Discover exciting activities that you can do in Bristol
Do you need help?
If you are in immediate danger please call 999
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The NSPCC Childline service is free and gives children and young people a voice when no one else is listening. Whatever problems or dangers they face, they give them somewhere to turn to for support when they need it.
Their Childline counsellors are there for young people every day of the year.
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Off the record is a charity that gives free, confidential mental health support and information.
The Kooth service is a free online counselling and information service for children and young people.
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These organisations can help you understand your struggles and offer free advice, guidance and support for you and your family.
How can I have my voice heard?
““We are proud to partner with the Children and Young People’s Network to give Children and Young People from all different backgrounds equal opportunity and support. At Bristol City Youth Council we believe that you deserve to have your voice heard and we want to make that happen.””
There are lots of ways you can use your voice as a young person across the city - this can be through your school, play or youth club or any activity you attend. There are also lots of groups who focus on hearing young people’s views across the city. These are known as participation groups.
There are participation groups which any young person can access and there are also specific groups for young people with different life experiences such as LGBTQ+, black and minoritised ethnic communities or Disabled young people.
Follow the links below to find out more about some of the participation groups across the city:
Bristol Shadow Safeguarding Board
Listening Partnership (Disabled Young Peoples participation group)
Freedom (LGBTQ+ participation group)
Bristol City Youth Council
The Bristol City Youth Council consists of 29, 11 to 18 year olds elected by young people throughout Bristol. They are elected in 3 different ways:
18 young people are voted in through the Bristol Youth Elections where they stand for election within their school/ youth organisation
5 young people are elected through equality youth voice groups
6 young people are elected through their local areas
Bristol City Youth Council comprises of driven individuals that embody the spirit of activism and engagement. They advocate for the issues that matter most to young people and the main aim of Bristol City Youth Council is to represent the voices of young people in Bristol.
Bristol Area Youth Forums
Bristol City Youth Council organises area youth forums three times a year in the areas of North, South, and East Central Bristol. These important gatherings attract many young people who come together to share and express their views on the various issues that significantly affect the young people of Bristol.
To find out more about the area forum’s please visit the Youth Councils Instagram page
The dates for the next Area Youth Forums are the 12th February 2025, 11th June 2025 and 17th September 2025.
Bristol Youth Voice Conference
Following the area youth forums, Bristol City Youth Council hold a Youth Voice Conference to highlight the issues coming from the area youth forums. The Youth Voice Conference is held annually during National Youth Work Week (November).
The next conference is the 6th November 2025.
Are you interested in play & playwork?
This film explores what it means to be a playworker and how you could develop a career in this ambitious and worthwhile sector.
If you want to work with children, playwork is the approach adults take when enabling them to play. Playworkers support and enrich the environment to provide a variety of play opportunities and are there to observe, develop opportunities and intervene if children need support.
Play has many physical and emotional benefits and is vital for children’s all-round wellbeing and development. It’s what happens when children take control and choose what they want to do.
You could be part of it! Check out training & qualifications.
