What else is happening?

Please find below some activities and helpful information that we have spotted for Bristol and South Glos families. 

PLEASE NOTE: The activities and information included below is being shared by Unique Voice. If you require any further information you should get in contact with that organisation directly. Unique Voice does not hold responsibility for any of the contents of the information provided. Unique Voice does not endorse the organisations/activities and you should make your own checks to satisfy yourself on the quality of the services on offer. If you would like the information in a different language or format please contact the organisation/agency who will hopefully be able to help. We cannot guarantee to include everything but will prioritise information on services or activities that practitioners will find useful in their organisation or to pass on to families. 

Child Health

• Food Support Available in Bristol – List of ways to access food support
• Food Resources – List of resources that you can read online, download or watch for free.
• Food Recipes – List of recipes for you and your family to cook together
• Places where Kids Eat Free During School Holidays 2025 – Money Saving Central – Restaurants and Cafes where kids can eat free (or for £1) during the school holidays.
• What to feed young children – Nutrition and diet – NHS advice on nutrition and diet for children.
• Advice for parents of reluctant/”fussy” eaters – NHS advice for ‘fussy’ eaters.
• Activity guidelines for children and young people – NHS advice on physical activity for children.
• Beezee Families: A Free Programme to Support Healthier Habits – Free programme designed to help families with children aged 4-12 years old develop healthier habits.
• Access Sport Bristol – Community sports clubs for families across Bristol.
• Mindfulness Resources – List of activities that you can download for free.

Holiday Clubs/Activities

• Your Holiday Hub – Bristol – information on a mix of free and paid for school holiday clubs and activities across Bristol for children and young people aged 4-16.
• Central Bristol Children’s Centre – Information on groups taking place at Central Bristol Children’s Centres.
• Tobacco Factory Theatres – Youth theatre for 3-19 year olds.
• Children’s Scrapstore – Creative activities for children.
• Boing! Softplay – A softly family centre based in Lockleaze. It’s a welcoming and safe place for parents and carers to connect with others and interact with their children.
• Creative Youth Network  – Charity offering youth clubs, creative courses and 1:1 support for young people aged 11-19 in Bristol, South Glos and North Somerset
• Windmill Hill City Farm – Regular events and courses for children and families
• St Werburghs City Farm – Outdoor child and youth programmes and after school activities. Summer, Half Term and Holiday Camps
• Hartcliffe City Farm – Community farm in Hartcliffe. Free to visit farm with animals, gardens and picnic area. Upcoming plans for a new playground and spaces for community classes and workshops.
• Young Bristol – Youth organisation working in Bristol providing youth clubs, creative programmes, holiday clubs and outdoor activities.
• Learning Partnership West – Youth Organisation providing holiday sessions and activities for children and young people up to the age of 25.
• The Vench – Adventure playground and community centre in Lockleaze providing local young people and their families with a safe place to play, learn and create the change they want to see in the world.
• The Birch Collective – A range of programmes for young people which aim to build connection through experiences in the natural world.
• St Pauls Adventure Playground – A safe and inclusive space for St Pauls and its extended community that allows children, young people and their families to come together. Where children and young people meet, play, have fun, be free, learn, find support and make friends.
• St Pauls Learning Centre – Courses, classes and events including sessions for children & young people
• Felix Road Adventure Playground – Play and community setting for children from 8 to 14 years old
• Heart of BS13 – Community events, activities and forest school holiday club
• Arnolfini – Art gallery with free access and events and activities for families
• Branches Out Forest School – Forest School groups and holiday clubs for ages 0-14
• Princes Trust – Support for young people aged 16+ to gain skills and experience, take part in community projects and get into employment.
• Babbasa – Organisation supporting young people to improve their wellbeing, develop new skills, become role models and start their dream careers.
• ACE (Aspiration Creation Elevation) – ACE empowers disadvantaged young people in Bristol through arts activities, role-model guidance and inspirational experiences to tackle barriers preventing them from reaching their potential in life. Weekly drop in music sessions for young people aged 8-21 years old.
•  Full Circle Project –Youth and community organisation running fun, social and sporting activities to young people in St Pauls, Bristol
• Trinity – Trinity provides opportunities for young people aged 11+ and up to 25 years from challenging circumstances to take part in music, arts and cultural activities. Trinity also offers a Friday drop in session from 10am-12pm for children aged 0-5 and their families/carers.
• Learning Partnership West –LPW supports children and young people in Bristol, South Glos, and nearby areas through community-based play, youth work, and personalised alternative education to overcome learning barriers.

