Bristol Hub

01/08/2024

As of 31 July, Bristol Hub is closed. We would like to thank you for your support and enthusiasm over the years, and wish you all the best of luck on your social action journey - wherever it may take you.

We also want to thank our current and past staff and volunteers for making the Hub such a wonderful catalyst for social action. Your efforts have made Bristol a better place and we are proud that you have contributed so much to our organisational legacy.

Student Hubs will be ceasing operations in January 2025 but until then please keep an eye on the page for updates and final opportunities to get involved in our work.

We'd like to thank the University of Bristol for supporting our programmes and Bristol SU for collaborating and providing us space since 2012. Additionally we would like to thank Burges Salmon LLP for partnering with us on our Social Innovation Programme over the past six years. If you are a University of Bristol student, check in our student opportunity document in our bio for a list of social action activities across the university and Bristol community.

You read the full closure statement on our website https://www.studenthubs.org/blog/2024/06/student-hubs-closure-announcement/. Please get in touch with the team directly at [email protected] if you have any feedback, questions or reflections.

ID: an orange sign on a white and yellow background. Text on the sign reads 'Bristol Hub is closed', and the Bristol Hub logo is visible below.

24/07/2024

We are so thrilled with the impact of volunteering on students ✨

👉 92% of students are more likely to tackle further social challenges as a result of engaging with Bristol Hub.

🗨 A Schools Plus volunteer shared "This volunteering opportunity has made me want to continue helping children from widening participations schools."

👏Student and LinkAges volunteer Carol Thomas signed up to be a long term volunteer at her placement so she keep helping out.

Read our full 23-24 impact report through the link on our website 🔗

[ID1: a grey background with organic white lines framing the sides. A title reads "Student Impact". Below this is a chart showing a percentage of 92%. A key below this shows that this percentage is the amount of students more likely to tackle further social challenges. At the bottom is the Bristol Hub logo.
ID2: a picture shows a student helping a young pupil to read. the quote reads "this volunteering opportunity has made me want to continue helping children from widening participation schools." A schools Plus volunteer
ID3: on a yellow background, the quote reads "I’m really glad I got to take part in helping the residents and to make their lives easier… Because I really like the atmosphere, I actually signed up to be a volunteer with St Monica Trust, so that I can keep going outside of term time." by Carol Thomas, LinkAges Volunteer]

17/07/2024

We have loved working with such a tremendous group of students across this academic year and we are delighted to share our impact report with you!

Thank you to everyone who made our impact possible. Read more: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15UmetgMEM9GZpoOUA4vIS9XlbainY-6S/view

ID: an orange background with yellow brushstrokes framing the top left and bottom right corners. In the centre is the Bristol Hub logo, with text underneath reading "Impact Report 23-24".

09/07/2024

Congrats to our 60 volunteers who took part in Schools Plus this year! ⭐ Thank you for carving out time from your schedules to help out local school children and make a difference in the community.
🩵"It has been great to see how easy it is to help out." "It allowed me to escape the university bubble and explore areas of Bristol I wouldn't have otherwise."
👉Interested in volunteering next year? Check out the SU volunteer Hub: 🔗 https://volunteering.bristolsu.org.uk/

[ID 1: In an orange circle, the text says 'Thank you to our 60 students volunteering this year with Schools Plus' In the background there are three pictures showing a student volunteering sat next to a child reading a book.]

02/07/2024

Did you used to volunteer at Bristol Hub? Now is your chance to be a part of our legacy work! Please spend a few minutes completing our Alumni survey

Calling all Student Hubs alumni 📣

As you've probably heard by now, Student Hubs is closing our doors in January 2025. We want to use the next six months to capture our magic, and spotlight the value of active citizenship. And honestly, there's no one better to contribute than you.

Whether you volunteered on one of programmes, attended one of our events or supported our work as a member of our committee or staff team, if you have been at all involved in Student Hubs over the past 16 years we want to hear from you. To get involved please:

🔗 Head to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGaZZ7AlXgiFwLcqBjkVi2G1ixFX9ZYNiUXAWiQaM9OBIN8Q/viewform to find our alumni survey

🤔 Take 10 minutes to complete the survey to give feedback on your time with the Hub and share your view on what impactful student social action looks like

🍊 Share the survey with your Hubby friends, a great way to reconnect!

As well as supporting Student Hubs, you will have the opportunity to enter a giveaway for a £50 voucher. What's stopping you?

ID: a graphic of a computer with Student Hubs' logo on its screen. Text above the computer reads "Want to support our legacy work? and below "Take the Alumni Survey!".

Bristol Hub Southampton Hub Cambridge Hub

26/06/2024

Aimee took part in the Inspire Debate Change project this year. When asked about how volunteering influenced her wellbeing, she said " I'd say it definitely had a positive impact because it allowed me to have a break from my studies. It was something that I could do just for fun. I have quite a lot of hours for my maths degree and things outside of lectures. So it was quite nice to take a break from doing maths related stuff, something outside of what I study. It also allowed me to meet new people and gain some friendships there, which is quite nice. We had a shared interest which was quite a good foundation for building a friendship."

