Breathe Project

Who We Are

Breathe Youth Project is a community-based youth work initiative delivered in partnership with Aberfeldy Parish Church (Charity No. SC007899). We work with children and young people from birth through to post-school age, alongside families and carers, across Aberfeldy, Pitlochry and the wider Highland Perthshire area.

Our team delivers a wide range of activities including youth clubs, Rock Steady and Rock Steady Plus, Stay & Play sessions for families, Messy Church, holiday programmes, trips and residentials, employability and life-skills courses, and 1:1 mentoring and pastoral support. We also run youth committees and volunteering pathways that give young people a meaningful voice in shaping the services they use.

We work closely with local schools, families, volunteers and partner organisations to reach young people who may experience isolation, disadvantage, low confidence or limited access to activities due to rural location and transport barriers.

Our Approach

At Breathe, we believe in going long and wide, high and deep with young people.

We go long by building consistent, trusting relationships and supporting young people over a number of years, not just through short-term projects.

We go wide by engaging a broad range of children, young people and families from across our communities, ensuring our activities are inclusive and accessible.

We go high by creating positive experiences, memorable moments and opportunities for growth that inspire confidence and hope.

We go deep by offering meaningful support around the things that matter most to young people, including wellbeing, identity, relationships, education, employability and future aspirations.

Our work is rooted in early intervention, inclusion and community connection. We focus on creating spaces where young people feel safe, valued and supported, while also being challenged to grow, learn new skills and take on leadership roles.

What We Will Do

Through our year-round programme, we deliver a mix of universal and targeted youth work activities designed to support wellbeing, personal development and positive destinations. This includes:

• Weekly youth clubs and drop-ins for primary and secondary-aged young people

• Rock Steady and Rock Steady Plus sessions focusing on confidence, teamwork and life skills

• Stay & Play sessions for babies, toddlers and families

• Family activity days

• Holiday programmes, trips and residentials

• Employability and life-skills courses for young people

• 1:1 mentoring support

• Youth leadership pathways, volunteering and youth committees

• Community events such as Parkfest and Family Fun Days

Alongside this, we work with young people to co-design activities, evaluate our programmes and shape future provision, ensuring their voices are central to everything we do.

Why Our Work Matters

Young people in rural areas like Highland Perthshire often face hidden deprivation, social isolation and limited access to youth services, transport and opportunities. Many families experience financial pressure, reduced access to mental health support and fewer safe spaces for children and young people to spend time.

Breathe Youth Project exists to respond to these challenges by providing consistent, relationship-based youth work that supports emotional wellbeing, builds resilience and creates positive pathways into adulthood. By working across different ages and stages, we create continuity of support that strengthens both individual wellbeing and the wider community.

Our long-term goal is to see young people grow within communities of belonging, where they feel connected, confident and hopeful about their future.
 

For more information please see the Breathe Youth Project website by clicking here.