Supporting community organisations at the heart of the city

10 year ^partnership

We've proudly supported Community of Purpose for over a decade.

20 years ^support

Longstanding supporter of St Pauls Carnival, one of Bristol's most important cultural events.

At UWE Bristol, our contribution to the local community goes beyond teaching and research. We’re supporting organisations that are helping people overcome barriers and improve lives.

From giving young people greater access education, to celebrating the diverse heritage of the city, we’re proud to work with organisations creating positive impact in their communities.

Steve West and Dougie Allward at the Bristol Young Heroes, Community of Purpose’s annual awards ceremony.

Building aspirations in Bristol's young people

Since 2016 UWE Bristol has supported Community of Purpose to help create opportunities for young people across Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

By partnering with schools, businesses and community organisations, Community of Purpose delivers impactful experiences and opportunities that build confidence and aspirations in young people. Together, we share a belief that everyone should have the chance to succeed, regardless of their circumstances.

For the past ten year we’ve been proud to support Bristol Young Heroes, Community of Purpose’s annual awards ceremony. The awards celebrate outstanding young people across Bristol, recognising those who have overcome challenges or made a positive difference to the lives of others.

We’ve also brought more than 200 young people from schools across Bristol and South Gloucestershire to UWE Bristol’s Hillside Gardens sports pitches near Frenchay Campus for Community of Purpose’s Bristol Together Championship, using sport to help young people develop life skills and build connections.

Through our support of Community of Purpose, we’re helping young people in the city and wider region take positive steps towards their future, using the power of education and the force of community to change lives for the better.

"What I value most about our partnership is that it has never felt transactional. UWE genuinely understands what we are trying to achieve and shares our belief in the potential of young people and in the importance of creating opportunities for them to thrive."

Amy Kington, CEO, Community of Purpose

Amy Kington CEO, Community of Purpose

"UWE Bristol has been part of the Community of Purpose story for 10 years, and that longevity means an enormous amount to us. They have supported the Bristol Young Heroes Awards throughout the entire time I’ve led them, helping us recognise and celebrate some truly extraordinary young people across our city.

What I value most about our partnership is that it has never felt transactional. UWE genuinely understands what we are trying to achieve and shares our belief in the potential of young people and in the importance of creating opportunities for them to thrive.

Ten years is a long time for any partnership, and I’m incredibly proud that as Community of Purpose celebrates its tenth anniversary, UWE is still standing alongside us. That kind of sustained commitment to a community and its young people is incredibly powerful."

Cultural and sporting events in the city

Bristol’s cultural and sporting events bring communities together, celebrate the city’s diversity and contribute to the economy.

We’ve been a longstanding supporter of St Pauls Carnival for more than 20 years, helping to sustain one of Bristol’s most important cultural events. The carnival celebrates the rich history and heritage of the city’s African Caribbean communities, while supporting educational opportunities and community engagement.

In 2023, UWE Bristol’s Business School academics lent their expertise to St Pauls, producing an independent Economic Impact Assessment which enables them to demonstrate, alongside their immense community and city-wide value, the impressive economic impact the carnival brings to Bristol and the region.

Ricardo Sharry, Executive Director of St Pauls Carnival

"Our partnership with UWE Bristol is a great example of what can be achieved when a university and a community-led cultural organisation work together over the long term."

Ricardo Sharry, Executive Director, St Pauls Carnival

Ricardo Sharry Executive Director, St Pauls Carnival

"Our partnership with UWE Bristol is a great example of what can be achieved when a university and a community-led cultural organisation work together over the long term.

UWE has supported St Pauls Carnival not only through sponsorship, but by sharing its expertise and knowledge with us. The Economic Impact Assessment was particularly valuable in helping us demonstrate that the Carnival contributes £9.2 million in economic impact, alongside its social, cultural and community value to Bristol and the wider region."

Elsewhere in the city, we are an educational partner of Bristol Sport and its charitable foundation, the Bristol City Robins Foundation. Our partnership with Bristol Sport has supported sports outreach work across Bristol, while establishing pathways for young people into higher education.

Most recently, UWE Bristol’s support has gone directly to Bristol City Women FC and Bristol Bears Women, and we’re proud to play a part in increasing the visibility of women’s sport in Bristol and beyond.

Supporting causes beyond Bristol

We believe education has the power to change the course of a person’s life, and we’ve been working alongside Street Child United (SCU) since 2021 to support its goal of expanding access to education globally. Using sport, education and advocacy to demand systemic change for street-connected young people across the world, our work with SCU goes far beyond sponsoring its Street Child United World Cup.

We’ve supported three individuals from Pakistan, Tanzania and the United States with scholarships to study at UWE Bristol through Street Child United. The scholarships support our joint ambitions that anyone with talent and ambition has the opportunity to study at university, no matter their background.

By helping remove barriers to education, we're supporting individuals whose experiences and perspectives enrich our university community while creating opportunities that can have a lasting impact far beyond Bristol.