Mission
How green are we?
How is your parish doing in its quest to become carbon net zero by 2030?
How is the Diocese of Derby doing as a whole?
To know the answers, we need facts and figures.
We track those details using the Energy Footprint Tool that is available to all parishes.
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How green are we?
The Energy Footprint Tool, available to all parishes provides the facts and figures.
This easy-to-use tool will tell your church what your carbon footprint is annually, based on the energy you use to heat and light your buildings. The tool is provided for free!
It is a great feeling to know that you are making a difference and reassuring you that you are on the right Practical Pathway to Net Zero 2030.
All over the diocese, PCCs are moving to green-energy suppliers, others are moving away from fossil-fuel heating systems, some are moving towards more energy-efficient lighting, and all are considering how they can reduce their energy consumption.
Reducing consumption has the obvious benefit of reducing bills. But knowing your carbon footprint may support applications for funding to help you on your Net Zero journey. Reduced energy consumption means you really are caring for God's creation, helping to sustain a greener environment to live and work in, etc.
You are helping the diocese to fulfil elements of its vision – becoming greener, and ultimately challenging climate injustice by reducing inequalities, making the world a better and fairer place. Good news for all!
We should be immensely proud of our continuing efforts to reduce our carbon footprints and being able to demonstrate it with the hard evidence you can get from the Energy Footprint Tool.
The tool makes use of data that the CofE already holds about your church buildings, and that means it needs very little additional input from you.
It was designed to be simple. If you need assistance we are here to help, so get in touch.
All you need is to have your 2024 electricity and gas/oil bills to hand and input the figures to the Energy Footprint Tool by Monday, 30 June 2025.
This will make a huge difference to your church, the diocese, and the CofE.
For further help with the Energy Footprint Tool, contact the Net Zero Carbon Team
Will Rolls
Net Zereo Carbon Program and Project Manager
Are you raising money for projects to help you cut your carbon footprint?
You could access a matched grant of up to £10k
Give To Go Green is a match-funding project from the Church of England helping you double your locally raised donations for carbon-cutting projects.
The scheme is available only in certain dioceses, including the Diocese of Derby!
Through a targeted digital fundraising campaign you will be able to engage your community in building a sustainable future for your church and the world around you.
Applications have re-opened with the following timetable:
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Funding is available for churches that want to carry out small to medium sized projects that will reduce their carbon footprint and cost between £5,000 - £20,000.
Churches can access a matched grant of up to £10k towards their project if they can raise the same amount through digital giving (through Give A Little) during a targeted six-week campaign in the autumn.
Ideally, this should cover the total cost of the project so you can get straight on with implementing it after you receive your grant.
>> Start by downloading the application pack
What can be funded?
- Carbon-cutting projects in churches and church halls.
- Eligible measures from the Practical Path to Net Zero.
- Eg: quick win projects to improve heating efficiency, fixing broken windows, heated seat cushions, solar PV (if you’ve done other efficiency measures), insulation, electrical upgrades, LED lights, pew heaters, draught proofing etc. A list of eligible measures can also be found in the Project Pack
- Other measures not on the list can be considered, if it has been recommended for your church to reduce energy and carbon.
Please note if your project will require a faculty or planning permission it will be very challenging to complete this in the required time. Please speak to the DAC office as early as possible to find out what permissions you will need.
What do you need to do?
- Read the Project Application Pack to find out whether your project could be eligible.
- Set up a small project team, and set up a Give A Little account if you don’t have one.
- Think about your project, ideally you’ll need to get three quotes – but if you have a good project and only estimated costs please consider applying.
- Complete the Energy Footprint Tool (see page 8 of the application pack)
- Submit your application by the 16 March 2025.
- If accepted, attend the onboarding webinars and plan your fundraising campaigns.
- Run your fundraising campaign between 17 May - 28 September 2025.
- Deliver your project and spend the grant within 12 months of receiving it.
Apply here
>> Use this link to access the Diocese of Derby application form (opens in a new window)
>> Read the Give to Go Green Privacy Policy which relates to the data collection of these forms.
>> If you need it, you can download a Sample Application Form for reference.
Growing Faith in Churches – Youth Ministry Resources
The wording around the national aim to grow and nurture active young disciples is important. As we strive to develop youth ministry across the diocese, this is about more than numbers in a room, or ticking a box for those who have responded to an altar call, but rather we are about making space for faith to grow and life-long faith journeys to be begun.
Please get in touch by emailing growingyounger@derby.anglican.org
The Quiet Revival - the story continues
The Bible Society have expressed their disappointment at the discovery that the Quiet Revival report was flawed because of the data that they recieved from YouGov.. They explain what happend and what they are doing to correct it.
