Last month, Marc from the YCW National Team visited the Preston YCW group to discuss their work, how they could help with the current National Campaign – MIND! The Gap – and what plans they have for the future.
About a dozen young members were there to discuss the topics with Marc and took the opportunity to elect their President, Secretary and Treasurer for the Group. They also shared with him some very positive press coverage recognising their activities and the benefits it has brought them.
Comments included that YCW/IMPACT gave them greater social skills, encouraged them to be more supportive of each other and explore how they can make positive differences.
In addition to this, it was great to see the recent success at the Million Minutes Awards being celebrated by the Group and Diocese. In the Jimmy Mizen Award Category, a YCW member in Lytham called Ella Holliday won the award for promoting solidarity and peace.
Ella is currently the youngest member of the 'Young Peace Journalists'. She chose the refugee crisis as her focus and built her own links with various agencies to make contact with refugees. Within that work and her work as a Anti-Bullying Respect Ambassador she witnesses to and communicates the gospel message. Her teacher has said of her: “Ella is an inspiration, she lives out the Gospel values each day; her presence and maturity of faith in action is beyond her years."
Marc also took the chance to discuss our MIND! The Gap campaign and run through some of the SEE stage questions that we are currently covering through a survey on our website. The feedback from Preston was about the pressures of studies and work-life on young people.
Finally, there were exiting plans from the Group to visit our partner YCW groups and young people around the world.
Marc Besford welcomed the achievements of the Preston YCW Group saying: "The work being done by the Young People here is extraordinary. They are tremendous advocates for themselves and their peers. I hope to see their efforts continue and look forward to what else they can offer to our movement. Thanks also to Terry for his sterling work as ever being the Chaplain to the Group."
