How do I help my son with friendships

[jolo252]

My son is 13 and is really struggling with friendships. To the extent he was being bullied at school and we are thinking about moving him to a different school. It's now the school holidays in NI, and they will be off for 8 weeks.
We are not from the area and have no family nearby or friends with children of a similar age. The village is very clicky with a large portion of families having several generations from the village, meaning that they have very established friendship groups.
He does go to cadets and boxing, but again, he has not made any friendships.
I guess I am looking for 2 answers

1. Ideas on what he can do over the 8-week holidays except sitting in front of his Xbox.
2. How to help him make friends

Does he want friends? Weird question I know.
Cadets and boxing are both great ways to make friends.
What does he enjoy? If gaming does he have online friends?

If he enjoys cadets and boxing then at least he is with others while doing those activities.
Did he go to primary school in the area? Are there any old friends from there he could catch up with one or twice over the summer?

If he is feeling the lack friends can you do a few teenage things with him over the summer so he will still have fun? Cinema etc- stay out a bit later than usual.
It’s really tough when there are struggling friendships wise. When we had the same we just tried to up the fun with family a little.

My teen finds the holidays a welcome break away from pressure to socialise.

Where abouts are you? Could he go to a surf camp ? Benone/bundoran depending where ? If close to Derry or Belfast they probably have things on for teenagers too.

Could he meet up with anyone from cadets or boxing? Is there anyone in the street he could hang about with?