Youth bell ringing gives 'sense of belonging'

A woman who teaches bell ringing to young people says she wanted to challenge the perception that it is "a bit of an old man's club."

Sam Martin, 27, is a professional jazz musician based in Madeley, Staffordshire where she also leads a group of young people who meet regularly and take part in bell ringing competitions.

When she moved to the area after university, she found there were no regular youth bell ringing groups and decided to set one up of her own.

"Trying to create a space where they feel comfortable is really, really important," she said.

Martin began teaching a small number of younger people in 2025, but wanted them to have an opportunity to ring with others and so the group has grown and has since competed in national competitions in Birmingham and Nottingham.

"I think that it makes perfect sense that there's interest in this," she explained.

"For me, it's about trying to change the culture of bell ringing so that young people feel welcome and they feel like they've got a space where they belong."

Some of those she worked with have special educational needs, autism, ADHD and some felt "very anxious", she said, but the sessions offered a place they could relax and keep a traditional skill going.

It was a relatively difficult thing to learn, she said, but was akin to learning a musical instrument.

In her professional career, Martin has played at Green Man Festival, Southbank Centre, Upstairs at Ronnie Scott's, Gottwood Festival and Alexandra Palace.

She first became interested in bell ringing when she was about 10 and subsequently has gone on to become a tower leader.

"I ring with lots of people of all ages in my own bell ringing," Martin said.

"I was kind of looking round and I was thinking, 'In 40 years time there's not going to be that many people left for me to ring with unless I do something about this'."

Her group meets in church towers in south Cheshire and Staffordshire.

Their next session is at St Giles Church in Newcastle-under-Lyme on Sunday.

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