St Austell Brewery has announced a £25,000 donation to A Band of Brothers (ABOB) Cornwall, a charity transforming the lives of young men through mentorship and long‑term community support.
Founded nationally in 2006 and active in Cornwall for more than a decade, ABOB works specifically with men aged 18 to 25 who are facing significant challenges, often including trauma, addiction, offending, or social isolation.
Its Cornwall branches, in Penzance, Falmouth, and St Austell, run entirely by trained male volunteers, deliver a powerful 12‑week mentoring journey culminating in a ‘homecoming’ graduation ceremony that celebrates each young man’s progress.
Young men — often referred to the organisation by the judicial system, to prevent them from ending up in prison — are supported by one-to-one mentors through their journey. Not only is St Austell Brewery helping to fund the group, but some of its staff are also training to become mentors.
Piers Thompson, head of external affairs at St Austell Brewery, presented the donation cheque from the brewery’s Charitable Trust. He said: “A Band of Brothers is doing extraordinary, life‑changing work with young men across Cornwall, and we’re proud to support a programme making such a tangible difference in our communities.
“Our donation will help ABOB train more local mentors, expand the 12‑week mentoring scheme, and provide ongoing community support for young men in Cornwall.”
Mentor and local businessman Sam Galsworthy first discovered ABOB around five years ago, through the Cornwall Community Foundation. After attending a graduation ceremony, he says he was “so moved” by what he witnessed that he knew he had to be involved.
Later, as High Sheriff of Cornwall, he made ABOB his chosen charity after a moment he describes as “a lightning strike”. While with the Devon and Cornwall Police forensics team in the emergency call room, he experienced a deeply affecting time.
Sam said: “Whilst working with Devon and Cornwall Police one evening, a hotline went off: a death — a young male, no suspicious circumstances. Half an hour later, another, the same again. Then another. Four calls in three hours. All young men and all from Cornwall. That moment crystalised for me just how urgent the situation was.”
Recognising the crisis facing young men in the county, he joined ABOB as a mentor. He described the experience as transformative.
“The most profound thing happens when you mentor — you get just as much back as the young men. At the passing-out ceremonies, the bravery of these young men — sharing their stories, often for the first time — is extraordinary.”
The St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust has been supporting local charities, community causes, and individuals in need across the South West since 2003. More information on the trust can be found here.
