This is what youth‑led change looks like


At CHISPA, young people lead culture and community projects, building real skills and real change wherever they live.

Back for 2026

Back for 2026

The Bar Park was co-created by our youth team and their local communities, so we’re proud to bring back a dedicated programme of health, fitness and wellness events built for the bar park.

All our sessions are free and open to all abilities, with all necessary equipment provided We’d love to see you there!

book a free session

Our places and culture need the energy and leadership of young people

Young people are often designed out of the places they live, even though their presence, insight and care are essential to making those spaces safe, welcoming, and relevant. Change happens when young people are in the room, shaping the work. We work with young people like us, alongside partners and communities, to co‑create programmes, spaces, decisions, and partnerships rooted in the local strengths, stories, and creativity of Gloucester.

This approach builds shared ownership and long‑term capacity. When people see themselves reflected in place, they feel confident to express, experiment, and create.

Our story

What we do

This isn't just an idea for us, we see it working every day. Safe, accessible and exciting events and programmes led and loved by young people and the community. More youth leadership. More young voices heard. More young people building the skills they need to succeed wherever they are in the world.

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Youth Voice & Influence

Our young people don't just have opinions, they have seats at the table. From shaping city strategies on homelessness to building local spaces. CHISPA gets young people into the rooms where decisions are made, bringing their lived experience and authentic voices to help shape a city that works for everyone.

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Culture & Event
Programming

CHISPA helps young people turn their ideas for culture and events into reality. That means taking on the roles of project managers, producers, performers and everything in between. They decide what they want to see more of in the city, and then they’re supported to deliver it themselves.

How to get involved

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Youth Leadership & Skill-building

Our core purpose is to help our young people build the kind of skills and confidence that stick with them for life. CHISPA works with real local partners on live projects, so young people are learning by doing, building real relationships, and taking on real responsibility. When they move on to other roles or opportunities, they're ready for them.

Projects

  • Gloucester Bar Park

    Gloucester Bar Park started as a Chispa idea. We knocked on doors, worked with parkour, calisthenics, and acrobatics pros, and made it happen. Funded by Gloucester City Council, it's now a youth cultural hub to train, learn, run events, and connect.

  • Nightstop: Live & Work

    Nightstop is tackling youth homelessness earlier, shaped by two young CHISPA leaders with lived experience. Together we're piloting a "Live and Work" model in Gloucestershire, pairing housing with employment to help young people build stable, independent lives.

  • Youth Advisory Board and Programme at Gloucester Guildhall

    We partner with Gloucester Guildhall to shape their youth programme, from choosing artists to supporting emerging creatives. Our young people influence real decisions, get paid, and gain hands-on sector experience. We also advise the venue through key moments of growth and change.

  • Drift tricks

    We partnered with Take Part to bring Drift Tricks to Gloucester, transforming King Square with nine large-scale skateable sculptures over one week. Our Youth Team co-produced new sculptures alongside the local skating community, and we built a full cultural programme around it, ending with a Skate Jam featuring live music, competitions, and a roller disco.

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In their own words

  • Bar Park Activation

    “Working with Chispa and being part of the Gloucester Bar Park community has been a real highlight.

    From coaching members of the public to facilitate in the space and learn calisthenics, to seeing a genuine community begin to form, the experience has been incredibly rewarding.

    I’ve met people I’ll stay connected with for life, and I’ve seen the foundations of a space that will continue to grow and thrive.”

    — Demi Alvanis, Facilitator

  • Eastgate Market Hall Regeneration

    “Chispa has been a valuable partner in Gloucester’s cultural regeneration, particularly through their work amplifying youth perspectives. Their recommendations helped inform future strategy and ensured young people have a meaningful role in shaping the city and a genuine sense of ownership over its cultural spaces.”

    — Rachel Farrer, DCA Consultants

  • Alney Island Nature Park Development

    “The insight Chispa provided was invaluable in understanding both the opportunities and challenges involved in developing new green space in Gloucester. Their contribution helped shape a more balanced approach and encouraged deeper community engagement as the project moves forward. Having informed, thoughtful guidance on diversity and inclusion was essential, and Chispa offered advice that will genuinely strengthen the final work.”

    — Amanda Forecast, The Visitor Business,
    Consultant for Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust


  • Gloucester Public Art Strategy

    “We approached Chispa as part of a public realm consultation with Gloucester City Council and found them to be responsive, thoughtful and well prepared. It was clear they have long been engaged in critical and generative conversations, both internally and with young people in Gloucester. This resulted in insightful, practical contributions that will directly shape the outputs of our work. The level of actionable candour and optimism they brought isn’t always present in consultation processes, and it added real value. We’ll continue working with Chispa to ensure the project remains relevant and rooted in place.”

    — Phoebe Gilmore, Tickertape Parade


  • Active Anti‑Discrimination Training

    “I thoroughly enjoyed partnering with Chispa to deliver community‑focused workshops exploring masculinity, public safety and community cohesion. The work Chispa is doing feels vital — not only for Gloucester, but as a model for community organisations across the UK. They bring together identity, wellbeing and physical practice in a way very few organisations are doing. It was an honour to work with them.”

    — Lewis Wedlock, Mendable & University of Bristol

  • Beyond the Walls

    “It was a pleasure to work with Chispa on this project. GARAS supports refugees and asylum seekers who face very specific challenges around housing, often alongside language barriers and limited understanding of the UK housing system. Chispa approached the work with care, flexibility and a genuine willingness to adapt their methods to suit our clients. They created a dedicated workshop, adjusted their usual format to avoid re‑traumatisation, and worked with tact and compassion throughout. The resulting film communicates our clients’ experiences powerfully and respectfully.”

    — Jennie Watts, GARAS

  • Bars in the park

    “Working with Chispa on Bars in the Park was a great collaborative experience that brought culture and creativity right into the heart of Gloucester. The partnership created new opportunities for young people locally, combining Kings Jam’s music programme with Chispa’s innovative public‑space approach. Together, we delivered an event that attracted diverse audiences while supporting young people to develop leadership skills and showcase their talents. The strength of community engagement and positive feedback speaks for itself. This collaboration represents exactly what we aim to achieve — transforming lives through creativity while building stronger communities.”

    Malaki Patterson, CEO, The Music Works
    Co‑Founder, Kings Jam Festival

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