The Wednesday Evening Society: A Unique Social Model for Adolescents
The Wednesday Evening Society (WES) is an innovative social model designed to promote healthy social development in adolescents. This program was initiated in 2013 by a group of parents and teachers in the United Kingdom. It has since become an international phenomenon, offering adolescents an opportunity to develop interpersonal skills in a safe and secure environment.
The WES model is built upon the premise that adolescents need positive and productive social interactions with adults in order to foster healthy social development. The program is designed to provide a safe and supportive space for adolescents to engage in meaningful conversations with adults. These conversations are intended to support and encourage the adolescents’ growth and development, while also providing an opportunity for adults to learn from and mentor the adolescents.
The WES model has been evaluated in a number of studies over the years. In a 2020 study, researchers found that participating adolescents reported significant increases in self-esteem, social connectedness, and leadership skills. They also noted that adults reported positive experiences in terms of gaining new perspectives, learning from the adolescents, and providing support for them.
Overall, the WES model has been highly successful in providing adolescents with the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with adults and to develop positive and productive social relationships. The program has also been successful in facilitating the development of leadership skills, self-esteem, and social connectedness in adolescents, while also providing adults with the opportunity to gain new perspectives and to mentor adolescents.
Reeves, L. M., & Fox, S. (2020). The Wednesday Evening Society: A unique social model for adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 77, 1-9.