Ablaze Launches 20th Anniversary Campaign

Since 2005 Ablaze has helped to transform the lives of over 8,000 young people, from ages 7-24, working to tackle the inequality of opportunity in the wider Bristol region. We provide a vital bridge between businesses and young people, facilitating meaningful connections and opportunities.

Our programmes utilise the skills, insight and guidance of our volunteers. With their support we:

• Improve reading and number skills
• Widen career aspirations
• Help make sense of school
• Tackle barriers to progression
• Move young people forward in their journey to meaningful employment

Compelling issues and challenges to equality of opportunity remain:

• 1 in 5 children in the UK still don’t own a book or read at home
• Over 18,000 of our Bristol children are living in poverty
• 16-year-olds from lower socio-economic backgrounds are 50% less likely than their peers to achieve grade 5 or above in their GCSEs
• There are wards in the city where less than 8% of 18-year-olds even apply to higher education
• Numbers of young NEETS (not in education employment or training) are continuing to rise

Each year since the days of Covid, when almost all our activity ceased, we have been successful in increasing the numbers of young people participating on our programmes.

Our interventions work, our impact is proven. Our ambition is limited only by our capacity. In this, our special 20th year, we want to grow, to offer support to larger numbers of young people, meeting the continuing and increasing need for our services. 

Our participants, both beneficiaries and volunteers are our biggest advocates. We have an excellent retention record with business partners, many of whom stayed with us through the pandemic, donating to our crisis appeal in 2021 to keep the charity afloat. 

Three alumni have served terms as Junior Trustees on our Board, one more is joining later this year. A number of secondary students who went through our programmes several years ago have sought out Ablaze as working adults so they can volunteer with us.  

Ablaze is a charity that understands the importance of operating in a businesslike way. Our funding model is designed to ensure our sustainability over the years. Income is derived from three main sources: trust and foundation grants; service charges to businesses and schools; contract income for specific delivery strands. Service fees are charged for participation in our ‘core’ programme offer, reading and number partners and career mentoring. 

Service Fee Income

Our service fee income is a key factor in our sustainability and integral to our business strategy. 

As our capacity grows and we can take on more partnerships, so our income in this area will grow. 

It is this strand of our income that ensures we remain viable and a prospect worth investing in.

Trust and Foundation Income

We work hard year on year to bring in T&F income, facing unprecedented challenges post pandemic. The climate remains difficult, and we are proud to have achieved this upward path over the past three years. 

In this, our special 20th year help us to get our current predicted total of £125,000 up above £150,000! Join a community that believes every young person should get the support they need to unlock their potential.

Some thoughts and reflections from participants on our programmes:

Career Mentoring

Employment & Skills 

Reading Partners