Youth provision has always been a top priority in Durham Diocese. Now our churches are improving their offer after taking part in the Launchpad programme, designed by the Christian youth work charity Youthscape.
Launchpad is a series of training sessions for clergy and church leaders in parishes where there is little or no youth provision in place. The programme has given them the insights, strategies and confidence needed to introduce and further develop youth work in their church communities.
Here's the second in a series of case studies, exploring churches in Durham Diocese which have used Launchpad to breathe new life into their youth provision.
Hillside Church, Gateshead
An active youth set-up was already established within the Parish of Hillside, but with a group of teenagers heading off to university, church leaders had to find ways of reaching out to the next wave of children and young people.
Vicar, the Revd Glen Macknight, said Launchpad helped the parish to make the most of its existing resources and tailor it’s youth provision around what best suited the local community.
“We found the sessions really enjoyable and engaging,” said Glen. “Launchpad gave us a lot of really useful information and also encouraged all participating churches to share ideas. It was really helpful and it opened our minds as to what was possible. We weren’t expecting Launchpad to give us all the answers, it was a case of learning and sharing and being inspired to come up with ideas that would suit our circumstances.”
There are two churches within the Parish of Hillside, All Saints and St Cuthbert’s, which are known collectively as Hillside Church.
Glen said Launchpad came at the right time for Hillside, as it transitioned between one generation of older children and trying to identify the next. A temporary experiment of moving the youth group away from church into a community building was not successful, which promped a return to All Saints.
There then came a simple question from a grandmother attending the Church's Friday Cafe, The Joshua Tree. She asked: "Do you have a youth group?" This led to a mini explosion of interest.
Today, Hillside’s fortnightly youth group sessions attract a dozen young people, complementing the parish’s already established Sunday school and Messy Church.
“They key thing is that we have always been committed to youth provision and have a dedicated team of volunteers,” said Glen. “We have good foundations and were open minded about trying new things.
“Launchpad is there for all churches, but every parish is unique and has different challenges. Therefore, you have to be flexible and use the training material which is most relevant to your needs and it stimulates creative thinking.”
Such a strategy has enabled Hillside to find ways of reaching out to children and families who would not normally come to church, an initiative which has been spearheaded by Glen’s wife Janice.
“This is a challenge which has yielded positive results,” said Glen. “It has been a gradual process of sharing conversations, eating together and expressing an interest in their daily lives.”