.. 'this isn't the end of the Quiet Revival story. During the last year we've heard amazing stories of growth from churches across England and Wales. We've found new data and surveys that back up our conviction that a real change is happening. Our new report, The Quiet Revival one year on: what's the story? outlines our reasons for believing this. We hope you'll be encouraged'.
Click on the image to go to the full report
How do you conect with young people who care deeply
about their planet and the impact we are having on it.....
Follow this link to read the Youthscape research 'Burning down the house'.
Burning Down the House | Youthscape
Emotional and mental health resources
For those who have been affected by the recent TV series 'Adolescence', our colleagues at the Diocese of Leeds have collated some useful resources for young people, leaders, and parents to help form positive discussion around mental health and wellbeing.
Find them here.
Here are some more ideas for starting, developing and growing youth ministry in your church.
Confirmation Resources
Our colleagues at the Bath and Wells and Bristol Diocese have produced some excellent downloadable confirmation resources. If you have a young person or a group of young people you are preparing for confirmation and would like to use this resource, then click here to have a look and download your own version.
Youthscape Podcast
A fantastic resource for any Christian working with young people, the youthscape podcast has several years-worth of episodes covering a range of areas so there will be plenty for your context to learn. Find on any major podcast platform or here https://www.youthscape.co.uk/podcast
Youthwork Resources
Various fantastic organisations exist to support churches in running activities for young people with varying levels of faith involvement. Some of our recommendations include:-
Youthscape – originally working Luton, YS now has a national focus and is leading the way in research and innovation for Christian youthwork - https://www.youthscape.co.uk/
Scripture Union – in addition to their decades of church based youth and children’s resources, they are focussing most of their work resourcing churches to reach the 95% of children and young people nationally who have no connection with church - https://content.scriptureunion.org.uk/resources-activities
The RSCM – for more traditional contexts church choirs can provide a way of engaging with young people, including developing them as young leaders. https://www.rscm.org.uk/learn-with-us/
Urban Saints Energize - Thousands of engaging and adaptable biblical sessions, training articles and support resources - https://www.urbansaints.org/what-we-do/online-resources
Living Out Love – a youth group resource
Our colleagues in Birmingham diocese have created a series of short films to help young people think through issues of sexuality, gender, relationships, and justice based on the six pastoral principles which are:
- Acknowledging Prejudice
- Speaking into silence
- Addressing ignorance
- Casting out fear
- Admitting hypocrisy
- Paying attention to power
They come in two versions a 30 min and 60 min versions, they can be used all together or as stand-alone sessions. To download your free copy click here.
Local partners
Valley Cids - an independent Christian charity based in Derbyshire, committed to serving children, young people and families through out-reach work in schools and the wider community. https://www.valleycids.co.uk/
The Peak Centre – A Christian-run activity centre in the Peak district that gives preference to young people - https://www.peakcentre.org.uk/
Training
As a diocese we seek to facilitate training of youth leaders, both paid and volunteer. We are keen to invest in potential youth leaders. For training opportunities and events click here
Alternatively, members of the diocesan staff are ordained/licensed lay readers and can come preach/speak to churches/PCCs about the place of youth ministry in the church. If you would like to do a training day with your volunteer team(s) or to discuss options, then contact growingyounger@derby.anglican.org
Networking with other churches
Across the diocese we are setting up or supporting regional networks of paid/volunteer youth workers. If this would interest you then email growingyounger@derby.anglican.org
We also work with Missional Church Youth Network – an organisation seeking to enable local schools, churches and community projects to work together to reimagine church with young people. They facilitate a Learning Community in order that youth leaders and volunteers can come together for training, encouragement, prayer and support as they build for the future. https://www.mycn.org.uk/
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This page is under development
Follow this link to go to the general information page Caring For God's Acre – the conservation charity for burial grounds across the UK
Follow this link for the Childrens activity sheets. Childrens-Activities-2025-compressed.pdf
All ministry needs to start with prayer. We grow in faith as we connect with God’s heart for people. As we pray for schools and their children, our heart for the children and the staff at the school grows and we see God move.
Ask, Seek, Knock
Matthew 7:7-11
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"
Put Friday 26th September in your diary and join the National Day of Prayer
On the National Day of Prayer for Schools we encourage christians across the UK to set aside time to pray for their local schools. This year, join us in praying for the education system in our country, and for children, young people, teachers, non-teaching staff, visiting organisations, and Christians who support in the schools and colleges within your community on Friday 26th September 2025.
Get together with other Christians from your church or in your local community on the National Day of Prayer for Schools and pray for your local schools. You could do this in a variety of ways:
- Go on a prayer walk together
- Pray outside your local school(s)
- Put together a creative prayer space with activities to prompt prayers
- Organise a prayer gathering
- Get together with Christians you know who work in schools and pray for them and their school
Click this link to find out more, get resourses and book your place on a National time of prayer on Zoom.
