Balloon fiesta partners with mental health charity

Bristol Balloon Fiesta has partnered with a South West youth mental health charity for this year's festival.

The charity, Love Squared, said it had a "wonderful big, very colourful, tent" by the balloon launch site, where families can do arts and crafts and learn about the services it offers.

Many thousands of people are expected to have visited Ashton Court Estate between 8 and 10 August to watch more than 100 balloons take off.

Love Squared's deputy safeguarding lead, Essi Pentti, told BBC Radio Bristol: "There is so much stigma around talking about mental health, particularly with young people, and we are trying to break down that stigma by having a very visible platform there."

The charity provides education and mentoring to children and young people across Bristol and the South West, at schools and in the community.

Mx Pentti said: "There are such huge waiting lists for services, so we're trying to help children achieve the best they can and support them with their mental health through mentoring."

They continued: "The pressures on children today are so huge. School is tricky, social media is so big, there is a lot of stress when it comes to academic performance.

"Particularly post-Covid we've seen such a rise in young people struggling with their mental health."

A 250-mile static bike ride will also be held in the charity's tent at the fiesta.

Visitors are invited to pedal a few miles towards the total to help raise money for the charity's services.

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