A warm welcome to our Programmes and Youth Voice Assistant

On Saturday 10th August, eight runners signed up to run the South West Tough Mudder, to raise money for Young Bristol!

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The eight participants chose to fundraise for us at the South West Tough Mudder from a number of our partner organisations, including BBS Plumbing and Heating, SR2 as well as 50 Ways To Cook!

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Runners took part in both the 5 and 15 kilometer races, battling through mud pits and over various terrains across Badminton Estate.

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Thank you to our eight runners who took part in the Tough Mudder in aid of Young Bristol this year! If you would like to support our participants, check out their fundraising pages:

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• Alex - 50 Ways To Cook
• Alice and Caitlin - SR2
• Ben, Dan, Ben, Jack and Jess - BBS Plumbing and Heating

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If you are interested in taking part in a third party fundraising event for Young Bristol, click here to learn how you can fundraise for us.

Young Bristol are delighted that our Youth Club on Wheels has been shortlisted as a finalist for The Youth Work Award at the Children and Young People Now Awards 2024!

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The Children and Young People Now Awards showcase innovation and outstanding practice across the children’s services sector. The Awards champion the vital work of services supporting children, young people and families across the UK.

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Our Youth Club on Wheels was nominated for The Youth Work Award, which highlights initiatives that have done the most to promote young people’s personal development and help them achieve their potential.

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We are delighted to announce that two young people from BS14 Youth Club's Looked After Children group are the winners of our 2024 Drawing Competition!

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Last month, we hosted a Drawing Competition across our Community Youth Club network. Young people from each club were encouraged to draw an image of their choice to be entered into our competition. The creative pieces were shortlisted by Club Leader's and submitted to our judges

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We received a number of entries from across our club network, our judges chose two winners from the range of amazing creative arts skills that were showcased in the competition!

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The winners of our competition were two young people that attend our BS14 Youth Club sessions! The pair were awarded with a £15 Amazon gift card each. Congratulations both! Keep an eye out for our next competition in September!

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Thanks to Bristol City Council Community Infrastructure Levy Fund, we are pleased to see Pooles Wharf Outdoor Activity Centre under refurbishment, with exciting developments to the centre’s facilities and outdoor area!

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Since its inception in 2000, our Pooles Wharf Activity Centre has evolved to become one of Bristol’s premier providers of outdoor pursuits. The vibrant hub is home to a broad range of water-based opportunities for Bristol’s young people and the wider community, as well as hosting Young Bristol’s Outdoor Employment Programme, Kayak Club, Holiday Clubs and more!

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As part of the charity’s 2022-25 Strategic Priorities, we have focused on investing in our infrastructure, resources and buildings, ensuring young people and their communities have an environment that they can thrive in.

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The centre’s refurbishments have been made possible by Bristol City Council's Community Infrastructure Levy Fund as well as matched investment from Young Bristol, which has enabled us to give a much-needed modernisation to the centre. The refurbishments to the centre include slip resistant safety flooring, energy efficient lighting throughout, fully accessible bathroom, as well as the addition of double glazing to further boost our energy efficiency, helping to bring down the cost of utilities.

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The funding from Bristol City Council as well as our investments, have allowed us to transform the space, giving young people, schools, youth groups and the wider community an improved experience when accessing and using the facilities at the centre.

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The improvements, which began earlier this year, have also seen the installation of a new kitchen, toilets, interior and exterior lighting, windows and flooring, as well as an expansion of the downstairs entranceway.

Young Bristol are excited to announce that we have received grant funding from the KFC Youth Foundation!

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Ashton Vale Club for Young People, Hartcliffe Club for Young People, Sea Mills Boys' and Girls' Club and The Grove @ Bedminster Down were all selected amongst various other local organisations across KFC restaurant communities in the UK. Our aim with the funding will be to empower young people to reach their full potential!

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At Young Bristol, we believe that every young person has the right to discover what they are capable of. We work with young people aged 8 - 19 (up to 25 for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) in 16 communities in and around Bristol, in-turn, supporting their families and wider communities. The funding received from the KFC Youth Foundation is vital as it will allow us to continue our work with Bristol’s young people by supporting their clubs core needs.

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Young Bristol would like to extend a huge thank you to the KFC Youth Foundation for recognising the work we do to help build positive futures for the young people of Bristol!

