Through Jump Start, a programme delivered through the Somerset Activity and Sport Partnership (SASP) our work with Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) is grounded in a simple belief: relationships are the starting point for change. Many of the young people we support have experienced trauma, loss, and displacement. Arriving in a new country, often alone, they bring with them incredible resilience shaped by difficult past experiences — but also enormous strength and potential.
Through a combination of relational practice and sport-based mentoring, we offer young people the one thing they've often lacked: a trusted adult who shows up consistently and sees their potential. Sport and physical activity play a vital role in this journey. It's through movement, shared goals, and play that young people begin to feel safe enough to open up, take risks, and rebuild their confidence.
One young person had never learnt to ride a bike. His mentor patiently taught him, step by step — not just the skill, but the belief that he could learn. With support from On Your Bike, we sourced a bike, helmet, and lights. Now he rides to volleyball club each week — a space his mentor helped him join, where he feels part of a team, part of something bigger.
Another young man used to box back in his home country. His mentor started with gentle 1:1 sessions, helping him re-find rhythm, confidence and purpose. Over time, they visited a local boxing club — and discovered another older member there spoke his native language. "It feels like home," he said. He now trains five times a week and has built strong, positive connections within the club community.
These stories reflect how trauma-informed, consistent support creates the conditions for healing and growth. Our mentors work with, not for, young people — co-creating goals, honouring individual stories, and building trust through everyday actions.
Most recently, SASP are delighted to be part of Welcome to All — a new countywide initiative that builds on years of grassroots work to make Somerset a beacon of inclusivity and equity for displaced communities. Led by Community Council for Somerset and funded by Somerset Council, this collaborative partnership brings together a strong network of local organisations, including SASP, to deliver welcoming community hubs and mobile outreach across the county.
SASP will lead on expanding mental health and wellbeing support through sport and activity — offering group and one-to-one interventions grounded in trust, cultural sensitivity, and the power of movement. By embedding our trauma-informed mentoring approach into this wider programme, we'll continue supporting displaced young people to build confidence, community, and a sense of belonging. Read the full press release here.
For more information, please contact Laura Dyke on LDyke@sasp.co.uk