Young Bristol were delighted to host this year’s NABGC Stronger Together Conference at Broad Plain and Riverside Youth Project and The Bristol Hotel, thanks to our corporate sponsors SR2 and The PG Group.
The conference was the first big event that the NABGC were able to host since the beginning of lockdown and, was an amazing opportunity for everyone to come together, renew their friendships and relationships, listen to inspiring key note speakers and participate in enlightening workshops.
The day started off with the conference, hosted at Broad Plain and Riverside Youth Project. Everyone at this conference were able to hear from inspirational key note speakers Kirk Dominik, CEO of World Federation of Youth Clubs and Leigh Middleton, CEO of National Youth Agency. Kirk had the opportunity to discuss importance of youth work and what it means to young people while they are growing up. He stated that it is vital for young people to have access to youth programmes and support. Leigh was able to discuss the support and resources that NYA have to offer alongside the importance of youth work on a national and local level.
The day then progressed into breakout sessions, where 4 workshops were on offer for everyone to partake and discuss within small groups. A marketing and branding workshop was hosted by Simon Hemus from the World Federation of Youth Clubs. Jessica Kirby and Kelly Leach from Berkshire youth were able to present their workshop on Young People and Mental Health. NABGC Training Committee hosted their own workshop where they were able to review the activities and events that they have ran and are going to run in the future. Finally, key note speaker Leigh Middleton had his own workshop where he was able to brief attendees regarding information on the Youth Sector.
With thanks to the team at The Bristol Hotel, we were able to continue the evening with an awards ceremony and dinner, using their space. The ceremony started off with brief speeches from Lee Williams, CEO of Young Bristol, Joe Sims, compere for the evening, and Mark Brine, Chair of NABGC. After this, young people from across the NABGC network spoke powerfully and eloquently about the need of youth work and importance of getting involved with changes in the youth sector.
Three awards were presented out on the evening; Young Person of the Year Award, presented by Socially Responsible Recruitment and awarded to Blain Morris; Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by The PG Group and awarded to Chardonnay Rennie; the Outstanding Leader of the Year Award, presented by High sheriff Alex Raikes MBE and awarded to Zoe Buchanan. Congratulations to them for being recognised and winning these awards.
Here at Young Bristol, we would like to thank The PG Group and SR2 for funding the event and allowing us to make this event such an amazing day for all. We would also like to thank Broad Plain and Riverside Youth Project and The Bristol Hotel for being such amazing hosts and allowing us to use their spaces.
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