Comic Relief funding has helped Bridging the Gap Youth – Merthyr create a much‑needed space for young people over 19 with additional learning needs.
BRIDGING THE GAP IN MERTHYR
Since 2006, Bridging the Gap Youth – Merthyr (BGY) has provided afterschool and holiday clubs for children and young people aged 3-19 with additional and complex needs. It was the first service of its kind in Merthyr, built on trusted relationships with families and strong links with schools, social services and local partners.
HELPING YOUNG ADULTS MOVE FORWARD
Ahead of applying for Comic Relief funding, BGY had noticed a pattern was beginning to appear. When young people reached 19, their options suddenly narrowed. Some moved on to college or day centres, but many were left at home with little routine and few opportunities to mix with people their own age. Families began asking BGY to continue to support these young people into adulthood, giving them a place to stay connected and feel they belong.
With support from the Comic Relief Organisational Growth Grant, BGY launched the Moving Forward Over 19s Club, a safe and welcoming space where young adults with additional learning needs can socialise, build confidence and develop life skills.
Sessions include arts and crafts, sport, dance, gardening and cookery, alongside independence-building activities like planning and shopping for simple, healthy lunches.
GROWING THE CLUB
The club began in June 2025 with a small group which continues to grow. The grant has given BGY the space and stability to establish the new service, build relationships with families and raise awareness locally. With this support in place, BGY is confident the club will keep growing, just as their afterschool provision did in its early days.
RUBY’S STORY
19-year-old Ruby learned about the Moving Forward club through her college wellbeing team, shortly after BGY visited to introduce the new service. She had recently been diagnosed with autism and ADHD after years of struggling in busy classrooms, dealing with sensory overload and often feeling lonely.
When she joined the club in June, Ruby quickly found activities she loved, especially arts and crafts. More importantly, she found friends. She says the club gives her a reason to leave the house and it is a space where she can be herself and feel accepted without judgement.
‘I love attending the Over 19s club, I can be who I really am, without being judged. It’s a place where I do not need to mask my autism. I am accepted for being my true self.’
FROM VOLUNTEER TO VALUED TEAM MEMBER
Alongside attending the club, Ruby began volunteering in BGY’s afterschool and holiday sessions. Staff saw her empathy and natural rapport with children and encouraged her to apply for paid work. With BGY’s help, Ruby was successful and now provides one‑to‑one support for children with additional needs on a flexible, zero‑hours basis that suits her current circumstances.
Her lived experience helps her connect with young people and advocate for them. Ruby says she wants to offer the support she needed when she was younger. She is proud of how far she has come and she feels part of the BGY family.
JOIN IN THIS RED NOSE DAY
As we mark Red Nose Day, it’s a reminder of how important community projects like Bridging the Gap Youth – Merthyr can be for young people and their families. If you’d like to learn more about how you can support work like this, visit the Comic Relief website to see the many ways you can get involved.