Key Info
- Dates 23rd to 30th August 2025
- Venue Leighton Park School, Reading
- Costs £590
- Ages 11 to 14 years old (must be born between 1st September 2010 and 31st August 2014, inclusive)
- Theme Global issues regarding conflict and climate change
- Number of places Up to 40
- Junior Gathering Participant Pack
About the event
Junior Gathering is a week long Quaker gathering for young people aged 11 to 14. It is an exciting and busy week packed with activities and a chance to meet new people and have fun. Junior Gathering is a chance for young people to make friends and be together in a Quaker environment.
Junior Gathering is an LGBTQ+ positive event.
Days begin with meeting for worship and end with an epilogue, in between they are filled with plenty of activity.
See also: First day at junior gathering
and an example timetable
There is a variety of fun, creative and active workshops, including music, art and craft and sports as well as swimming. There is also an afternoon out and a day trip; lively evening entertainments and discos.
We explore the theme with visiting speakers and through simulations, workshops and small group discussions. Everyone is part of a small supportive base group which meets each day to get to know each other, play games and talk about the theme (and many other things).
At the end of the week the young people at Junior Gathering draft an ‘epistle’. This is an informal report that aims to capture the spirit of the week and to describe what happened.
Other useful info
Information for parents
Junior Gathering is a week-long event for young Quakers aged 11-14. Each year we have a theme for the week, which we explore with visiting speakers and through workshops drama, worship, films and games.
Two adult coordinators are responsible for the running of Junior Gathering. They are assisted by a team of adult volunteers.
In organising and running its events Friends Southern Summer Events (FSSE) follows guidelines from Britain Yearly Meeting concerning the safety and well-being of those taking part. All adult volunteers are required to have current, enhanced disclosures from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly Criminal Records Bureau). Read more about how we aim to keep young people safe. Our child protection policy can be downloaded from our “Policies” page.
To apply for place at Junior Gathering for your child please fill in and send an application form to us. Once we have received it we will contact you to confirm the place with further details on the next steps.
If you’re interested in getting involved with volunteering for Junior Gathering, please see the “Volunteer” page.
Bursary information
It is our strict policy to ensure that no-one is prevented from attending an FSSE event because of a lack of financial resources. We receive grants and gifts that enable us to support participation by young people who could not otherwise afford the full fees, but the total sum available is limited.
FSSE therefore expects applicants, in the first instance, to seek financial support from their Local/Area Meeting; some Meetings support their young people as a matter of course. For more information, please contact us.