Better Business / Member news
Bristol charity supporting 1,900 young people wins major city award
1625 Independent People has been named Charity Winner at the 2026 Bristol Life Awards, recognising a year of significant growth and impact supporting vulnerable young people across the city and South West.
The award celebrates organisations making a tangible difference to Bristol’s communities, with 1625 Independent People recognised for both the scale of its reach and the ambition of its long-term plans.
The win follows the charity’s involvement in Greg James’ cycling challenge from Weymouth to Edinburgh for Comic Relief.
During the journey, he visited the organisation’s Kingsley Hall base in Old Market, where he met a young person supported by the charity to hear first-hand about their experiences.
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Founded in Bristol, the charity has grown from a single shared house in 1983 into a regional organisation with more than 120 staff and volunteers, playing an increasingly prominent role in local and national discussions around youth homelessness.
Over the past year, it has supported 1,900 young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness – a 20 per cent increase year-on-year – highlighting both rising demand and the organisation’s expanding capacity.
Alongside frontline services, the charity has secured £8.6m in funding to transform its Kingsley Hall base into a new community hub.
The Grade II*-listed building will include training spaces, a youth-led social enterprise café and new affordable housing, creating opportunities for young people to develop skills, build confidence and access employment.
1625 Independent People has been named Charity Winner at the 2026 Bristol Life Awards, recognising a year of significant growth and impact supporting vulnerable young people across the city and South West – photo: 1625 Independent People
Kim James-Coggins, corporate partnerships, philanthropy and communications manager, said: “It is a true honour to receive this award, especially given the number of incredible charities across Bristol.
“Every member of our team is passionate about ending youth homelessness, so to be recognised in this way for our hard work and dedication means the world.
“No one should have to experience homelessness, yet demand for our services is sadly continuing to grow.
“The work we do at 1625 Independent People not only supports young people in a practical sense, but also provides a friendly, human connection at one of the most stressful times in their lives.
“We are committed to helping young people into employment to create long-term, sustainable change, giving them the stability, skills and confidence they need to thrive.”
1625 Independent People are member of the Bristol24/7 Better Business network, an initiative to help businesses thrive while creating a positive impact on Bristol and the people who live here. As part of their membership, businesses can publish member news stories like this. For more information, visit my.bristol247.com/better-business
All photos: 1625 Independent People
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