Resources: Social and Wellbeing Activities and Community Groups

Age UK Bristol

Age UK Bristol and Linkage provide a number of services for older adults, including advice, social and community groups, befriending, and practical support. Advice is also available for carers and family.

Bath Mind

Bath Mind offer a range of services and support to people living in Bath and North East Somerset, including befriending, counselling, community groups, a crisis helpline, and practical support.

Please note that these services are only available in Bath and North East Somerset, and Bristol Mind is a separate organisation offering different services.

Brandon Trust

The Brandon Trust exists to enable children, young people and adults with learning disabilities and autism to live life in the way they choose, by providing high-quality, individualised support that focuses on enabling people to achieve their dreams and truly live free.

Services are available in various locations across the UK, including Bristol, Gloucestershire, South Glos, B&NES, North Somerset, and Wiltshire.

Brandon Trust are a member of the Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Service.

Bristol Beacon Music Groups

Bristol Beacon Music for Everyone Through the power of creating joyful music together, we hope to enrich lives, empower people with creative potential, and build healthy and happy communities. Bristol Beacon offers a range of music sessions and workshops for… Read more

Bristol Drugs Project

Bristol Drugs Project provide free and confidential support to people who are looking for help with their own alcohol and drug use, and the people who care for and about them. Services include support groups, drop-ins, harm reduction, and a dedicated helpline. Specific and targeted support is available for children and young people, students, older people, women, and the LGBTQIA+ community. A specific service is available for recent drug and alcohol-related bereavements.

Bristol Wellbeing College

Bristol Wellbeing College provides free interactive workshops and courses to anyone living in Bristol aged 18+. You can learn tools, skills and strategies to improve and maintain your mental wellbeing. The College delivers online (with individual tech support) and in community venues throughout Bristol. Find out more and book via the website:

Gay West

Gay west is a social and support group for LGBTQIA+ people in Bath, Bristol, and surrounding areas.

Heart of BS13

Heart of BS13 work to challenge food insecurity and address physical and mental health concerns in the BS13 area. Projects include supply of food to financially insecure families, and community and social opportunities.

Life Cycle UK

Life Cycle UK is a charity that aims to help more people unlock the benefits of cycling. The charity offers cycle training, friendly group cycle rides, bike maintenance courses, low-cost bikes and more.

Luv2MeetU

Luv2meetU is a friendship service for people with a learning disability and/or autism aged 18 and over. People are supported to make friends and share interests.

Many Minds

Many Minds is a Bristol-based charity that facilitates creative spaces, performances, and workshops for and by people with experience of mental ill-health.

OTR Bristol & South Glos

OTR is a mental health social movement by and for young people aged 11 – 25 living in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Projects include social groups and workshops, talking therapies, and focused support for LGBTQIA+ and BAME young people.

Ride Out Ride On

Ride Out Ride On – RORO for short – is an inclusive and adaptable cycle service for adults and children based in Bristol. RORO offer sessions to disabled people and people with long-term health conditions who would otherwise be unable to experience riding.

Robins Talk

Mental wellbeing sessions at Bristol City Football Club aim to help you get active and offer you the opportunity to talk in a safe space. If you are struggling with your mental health or just finding things in life hard, come along and join us. An hour of exercise can help boost your mood, self-esteem and confidence. The sessions are open to any sex or gender, you do not need to be receiving help or diagnosed to attend.

Soundwell Music Therapy

We cover parts of the South West of England, currently focused on Bristol and Bath.

Soundwell provides a variety of ways to access music therapy, to meet the needs of different people. These include:

  • weekly groups by referral
  • open groups
  • groups for unpaid carers
  • singing groups
  • outreach sessions
  • projects with partner organisations
  • individual sessions (if available)
  • Please note that you do not need any musical skills to take part. You can read some of our client stories here to find out more.

    Current groups

  • Bristol groups- at the Quaker Meeting House, Wedmore Vale, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 5HX
    Please contact Kim Roberts on 07938679667 or kim.roberts@soundwell.org.uk for more information and to book on.
  • 20 week music therapy group- Tuesday afternoons (face to face)
  • Fortnightly Singing for Wellbeing group- Tuesday mornings (face to face)
  • Monthly Open Group- Tuesday mornings. (face to face)
  • Monthly Music Listening Group – Friday mornings (online)
  • Outreach sessions –(online and face to face)
  • Bath groups- Bath Scouts District HQ, 7 Grove Street Bath BA2 6PJ
  • Please contact Chloe Buttery on 07423400655 or Chloe.buttery@soundwell.org.uk for more information and to book on.

  • Monthly Carers support group- Friday mornings (face to face – spaces available)
  • 20 week music therapy group – Thursday afternoons (face to face)
  • Fortnightly Singing for Wellbeing group – Thursday mornings (face to face)
  • Monthly Music Listening Group- Friday mornings (face to face and online options)
  • Outreach sessions –(online and face to face)
  • Sport in Mind

    A charity that uses sport and physical activity to improve the lives of people experiencing mental health problems. Sessions take place in Bristol every week, all year around. To find out more about sessions near you.

    Check out our Activity Map by visiting the website or by contacting Claire on 0118 947 9762

    Studio Upstairs

    Studio Upstairs are an arts and health charity providing creative community hubs and positive, life-changing interventions for people with mental and emotional difficulties.

    The Beehive Centre

    The Beehive Centre is a fully accessible community hub and meeting place in BS5, aiming to reduce social isolation and loneliness in the community by providing a range of high-quality activities to promote positive health and wellbeing. Activities include singing groups, gardening, exercise, meditation, and support groups.

    Windmill Hill City Farm

    Windmill Hill City Farm is a community farm and smallholding based in Bedminster. The farm and its surroundings act as a resource for therapeutic activity and improved wellbeing, and their dedicated Health and Social Care team work to improve the lives of people in a community environment, through services including gardening for wellbeing and supported volunteering placements. A number of community groups and activities also meet at the farm.