Children, Young People and Families

Equipped to Grow: Training and Support for Children, Youth and Families Ministry

Our diocesan vision is to be “a rejuvenating community of Jesus-centred, Kingdom-seeking disciples.” This vision inspires us to nurture faith across all generations, ensuring that every age group has a place in the life of the Church – where older members continue to model faithful discipleship and younger generations are empowered to live and lead as disciples of Jesus today.

In line with the Church of England’s bold goal to double the number of children and young people in our churches, we are focusing our energy, prayer, and resources on strengthening ministry to children, youth and families. We want every child and young person across south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to have the opportunity to encounter Jesus, grow in faith and take their place in God’s mission.

Our mission is to support, resource and champion practitioners as they work with children, young people and families, across the diocese.

Regular e-newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive a bi-monthly email newsletter containing stories from around the Diocese, new resources, book recommendations, local and national events and links to podcasts, research, and all things ‘children, youth & family’. Subscribe here.

Growing Faith

Our bishop, Bishop Jonathan, has already highlighted that he will prioritise our work with children, young people and young adults. As part of that, he has indicated that our diocese will be involved in a national project that brings together schools churches and households. It is called ‘Growing Faith’, and you can read more about our involvement with it here.

High Tide youth services

High Tide is the name given to regular youth services, activities and holidays that involve church youth groups across our diocese coming together. It’s an ecumenical group, with young people from all denominations worshipping and being discipled alongside each other. 

The High Tide youth leaders also run regular residential holidays. You can read more about High Tide here.

Choir Church

We're hoping to launch a series of Choir Church projects as part of our strategic focus on children and young people. This involves creating brand new choirs, recruited from local schools, which rehearse and perform choral music in school and church settings. Ultimately, these groups may be the core of a new worshipping community. Click here for more details.

Flourish

Flourish worshipping communities meet in schools or churches, and provide a link between home, school and church. They might be lunchtime discussion groups, or voluntary art and craft sessions with a spiritual theme, or after-school Messy Church. It's a national initiative that was launched by Bishop Jonathan, and is now running in four of our schoools. Details here.