Activities & Exercise
Please contact the relevant organisation to ask about joining an exercise or activity group.
Most activities are FREE OF CHARGE.
Adults & Young People
Aid Box Community - Women's, Men's, & Mixed Groups
Fun, drop-in groups with range of activities aimed at building community, well-being and a sense of belonging.
Children welcome, bus fares for asylum seekers provided.
Email: sara@aidboxcommunity.co.uk, +44 7360 606156
For Football please email Jesse: jesse@aidboxcommunity.co.uk
Women’s (Social) Group: Trinity Centre, Mondays 11am – 1pm, Term time only (women-only social space).
Men’s Group (meet friends, play games, relax, have some snacks): Every Wednesday from 10.30am - 12.30pm at Aid Box Community.
Men’s Outdoor Football Group: Tuesdays from 2.30pm – 4.30pm (at Lockleaze Sports Centre).
Men’s Indoor Football: Wednesdays from 2.30pm-4.30pm (at St Pauls Leisure Centre, BS2 9HN).
Women’s Sports Group: A women-only fun exercise group playing a range of sports like badminton, basketball, volleyball and lots of other ball games. When: Every Wednesday | Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Where: St Pauls Community Sports Academy, Newfoundland Rd, St Paul's, Bristol, BS2 9NH
There are also women-only beginner swimming classes available and also mixed swimming classes (men and women) on a waiting list. Please contact us to be added.
Borderlands
Phone: 01179 040479/ 07925133225
Email: hello@borderlands.co.uk
Well-being & sports activities:
Wednesdays -
Yoga class for women from 11.30am - 12.30pm
Sewing class for women at Borderlands
Thursdays -
Basketball sessions for men from 3.30 - 4.30 (St Pauls Sports Academy)
Football for men over 30 from 3.30 - 4.30 (St Pauls Sports Academy)
Climbing mixed group from 11.45am - 1pm (The Climbing Academy)
Welcome Centre – Our drop-in Welcome Centre offers a safe place for refugees and asylum seekers to meet and provides weekly community meals, social supermarket, volunteering, signposting support and more.
Mentoring partnerships - Our mentoring project pairs up refugees and asylum seekers with volunteers over a 6-month period to provide one-to-one emotional and practical support.
English Classes - We run classes on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays for Pre-Entry and Entry 1 students. We also have a poetry group for higher levels.
Afghan Youth Cricket Bristol
Invites cricket loving refugees age 14-25 to join us to prepare for the 2027 season. We provide weekly indoor training from October – April at the Shine Sports Hall, Brecon Road Henleaze BS9 4DT on Saturdays 4-6 PM.
From May – August our team will play matches on Sundays, in the North Somerset Cricket League. Home matches will be at Saltford Sports Club BS31 3BY.
All essential kit will be available for shared use at training and matches.
Email: Dr Heather Booth di Giovanni at habdigiovanni@gmail.com
Parkrun
Parkrun is a free, community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate. Parkrun is a 5k run and takes place across Bristol every Saturday morning.
Ashton Court Parkrun- every Saturday at 9am. Ashton Court Estate, BS41 9JN.
Eastville Parkrun- every Saturday at 9am. Eastville Park, Fishponds Road, Eastville, Bristol BS5 6PX.
Blaise Castle Parkrun- every Saturday at 9am. Blaise Castle Estate, Kings Weston Rd, Bristol, BS10 7QS
Pomphrey Hill Parkrun- every Saturday at 9am. Pomphrey Hill Playing Fields, Pomphrey Hill, Mangotsfield, Bristol, BS16 9NF
Refugee Women of Bristol
Range of services for women refugees and asylum seekers. Offering English classes on Tuesdays, 1:1 support, health and well-being workshops and an art table.
English classes, emotional and practical support, online activities.
Call: 07939582252
Bristol Bike Project
Earn a bicycle by working with a volunteer in refurbishing a donated bike.
Fridays, 10.30am-1.30pm - Group social cycle and workshop
To book a session for yourself or someone else, please call 0117 951 9692 or visit our shop during opening hours.
Bristol Refugee Festival
Women only – FREE CRAFT CLUB
Drop in crochet, embroidery, fabrics and jewellery.
Contact for more information: events@bristolrefugeefestival.org
Roots to wellness – Outdoor walking group for women
Twice a week - location changes.
Email: Charmaine@nilaari.co.uk
Bridges for Community
Connects people of different cultures and faiths, enabling them to build friendships and grow in their understanding of one another.
