Bristol Charity Advent Calendar 2022, day 7: Babbasa

The employment gap of Bristol’s ethnic minorities is twice the national average at 6.4 per cent compared with the national 2.9 per cent.

That statistic comes from Babbasa, an organisation inspiring and supporting underrepresented young people in Bristol to pursue their ambitions through skills training, professional mentoring, events and recruitment support services.

Babbasa is looking to change this statistic, to ensure that young people’s aspirations and opportunities are not prevented or determined by their background.

In 2021 Babbasa supported over 415 young people with 244 completing one of their core programmes or projects – photo: Babbasa

Research by the organisation has found that young people from ethnically diverse and low-income communities in Bristol are disadvantaged in sectors of youth employment, educational achievement and aspirations.

“In 2019, we completed our latest research, which engaged 83 young people, 104 local inner-city Bristol residents and 47 employers, and which identified the current employment perceptions, career progression support needs, and the wider interventions needed to close Bristol’s employment equality gaps,” Babbasa said.

Through studies and interactions, the charity found that the these young people were highly ambitious with 60 per cent having career aims but only 19 per cent of them knowing how to achieve their professional aspirations.

The organisation offers three core programmes—Support, Challenge and Placement—consisting of a mix of soft skills training, mentoring schemes, career-oriented events and personalised recruitment support, paving the way for young people to build confidence, develop skills, connect with employers and mentors, and access workplace experience.

Babbasa recently launched their most exciting initiative to date. OurCity2030 aims to support at least 2,000 young people from low-income households in Bristol to earn a median salary by 2030.

Long-term, this could help Bristol become a fairer and more inclusive city with a strong focus on young people.

Since 2013, over 3000 young people have benefitted from the support offered by Babbasa, with an average of 300 joining the programme annually.

The charity’s objectives to support young people overcome the problem of inequality and disadvantage has greatly impacted Bristol’s young people who are marginalised by circumstances which may be outside of their control.

Babbasa is admirable in its commitment to challenge and change the conventional conceptions of disadvantaged young people and the support they provide for those aspiring to break the glass ceiling and pursue their passions.

Find out more about the charity, support services and signposting via their website.

Do you know of a charity that is doing incredible work within Bristol and would benefit from the support provided by the Bristol24/7 members? If so, email partnerships@bristol247.com to nominate our 2023 charity partner or click here to find out more.

Main photo: Qezia Gill and Bhagesh Sachania

Read more:

• Nominations for Bristol24/7 charity partner now open
• Babbasa launches campaign to support Bristol’s marginalised young people
• Prestigious award for organisation transforming young lives in inner-city Bristol 
• Bristol 24/7 and Babbasa announce new partnership

Listen to the latest Bristol 24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: