Sakiya Ghalib

Please tell us about their volunteering, campaigning or other leadership work:
Sakiya has been an exemplary and inspirational project worker and volunteer for the charity Integrate UK.  As part of our project aimed at countering division and challenging stereotypes between young people from different cultural and religious backgrounds, Sakiya and her team brought together well over 100 young people from different areas of the city and supported them to collaborate on two creative media projects through which the young participants, aged 12 to 15, could share their messages.  Over the course of the project, Sakiya has given so much of her own time, has supported and mentored numerous young people and ensured that all benefited as much as possible from all aspects of the work.  The two films were launched at the Tobacco Factory in July this year and the young participants gave passionate speeches, challenging hate and division and spreading messages of hope and unity.

Please tell us about the impact they have had on their community or the city:
The current political climate has made it increasingly hard for BMER young people to feel accepted, valued and heard.  Sakiya has worked tirelessly to facilitate meetings between young people from different communities, allowing BMER / Muslim young people to advocate for themselves amongst those who may fear or be suspicious of them.  As friendships developed and the project took shape, Sakiya ensured all young people, regardless of background, benefited from increased confidence and self esteem.  The young people are now developing youth led Equalities Councils in their schools to ensure their learning and findings are sustainably embedded in the school culture.

Mya-Rose Craig (Birdgirl)

Please tell us about their volunteering, campaigning or other leadership work:
Mya-Rose has led the national campaign to make nature conservation, environmental, sustainability and wildlife film-making sectors ethnically diverse since 2015. The sectors are a huge local employer, but which Bristol’s BAME communities are excluded. Mya-Rose has organised: nine nature camps and a film-making workshop engaging 1000 inner-city BAME children, teenagers and families; two Race Equality in Nature Conferences, the first in June 2016 with Bill Oddie and Kerry McCarthy investigating the barriers to BAME people not going out into green spaces, overcoming these hurdles and role models; and the second in October 2019 with Chris Packham, Asher Craig and Cleo Lake and many CEO's from environmental organisations talking about the institutional racism preventing the sector from becoming diverse; spoken at 60 events to 20,000 people including 2000 teenagers; written many articles and given interviews in the media including Channel 4 News and BBC News Website.

Please tell us about the impact they have had on their community or the city:
The environmental sector is 0.6% White and as such, does not and is not able to engage BAME communities. Mya-Rose describes institutional racism and how it is only when the sector becomes ethnically diverse will it be able to understand and be relevant to BAME communities. Every attendee at her events has engaged with nature/environment, which is essential for community cohesion, social inclusion, good mental/physical health, which is significantly worse for BAME people. Teenagers are also able to talk about racism and the attainment gap at school, feeling supported. Bristol has declared a Climate Emergency and can only succeed in making our city sustainable and carbon-neutral if it works together and if BAME communities feel these issues are their concern, as Mya-Rose states “You can not expect people to care about things they do not know about”. Her impact on Bristol can not be overstated.
 

Rising Arts Agency

Please tell us about their volunteering, campaigning or other leadership work:
Rising Arts Agency is a social enterprise run by young creative thinkers in Bristol. We advocate for sector and cultural change through research projects, industry consultation and our creative agency services. We do this through a framework of support for young artists that includes a successful mentoring programme, professional development and leadership opportunities. For example, through our flagship programme OnBoard we’ve successfully recruited, supported and trained seven young people who are now placed at the strategic decision making level of key cultural organisations across the city - and that’s just the first cohort. We’re talented, diverse and ready to be leaders now. We are Rising.

Please tell us about the impact they have had on their community or the city:
In 2018-19 Rising worked with 256 young people. 41 of them entered paid art sector roles across 76 paid opportunities. They earned £13.6k from commissions of which 87% went directly to young artists and the rest to the core team. The staff team is 80% under 30, the board are 100% under 27 and all of Rising's activity is led by and co-designed with our wider community. Through Whose Culture we explored the data gap around how young people of colour access culture in Bristol, co-designing data mapping to measure and record what “culture” means to them. RE/IMAGINE was a commission to investigate young people’s relationships to libraries that became an exploration into models of youth engagement and the potential for public spaces to become more welcoming and functional for young people. 
With each project we have been able to build new relationships with community organisations and maintain old ones across the city. We go to where these young people are, work on their terms, and ensure we’re consistent in our approach. These relationships have developed not only our thinking but also our partners’ e.g. Junction 3 Library are now exploring an arts venue/library model inspired by our engagement events held there.

Young Leaders 2018/2019 (Youth Moves)

Please tell us about their volunteering, campaigning or other leadership work:
Our young leaders that we had worked with during NCS 2017. The young people all took part in the NCS. This course was initially a 12 week programme to enable young people to develop key skills and attributes to feel confident to then volunteer with in a youth work setting supporting younger. The group worked together on a multitude of master classes on communication, team work, leadership, Body talk, presentations skills, risk assessments and project planning. The group delivered a youth session to 30 young children from Bristol on camp providing activities, planning and preparing the whole day. The young people then went onto to volunteer and work on the juniors session. The group completed their programme and then asked to continue working with us to plan and deliver the National Citizen Service Action Volunteer day.

Please tell us about the impact they have had on their community or the city:
The group spent 5 weeks raising money by doing cake sales and planning to re vamp the deaf base unit at New Oak Primary school .They then spent two days revamping the garden, painting, gardening, and clearing rubbish and making a sensory area for the children. 5 young people have now returned to our group this October to support with our new cohort as graduates to mentor this year’s intake of young people.  The school were incredibly grateful and have supported the students by creating a safe space for them to be so outdoor education can be done. The support they have given by volunteering in a variety of youth sessions has enabled us to provide more sessions for young people and supported the amount of young people engaging with our youth services.

