DRINK WITH PURPOSE. FLY WITH PURPOSE.

In pubs across our city, something special happens every day. People come together over a pint - a Session IPA or a Clear Head AF, whatever your style. You find your people. You connect. That's your community. And at BBF, COMMUNITY IS EVERYTHING.

Through Brewed to Give, we put that belief into action - donating 2% of every brewery sale directly back into the charities and groups knitting our city together. And by buying a pint of BBF, you become part of our community. You give back to Bristol.

That’s why we are launching GIVE THEM WINGS - a limited edition IPA celebrating the Bristol Birdman and donating 100% of profits to Grassroot Communities - the team behind the event on JUNE 14TH.

What is Bristol Birdman?

Bristol Birdman is a free, family-friendly event that invites teams from local businesses and organisations to design and build their own “flying machines” - before launching themselves off a ramp into Bristol Harbour. But if you turn up and listen out, you will find out about the vital work undertaken by Grassroot Communities, a charity dedicated to delivering youth and community programmes across South Bristol and beyond.

Chief Executive, Ben Carpenter hopes the event will raise £100,000 to support transformational youth and community work, mentoring, education, employment pathways and leadership opportunities.

Ben told us: “Importantly this event not only provides a fun day out for the people of Bristol, it provides a platform for young people and adults to share their stories of the need and impact that youth and community work has had on their lives.”

You’ve got to see it to believe it

“Last year’s event (when around 10,000 people showed up) just goes to show what is possible when youth workers and young people come together, have an idea and work hard to make it a reality,” says Ben. Bristol Harbour Master, Eric Dougall, called it the most well-attended and fun family event the area has seen in 30 years. You've got to be there.

Today, Bristol Birdman stands as a testament to that determination: a joyful, slightly chaotic, and deeply purposeful event rooted in lived experience and community spirit. “We cannot wait to unleash our second instalment of the fantastical Bristol Birdman 2026 on the people of Bristol,” continued Ben.

If you can't make it to the Harbourside, you can also follow Grassroot Communities on YouTube to watch wherever you are. This message is going to be flying internationally!

Why is this so important?

The reality is stark. Over the past 15 years, government funding for youth services has dropped dramatically - from around £900 million to just over £300 million. Alongside that, the number of youth clubs has fallen significantly, leaving many communities without accessible, open spaces for young people to connect, grow, and feel supported.

Much of the remaining funding is now directed toward targeted interventions or youth hubs - important work, but often focused on crisis response or single areas. What’s missing is universal, place based open-access youth provision: safe, welcoming environments available to all young people, regardless of their circumstances.

We all want to help, but it's hard to know where to start when it feels like everyone is feeling the pinch. That’s where organisations like Grassroot Communities step in - working directly in communities to fill the gaps, often with limited resources.

Events like the Bristol Birdman are part of that solution. They raise funds, yes - but they also raise visibility. They cut through the noise and connect directly with people in a way that’s authentic, engaging, and impossible to ignore.

As Ben says, “We have amazing plans to add to last year’s event and wow the masses. But for this Bristol we need your support.” 

Why our partnership matters

As a business rooted in Bristol, we know we have a role to play in supporting the communities around us. Our £10k donation to the Bristol Birdman is about more than sponsorship - it’s about backing a model that works.

The event is designed so that team entry fees, fundraising efforts, and sponsorships cover the cost of running the day itself. That means donations and additional support can go directly toward delivering youth and community work year-round.

In other words, the impact doesn’t stop when the splashes settle! If you want to make an impact, you can donate direct to the event and vote for your favourite team here! 

Give them wings

The Bristol Birdman is more than an event - it’s a call to action. It’s about giving young people the opportunities they deserve. And it’s about showing what’s possible when businesses, charities, and individuals come together with a shared purpose.

But let's be real, we all want to see Team BBF fly into the harbour. The best viewing spot will be on the Pump House side, opposite the launch platform. So, get there early for a good spot.

On top of our sponsorship, we are donating £1 from every pint of GIVE THEM WINGS sold from the Pump House during the Bristol Birdman event.

You can buy a can of GIVE THEM WINGS from every BBF venue and other indie pubs across Bristol in the week running up to the event or order online for nationwide shipping.

To further support the cause visit www.grassrootcommunities.org and make sure you donate on the day! Every penny raised will help young people and communities fly.