News and stories

At Young Bristol, we are committed to continuing our mission and are proud to celebrate our incredible people, achievements, and impact we make across Bristol's communities.

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Our programmes provide a safe place, supportive environment, and activities and opportunities where young people can feel empowered, included and not alone

However, our vital work could not have been achieved without the dedication of our amazing volunteers, corporate partners, donors and fundraisers who go above and beyond to support us each year.

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Young Bristol are proud to be one of five organisations supported by The Genge Fund, who have raised and donated £4,000 to our charity so far!

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Through Quartet Community Foundation, The Genge Fund was set up by Ellis Genge, an England Rugby player and proud Bristolian. The Genge Fund was born out of a deep-rooted love for the city and a passion for giving back to the community that shaped him, with the aim to empower children through sports and education.

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We were pleased to see Ellis visit BS14 Youth Club, where he joined young people in a number of sporting activities and answered any questions they had about rugby and his story!

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"The visit made Ellis feel emotional, as some of the young people reminded him of himself at their age."

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Miranda McRitchie, Athlete Manager

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Our team were excited to attend 'The Genge Funds' Gala Dinner at Ashton Gate, an evening celebrating the incredible work being done to support local charities. The event saw attendees enjoy a three-course meal and hear directly from Ellis Genge during a Q&A session. It was inspiring to hear about his journey, passion and the vision behind The Genge Fund.

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Thank you Ellis Genge and The Genge Fund for your incredible generosity. The money raised from the Gala Dinner will go towards funding our new 'Outdoor Activity Taster Programme', as well as our Interclub football tournaments! Thank you to everyone who has supported this fantastic initiative, helping to support Bristol’s young people!

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If you would like to find out more about supporting Young Bristol, click here to learn more!

Join us for an exciting fundraising challenge with a twist, raising vital funds for Young Bristol!

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Young Bristol are excited to host our 'Road to River - Bristol Circular 2025', a fundraising challenge with a twist, on Thursday 13th March! The events route will start and finish at Pooles Wharf Outdoor Activity Centre, with the circuits designed to test your endurance whilst taking in Bristol’s rural countryside and famous landmarks.

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This unique event offers a fun, athletic way to support young people across Bristol! Whether you’re a keen cyclist or runner, enjoy paddling across Bristol’s iconic Harbourside, or want to take on an exciting challenge, our event is designed to suit all fitness levels, with two distances for you to choose from:

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Sprint:

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• 30km cycle
• 5km walk or run
• 5km canoe

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Endurance:

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• 45km cycle
• 5km walk or run
• 5km canoe

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Entres are limited, and will be secured on a first-come, first-served basis. We ask all participants aim to raise at least £200 to for their participation. If you would like to sign up for our fundraising event, please call 0117 929 2513 or email info@youngbristol.com.

This week, Young Bristol are supporting Children's Mental Health Week, celebrating young people building resilience, embracing self-awareness and forming connections with others, between Monday 3rd February and Friday 7th February.

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This year, Places2Be is exploring the theme 'know yourself, grow yourself', which aims to empower young people to understand their emotions, reactions and motivations, helping them to grow and thrive!

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At Young Bristol, we are committed to continuing our Mission by providing safe places, a supportive environment, and activities and opportunities where young people can feel empowered, included and not alone.

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Our Youth Mental Health Champions!

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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.

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Meet Kat, Club 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.

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"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."

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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.

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Providing safe places for Bristol's young people

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Our work provides young people with safe, welcoming, inclusive places where they can be themselves, build friendships, and access support when they need it most.

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Our Youth Clubs and services continue be at the core of communities, giving young people the safety and support that they cannot find on the streets, acting as the bridge between home and school life.  

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• 1,345 young people were supported through our open access sessions throughout 2023 – 24.
• Our 9 community venues in North, East and South Bristol continued to open their doors up to 4 nights per week.  
• During 2023 – 24, 16 communities were positively impacted by our work, with 3 new communities supported by Young Bristol who had not previously received any youth services.
• We’ve invested £528,280 into capital improvements at a number of our community venues since 2022; making improvements that would help to create environments that young people can thrive in.