This guide is to help you pray for students and teachers. You can use it to pray for students and teachers around the world, but we would suggest that you make it a bit more local and begin to intercede for the schools around you.
Click this link to upload the guide
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This page is under development
Were here to help you to make your church a welcoming space for everybody.
There are many ways in which we can take steps, sometimes very small ones, to make people feel more welcomed into a space. That is true of people of all ages but, here in the Growing Younger Team, we are trying to find ways of helping you to be creative in the ways that you make your services and events more accessible to children and young people regardless of the challenges they face. Trying to help you remove as many barriers as possible between the children and young people in your communities and God.
Here are some ideas but if you know of more, please do let us know so that we can add them to this list.
How to Make Your Children’s Ministry Space More Accessible
Jesus’ ministry routinely included people with disabilities. People of all abilities can learn, play, and study the Bible together.
So consider…how inclusive is your space? What can you do to make sure everyone feels welcome? We asked Charla Holst, occupational therapist and founder of Overcomer Ministries, how churches can best modify spaces to include people of all abilities.
Take this simple evaluation (by clicking this link) to help your children’s ministry space be more disability friendly.
The Additional Needs Alliance – helping churches to include, support, create places of belonging for, and spiritually grow children, young people and young adults with additional needs or disabilities. Among our Members are many individuals and organisations that offer a range of excellent services and resources to assist churches and other groups working in this area to make a real difference for their community.
Christian BSL provides British Sign Language (BSL) translations of Christmas carols and for words and phrases related to Advent and Christmas. The videos are presented by Deaf BSL users who are practising Christians.
Including everyone – SEN inclusion in church children’s and youth groups
Follow this link to find the free online training video plus some other really helpful material; supporting your church in starting on a road to greater inclusion https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/
Creative Calm course starts Monday 13th April 2026 from 8.00pm-9:15pm
Topics and techniques covered:
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Understanding your nervous system from a neuroscience perspective
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The power of movement in regulation
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Breathing techniques that help you stay calm in a crisis
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Opportunities for spiritual connection and reflection and prayer
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Using our senses to regulate, reset and rest
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and more!
Session 1: Monday 13th April 2026
Session 2: Monday 20th April 2026
Session 3: Monday 27th April 2026
Session 4: Monday 4th May 2026
Session 5: Monday 11th May 2026
Session 6: Monday 18th May 2026
All sessions 8.00pm – 9.15pm
For more informationm, email creativecalm@creativehertstherapy.co.uk and visit Creative Calm | Enhance Wellbeing—Join Now — Creative Herts Therapy
For more information, contact the Growing Younger Team at GrowingYounger@derby.anglican.org
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Our Diocesan Vision is that the Kingdom of God is good news for all, and that fundamentally includes Children, Young People and Families.
A key priority of our Parish Support Team strategy is to support and enable parishes to Grow Active Young Disciples. The Growing Younger team has been put together around this priority and a lot of our work is based around the national Church of England movement that is Growing Faith.
We really hope that the Growing Younger pages give you what you need to strengthen your ministry amongst children and young people. We try to cover all areas of your ministry; celebrate your local stories and inspire new growth.
Contact us at GrowingYounger@derby.anglican.org if there is anything we can do to support you in growing a ministry or building a new ministry amongst children and young people.
Click this link book your place at our leaders' gathering
For some, simply connecting with others was a real highlight of our recent conference. A chance to catch-up with those on similar journeys of faithfully growing children and young people’s ministry.
This is your opportunity to continue those connections with friends old and new. If you lead children and young people’s ministry in your setting (whether paid of voluntary) we invite you to come and be a part of a community of encouragement and shared learning. We we are planning more opportunities to gather together, timings and days will vary to allow a range of people to be able to attend.
Our next gathering is:
Wednesday 15th July 10am-2pm: Church House, Full Street, Derby, DE1 3DR
Lunch is included
Come with questions to ask or stories to share.
Explore eco church with Hazelnut Community
Never too old to make a difference for young people in your church
Click on the image for to play the video.
Growing a Younger Church newsletter.
Are you on the mailing list for our mailing? It's packed full of creative ideas and resources for you to use in your Parishes; whether you are starting out with a dream to build something new with your children and young people or whether you have an established group and are looking for fresh ideas.. We've got you. We are also going to be sharing stories from across the Diocese of ways that churches are ministrering to their children and young people so do send in your stories that we can share with others.
We send the mailing out every couple of months.. all you need to do is sign up and you will receive the mailing direct to your In-Box.
