How can Dd15 make friends?

[GizmoIsSoFluffy]

She is very sad she has no friends, and with GCSEs soon she could really do with a support network.

Background

• struggles socially (as do I, hence I don't know how to help her)
• she has always been 'old' for her age.
• struggles with self confidence

But she is exceptionally kind and caring, and very clever. So gentle she will never swear and always has to follow the rules, even if it upsets her.

When she started secondary all her friends were given a different school - thus always upset her.

She did make a good friend at secondary, but 6 months ago they abandoned DD with no explanation. I get that friendships change over time; that's life.

Any ideas how she can make friends? I feel for her enormously. She gets so sad about not having friends.

What clubs do they have a school? Where I teach we have a number of clubs that encourage people like your daughter to join and meet others. An art club?

Can she get involved with some other groups outside school? Activities may help- guides/ rangers/ art/ drama/ volunteering- can she do d of e?
What is she into? If science, lots of opportunities for girls in stem activities. Coding?

Venture scouts is that age category my sil helps to run a group and they have a range of kids attend.
Alt old enough to volunteer at somethings they are interested in. My DD has just started helping at local swim club lessons, she’s in the pool with the 5/6yr old kids. She was super nervous first two sessions but is enjoying it. The local Rainbows group may need extra hands.
It’s a tough age when girls can be quite fickle but if she can something that interests her she may well find her “tribe”. This age group like a lot have been hit hard by the lack of socialising with covid and need quite a confidence boost I think.

Scouts/Guides, local theatre group (backstage role?), sport, volunteering (National Trust has youth groups)

Find more of a niche hobby club. I work in the arts and lots of art galleries have youth programmes for teens where they get involved in all sorts of activities, and they're usually desperate for new young people as their funding relies on it. They usually attract a more mature and shier type of teen. Email your local galleries/museums to find out what they have for teens.

Thankyou everyone

My local library has a Manga club specifically for teens. Might be worth checking if your library has something similar.

Park Run.

Try some of the less mainstream sports:

Hockey
Tennis
Rowing

All have a good mixed crowd. You could go together at first. She could get involved in coaching/helping too.

Ds2 has social anxiety and is being assessed for asd. He finds social situations hard. Outside of school he does dance and musical theatre and has found companionship through these if not close friendship. He does have a small group of friends at school, made through lunchtime activities.