Social & Wellbeing Groups

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.

Ride Out Ride On website

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.

Robins Talk website

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)

Soundwell Music Therapy website

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 Bristol residents to make connections and improve wellbeing. There are sessions for adopted teenagers, new parents, those looking to improve their mental health and for people living with dementia.
https://bristolbeacon.org/music-for-everyone/

PULSE – Music and movement to improve mental health
Various times and dates, Southmead
PULSE is for adults who wish to improve their health and wellbeing through music and movement.
Created by Bristol Beacon in collaboration with Southmead Development Trust, PULSE is run with drop-in workshops every few months and a regular weekly group and offers music making and physical exercises for people of all abilities.
https://bristolbeacon.org/music-for-everyone/pulse/

BLOOM – Music sessions for parents experiencing depression and anxiety
Mondays 10:00 – 12:00 Bluebell Place
BLOOM is a group for new parents experiencing anxiety and depression to enjoy music and sound with their babies in a playful and safe way.
Created by Bristol Beacon in partnership with Bluebell care, BLOOM offers parents an opportunity to make music, or just listen and absorb. Come to a session to relax, have fun, and learn new things to bring home with you. No musical experience is needed, everyone is welcome.
https://bristolbeacon.org/music-for-everyone/bloom/

Our Music Club – Music sessions for people living with dementia
Thursdays 11:00 – 12:30 Filwood Community Centre
Our Music Club provides free music sessions for adults living with dementia and their supporters, from Bristol Beacon in collaboration with Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service.
Sessions use music to improve quality of life of participants by making music together. Supported by three professional musicians, sessions provide a joyful and connective opportunity for people to be together in the present.
https://bristolbeacon.org/music-for-everyone/our-music-club/

Foster carers singing group
Alternate Thursdays 09:30 – 11:00 Beacon Music Centre
A fun fortnightly social music session for foster carers in Bristol, from Bristol Beacon in collaboration with Bristol City Council. Free to join, no need to read music, and no need to have any prior musical experience.
The focus of the friendly Foster Carers Singing Group will be to make music together for enjoyment, relaxation, and improving mental and physical health.
https://bristolbeacon.org/music-for-everyone/foster-carers-singing-group/

All on: bristolbeacon.org

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

Sport in Mind website

St Werburghs Community Centre

St Werburghs Community Centre provide a range of services, courses, and events to residents of the local area, including family and wellbeing services and digital inclusion courses.

St Werburghs Community Centre website

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.

Studio Upstairs website

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.

The Beehive Centre website

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.

Windmill Hill City Farm website

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:

Bristol Wellbeing College website

Hillfields Community Garden

Hillfields Community Garden is a community garden and growing project based in Hillfields Park, Fishponds. The garden currently hosts a number of free social and community activities for local residents.

Hillfields Community Garden website

Knowle West Health Association

Knowle West Health Association is a community organisation serving people in Filwood, Knowle, and the surrounding areas. Services include free ‘as long as needed’ counselling, and an allotment and kitchen garden.

Knowle West Health Association website

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.

Life Cycle UK website

Rethink Support Groups

Rethink offer a range of support groups for people with mental illness and for carers.

Rethink Support Groups website

The Carers’ Centre BANES

The Carers’ Centre provide information, advice, and support to anyone in Bath and North-East Somerset who is caring for a loved one. They also provide opportunities for social connection for carers.

The Carers’ Centre BANES website

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.

Age UK Bristol website

AidBox Community Activity Groups

AidBox Community run small, relaxed community groups for refugee and asylum seekers. There are separate groups for men and women. Everyone is welcome for fun, to share skills, culture, language, and friendship.

AidBox Community Activity Groups website

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.

Bath Mind website

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.

Brandon Trust website