We are pleased to announce that we have been able to purchase our Young Leaders their own uniforms. Our 8 Young Leaders were excited to feel like part of the team with their new Young Bristol branded hoodies.

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Across our Community Youth Club network, we have a number of young people who are excited to join our voluntary team as young leaders! The role of our Young Leaders is to support the staff team and junior young people by running their own sports or crafts activities. Our Young Leaders also help with other jobs throughout sessions at their club such as running the Tuck Shop and supporting registrations.

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Young Leaders also help new young people to settle into the new environment. The team do this by introducing new young people to our current groups that attend and make sure they get involved with team sports and craft activities, which will help them to form new bonds!

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We would like to extend a huge thank you to the Leonard Laity Stoate Charitable Trust who provided us with the funding to purchase our Young Leaders uniform! If you would like to learn how you can become a Young Leader, click here to find your local Youth Club or contact us!

We are delighted to announce the appointment of India Crawford, Fundraising Coordinator and Louis Goldspring, Fundraising Coordinator!

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India has experience of working with young people as both a Teaching Associate and a doctor based in Bristol. She has also previously helped with fundraising, supporting educational opportunities in the UK and abroad. India is looking forward to working with the Fundraising Team, ensuring Young Bristol can continue to make a positive impact through its programmes and services. Outside of work, India loves to cook and bake – and tries to balance this with a mix of long walks, cycling and Pilates!

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Louis recently graduated University, studying Politics and International Relations. He has also worked in the charity sector since graduating, where he has worked as a Street Fundraiser for a homelessness and housing charity. Louis also had experience coaching young people in cricket. Louis is excited to join us as part of the Fundraising Team, where he plans to help us to secure funding for our current and future projects, as well as helping us to continue supporting young people. Outside of work, Louis enjoys sports - in particular cricket!

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We hope you will join us in welcoming India and Louis to the Young Bristol team!

Recently, we nominated three Young Bristol staff members to receive an invitation to the royal families garden party, held at Buckingham Palace.

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Lucy, Head of Fundraising and Development, was nominated to receive an invitation as she has made significant contributions to our charity, enabling us to secure the resources required to deliver its strategic objectives, both now, in the past and in the future!

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Web and Jacky, from Hartcliffe Club for Young People, were also nominated to receive an invitation as the pair have shown incredible commitment to Hartcliffe's community and Youth Club for many years!

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Web Matthews said:

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I would like to thank Young Bristol for giving me the opportunity to attend this special occasion, I was deeply honored. The day was an excellent opportunity to visit the palace and see others who are doing so much in their communities. It has been a absolute pleasure serving young people. The relationships gained throughout the decades has meant so much to me.

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We would like to extend a huge thank you to our staff team and volunteers who continue to support Young Bristol. The contributions you make are invaluable to us!

This week is Volunteer Week, and Young Bristol would like to share a special thanks to everyone who has chosen to support us in each and every capacity. This week, we would like to shine a light on our amazing volunteers, who help us to offer a safe and inclusive environment and facilitate a range of activities for young people.

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We heard from Soha, a volunteer at The Grove @ Bedminster Down, who spoke to us about her experience volunteering at our Community Youth Clubs.

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Soha began volunteering in 2023, after hearing about us in 2019 during an NCS programme. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to join us when she initially planned due to the Covid pandemic. She wanted to try volunteering as she hoped this would reignite her passions and hoped volunteering would help her to find herself! After meeting the team and joining in on her first session at The Grove, she knew she had made the right decision for herself and has loved volunteering ever since!

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"I love volunteering for Young Bristol because it reflects the journey I have been on and all the obstacles I have overcome throughout my life. But more than that, I feel like I am part of a team full of open-minded individuals who have the same goals as me!"

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Soha's favourite thing about volunteering at our clubs is that she has been able to work with a range of people, both staff and young people, who come from a range of different backgrounds, circumstances and walks of life, who all come together and support each other. She loves to see young people learn new skills and build new relationships and could not be prouder of what she has helped them to achieve.

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"I went into volunteering with the intention of rediscovering myself; which it certainly has done. However, volunteering has proved to be so much more than that and it has been the best decision I have ever made!"

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A huge thank you to Soha and all our other volunteers for all your continued support across our Youth Clubs, helping young people discover what they are capable of! If you would like to volunteer with Young Bristol, click here to learn more.