How has volunteering influenced your wellbeing?

19/06/2024

Today we are sharing the news that Bristol Hub will be closing on 31 July. This will be followed in January 2025 by the organisational closure of Student Hubs, after 16 years of delivering student social action with students and communities.

You can find out more about opportunities over the next six months and read the full closure statement at: https://www.studenthubs.org/blog/2024/06/student-hubs-closure-announcement/.

Until the full closure of the organisation you will be able to secure references from members of our team, as well as contribute to our legacy work.

We appreciate this news may come as a shock for the students, alumni, former staff members and partners of ours over the years, and we want to thank you all for your support, your engagement with social action, and your commitment to active citizenship.

We also want to thank you all for your support and understanding, and we hope to see you later this year at one of our legacy events. Please get in touch with us directly at [email protected] if you have any feedback, questions or concerns. We’d also love to hear any stories you’d like to share about your time at the Hub as we celebrate the work we have done. If you would like to reach out to your local staff team at hello@ bristolhub.org, please do so as soon as possible before 31 July.

ID: an orange background with a yellow section at the top. In the yellow section is an orange text box reading "Announcement". Below this is the Student Hubs spokes logo and a white text box with text reading "Student Hubs is closing. Bristol Hub will close on 31 July". At the bottom is Student Hubs' full logo and Bristol Hub's logo. The yellow and orange tones are more muted than Student Hubs' typical branding.

14/06/2024

We are sharing our final Volunteers' Week blog highlight: University of Bristol student Carol Thomas, who volunteered through our LinkAges programme this year. LinkAges is our intergenerational programme that tackles loneliness and social isolation amongst older and younger people in Bristol.

"It’s really easy to get stuck with deadlines, or how many things you need to do as a student but don’t underestimate just how therapeutic being in another environment is, especially one that is run at a much slower pace compared to university. It really allows you to take a step back and relax.”

To read more: https://www.studenthubs.org/blog/hub-blog/how-linkages-supported-carol-to-connect-and-build-confidence/

If you would like to share your experience and practice your writing skills, reach out to us to write a blog!

10/06/2024

Throughout June we see many aspects , acknowledging this history, sharing support and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. Pride is about overcoming prejudice, hatred, reducing isolation, and showing members of the LGBTQ+ community that they are not alone.

Social action and the LGBTQ+ community share an intrinsic bond. During the parades throughout the UK, we can reflect on the social movement that occurred to continue to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.

If you are part of the LGBTQ+ community and you are looking for ways to volunteer, engage or seek support, please check out the Bristol Pride organisation directory.

[ID: A pride flag colours make up the background of the post. Bottom is white Bristol Hub and SU logos. Black text reads "Volunteering with Pride. Pride goes beyond the summer and there are many organisations in Bristol to get involved with. If you are part of the LGBTQ+ community and you are either looking for support or looking for communities to engage with, explore the directory. Link in bio".]

07/06/2024

We cannot provide the impact we do without volunteers. One of our school partners put it best: "the student volunteers bring fresh perspectives and energy into our school community. Their enthusiasm for literacy and learning is contagious, inspiring our students to engage more deeply with reading and fostering a positive attitude towards education. Additionally, having young adults from the university setting serves as positive role models for our students, demonstrating the importance of higher education and lifelong learning".

Thank you for the incredible things that you volunteers do and for the support you give Bristol community. A particular shout-out to our committee, who provide so much passion and energy towards ensuring that University of Bristol have a wonderful time and make the most impact possible.

05/06/2024

This week is Volunteers' Week and we are sharing blogs that highlight how University of Bristol students have found volunteering in social action this past year. Today's blog is from Charlotte Fox, a Social Innovation Programme volunteer who supported Bristol Mind's research project!

Read her blog today: https://www.studenthubs.org/blog/hub-blog/how-i-positively-impacted-the-community-through-the-social-innovation-programme/ 🔗



[ID: Orange banner at the top which has white text that reads 'How I positively impacted the community through the Social Innovation Programme. Below is an image of a blond female student with dark eyelashes smiling with their mouth closed. On the image are orange and yellow lines that outline the person's face. On the bottom left is the white Volunteers' week logo and bottom right is a white Bristol Hub logo. ]

31/05/2024

Want to learn more about the UK election and how you can get involved? Get with Student Hubs and Student Minds 📢

We're delivering a two part virtual series on the upcoming UK election. And if you're a current or prospective university student - it's for you!

1️⃣Knowing your rights is a crash course in everything you need to know from registering to vote, to understanding manifestos, to voting on the day. Showing up to vote and making your voice heard is a key part of every active citizen's journey and we want to make that as easy as pie.

2️⃣ Deciding your future is about what you can do to make change this general election, thinking all things student mental health. Student Minds will share their manifesto and how students can get involved, lobbying all parties for a better future.

Sign up to join us virtually on 19 and 26 June from 6-7pm through the link: https://forms.gle/YszbN7wuuQoS6nVb7 🔗 Looking forward to it