Ten clergy from across our diocese have recently completed the Launchpad course, giving them skills and tools to begin youth work programmes in their churches.

Launchpad, developed by Youthscapes, is a five-week course designed for clergy with emerging or no current youth ministry, to encourage, equip and embolden them with new ideas, knowledge and confidence around working with young people. The programme was developed and piloted with churches in the Church of England in the Dioceses of London, St Alban’s and Blackburn, and is now running across over 20 Dioceses.

Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, and Rt Revd Malcolm Macnaughton, Bishop of Repton, presented the clergy with certificates as they celebrated their developing visions, strategies and commitment to youth ministry.

Bishop Libby shared her story of being a young person in a church youth group, and how the simple act of someone remembering her name had impacted her and helped her to feel a sense of belonging.

Alice Smith from Youthscape spoke about the importance of youthwork and shared pieces of art created by young people in response to Bible verses. These reflected how profoundly young people can think about complex and deep topics, and that they should not be underestimated.

As well as sharing in a time of prayer for the young people in our communities, the cohort talked about the impact that the course had on them and how motivated they are to keep youth ministry at the forefront of their prayers and plans moving forward.

You can read more about the resources the Diocese of Derby has available for working with young people on the Growing Younger pages of our website.