News / Barton Hill
Plaque at youth club commemorates Barton Hill’s young people
Despite the staple British summer downpours, the BBQ was fired up for the Swannery Summer Celebration.
The event was held to celebrate the work of the young people who had helped with the development of the newly opened youth club, where a plaque commending their contributions was revealed.
Swannery Youth Club, the newest addition to Barton Hill’s Wellspring Settlement, now occupies the former Morley Street pub, The Swan.
is needed now More than ever
Luis Dias is a crucial member of the team that helps the community centre function smoothly
An open-plan space within the once-traditional venue welcomed patrons, as the acoustics set the mood and the scent of homemade cakes from the communal kitchen filled the room. Excitement buzzed through the packed room as youngsters eagerly anticipated the sack race following the unveiling of the plaque.
Speaking to Bristol 24/7, Beth Wilson, CEO of Wellspring Settlement, emphasised the pivotal role local young people have played in making the centre a success since it opened its doors in October 2024.
“Young people vote with their feet. If they don’t like something, they won’t come.
“They were super honest about what they want and what they need, so we got them really involved – and now the numbers just keep growing.”
Wilson explained that in the youth club, the young members have almost full autonomy on what they do in the space and “lead most of the activities”, with the youth workers just facilitating their choices.
The decisions span what they’re cooking, and whose turn it is to don an apron, to the activities they do during the sessions. Even the design of the building and the mural outside involved the input from the young people who make up the club.
Many young people joined in on the celebrations for the unveiling of the new plaque
Luis, the youth worker coordinator at the centre, saw the youth-led approach as critical for children’s development, viewing his role as simply enabling their creativity and drive. He remarked on the noticeable growth in their confidence after taking on new responsibilities.
“When the kids first come, they are usually quite shy, a little withdrawn. But they’ll do anything, they just need someone to put things together for them.”
As an example, he spoke about how young people at the centre had been the driving force behind the allotment managed by the settlement: “After doing an environment project at the centre, one of the children at the club said, ‘oh it’d be great to have an allotment’. I applied to the council and they gave us some land and the kids took ownership of that.
“At the beginning, it was like a tip and they turned it into an award-winning allotment.”
The success of the allotment is a testament to what makes the centre so popular – it’s a place where young people’s ideas are taken seriously and where they can see the real impact of their contributions.
The plaque now hangs proudly by the entrance, a reminder that this space was built by young people, for young people. Their energy and ideas have turned the disused pub into a thriving hub.
The mural on the club’s building was painted by the Botanical Vandals, drawing inspiration from stories and suggestions shared by the local community
All photos: Joss Thomas
Joss Thomas is reporting on Lawrence Hill and Easton as part of Bristol24/7’s Community Reporters programme, aiming to amplify marginalised voices and communities often overlooked by mainstream media.
This initiative is funded by our public, Better Business members and a grant from the Nisbets Trust.
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