Young People

Young people from about 9 years old can learn to ring.
Young people and adults ring together at their home towers and at ringing events.

Young people can learn to ring with other family members, making ringing an activity that the whole family can enjoy together.

There are groups for young ringers, a national youth competition and ringing societies at many universities. Scroll down for more info!

A young ringer: “You can spend quality time with your family without having to talk to them!”

Young people ‘grasping the opportunity to make a glorious racket’ and ‘annoy the neighbours from miles around!’

‘Incredible power to think that I was in control of all that metal’ (half a ton). And ‘Ringing gets under your skin and the buzz kicks in.’

Ringing can be done towards your D of E award or a Scout or Guide badge.

Build your Life Skills

Ringing helps you to develop key skills for your social life and future career:

Soft skills – teamwork, leadership, listening, analysis, co-ordination, concentration, communication and confidence.
Social skills – interacting with, and ringing in teams with, people of all ages and from all backgrounds.
Physical skills – physical co-ordination, muscle memory, observation and rhythm.
STEM skills – related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Arts skills – including music (without being musical), performance and history.

Ringing looks fantastic on your CV! – A 42-minute podcast, with young ringer Emily, which smashes any pre-conceptions that bellringing is something that only older people do.

Going to University?

Many universities have ringing societies, which give an instant group of friends to freshers or anyone taking up ringing whilst at uni.
Check out the University Ringing website and Facebook page.

YCRA – Young Change Ringers’ Association

The YCRA is for any young ringer up to the age of 30, and is run by young ringers, for young ringers.
Check out the YCRA website.

DYR – Derbyshire Young Ringers

In Derbyshire, any young ringer up to (and including) the age of 18 is a member of Derbyshire Young Ringers.

DYR meet to ring and socialise at different towers around Derbyshire.
DYR enter the RWNYC (Ringing Would National Youth Contest) – An annual fun day out with hundreds of young ringers from across Britain.
DYR is led by experienced ringers from the Derby Diocesan Association of Church Bellringers.