Community Meals - Peace Feast (once a month)
Befriending program
Sewing/Stitching group
Contact: info@bridgesforcommunities.com
Bristol Refugee Rights
Email: tom@bristolrefugeerights.org
Call / Text / WhatsApp: 07526 352 353
Pride Without Borders- A social and peer support group for Bristol-based LGBTQ+ people seeking asylum.
Welcome/Social drop-in- The Wellspring Settlement Main Hall, 43 Ducie Road, Bristol, BS5 0AX
Dovetail Orchestra - Music Group
Dovetail Orchestra is open to all asylum-seekers and refugees, whether you like to sing or play instruments.
We meet at 2.30 - 4pm every Tuesday, followed by refreshments. Address: St Ambrose Church BS5 7AN. We can contribute to travel.
Come and join us! No registration necessary, just turn up.
Aid Box Connections
Would you like to make a new friend? Join us to be connected with someone living in Bristol for guidance and friendship. A good level of English is required.
To refer yourself or someone else please complete the following referral form: https://airtable.com/appYGupMlStcNMsjm/shrEwngQ99im4aLwg
ACH Coffee Mornings
Sharing culture and chat with women over coffee and tea.
Tuesdays: arts & crafts, women’s sewing group
Wednesdays: ESOL group, halal lunch, conversation club, advice
Telephone: 0117 954 0433
Email: info@ach.org.uk
Outdoors Well-being Project
Green-space project: relax outdoors, regular well-being walks, cook, and have a campfire.
Please email: Jessica.Beeston@bristolmind.org.uk
Children
Please contact the relevant organisation to ask about joining an exercise or activity group.
Kids Stuff Bristol
Open every Tuesday - Friday & Second Saturday from 9:30 am-2:30 pm.
We’ve got great coffee, tea & homemade cake and a great soft play for under 5’s! Find us on British Road, Bedminster, BS3 3BW with free parking.
Shop with second-hand items for children.
Building a sense of belonging, sharing and community so that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, can get the support they need.
The Ranch Adventure Playground & Youth Space
We are an open access, fully inclusive playground. This means children and young people can come and go as they please and everyone is welcome to come and play.
Play sessions every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday day from 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM. 📍Location: Doncaster Road, Bristol, BS10 5PP
We are fully accessible and have adapted facilities to meet the needs of all children and young people. We provide a wide range of activities for children and young people all year round. These include sports, cooking, and art activities. Freely chosen and self directed play is a big part of our ethos.
Age Rage: 8 – 13 years old, Children under 8 are welcome if accompanied by a responsible adult. (18+)
On site we have:
5 a side football court, Basket ball, Wooden play structures, Death slide, Large grass area, Nature site with fire pit, Sand pit, Zip wire, Bike track, Pool table, Soft play area, Music studio
Felix Road Adventure Playground
Wavey Nights | Youth sessions
Every week on Tuesday, Wednesday. Time: 17:30–19:30
This is a group for girls and boys 11 to 16 years old. It offers children and young people a safe, relaxed, and supported space to hang out.
Contact Shaniem for more info shaniem@upourstreet.org.uk
We The Curious
Enjoy a day out full of discovery at Bristol's surprising science experience. Great experience for children of all ages. Refugees and asylum seekers access for free - mention at the door you were referred by Aid Box Community.
Open: 9am-4.30pm, Monday to Friday
Address: We The Curious, One Millennium Square, Anchor Road, Bristol, BS1 5DB
Phone number: 0117 915 1000
Email: info@wethecurious.org
Children's Centres
A great way to meet other parents with many offering baby groups and stay and plays sessions, parenting courses and great for signposting to other agencies and resources. It’s also worth looking up individual children’s center on Facebook.
Central Bristol Children's Centre links:
Play Patch Community Soft Play
Play Patch is a friendly soft play centre suitable for children under five and their families. You can book cafe sessions throughout the week or book the whole centre for your child’s party.
Cafe sessions run at 9 – 11 am, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm and 2 to 4 pm, Monday to Friday. Pre-booked spaces are £2.50 for each adult and child over five months, plus a 50p booking fee.
MShed
FREE museum with activities for children. From prehistoric times to the present day, M Shed tells the story of Bristol and its unique place in the world.
Open: 10am - 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday, closed Monday.
Address: Princes Wharf, Wapping Rd, Bristol, BS1 4RN
Creative Youth Network
Youth Club Sessions
Welcome Wednesdays 5pm-6.30pm - for 13-19 year-old refugees and asylum seekers.
Please ask a charity organisation to refer you!
Libraries
In addition to borrowing books, libraries are also a great place for free groups, such as baby bounce and rhyme and story time. for babies and toddlers.