This week Young Bristol is celebrating Youth Work Week, an annual celebration of all things youth work between Monday 3rd – Sunday 9th November 2025. This year, The National Youth Agency’s Youth Work Week explores, ‘building brighter futures: safe places, trusted support and opportunities to thrive’.
This years theme highlights the essential role that youth work plays in helping young people feel secure, supported and empowered to reach their full potential.
At Young Bristol we are committed to continuing our Mission and our strategic focuses; providing transformative programmes, a supportive environment, and activities and opportunities to support young people to feel empowered, included and not alone.
Providing safe places for Bristol's young people
Our work continues to provide young people with safe, welcoming, inclusive spaces, where they can be themselves build friendships and access support when they need it most.
Our Youth Clubs and services continue to be at the core of communities, at a time where young people have been hugely affected by the cost-of-living crisis, which has impacted many young people living in areas of deprivation from accessing the services that they need most. Youth work gives young people the safety and support that they cannot find on the streets, acting as the bridge between home and school life.
- 27,215 attendances with young people aged 8-25
- Our 8 Community Youth Clubs provided a safe place for 1,832 young people aged 8-19, continuing to open their doors up to 4 nights per week, 48 weeks of the year
- 11 rural and urban communities were positively impacted by our work, where there is currently no youth provision
- 1,322 meals provided through our community youth clubs, helping address food poverty and holiday hunger
- An investment of £753,280 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.
Outdoor Employment Programme
Young Bristol's Outdoor Employment Programme is a free programme targeting young people aged 16-25 with barriers to employment. The programme offers young people the opportunity to develop new skills, gain nationally recognised qualifications and build a positive future into employment as an outdoor instructor.
Owen, age 25, joined Young Bristol’s Outdoor Employment Programme (OEP) in 2022. Passionate about water sports and climbing, Owen has trained extensively, mentoring others, and bringing new participants into the programme.
Owen has engaged with incredible enthusiasm with the OEP; during his involvement, Owen has been given the opportunity to visit Redpoint Climbing Centre and engage in their Volunteer and Mentor Scheme, train on the SS Great Britain's High Ropes training course and has been employed directly by Young Bristol, supporting our Outdoor Activity Summer programme and Adult Gig Club. Through the OEP, Owen is now also a fully qualified Paddle Sport Instructor, Powerboat Driver and First Aider.
“Owen has been a huge help and advocate for the programme, bringing new young people on board, and supporting other trainees on the programme. It is fantastic to see him get the recognition he deserves!”
Youth Voice and Young Leaders
At Young Bristol, young people are at the forefront of everything that we do, and allowing our young people to volunteer at their local Community Youth Club inspires their future career options and gives the opportunity to take on leadership roles during club sessions. From helping with tuck shop and registration to delivering activities and acting as role models.
Robyn, aged 15, is a Young Leader at BS14 Youth Club's junior sessions. Robyn started volunteering as a Young Leader to contribute towards her Duke of Edinburgh Award, where she immediately stepped into her new responsibilities, and worked hard to build relationships with the clubs juniors. Once she completed her Duke of Edinburgh Award, the team at BS14 Youth Club were pleased to find out that she would like to continue volunteering as a Young Leader!
Since Robyn has volunteered as a Young Leader, the team have seen Robyn grow in confidence, champion her learning and development, and has started to lead on a number of activities, including cooking and arts and crafts.
Her kind and caring nature has helped her to build trusting relationships with the younger members, she makes an effort to listen to each of them. Her maturity and kindness makes her a fantastic young leader and role model for the younger members.
"The junior session can be very busy, and we've really seen how Robyn has grown into her role and stepped up as a fantastic role model. We are thrilled to continue supporting her as a Young Leader here at BS14 Youth Club!"
Our staff
Without our staff team, we cannot achieve great things. We spoke with Jacky Eddy, Hartcliffe Club for Young People and Simon Long, The Grove @ Bedminster Down about their experience working with young people and why they believe youth work is important.
“Youth clubs play a key role in a young person’s development — offering safe spaces, trusted adults, and chances to grow socially and emotionally. Youth work helps build resilience and supports young people to become more confident, capable adults with a social conscience. It’s about helping young people to feel valued and believe in themselves. A highlight this year was seeing our senior members and volunteers grow in confidence and take the lead in planning and delivering activities.”
Jacky Eddy, Hartcliffe Club for Young People
“Our youth club gives young people a safe space to explore who they are, have honest conversations, and feel supported by trusted adults. Through fun and play, we deliver informal learning that sticks — helping young people grow into well-rounded individuals. The difference we hope to make is in the memories that last a lifetime, and the relationships that support them from childhood through to young adulthood.”
Simon Long, The Grove @ Bedminster Down
