Jamal said “ I live in Lawrence hill, working with these young people is just more than a work, it is like giving back to community, we want to create opportunity for young people in Lawrence hill and inspire future leaders”.
We visited the Thursday youth session at Lawrence hill which temporarily happen at Netham, which we deliver in partnership with Creative Youth Network as part of the Youth Partnership in the Lawrence hill area. The session was vibrant and engaging, with a strong turnout of around 40 young people aged 10 to 17. These sessions have become a regular and trusted space for young people in the area after school, offering physical activities such as football and basketball, as well as a safe environment to build friendships, positively socialize, and develop important life skills.
Bristol Somali youth voice is lead organisation in this session, The strong relationships we’ve built with young people and their families over the years have significantly enhanced engagement. Parents trust our staff and youth workers, many of whom live in the area themselves and see this work as a way of giving back to the community. Also the collaboration between Bristol Somali Youth Voice and Creative Youth Network is also key to the success of the session. Both organisations are working closely to provide the support and guidance that local young people need, especially in a community like Lawrence hill—an area that is highly diverse, densely populated, and among the most deprived in Bristol.
It was also great to see colleagues from both organisations present, including Carl and Luke from CYN, and Mohamed Sayaqle, Jamal, and Mo Kayse from our team. Although two youth wokers lead the session, we always make extra effort to maximise felt benefit for young people in the session and as the weather improves, we are excited about the opportunities ahead and remain committed to delivering meaningful, structured activities that help young people in Lawrence hill thrive despite the challenges of inequality.