! Making us your chosen charity can be the start of our journey together.

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There are many ways for you to begin a partnership with Young Bristol to support our work, find out more here!

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Make a donation

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As the cost of living continues to rise in 2026, young people continue to need our Youth Clubs and programmes more than ever before; giving them access to positive activities and a safe place they can thrive in!

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With your support, we can continue to provide our vital opportunities to young people across the city! Make a donation here!

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Transform the lives of young people and support a local cause this year! Find out more here and get involved today!

Merry Christmas from the Young Bristol team!

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To everyone celebrating Christmas and other festive traditions at this time of year, we wish you a day full of love, laughter and joy! Thank you to everyone who has supported us in 2025!

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Our Community Youth Clubs, programmes and office will be closing over the Christmas period. Our team are excited for a well-deserved, restful break, and will be back with some exciting activities in the new year! Please see below to find our last days of delivery and when we will reopen:

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Ashton Vale Club for Young People

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Last session on Monday 22nd December

Reopen as normal from Monday 5th January

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Avon Youth Club

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Last session on Thursday 11th December

Reopen as normal from Monday 5th January

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BS14 Youth Club

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Last session on Monday 22nd December

Reopen as normal from Monday 5th January

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Hartcliffe Club for Young People

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Last session on Friday 19th December. The club will also be delivering holiday provision, contact the team for more information..

Reopen as normal on Monday 5th January

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Sea Mills Boys and Girls Club

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Last session on Thursday 18th December

Reopen as normal from Tuesday 6th January

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The Grove @ Bedminster Down

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Last session on Tuesday 23rd December

Reopen as normal from Monday 5th January

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Youth Club on Wheels

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Last session on Tuesday 2nd December

Reopen as normal from Tuesday 6th January

The Youth Club on Wheels is currently undergoing exciting maintenance, to bring young people new opportunities across the city. Please keep an eye on our pages for any changes.

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Outdoor Employment Programme

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Last session on Thursday 11th December

Reopen as normal from Thursday 8th January

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Office

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Last operating day on Tuesday 24th December

Open and operating from Friday 2nd January

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We are delighted to announce the appointment of Isaac Duckers, Senior Youth Leader on our Youth Club on Wheels!

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Isaac is a Philosophy graduate, with a history of travel and adventure. His experiences range from working with young people as an outdoor activity instructor in Finland and the UK, to international community volunteering with the Red Cross, alongside play and theatre based relief work with the Flying Seagull Project. Isaac will forever cherish the opportunities he has had to live and work abroad; however, has realised that investing into local communities is something he finds incredibly important. He is hugely excited to join Young Bristol as part of the Youth Club on Wheels team, going out to find young people where they are, and helping create a fun, safe, and inclusive space, wherever the team goes.

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We hope you will join us in welcoming Isaac to the Young Bristol team! Find out more about our team here!

We are delighted to announce that Phia and Eva from The Grove @ Bedminster Down are the winners of the 2025 Christmas Card Competition!

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Last month, we hosted a Christmas Card Competition across our Community Youth Clubs. Young people from across network were encouraged to draw a Christmas design that would be featured as this year’s annual Christmas Card!

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We were delighted to receive a total of 50+ entries from across our Youth Clubs, showcasing lots creativity through some fantastic designs!

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The winner from our junior age group is Phia, aged 8, from The Grove @ Bedminster Down. The winner from our senior age group was Eva, aged 16, from The Grove @ Bedminster Down! The pair have each been awarded a pack of cards that feature their design as well as a £15 Amazon gift voucher!

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Thank you to Sarah from Burges Salmon, who selected the winning designs this year!

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"We chose Phia's design due to its vibrant colour palette and this being heartwarming; this was conveyed through a festive winter scene. The creativity and attention to detail demonstrated by the young artist was fantastic."

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"Eva's card stood out due to its sophisticated and creative design and the clever use of space and elements. The artist's skill in blending traditional festive themes with a modern twist was impressive."