A new youth group in Salford is enriching and educating the city’s youngest members by providing specialist activities for children with a variety of needs.
Pathfinders in Pendlebury pride themselves on being inclusive to all young people aged from Year 1 to college, as well as older volunteers who get extra qualifications like first aid training.
Group creator Phil Bainbridge said: “Hearing that other organisations were turning them (the children) away, parents said that they didn’t think they could participate. What you need to do is engage them and you’ll be fine.”
Phil has been running youth groups for years, with the idea for Pathfinders coming during the COVID-19 pandemic when parents requested him to start a group for their children.
Since then, he worked closely with other volunteers to provide young people with a variety of activities as well as Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
Phil’s experience with youth collectives derived from working at Scorpio Community Development, which provided enrichment and qualifications to teenagers and children in schools and colleges.
Pathfinders launched officially in September 2022 and has been a huge success ever since.
The group have resided in Saint Augustine’s Church in Pendlebury since the pandemic. A year after being founded they introduced weekend trips, which are included in the price of the youth group.
Phil says the group prides itself on catering towards individual needs. He mentioned aiding a child with autism who struggled with sensory overload from the church environment.
He said: “We just asked him for his favourite colour and it was orange. We got him some orange ear defenders, and whenever he needed them he would go pick them up. After that, he was fine.”
The youth group also focuses hugely on safeguarding, teaching young people about difficult topics they may face such as self harm, knife crime, as well as others which they aren’t taught about in school.
They also teach them about life skills they may require in the future, such as changing tyres and qualifying them for further education.
The cost is £20 a month and £10 for an added sibling, all activities and trips are included in this price.
Phil has tried to make it as accessible as possible considering they are self funded.
The sessions are 1-2 hours a week and the trips happen a few times a year.
Phil has also seen amazing changes in self esteem and confidence in young people.
He said they have made new friends regardless of age: “We are all equals in the group, it doesn’t matter what background you come from, we are all going to be wearing the same black Pathfinders hoodie.”
Pathfinders is full, they are still accepting people on their wait list. For any information contact them through their social media.
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