Sign up for our mailing by following this link
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Meet the Growing Younger Team
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Growing Younger Communications & Resourcing Officer (job-share)
Debbie Patrick
01332 388665
debbie.patrick@derby.anglican.org
Debbie works on a Monday and Wednesday
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Growing Younger Communications & Resourcing Officer (job-share)
Rowan Rankin
01332 401726
rowan.rankin@derby.anglican.org
Rowan works on a Monday and Wednesday
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Growing Younger Communications & Resourcing Officer (job-share)Debbie Patrick 01332 388665 debbie.patrick@derby.anglican.org Debbie works on a Monday and Wednesday
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Growing Younger Communications & Resourcing Officer (job-share)Rowan Rankin 01332 401726 rowan.rankin@derby.anglican.org Rowan works on a Monday and Wednesday
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If you are looking to develop your youth, children's families and/or schools ministry, or if you have stories of innovative ministry with children, young people and families to share with others.....
please get in touch at growingyounger@derby.anglican.org.
Accessible Church Symbols Project
We want every person to have access to worship in our churches so we have created this resource to help churches to think about their buildings and give them the tools they need to easily assess their spaces from an accessibility point of view.
Our series of symbols can be freely used in churches to publicise how accessible they are to people with specific access needs or requirements, enabling them to assess outlining the accessibility of church buildings and services, and enabling them to make further enquiries.
They are available on a dedicated website:
Introducing the Disability Inclusion Action Group (DIAG)
Disability inclusion and access is taken very seriously by the Diocese of Derby.
Volunteers, with a range of disabilities and challenges, who all share the passion of making positive change across the diocese launched the DIAG to support the diocese and parishes to become as inclusive to disabled people as they possibly can be.
Our work is focused around three key themes - Attitude, Access, and Agency.
The group meet regularly and is chaired by Carl Veal. The group always welcomes interest and/or enquiries from congregation and churches across the diocese.
What can we do for you?
Our goal is to serve the needs of the disabled within the Diocese of Derby.
All of our activities and tools are designed by the group towards making the lives of those with challenges easier within the churches across our diocese.
Our information is intended for all the people of the diocese; clergy, church leaders and parishoners alike and currently includes:
- The provision of accessibility advice and you may contact us directly at diag@derby.anglican.org. We would love to hear from you.
- As we progress, we will be offering seminars both online and in groups – keep a look out for announcements.
- We can offer advice based on the very personal experiences of living with a range of disabilities. The members of the diag group are comprised of volunteers mostly with disability or multiple disabilities of some form.
We are currently working on making available a Braille print toolkit; and a BSL toolkit which willl include how to engage British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters. We are also liiking into access to completing a successful accessibility audit through an audit toolkit.
NB: All contact is treated in confidence and information will only be shared with express consent.
Get Involved
We’d love to hear from you as your thoughts and experiences of church life and disability are important in developing best practice.
So whether you’re an individual with ‘lived’ or ‘caring' experience of disability, or a church, or community organisation, do get in contact with us.
We love to hear of new projects and events, and if you want to get more involved then we're always welcoming to new members joining our steering group.
DIAG related stories on the Diocese of Derby website
>> Bishop Malcolm experiences church from a wheelchair user’s perspective
>> Special service raises awareness of disability inclusion in churches
Resources
Have an accessible Christmas [PDF]
Special Edition - Disability Matters - June 2025 [PDF]
Bulletin produced by the CofE Disability Task Group to draw attention to the Government's proposed Welfare Reforms and how this could affect people.
Ramps - improving wheelchair access [YouTube]
Pioneering New Testament for dyslexic readers [webpage]
People of all ages with ADHD and Autism [webpage]
Disability Awareness Sunday [webpage]
Supporting Autistic individuals in our churches [YouTube]
DIAG Chairman's report 2021-2022 [PDF]
All Stand brochure [PDF]
Disabling Church - report by Cptn Tim Rourke C.A. [PDF]
'Support Reimagined' - CofE and Livability [webpage]
Christian BSL
Songs, hymns, and carols in British Sign Language (BSL) signed by Deaf Christians.
Global Accessibility Awareness Day
2025 date to be announced. Purpose of the day is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than One Billion people with disabilities/impairments.
Through the Roof
A registered charity that exists to transform lives through Jesus with disabled people.
Christian Aid is asking people to join the global day of action on Saturday, 6 November, as people around the world take to the streets to march together for climate justice.
Many walks and marches are planned throughout the country, and for those who are unable or prefer not to join an organised event, there is the opportunity to join a virtual march, for which thousands have already registered.
The COP26 climate talks provide a unique opportunity for the nation to call on the UK Prime Minister and world leaders to take action that will end climate injustice.
Christian says our leaders must:
- increase financial support to the world’s poorest countries to confront the climate crisis take action
- limit global temperature rises to 1.5C
- take action to stop the expansion of fossil fuel energy and to support clean energy
Find out more on the Christian Aid website.
