Impact at a glance
- From participant to practitioner: Completed the yearlong GAP programme and now works as a Youth Worker supporting others on their journeys.
- Consistent community presence: Regularly delivers detached youth work and supports weekly sessions shaped by young people’s interests.
- Trusted role model: Builds strong relationships with young people who may distrust services—bringing humour, warmth, and honesty that keeps them engaged and coming back.
- Amplifying youth voice: Co-created and hosted the Stick to the Code podcast and has supported youth-led conversations about values, identity, and change.
- Stepping up for community: Always willing to help—whether running sessions, supporting projects, speaking publicly, or helping bring community events to life.
- Overcoming adversity: Has navigated personal challenges, caring responsibilities, and barriers in education—using those experiences to support and inspire others.
- Positive pathways: Encourages young people to believe in themselves, stay out of harmful environments, and pursue opportunities they may not have thought possible.
Background
Brandon first joined Grassroot Communities as a participant on the Yearlong Grassroot Activators Programme (GAP) – a transformative journey designed to support young people aged 17–30 from underserved communities across Bristol. GAP exists to close the gap on opportunity, helping young people become the changes they want to see while discovering pathways into education, employment, or enterprise rooted in their own passions.
At the time, Brandon had just finished college and was unsure about his next steps. Half Jamaican and half Gambian, he was dreaming of a future in entertainment—ideally one where he could channel his natural ability to make people laugh into something bigger, perhaps even a TV show of his own. But his path forward was still unclear.
The GAP Experience
When Brandon joined GAP, he quickly stood out—not just because of his humour and charisma, but also for his openness about where he was at. As he described it:
“Before GAP I didn’t really know what my purpose was. I was bare lost and loose and trying to figure it out… But ever since I got the opportunity, I feel happy with myself. I feel like I got a purpose now—and it’s my time to shine.”
Through the programme, Brandon was supported by two dedicated mentor’s and was given opportunities to explore youth work, podcasting, and media production. He co-created and hosted the “Stick to the Code” podcast—a powerful platform built by young people for young people to speak about values, life lessons, and change-making.
He credits mentor Delroy Hibbert with helping him see a future for himself:
“He gave me something I could sit there and work towards… He gave me the podcast, gave me opportunities—he gave me purpose.”
Brandon also began to understand the impact he could have on others. He became vocal about wanting to shift the narrative for young people in his community:
“I want to show kids that they don’t have to be in gangs, they don’t have to kill each other. If they have a dream, they can get it without being in that.”
Growth, Adversity and Transition
Throughout his GAP journey, Brandon completed work experience placements and supported in the delivery of youth sessions. He learned to lead, to be patient, and to take initiative. His natural talent for communication and his authentic presence caught the attention of local media—and soon, Brandon was invited to participate in a BBC opportunity.
Brandon’s story is not just one of individual growth but of collective transformation. Mentors and youth workers who supported him were unanimous in their reflections—he blossomed from a quiet, guarded young man to a confident, articulate presence who could light up a room.
During this period, Brandon continued carrying significant responsibilities at home. He has supported family members, including caring for his nan with dementia, and he later took on paid work in a dementia care setting—bringing the same warmth, humour and steadiness that makes him so effective with young people.
Rather than distancing himself from his past, Brandon has used it to grow. One of the clearest signs of this is how he now handles conflict. In youth work spaces, he’s faced racist comments and challenges. Where he once might have reacted physically, he has learned to regulate, respond professionally, and challenge behaviour in a way that keeps young people safe and learning. That kind of growth takes real maturity—and it’s exactly what makes him such a powerful role model.
“When he speaks, he’s eloquent and passionate… His confidence is rising, and it’s amazing to watch. Brandon has all the tools to make a difference—and he already is.”
Now: A Youth Worker and Role Model
Today, Brandon works with us as a Youth Worker. He is a living embodiment of the GAP ethos: someone who has walked the journey, unlocked his own potential, and now walks alongside others doing the same.
In the past 12 months, Brandon has:
- Helped deliver detached youth work, building relationships in community spaces and showing up consistently week after week
- Supported a community multi-sports club shaped by young people’s interests
- Worked across different areas as needed, always willing to step in and support
- Helped amplify youth voice through local engagement work, supporting young people to share their experiences of youth provision and what they want to see change
- Thrown himself into community action. Everything from leaflet drops to speaking publicly and helping build creative projects that bring people together
Brandon brings energy, relatability, and genuine care into every space he enters. Young people respond to him because he’s real with them—he listens, he laughs with them, he challenges them when needed, and he helps them see what might be possible.
His journey continues—and so does his impact.
“I’m excited for my future. I don’t know how, but I know it’s going to be a good one.”