|
Wellingborough Openfires event |
The Annual Report of the Gen 2 Project has been published revealing more engagement with young people and growing cultural change towards youth ministry in the Diocese.
The Gen 2 Project was set up in 2018 with a £1.1m investment from the Church Commissioner’s Strategic Development Fund to invest in the training and employment of children and youth mission enablers. This resource would allow patterns of innovative and effective outreach and discipleship amongst young people to develop which could be replicated elsewhere.
Despite the impact of Covid on the project, which caused a decline in fundraising and volunteer availability, the project continues to obtain good outcomes. Both primary and secondary school age groups have been impacted positively, with more outreach programmes being created for those aged 11-18 and crucially a huge increase up to 95% of parishes engaging with young people in some way, either through services, specific age-based groups or schools.
|
Towcester Little Sprouts Toddler Group |
Challenges remain to steer the project on to a secure financial footing so that this vital missional work can be retained. Part of this is spreading the good news stories from each deanery so everyone can see the impact of the youth mission enablers and support them through their parishes. Project Co-ordinator Monica Isaacs said; ‘it is vital that we now demonstrate what a huge difference these children and youth focused resources can have in our communities. Very few parishes can afford their own youth worker, but by sharing the resources across a large area, with the support of volunteers, we can make a huge impact. We want the legacy of the Gen 2 Project to mean that children and young people, the future of our Church, are an increasing focus of our mission across the Diocese.’
To find out more about the Gen 2 Project and to read the Annual Report see https://www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk/about-us/children-youth/gen2-project.php