SEND Activities & Events

• SEND & You –  Send & You provide the information, advice and support service for Children and Young People with SEND and their families in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset (SENDIASS)
• Barnardos Hype – Barnardo’s HYPE puts young people’s voice at the heart of children’s health and care in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Supporting young people with experience of mental health services, being neurodivergent (Autism & ADHD), care experience, accessing community health services.
• Jigsaw Thornbury – JIGSAW Thornbury is a charity that working in Bristol & South Glos with all children and young people with additional needs or disabilities, and their families. They provide friendship, support, compassion and fun, along with innovative services that empower them to connect, fit in and thrive.
• Out and About Bristol – A group of specialist organisations who work together to provide inclusive sessions and support for Disabled and SEND children and young people.
• Cadbury Heath Library – Thursday Fun: Rhymes & Stories – 9:30am-10:00am
• Kingswood Library – Friday Fun: Rhymes & Stories –  9:30am-10:00am
• Paraorchestra Bristol – Paraorchestra, sometimes referred to as British Paraorchestra, based in Bristol, is an integrated orchestra of professional disabled and non-disabled musicians—the first ever orchestra of its kind in the United Kingdom.
• Bristol SEND Events Listing – Regular events for young people, parents, carers and interested members of the community.
• Access Sport Bristol – Community sports clubs for families across Bristol.
• St Paul’s Learning Centre – An independent learning centre in the heart of Bristol hosting learning and support opportunities, creative activities and specific SEND focused events.
• FACE – Foundation for Active Community Engagement
• Bristol Parent Carer Forum – A non-profit organisation based in Bristol, consisting of volunteer parent carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
• South Glos Parent Carer Forum – We are the local parent carer forum, representing and supporting parent carers of children and young people (aged 0-25) with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in South Gloucestershire
• Bristol Local SEND Offer – An extensive list of services, activities and events for SEND children and young people, and their families.
• South Glos Local SEND Offer – A list of services, activities and events for SEND children and young people, and their families.

Household Support

• Bristol Family Hubs – Information, advice and help to all families in Bristol.
• Citizens Advice – Free advice service including advice around cost of living, benefits, council tax, debt and housing.
• Shelter – Charity offering free advice and support around housing and homelessness
• Acorn – Housing Union offering free advice and support around housing and homelessness
• Ara Recovery for all – Charity offering free support for those affected by problem gambling
• Worrying About Money – Bristol – Find what advice and support is available in your local area.
• A map to show Welcoming Spaces across Bristol where people can meet up, socialise, keep warm and access support relating to the cost of living.
• Cost of living support – Bristol City Council – Information provided by Bristol City Council.
• Cost of living support – South Gloucestershire Council – Information provided by South Gloucestershire Council.
• Apply for Free School Meals – Bristol – Follow this process to apply for free school meals for children in Bristol.
• Apply for Free School Meals – South Gloucestershire – Follow this process to apply for free school meals for children in South Gloucestershire.
• The Rainbow Trust – The Rainbow Trust are the leading organisation providing practical and emotional support to families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness.
• Homestart – Home-Start Bristol & South Gloucestershire offers free, confidential support, friendship and practical help to parents in Bristol and South Gloucestershire who are going through a challenging time and have at least one child under the age of five.
• Dad Matters (Homestart) – Home-Start Bristol and South Gloucestershire’s Dad Matters service supports fathers through the challenges of early parenthood by offering access to tailored services, education on fatherhood and child development, and experienced guidance

Recent changes in government guidance around free school meals mean that pupils who were eligible on 1 April 2018, or who became eligible since then, continue to receive free meals up until March 2025, even if their household is no longer eligible under the benefits/low-earnings criteria. After that date, they will still be able to access free school meals until the end of their current phase of primary or secondary education, even if their household no longer meets the eligible criteria.

Mental Health Support

• Free Talking Therapy – VitaMinds  – A free and confidential NHS service – If you are suffering from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, excessive worry or low mood, then VitaMinds can help.
• Off The Record (OTR) – Charity offering mental health support for young people aged 11-25 in Bristol and South Glos
• Brook – Charity providing free sexual health and wellbeing advice and support for young people up to 19 years old.
• Mind – Charity offering mental health support and information. Includes information specific to young people aged 11-18
• Nilaari – Nilaari is a Black led charity which offers social care support, talking therapies and training to adults and young people across Bristol.
• NHS Mental Heath Services – NHS guidance and information

Accessing English classes

• ESOL and International English courses – Over a thousand people learn English at City of Bristol College. The classes are accredited, and this is the main provider for English classes in Bristol.

Misc Resources

• Bristol Libraries Directory – Information on libraries in Bristol