Young people today are growing up in an environment shaped by overlapping and compounding challenges. Mental health concerns are rising, peer-on-peer abuse is becoming more visible, and violence both online and offline is increasingly part of their everyday landscape. This, coupled with deepening economic hardship, is not only affecting home life, but the schools and services young people rely on to support them.

Bristol-based social enterprise Unique Voice CIC recognises this, and its latest Social Impact Report highlights the broad reach and impact the organisation has had in communities across the southwest helping to tackle this. In the past year alone, the organisation has reached over 11,000 children and young people through 50 trauma-informed, arts-based programmes that have been designed to educate, inspire, and safeguard the next generation.

Celebrating 14 years of impact, Unique Voice’s 2024/25 Social Impact Report spotlights the powerful role creativity can play in helping young people navigate complex challenges and build resilient, hopeful futures.

From immersive storytelling on trains to youth-led films tackling knife violence, the organisation’s work is deeply embedded in the local community. Projects such as Safer Together, Seeking Belonging, and What Would You Do? bring difficult but vital conversations about violence, exploitation and mental health into safe, engaging spaces – empowering young people to speak out, connect and make a positive change.

“Our young people are growing up in an increasingly pressured world,” said Unique Voice Co-Founder Krystal Keeley. “Their experiences among their peers, at home and school are reshaping what it means to grow up in the UK today. It’s increasingly evident that we need to ensure that early, consistent support is available to children and young people – and that it’s engaging and empowering. Through our programmes we use creativity as a bridge – a successful method for helping them process, understand and rise above the challenges they face.”

Key achievements in 2024/25 include:

• 11,194 young people across primary and secondary educational settings engaged.
• 1,984 creative activity packsand 4,600+ hot nutritious meals provided to support children and families facing food poverty and material deprivation.
• 50 creative social action programmesdelivered across Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
• 1,575 hoursof creative, trauma-informed workshops, performances, and storytelling.
• Community-wide engagementthrough events like the Safer Together film premiere at Ashton Gate Stadium and What Would You Do? production at the Bristol Beacon.
• Refugee and asylum seeker support, including Stay & Play sessions in hotel accommodations.

One standout moment was the Safer Together project – a youth-led film addressing knife violence in South Bristol. Created in response to the tragic deaths of two local boys Max Dixon and Mason Rist, the film brought together over 600 students and will now being used as an educational tool across the region.

“Our voices rise despite the fear,” reads a poem penned by the young participants. “To build a world without this pain.”

In addition to children and teens, Unique Voice also trained and supported over 1,170 adults – teachers, parents, carers, and community professionals – ensuring change can happen and be supported across whole communities.

Looking ahead, the team aims to expand its reach by offering over 2,000 free creative holiday sessions throughout the year, developing new resources to prevent youth violence, and will continue to provide urgent support to sanctuary-seeking families.

To download the 2024/25 Social Impact Report to learn more about Unique Voice’s impactful projects, head here: https://uniquevoice.org/theoffice2/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Unique-Voice-Social-Impact-Report-24.25-.pdf

Calling for local support

Unique Voice is now calling on Bristol and South Gloucestershire residents, schools, and businesses to get involved and to support their mission – whether through partnerships, funding, or simply sharing their story.

“This work is only possible because of our community,” continues Krystal. “Together, we’re helping young people feel safe, seen and able to thrive.”

Unique Voice’s next major project will be facilitating the compilation and delivery of 3,000 Winter Activity and Food Packs to vulnerable families in the south west. These creative activities and food packs include arts, crafts, mindfulness tools, food parcels and recipe booklets, to ensure families can focus on fun and connection, over hunger.

Krystal notes: “We’d love to hear from businesses who think they might be able to support. There are a number of ways to get involved – from providing warehousing space to aid the storage and packing of the Winter Packs, to corporate volunteering and sponsorship opportunities.”

If you are a local business and would like to discuss supporting Unique Voice’s programmes, please contact: theoffice@uniquevoice.org

ENDS