What happens when community resilience, early help in schools, and holiday provision come together through strong local relationships? You get Jump & Thrive — a powerful example of neighbourhood working in action, right here in Bridgwater.
As Connect Somerset Champions, we’ve been working closely with Pastoral and Family Support Advisors (PFSAs) and Professional Practitioners (PPs) across schools to understand what young people and families really need — and where the system isn’t working well enough. These regular meetups have created the space for genuine collaboration, shared learning, and practical solutions.
At the same time, through SASP’s Jump Start and Happy Healthy Holidays programmes, we’ve been supporting young people with mentoring, group sessions, and activities that build confidence, improve mental health, and help them reconnect with their communities. We’ve seen first-hand how important trusted relationships and consistent support are — especially for those at risk of disengaging from school or struggling during school breaks.
All of this has come together to shape Jump & Thrive, an exciting partnership with Bridgwater College Academy. This pilot project is a brilliant example of what Connect Somerset is all about: rooted in local need, co-designed with those on the ground, and focused on building long-term wellbeing and opportunity for young people.
Jump & Thrive uses sport and physical activity as a tool for supporting emotional regulation, helping young people find positive ways to manage big feelings and stress. The aim? To reduce exclusions and improve school attendance — giving young people a greater sense of belonging and the tools to thrive both in and out of the classroom.
This is the kind of change we believe in — not top-down programmes, but relational working that grows from trust, shared purpose and being embedded in our communities. We’re excited to keep learning, building, and sharing this approach as part of our neighbourhood working journey.
If you’d like to know more or get involved, we’d love to hear from you!