Bristol Hub Student Committee

Please tell us about their volunteering, campaigning or other leadership work:
Bristol Hub is a charity that works with students at the University of Bristol to deliver social action activities in the local community. Our student committee are a group of highly engaged and motivated students that support and lead Bristol Hub activities. 
We have a group of 11 students that run our four volunteering projects, this means they recruit student volunteers, support them throughout their volunteering placements and encourage them to learn about social issues. These four projects are: Schools+ a tutoring programme in local schools that need extra support and capacity, LinkAges a programme aiming to reduce elderly social isolation through student-led activities, Branch Up Active which organises Saturday activity days for children referred to us from schools so they can participate in activities they otherwise wouldn't have the chance to and lastly Empower Active where student volunteers act as mentors for year 8 male students that have low educational attainment.  
Our committee also has another 8 students that work hard to support Bristol Hub. Throughout the year they organise events to fundraise money so we can run activity days, cover volunteer travel, hold social events for volunteers and more. They also run campaigns to champion student social action, such as #iwill week and Student Volunteering Week. Two of the members also hold microvolunteering events in collaboration with community organisations to support students that can’t commit to regular volunteering.

Please tell us about the impact they have had on their community or the city:
The project committees have supported over 60 student volunteers who have worked with over 200 beneficiaries this term alone. These students are improving academic performance and raising aspirations and confidence of young people across Bristol, as well as reducing social isolation in the elderly population.  
Without the committee, this would not be possible. They were essential in the recruitment, training and induction process for these volunteers. They have also been checking in with volunteers on an ongoing basis, this is crucial for retaining volunteers and maximising their impact.  
Not only do the committee impact the wider community through supporting student volunteers, but they also impact the student volunteers. Volunteering develops skills and improves wellbeing.

The wider committee also runs events that impact the community in Bristol. In November a Food Waste Cafe was organised as a one-off volunteering opportunity and a drive for donations for a local homelessness charity raising over £115 which will pay for more than 5 people in Bristol to access shelter, food and support this Christmas. They also collected food, clothes, and toiletries to assemble care bundles.  
The committee have also organised a number of fun events for volunteers, from a pub quiz to a board game cafe. They are building a student community of volunteers and giving this a place in the wider community in Bristol. 

Stacey Olika

Please tell us about their volunteering, campaigning or other leadership work:
Stacey Olika is a graphic designer, creative director, curator and speaker. She is currently leading a number of projects, working as Programme Support Assistant for UWE Graphic Design leading its speaker series and degree show publication focusing on engaged conversations about race.  She is also a youth board member for Rising Arts Agency and creative director for Africa Week UK.  
Stacey’s work mainly consists of digital illustrations from the perspective of black people.  Her inspiration comes from growing up as a black female in different cultural environments and learning to love the colour of her skin, despite the media’s excluding portrayal of those with African heritage.  
She led three important projects around diversity, race and inequality, such as: Why are we not here? Exhibition held at Spike Island - Bristol Museum & Art Gallery Conversations about Race – UWE’s Publications The Uncomfortable Truths project - Bristol  

Please tell us about the impact they have had on their community or the city:
In May 2019 Stacey led A project encouraging young people into the arts, with Bristol’s Rising Arts Agency. Stacey put on an exhibition called “Why are we not here?" to explore "institutional racism and marginalised representation in arts institutions" using art to affect social change. It has given a chance to young people of colour involved in art to be seen and a voice through representation, encouraging communities that the art is accessible to them as well as young creatives.  
In November 2019 Stacey led a project called Uncomfortable Truths, which sought to uncover the truth behind certain objects on display in Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, uncovering matters such as the Slave Trade and Colonialism. Stacey through this project helped young people of colour, to overcome the challenges that institutional racism and a lack of representation have posed, giving them a sense of community and a safe space.

Harry Morris

Please tell us about their volunteering, campaigning or other leadership work:
Bristol Family Cycling Centre is an inclusive traffic free environment where people of all ages and abilities enjoy cycling all year round. Harry began as a Duke of Edinburgh volunteer in April 2018. His role involves welcoming customers and ensuring people are adequately equipped with helmets and cycles. Most importantly his role is about putting customers at ease. Learning to ride a bike is one of the most stressful life events for parents and young children (some as young as 3!). Harry is a naturally confident and friendly person, pathing the way for happy customers who leave the centre having mastered the basics of cycling. There is no doubt that the welcome from Harry set them on their way. Harry always goes the extra mile and does so with a smile on his face. He has given 156 hours to support people in South Bristol.

Please tell us about the impact they have had on their community or the city:
Harry has welcomed thousands of visitors to the centre. His friendly and confident manner instils an optimistic energy in customers who feel confident to give cycling a go. A vital role when you consider the climate emergency that we find ourselves in, coupled with the fact that 300 people die every year in Bristol alone from poor air quality. Moreover there are physical and mental health benefits related to cycling. There is no doubt that the first interaction with Harry at the centre created the conditions for many to go on cycle rides with family and friends. Harry is a conscientious role model for young people who visit the centre. He is an exemplary volunteer who is always helpful, respectful and a huge team player. We welcome the most marginalised groups at the centre and Harry does this with open arms. Even on hot busy days with 300+ customers!