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Where you can find support and advice

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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.

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Young people

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• 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.

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Parents

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• 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!

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To find out more about our work with young people and the opportunities we provide click here.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of four new Trustees to Young Bristol's Board of Trustees- Cathy Dodsworth, Fahma Mohamed, Jay Nash and Shannon Ringland!

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These appointments come at an exciting time for Young Bristol as we head towards our 100-year anniversary in 2028! Young Bristol were keen to recruit new Trustees who could complement the skills of our existing Board members; and who had the passion, desire and ability to help the charity achieve its ambitious future goals.

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Young Bristol continues to prioritise the importance of our Board having a broad representation of skills, backgrounds and experiences; as well as a shared passion and experience of working with the youth sector.

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Meet the Trustees:

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Cathy Dodsworth

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Cathy grew up near Blackpool, Lancashire, spending a great deal of her time at a local youth club. During this time, she enjoyed playing hockey, hiking in the Lake District and completing her Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award. When working in Plymouth, she assessed young people undertaking their DofE expedition across Dartmoor.

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Now living in Bristol, Cathy is a Coach and Safeguarding Lead for her local rugby club. Her son also regularly attends boxing sessions at Broad Plain & Riverside Youth Project! Cathy has personally benefitted from, and is passionate about, the value that sport, outdoor activities and youth clubs bring to the lives of young people. Cathy is a HR Professional, with over 30 years experience across public and private sectors. She was delighted to take up the post of Trustee in January 2025, supporting the amazing things that Young Bristol achieves across the city.

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Fahma Mohamed

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Fahma is a passionate advocate for young people's rights and a leader in the youth sector. She currently serves as Project Manager at Girls Friendly Society, focusing on The Girls Rights Collective and the organisations 150th anniversary. Fahma's career has been defined by her work empowering young people, particularly in the areas of gender equality and social justice. She led a successful campaign against FGM as a teenager, securing over 250,000 signatures and contributing to a £35 million government initiatives to end FGM and forced marriage. This work earned her the Young Campaigner of the Year Award and an Honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of Bristol.

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Fahma's previous experience includes working with young people to challenge harmful practices and support their personal development, particularly around issues of cultural identity and gender-based violence. As a Trustee at Young Bristol, Fahma hopes to bring her passion for youth advocacy, extensive experience and strategic insight to help shape the organisation's future and expand opportunities for young people across the city!

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Jay Nash

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Jay is the Director of People and Culture at Teach First, where he drives people strategy and execution to advance the charity's mission of tackling educational inequality. With over 17 years of experience in HR, business transformation and consulting, Jay brings deep expertise in people management, leadership and organisational development. Passionate about supporting young people, Jay understands the critical role organisations like Young Bristol play in fostering their growth and potential.

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A keen outdoor enthusiast, he values the transformative power of nature and it's ability to build resilience. This year, Jay has completed the Cambrian Way, a challenging thru-hike that reflects his belief in personal growth through new and demanding experiences!

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Shannon Ringland

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Young Bristol holds a special place in Shannon's heart, as she had the privilege of attending the Outdoor Employment Programme 10 years ago, when she initially moved to Bristol. The programme was able to provide Shannon with invaluable skills and experiences that have shaped her professional journey.

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Since leaving our Outdoor Employment Programme, Shannon has worked in many of the South West's top visitor attractions, and currently serves as HR and Operations Manager at Wake the Tiger. Her passion for the outdoors aligns with Young Bristol's mission to inspire and empower young people through outdoor activities and community programmes. Shannon has, first hand, seen the transformative power of these opportunities and is excited to contribute alongside fellow Trustees, staff and supporters to further our mission, ensuring more young people can benefit from the incredible work Young Bristol does.

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You can find out more about our Board of Trustees, Patron and President here.

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting a Champagne Tea and Talk 2025, with guest speaker Alistair Russell Price. Hear the story of his father, Squadron Leader, Kenneth George Price DFC and his part in 'The Great Escape'.

