ChurchWorks Summit On Covid Recovery

Later this month, the YCW will be participating in an important summit, alongside representatives from across the Christian faith to discuss priorities for Covid Recovery. We will be there to share the voice and experiences of young people, particularly those in the world of work or studying.

There are three workstreams which have been prioritised following the working group discussions and will include:

• 1. Mental health and wellbeing

  • Exploring a possible national campaign promoting wellbeing both within the Church and in the community

  • Exploring the role of faith within social prescribing and links to wellbeing-related church groups

• 2. Children and young people

  • Exploring possible Church involvement in the pilot roll-out of Family Hubs

  • Exploring the churches' role in strengthening youth work provision and advocacy to increase youth work funding

• 3. Social isolation

  • Exploring strategic volunteering opportunities related to the NHS

  • Exploring the role of faith within social prescribing and links to social isolation-related church groups

Our main focus will be on Section 2, where we have been helping so far to shape the discussions and contribute to the overall outlook.

Marc Besford, National President, said: “We are proud to be at the heart of this discussion and response to Covid. So many young people have been impacted by the pandemic and need their voices heard. There will be key decision makers at this event, so we want to take the opportunity to push for an ambitious and compassionate response to the issues facing young people.”

Here is the full agenda for the summit.

Can You Help Support The YCW?

The YCW is a Movement led by young people but is supported by a dedicated and committed base of supporters, many of whom were part of the YCW in their early years! We greatly appreciate any support they give, from financial support to being adult companions.

If you can help support the movement with a donation, please read below what that involves and how it will help.

Your contribution would help:

• develop a new generation of YCW leaders equipped through the SEE, JUDGE and ACT method.

• train and develop new “Companions”, the adults who accompany and support us

• produce new resources

• organise events across the country

To continue this vital and unique work we hope you can help support us financially.

Please download our standing order form to make a regular donation (including gift aid). Just fill it in and return to us at:

Young Christian Workers, St. Antony's House, Eleventh Street, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 1JF

If you would like more details or to speak to us directly about our work, please contact us on 0161 872 6017.

YCW Closed Over Christmas And New Year Break

This is just a short notice to inform our members, supporters and partners that we will be closed during the holiday period.

We will not be able to respond to any emails or phone calls until we return.

Normal office hours will resume from 4th January.

Thank you.

YCW National Team

Christmas Message

As we draw towards the end of 2021 we look back on a year that has challenged many of us and our movement. We have had to adapt to new ways of working, engaging young people and partners virtually rather than in person. So too have many young workers had to change how they work and study. Sadly, many have not been able to or have struggled to adapt. We hope 2022 will offer more opportunity to meet together.

In addition, there are still many young workers across the country who continue to be faced with hardship due to unemployment, low pay and precarious working conditions. Further afield from home we see worrying evidence of political unrest and war where the Christian values of love, peace and the common good are ignored in place of ideology, power and greed.

However, the season of Christmas provides us with an opportunity to dispel some of this darkness by focusing our hearts and minds upon the hope that the birth of the Prince of Peace delivers. Pope Francis in his Christmas Day message of 2014 reminded us;

"Where God is born, hope is born. He brings hope. Where God is born, peace is born. And where peace is born, there is no longer  room for hatred and for war."

We pray that in this season of Christmas the birth of the Christ child will enlighten our hearts so that we may all better live out His call to be missionary disciples to one another.

The YCW National Team wish you a very happy Christmas.

YCW To Work On Mental Health And Loneliness Campaign

Earlier this month, we gave an update on the work we have been asked to contribute to on Covid Recovery and the Church’s response to it. This work focuses on a range of issues, but especially those impacting on young people, such as mental health and loneliness.

So far, the project by ChurchWorks has identified these issues:

• Children and young people’s education had been severely disrupted during the pandemic.

• Young people’s networks have been reduced and their social skills and confidence to build them back up has been affected.

• Parents’ anxiety is sometimes stopping young people from re-engaging.

• State-funded youth work has been dramatically cut.

• Numbers of church-based volunteers working with kids and youth have also dramatically reduced during and after the pandemic.

• Young people have deep-set worries about identity and inclusion which have been exacerbated by the pandemic.

• Programmes which can run in and around schools and particularly from 4- 6pm are really needed and lacking for young people.

We know that our faith, our Church communities and movements like the YCW can all play a part in responding to these challenges. We should not be passive observers to the plight of young people in the wake of the pandemic. It is therefore crucial that we engage with this and promote what we can be doing to respond.

Mgr. John Marsland, National Chaplain of the YCW, said: “Over many years I have seen issues in the world of work, and outside of that, impact on young people but the pandemic has probably been the most disruptive. It is crucial we reflect on that in the YCW Movement and the wider Church. I hope that we can be an authentic voice for many young people during this project.”

Covid Recovery - ChurchWorks Collaboration With YCW

The ChurchWorks Commission for Covid recovery emerged as the next step of YourNeighbour.org in co-ordinating the Church’s response to the national Covid-19 pandemic. As the nation turns its attention to Covid recovery, ChurchWorks brings together leaders from over 10 major national church denominations and networks to have strategic conversations with government around Covid recovery.

In response to this work, the YCW was proud to be asked to support this project, particularly because it focused on areas relevant to young people but also because it highlighted issues that we have previously identified and worked on.

The Commissioners identified two priorities for the Commission in their first meeting in October 2021: mental health, and social isolation. They asked that interventions be targeted towards those disproportionately affected by the pandemic, namely, young people and people of colour.

Several years ago, the YCW ran the “Mind! The Gap” national campaign, which identified mental health and loneliness as a major issue facing young people.

We have therefore committed to support this commission and helping look at the role the Church can play in Covid Recovery.

Marc Besford, National President, said: “This is a great opportunity to bring our authentic experiences and those of our young leaders to national attention. We will collaborate with ChurchWorks to share these experiences and hopefully influence some change as a result.”