From student life in Bristol’s city-centre to volunteering in Knowle

How I bridged the gap.

On an uneventful January afternoon, I sat scrolling through a list of professional volunteering opportunities that my university, UWE Bristol, had sent out. I’d never really been the extracurricular type, let alone the volunteering type, but I needed the experience. 

My stream of scrolling reached a sudden halt when I came across an advertisement posted by Youth Moves. For some reason, it caught my eye.

With the click of my mouse, I was met with information about Youth Moves. They are a charity based in Knowle, with a mission of helping young people in South Bristol. Youth Moves offer a range of support options, such as youth clubs, mentoring, targeted youth work, and detached youth work. The position would involve volunteering, getting to know the kids, and writing articles about Youth Moves.

Having only moved to Bristol the September prior, I hadn’t even heard of Knowle before. Most of my time in Bristol had been in the city centre, where my student accommodation was.

My ignorance towards Knowle isn’t surprising, given how frequently South Bristol is left behind from the rest of the city. In 2019, the 10 most deprived neighbourhoods in Bristol were all in South Bristol, some of which were also within the most deprived 100 areas in England (2019 English Indices of Deprivation within Bristol Local Authority Area). To put this into perspective, affluent Clifton sees 100% of its 18-year-olds going to university, whilst only 8.2% of 18-year-olds in Hartcliffe and Withywood go to university (Bristol Live, 2018). All these children share the same potential, the only difference is a lack of equal opportunities – which is fundamentally unfair.

To exacerbate the situation, transport links from South Bristol to the city-centre are expensive and unreliable; making it difficult for people from these areas to access opportunities and jobs.

I dreaded to think how many students in Bristol remained completely oblivious to the high levels of disparity occurring around them. This was no longer a matter of enriching my CV, it was an unsurpassable urge to spread awareness, enact change, and ultimately help these kids.

With my first volunteering session fast approaching, anxiety set in. I had no idea what to expect. I would be helping at the Senior’s session, a weekly session for 13 – 19-year-olds. I arrived early so I could introduce myself to the team. I was greeted by one of the kindest groups of people I’ve ever met, encompassed by a loveable close-knit family dynamic. The team ranged from all walks of life, with several of the younger members having attended the Youth Moves sessions themselves, allowing a genuine relatability between them and the kids.

I had not expected such a huge turnout for the session. The moment 6:00PM, dozens of kids flew through the doors, fuelled by an ecstatic excitement. This energy was more than reciprocated by the youth workers, who were pleased to see every attendee. The strong relationship between both parties was obvious, consisting of genuine mutual interest and lacking formality, rigidness, or a power dynamic.

The room was one big, open space, enabling fluid socialising and swift accessibility. Youth Moves sessions have seemingly infinite activities, with pool, foosball, and ping pong tables dotted around the room – not to mention the variety of boardgames available. A separate, smaller room is the music room; brimming with musical equipment for the kids to express themselves with.

Each week, there are several different activities. Ranging from arts and crafts and cooking to outside sports. The youth workers also provide educational activities; interactive ways of exploring serious topics in a non-judgemental environment. Some of the topics covered were: healthy relationships, consent, LGBTQ+, and what’s happening in Ukraine.

One week, I helped teach the kids how to use chopsticks, educating them on the surrounding cultures and creating challenges to help them develop their skills. On first try, many of the kids were disheartened. We didn’t let them give up, offering friendly encouragement and advice. By the end of the session, everyone who tried to use chopsticks ended up being more than proficient. The very same kids who were certain they’d never be able to use chopsticks were excelling at the intricate challenges we’d provided. Participating in hands-on activities made it easier for everyone to let their guards down and open up. I bonded with some of the kids over our love for different cuisines, and we were quick to realise just how much we had in common – from our music tastes to interests. By the end of the session, they were saying how they didn’t want to go home and wanted to spend all night at Youth Moves instead.

As a student, it is so easy to become stuck in a student bubble – only interacting with other students and forgetting a world exists outside of that. The opportunity to be able to get to know those younger than me was so refreshing – especially as these young people all showcase a passion and introspection that is truly admirable. Through Youth Moves, I’ve been able to form genuine connections and friendships with people I’d have otherwise never even crossed paths with.

If you are a student considering volunteering somewhere, I cannot recommend it enough. Get yourself out there and look up local volunteering opportunities! Volunteering has become the highlight of my week, doing wonders for my mental health, personal development, and overall quality of life.

Ultimately, though, this isn’t about me. Volunteering is about helping those who are impacted by the issues in our society. In the case of Youth Moves, it is fundamentally about the young people – ensuring we can enhance their lives in every possible way.