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Join us for a sumptuous Champagne Tea and Talk with our guest speaker Alistair Russell Price.

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Kenneth George Price, Squadron Leader, completed 58 trips in Bomber Command during WW2 before being shot down and becoming a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft 111 for almost 2 years. He played a key role in 'The Great Escape' of March 1944.

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We invite you to hear more about his incredible story:
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• Date - Saturday 15th February 2025
• Time - 2:00pm for a 2:30pm start
• Location -Merchants Hall, The Promenade, Bristol, BS8 3NH
• Tickets - £35 per person for Champagne and a sumptuous tea

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By kind permission of The Master

On Wednesday 15^th January, Young Bristol welcomed our supporters, staff team, and young people and their families to our Celebration, AGM and Awards Event. The event celebrated a year of growth and impact, and highlighted stories from individuals across the organisation.  

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‍The event took place at one of Young Bristol’s Community Youth Clubs, Broad Plain & Riverside Youth Project, with a jam-packed evening which saw speakers, performances and a presentation of awards.  

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We were thrilled to have young people from The Grove @ Bedminster Down and Youth Worker, Cassidy Cockram open the event. It was amazing to see the young people share their talents with the 100 people who attended.

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We heard from Young Bristol’s President, Jonathan Webb and Co-Chairs Victoria Matthews and Jamie Cameron, who outlined the charity’s impact over recent years, our key achievements and focuses for 2025 – 2028.  

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Lee Williams DL shared his experiences from the past seven years as Chief Executive of Young Bristol.  

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“Leading Young Bristol has been the honour of a lifetime. In those past seven years, I’ve witnessed incredible transformations: a shy teenager finding their voice as a leader, a struggling child discovering their passion through STEM programmes and countless young people who once faced uncertainty now stepping into bright futures with confidence. These moments remind me daily of why we do what we do.”

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The event welcomed supporters and key individuals who have been impacted by, and seen first-hand, the long-term positive effects of Young Bristol’s support. Alumni Junior Saunders spoke about his experience of Young Bristol as a young person, and how the support of Youth Workers can have a transformative impact on a young persons life. Junior welcomed the High Sheriff of Bristol Richard Cole, Lord Mayor Andrew Varney and Councillor Patrick McAllister to answer a series of questions focusing on the importance of youth work and its impact in communities across the city.  

Young Bristol are incredibly proud to announce that Eve, member of Sea Mills Boys and Girls Club, was awarded our 2024 ‘Young Person of the Year’!

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On Wednesday 15^th January, Young Bristol welcomed our supporters, Patron, President, Board of Trustees, staff team, and young people and their families to our Celebration, AGM and Awards Event. The event celebrated a year of growth, impact and stories from individuals across the organisation.

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As part of the event, ten finalists were invited for this years ‘Young Person of the Year’ award, which recognises the amazing achievements of young people across the city, that attend our sessions and programmes. The award was judged anonymously by a panel, with the winner receiving an incredible prize package.

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On the evening, young people were presented with a certificate from His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Peaches Golding OBE CStJ and award sponsor Clarion Future’s, Laura East. A gold envelope revealed that Eve, age 15 from Sea Mills Boys’ and Girls Club was this years winner! She was presented with a trophy, voucher from Browns Brasserie and iPad. Congratulations Eve!

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Well done to all finalists who were selected for this years award. You should be incredibly proud of your commitment, growth and impact that you are having in your programmes and communities!

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Young Person of the Year 2024 Winner - Eve’s story:

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Eve, aged 15, became a member of Sea Mills Boys and Girls Club in 2018. When Eve first joined the club, she was very shy, only joining activities with her existing friends, taking a while to warm up and talk to new young people.

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Since joining the club, the team has seen her confidence flourish, where she now leads the club's Young Leaders with confidence, manages the tuck shop, and inspires others with her dedication.  

