Young Bristol receives The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

Hannah Somers
Marketing, Communications and Programmes Administrator | Young Bristol
8th June 2020

Young Bristol have today been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Young Bristol is an outstanding provider of community-based youth services that positively and sustainably impact the lives of young people aged 8 – 24 years.

Founded in 1928, Young Bristol has evolved into one of Bristol’s leading youth charities, providing 9 Community Youth Clubs and a Youth Club on Wheels, Outdoor Activities, as well as Sports, Creative, Employment and Educational programmes in communities across the city.

Volunteers are at the centre of our work; working with young people during their critical non-school hours to offer a choice of opportunities, experiences, education, training and accredited learning.

 

Lee Williams, CEO of Young Bristol commented, “On behalf of everyone connected with Young Bristol, including the many volunteers who support our work in so many ways, we are deeply honoured to receive this prestigious Award.

“Our army of volunteers make a profound and lasting impact on the lives of the children and young people we work with, supporting, inspiring and empowering them to succeed.”

There are so many ways individual volunteers support the work of Young Bristol. These range from being part of our Fundraising Committee and Trustee Board, volunteering at one of our Community Youth Clubs or Programmes, through to individuals and Corporate Partners raising much needed funds for the charity.

However, at the core of Young Bristol’s volunteers are young people who have previously benefited from the charity’s work.

One of those young people is Rob who joined Young Bristol in 2013, struggling with his academic education due to dyslexia and ADHD; relatively hidden disabilities which are often not recognised or understood by everyone.

After regularly attending Young Bristol’s Kayak Club, Rob was at a stage where he could help our instructors to deliver sessions. Rob began helping on general activity sessions, volunteering after school and during school holidays. Before too long Rob was giving up his time, volunteering hundreds of hours every year to benefit other young people in Bristol.

Rob stands out as a volunteer because he understands that young people are all different, supporting them to find what they are good at and works with this to build their self-confidence.

“Young Bristol offers an opportunity for young people to succeed in talents not recognised and taught at school. This can be a lifeline to some kids,” says Robs mum.

She went onto say, “Rob shines because he responded to the volunteering opportunities afforded to him by Young Bristol and is keen to make sure that they are offered to others.”

Young Bristol is one of 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups nationally to receive the prestigious Award this year.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise the outstanding work of voluntary groups who benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

CEO Lee Williams commented, “Unfortunately due to Corona Virus we will not be able to host a Volunteer Celebration Event today. However, subject to Government guidance we plan to celebrate with our many volunteers in the Autumn where we will formally receive the Award from the Lord-Lieutenant of Bristol, Mrs Peaches Golding OBE.”

For more information on how you can support our work please click here.

Do you want to join the conversation?

Sign up here