Building a space that matters

We are excited to introduce our new student space – a project which represents so much more than new rooms, furniture and equipment…

At Urban Pursuit, the young people we work with haven’t always had access to spaces where they feel valued, supported or believed-in. So when the opportunity arose for a renovation of our student base over the summer, addressing this was our top priority. We wanted our young people’s environment to say something loud and clear: You matter, and are deserving of our time, attention and care.

When imagining a new base we dreamed of a beautiful well cared-for environment, where our young people could feel safe and inspired. We wanted it to reflect our passion for adventure and the outdoors, with quality storage for our equipment, a dedicated bike repair workshop where our young people could learn hands-on skills. We built a games area, a quiet space and a music room where young people could express themselves.

This vision has become a reality thanks to an incredible act of generosity from THE345 team, a Bristol-based creative construction company known for their work building high-end film and TV sets for Netflix, BBC, Apple TV and the like.

Some members of THE345 team have similar childhood experiences to the young people we support, and so understand the significance of a space like this. THE345 didn’t just help us re-design the base, they gifted their time, creativity, and remarkable craftsmanship because they believe in the young people of Bristol and are inspired by the work that we do. Using reclaimed materials from previous productions, THE345 created a room filled with character and a sense of possibility: Sustainable, thoughtful, and built with heart.

To say thank you, we visited THE345 with a small group of young people and gifted the team a hamper. They welcomed our students in, showing them the workshop floor and explaining how film sets are made. This was a lovely exchange; a novel and inspiring experience for the young people, who went away feeling grateful for their work and wondering if they might be able do something similar one day.

Now our newly renovated space is alive with young people using it every day, and we see its impacts constantly. The room is filled with them chatting, learning new skill, building their confidence, finding moments of calm and sharing laughs. Woven into the walls is a bigger story of Bristol looking after its own.

From all of us at Urban Pursuit, huge thanks to THE345! your generosity is already changing lives.

Check out OUR PROGRAMME or drop us a line to chat about how we can support your students: 👉 0117 239 0932 | office@urbanpursuit.co.uk