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Her Club Leaders said:

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“We couldn't be more proud of her dedication to Sea Mills. She has shown how much the Club means to her and has had such a large effect on the other young people, which has meant more senior members at the club are now wanting to step up and have a similar role and impact as Eve!”

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

Young Bristol are proud to announce the 10 finalists for our 'Young Person of the Year' Award 2024!

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The 'Young Person of the Year' award recognises the amazing achievements of young people across the city, that attend our sessions and programmes. Only ten finalists were chosen for this years Award. Congratulations to all the young people who were selected as finalists this year!

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At our Celebration, AGM and Awards Event, the winner of the ‘Young Person of the Year’ Award 2024 will be announced and receive an incredible prize package. This years awards has been sponsored by Clarion Futures.

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Our 2024 finalists:

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Alicia

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Alicia, 11, has attended Ashton Vale Club for Young People since May 2023, after joining The Grove in 2021. Alicia has shown exceptional resilience, confidence, and leadership, taking part in numerous Inter Club Tournaments and winning the NatWest Thrive Award. She’s an inspiring role model, helping run activities and supporting her peers.

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Codie

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Codie, 16, has been a member of Hartcliffe Club for Young People since 2023. Initially joining for work experience, Codie has grown in confidence, volunteering weekly, supporting Fixx Bikes, and through an opportunity with his Club he has earnt his Level 1 Sailing and Powerboat Certificate. A finalist for the Bristol Young Heroes Awards, Codie is a community role model.

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Dimitar

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Dimitar, 15, has been a member of Avon Youth Club since2019. Known for his enthusiasm and leadership, Dimitar inspires others by facilitating activities, supporting peers, and leading by example. He is currently pursuing his Duke of Edinburgh Award, is excelling in Cadets, and his Club Leaders are always happy to see when he comes along to Club!

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Elhadji

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Eli, 16, has been a dedicated volunteer at the Youth Club, contributing two days a week. A skilled footballer and inspiring coach, Eli isa role model who leads by example, supporting younger members and participating actively in all activities. His leadership and commitment have had a profound impact on the Club.

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Eve

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Eve, 15, has been a member of Sea Mills Boys and Girls Club since 2018. Overcoming initial shyness, Eve now leads the club's Young Leaders with confidence, manages the tuck shop, and inspires others with her dedication. Her compassion, positivity, and commitment make her an outstanding role model for her peers.

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Gracie

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Gracie, 15, has been a member of BS14 Youth Club since February 2023. Overcoming personal challenges, she has grown into a confident leader, supporting peers, volunteering as a Young Leader, and excelling in Young Bristol’s creative writing and photography competitions. Gracie’s dedication, leadership, and aspirations to serve in the Army and youth work inspire everyone.

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Leo

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Leo, age 14, has been a member of Sea Mills Boys and Girls Club since 2019. A passionate leader in sports, he organizes football matches, encourages participation, and supports new activities. Leo’s enthusiasm, dedication, and personal growth inspire others, making him a key contributor to the club’s vibrant community.

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Mason

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Mason, age 12, has been a member of Ashton Vale Club for Young People since 2021. Overcoming challenges, Mason has transformed his behaviour, embraced responsibilities like mentoring peers and helping with the tuck shop, and excelled in sports. His growth, engagement in the Thrive programme, and positive impact inspire everyone at the club.

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Owen

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Owen, age 25, joined Young Bristol’s Outdoor Employment Programme in 2022. Passionate about watersports and climbing, Owen has trained extensively, including completing a High Ropes course with SS Great Britain, where he’s now employed. He’s been instrumental in delivering summer activities, mentoring others, and bringing new participants into the programme.

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Reece

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Reece, age 16, joined BS14 Youth Club in 2023. A natural leader, he supports staff, runs the tuck shop, and comforts peers using his own experiences. Now a Young Leader, Reece volunteers weekly, inspiring others and pursuing Health and Social Care studies to achieve his goal of becoming a Youth Worker.

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We look forward to welcoming young people to our Celebration, AGM and Awards event on Wednesday 15th January, where we will announce the winner of the 'Young Person of the Year' award!