Boys’ Brigade and YoungMinds partner as much as support mental health

THE Boys’ Brigade has announced a partnership with the UK charity YoungMinds to be sure that “churches are equipped with skilled mental-health resources to best support young people once they need it most”.

The partnership, until the tip of the yr, involves specialist training for Boys’ Brigade leaders and church volunteers, including tailored mental-health first-aid and resilience training; digital resources to be used in weekly meetings that can help “young people construct emotional literacy through a faith-based lens”; and support for churches to facilitate open conversations about mental health and reduce the stigma that may prevent young people in faith communities from in search of help, the organisation says.

The CEO of the Boys’ Brigade, Jonathan Eales, said: “It’s about ensuring that when a youngster walks through a church-hall door, they discover a space that will not be only spiritually nurturing but mentally secure.”

The collaboration “comes at a key time for the UK’s younger generations”, the Boys’ Brigade statement says. It refers to findings, in its report Youth Culture and Trends, that in a survey more children than ever said that they were unhappy with their lives: one in 15, compared with one in 30 a decade earlier (News, 19 January 2024).

Another initiative that the Boys’ Brigade is running is its Spaces scheme, which accomplished its first-year pilot last month. Churches which have signed up can host Spaces groups for over-11s and facilitate conversations about faith.

The organisation described Spaces as a recent ministry that helps churches intentionally disciple young people. It costs churches £200 for the primary yr, which covers training, resources and support.

The Boys’ Brigade ministry lead, Peter Andrews, said: “There’s an actual hunger on the market amongst young people wanting to explore their identity and purpose, and we would like to assist churches step up to fulfill this need.”