Bridge summer camp introduces new generation to the game

A bridge summer camp held at the University of Stirling drew participants from across Scotland, England and Ireland, as organisers sought to introduce a new generation to the game.

More than 40 children and young people aged nine to 18 attended the youth bridge camp, held on the Stirling campus last weekend.

Organised by Bridge: A Mindsport for All (BAMSA), a research project at the University of Stirling’s Faculty of Social Sciences, and the Scottish Bridge Union (SBU), the event also had participation from members of Stirling & Union Bridge Club, who partnered with young people in a ‘play with an expert’ competition on Saturday.

The summer camp was a first for BAMSA and SBU and served as a hands-on extension of BAMSA’s research, which produces evidence-based insights into the growth and development of youth bridge.

Finlay Robb was one of more than 40 people who took part in the camp.

Professor Samantha Punch, of BAMSA, said: “The camp was not only a chance to introduce the game to more young people, but also to engage with their fresh perspectives: what they think of bridge, what draws them in, and how they might describe it to peers. The camp blended fun with learning and taught young people the skills of teamwork, communication, strategic thinking and resilience.”

Alan Goodman, President of the Scottish Bridge Union, said: “These skills will benefit them throughout their lives. Importantly, they developed these skills in a friendly and sociable environment and learned that the game of bridge is both challenging and fun.”

BAMSA aims to increase the numbers of young people playing bridge and to convey the message that bridge is more than a game, but a mindsport, by working with organisations to develop experiences, events and toolkits for bridge.

Find out more about BAMSA at www.bridgemindsport.org and the BAMSA School and Youth page.