This year hundreds of Bristol people will be using this coming May bank holiday weekend to give something back to the city.

The Noise is an enormous volunteering event run every year by Bristol churches since 2001. Each May bank holiday, rain or shine, local people roll up their sleeves, put on a blue T-shirt and get stuck in.

They dig gardens and pick litter, paint community centres, make cream teas for senior citizens, put on free football coaching, and run family fun afternoons across the city.

The Noise partners with the Police, local Neighbourhood Partnerships, Bristol City Council, many other community-based organisations and residents to make the weekend one to remember, and one which will have a positive and long-term impact.

The year the Noise is the largest yet; with volunteers from churches, schools and communities undertaking practical projects in Ashley/St Pauls, Barton Hill, Brentry, Easton, Horfield, Lawrence Weston, Lockleaze, Manor Farm, Southmead, Sea Mills, Shirehampton, Upper Horfield, Fishponds and Knowle West.

Last year, over 900 people volunteered over the weekend, giving thousands of hours of volunteer time. People of all ages were involved, from children as young as five to those over eighty years old!

The Noise takes place from Saturday 29th April – Monday 1st May, and everything that happens over the weekend is completely FREE!

There will be 11 different local Family Fun Afternoons (see below for details of all events), these include inflatable games, face painting, a craft zone, a café area and much more.

There really is something for everyone – it’s a weekend for all ages and backgrounds!

Free Family Fun Afternoons this May Bank Holiday Weekend:

Saturday 29 April, 2.30pm – 4.30pm:

Easton Fun Afternoon – Rawnsley Park, Beaumont Street, BS5 0US
Horfield Fun Afternoon – Horfield Common (opposite Leisure Centre) BS7 0XJ
Sea Mills Fun Afternoon – Sea Mills Square, BS9 2DY
St Werburghs Fun Afternoon – Mina Road Park, BS2 9XH
Fishponds Fun Afternoon – Fishponds Park, Fishponds Road, BS16 2JB

Sunday 30 April, 3pm – 5pm:

Lawrence Weston Fun Afternoon – Lawrence Weston Baptist Church, Long Cross, BS11 0LU
Barton Hill Fun Afternoon – Urban Park, BS5 9XE
Brentry Fun Afternoon – Brentry Primary School, BS10 6RG (2.30-4pm)

Monday 1 May 2.30pm – 4.30pm:

Southmead Fun Afternoon – Glencoyne Square, BS10 6DE
Lockleaze Fun Afternoon – Indoors at the Hub, Gainsborough Square, BS7 9FB (1-3pm)
Knowle West Fun Afternoon – Filwood Park, Creswicke Road, BS4 1UB

For more family-friendly events and activities this bank holiday weekend please see the Bristol Mum What’s On page.