A new free weekly activity group for boys and young people who identify as male is launching in Bath this November, offering 11–14-year-olds a welcoming place to make friends, have fun and build confidence.
Run by Bath youth charity Mentoring Plus with support from Boys in Mind and a local donor, the group will meet every Tuesday during term time from 5.30pm-7.30pm at Riverside Youth Hub, off London Road.
Young people attending will be able to take part in a variety of activities, cook meals together and spend time with supportive adult volunteers.
The first group will run for 19 weeks, giving those taking part plenty of time to get to know one another, develop new skills and help shape the activities they would like to do.
Ruth Keily, CEO of Mentoring Plus, said, “With over 30 years’ experience running mentoring and inclusive youth clubs, it’s great to be offering a new, supportive group for boys which combines fun activities and purposeful projects, alongside adult volunteers.
“We know the best conversations happen when young people are busy doing something together with trusted adults, and we are looking forward to seeing how our attendees benefit from positive time together each week.”
Mentoring Plus is working with Boys in Mind to establish the new group, with the organisation’s Head of Outreach Jim Cumpson set to lead the sessions.
Jim said, “This new group is essentially a blank page for local boys, they’ll decide how it evolves, with trained volunteers alongside to guide and encourage.
“We set up Boys in Mind because we know boys often lack positive spaces for connection and support with their mental health, so this is also something we’ll be gently promoting as the group develops.”
Referrals are now open, with parents, carers, schools and other agencies encouraged to contact Mentoring Plus Practitioner Marguerite Woodward to find out more and reserve a place.
Marguerite can be contacted at email hidden; JavaScript is required or on 01225 429 694.
The new boys’ group is one of three youth groups offered by Mentoring Plus at Riverside Youth Hub. The charity also runs a calm, quiet art club for young people aged 11–19 on Wednesdays from 5.30pm-7.30pm and an open-access youth club for the same age group on Thursdays from 6pm-8pm.
All three clubs run during term time and are free to attend.
Find out more at mentoringplus.net/for-young-people/youth-clubs.
