CLERGY from 11 parishes across our diocese gathered to mark an exciting milestone - the completion of the very first Youthscape Launchpad training cohort in our diocese.

Across the UK, churches are wrestling with the reality that church engagement with young people is in decline. Only one in four churches now offers youth work on Sundays or midweek.

Many parishes feel unsure where to begin, especially when budgets are tight, volunteers are hard to find and traditional models no longer seem to fit the changing culture. The idea of starting something fresh can feel daunting. Launchpad offers a hopeful and practical way forward with regard to a church's youth work.

Launchpad is a new programme designed to give church leaders the insights, strategies and confidence they need to help the church take this step forward.

The five-session programme creates space to rediscover a passion for young people, explore new and realistic approaches and imagine what a thriving youth presence could look like in each unique parish context.The training encourages participants to work with one of three practical models:

• Build Up: Developing youth work from existing children’s work
• Build Out: Developing youth work from young people already within the church
• Build In: Developing youth work from new connections with young people outside the church

Launchpad is a chance to think again, to see the possibilities that arise through innovation, informed strategy, and a renewed vision for youth work in church.

At the celebration event, Bishop Jonathan heard first-hand from participants who spoke of renewed vision and described their initial thoughts and plans for starting youth work in their parishes.

He said: "I was particularly struck by hearing from a number of those who had participated in the programme. They consistently spoke of the new vision, confidence and deep encouragement that this Youthscape programme had brought to their ministries."