The impact of Covid-19 on children and young people should not be underestimated
Over more than 90 years Young Bristol has adapted and evolved to support the needs of young people in and around Bristol. Even before the current pandemic hit, the city had seen increases in child poverty, with Bristol reported to have the highest level of child poverty across the South West. However, at the end of March 2020 as the city entered lockdown, young people now faced new challenges and I was incredibly proud of the committed and creative response by the Young Bristol team.
We know that the coming months and years will be challenging for young people, and that the support Young Bristol provides is needed now, more than ever. Many of Bristol’s young people today are facing new or increased challenges created by the pandemic, particularly relating to their mental and emotional health, physical inactivity and employment opportunities.
With that backdrop, I am very pleased to share our 2019-20 Impact Report which demonstrates the positive impact Young Bristol is continuing to have on young people and children, in and around Bristol. We are incredibly proud of the Young Bristol team, who have enabled us to make a positive difference on the lives of so many young people. As you will see from the report, we are really pleased to have expanded our work – working with more young people than ever before. We have seen a 51% increase in new members at our Community Youth Clubs alone, and developed our Youth Club on Wheels to deliver services in new communities.
While the next year will not be easy, we are committed to continuing to adapt our work and services to operate safely and meet the changing needs of young people. This is, and will only be possible with the fantastic support we receive from our funders, corporate supporters, board of trustees, fundraising committee, and our fantastic volunteer and staff team, who were recognised in 2020 with The Queens Award for Voluntary Service.
Thank you for your fantastic and continued support, and I hope you enjoy reading this report.
Jamie Cameron
CHAIR OF YOUNG BRISTOL
