RISE is a youth initiative of New Life Church Battersea; a structured four-year development programme for boys, rooted in the Christian faith and committed to serving our local community.

 

Through weekly sessions, mentoring, skills training, bible teaching and consistent encouragement, we help boys grow in character, resilience, leadership, and faith. 

 

These years are crucial. Habits are forming. Identity is taking shape. Influences are multiplying. RISE exists to provide strong male role models, clear expectations, and meaningful challenge at a stage when it matters most.

 

We work primarily with boys growing up on local estates and in surrounding schools, where young people often face social, economic, and educational pressures that can limit confidence and opportunity. Poverty, instability, lack of consistent male role models, or just the difficulties of adolescent life can all shape a boy’s outlook at a young age. RISE exists to provide stability, encouragement, and high expectations within a structured and caring environment.

 

While RISE is shaped by Christian teaching and values, boys do not need to attend church or have prior faith knowledge to take part. Parents often value the clear boundaries, positive mentoring, and aspirational culture that RISE provides.

 

Our weekly Thursday sessions operate in half termly blocks, with common features including a cooked meal, games played, and Bible discussion helping think through life’s big questions. 

 

There is also a ‘Skills Guild’, with each term focusing on helping the boys with a specific area of growth – like computer programming, website design, or baking. These workshops are facilitated by trained volunteers and combine teaching, discussion, and practical activities. We find these develop social, communication, and practical life skills – with lots of games and healthy competition thrown in too! 

 

Each boy can be paired with a trained mentor who will aim to meet with him individually once a month for around one hour at a time agreed with parents or carers. These sessions provide space for conversation, encouragement, accountability, and personal guidance. 

 

We believe parents and carers play a vital role in a boy’s growth. RISE is not something we do instead of parents, but alongside them – so we encourage parental involvement as part of the RISE journey.

Location
New Life Church Battersea, 2 Austin Road, London, SW11 5JP

 

When
Every Thursday in term time, 5:15-6:45pm

 

Cost
Free

 

Age Group
Boys only, Years 5-8

 

Interested in RISE?

Contact Ezra here.

 

Helping boys grow into confident, disciplined, and purpose-driven young men.