Celebrating young Bristolians aged 11-19 since 2012, The Bristol Young Heroes Awards aim to shine a light on those who have achieved remarkable personal milestones or made a positive impact within their communities.
Bristol Water is a supporter and headline investor of the awards.
Nominees attend a special gala for the award ceremony, but the celebrations don’t stop after award night, all finalists are enrolled on the Purposeful Futures Programme.
The programme is a year-long mentorship designed to equip young people with essential skills, connections and the experience they need to succeed in their chosen career.
With Bristol Water’s support the awards not only give recognition to hardworking and resilient young people, but supports nominees going forward by providing them with valuable resources, life skills and a network of fellow young people across the city.
One young person who knows just how much of an impact these awards can have is Louise (pictured above with His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Bristol, Peaches Golding, at the 2025 awards), who was named Fundraising Hero in 2025.
The accolade recognised her outstanding commitment to fundraising for The Grand Appeal, the charity for Bristol Children’s Hospital.
Since 2021, Louise has faced significant health challenges alongside the instability of being in social care, including frequent changes in living arrangements and support networks. Despite this, she has shown remarkable resilience and determination.
At fifteen, she began fundraising by taking part in the Great Bristol Family Run. She went on to complete the Great Bristol Half Marathon in 2024, raising £1,485 for The Grand Appeal. Her efforts have helped support vital services for children and young people in hospital, including therapeutic play support that eases anxiety during treatment.
Lousie said: “Winning this award meant so much to me and has given me the opportunity to learn how to reach and achieve more than I ever expected. I am so lucky to have been given the chance to progress as an individual with the amazing team and other participants of both Bristol Young Heroes and Purposeful Futures.”
Louise has continued to adapt her fundraising journey to her changing health needs and remains committed to taking part in events in a way that works for her, including using a wheelchair full time.
Following her award win, Louise joined the Purposeful Futures Programme, where she took part in workshops focused on confidence, goal setting, and communication. She has also supported new cohorts of finalists, shared her experiences at events, and helped assist the Bristol Young Heroes team.
More recently, Louise has continued her fundraising and has taken positive steps towards independence, having secured her own flat. She is also considering a future career in paediatric nursing and mental health.
Louise’s journey reflects resilience, adaptability, and a continued commitment to helping others, even while navigating significant personal challenges.
The Young Heroes Awards is recognised as Bristol’s premiere young peoples’ award, with 88% of nominees saying they are more aware of career opportunities and are more confident about their career prospects than they were before being nominated.
Last year’s gala was watched by 9k people online with 300 people attending in person, this year’s ceremony is on July 3.
Sam Walton, Bristol Water’s Senior Customer Engagement Manager, said: “The Bristol Young Heroes Awards is an amazing programme which gives community-focused young people the credit and recognition they deserve but don’t often receive. Our commitment to innovation as a company comes hand in hand with supporting young people and creating a better world for them to thrive in.”
Gemma Box, Event Manager at Community of Purpose, the organisation behind the Bristol Young Heroes Awards, said: "The Bristol Young Heroes Awards have become one of the most inspiring celebrations in our city. Having had the privilege of running the awards for the past six years, I've seen first-hand the impact that recognition can have on a young person's confidence, ambition, and sense of belonging. For many finalists and winners, this is the first time their efforts have been publicly acknowledged, and that moment can be truly transformative.
Every year, we hear incredible stories that remind us of the talent, resilience and compassion that exists across Bristol. The Bristol Young Heroes Awards are about celebrating those young people, amplifying their voices, and showing them that their city is proud of everything they have achieved.”