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Getting your youthwork off the ground

Equipping church leaders and clergy to get youth work started in their church.

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What clergy are saying about Launchpad

“The course really helped me to think practically and strategically about youth work and its place in the parish.’

Participant from Diocese of Chester

“The one-to-one mentoring in particular was a game changer for me”

Participant from Diocese of Exeter

“Launchpad gave me and my church team the confidence to take forward youth ministry as a church”

Participant from Diocese of Peterborough

“My experience of Launchpad is that it sharpened my focus.”

Gareth, Participant from Diocese of Exeter
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How does launchpad work?

  • Launchpad is a programme for church leaders focused on churches where there is little or no connection with young people (aged 10-18).
  • The programme consists of six sessions, giving church leaders insights into youth ministry; how to overcome challenges, and develop a strategy for getting youth work off the ground.
  • The programme is grounded in the needs of each church and starts with a Youthscape trained facilitator visiting the parish in person to listen and learn about their particular context.
  • Launchpad ends with the sixth session, a commissioning, to which clergy are invited to bring others in order to mark the start of work within the parish.
  • Diocese may choose to support this ongoing work in different ways and our experience at Youthscape is that the success of Launchpad largely lies in the ongoing nature of relationships between Parish, Diocese and Youthscape.

Stories to Inspire

Why do church leaders value Launchpad?

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97% of clergy rate Launchpad as 8+ out of 10 as a training programme.

98% of participants understood what their church now needed in place to do youth work

To date, over 500 clergy have taken part in Launchpad, and is now running across more than 22 dioceses, representing a wide range of contexts - urban and rural, and spanning the theological breadth of the Church.

85% of Churches start a new youth work programme within 18 months of Launchpad

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AT LAUNCHPAD, OUR FIRM BELIEF IS THAT YOUTH WORK IS

POSSIBLE IN EVERY CHURCH COMMUNITY…


WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN YOURS?

FAQ

Where does Launchpad take place?

Launchpad is working with over 20 dioceses across the country. If you are unsure if it is running in your diocese, please contact your Diocese directly and if not, please contact us. It is for each diocese to decide the timings and location of individual courses. Courses are run by a Youthscape-trained facilitator who will often be based in the Diocese.

Who is Launchpad for?

Launchpad is aimed specifically at the Incumbent or Priest-in-Charge of an Anglican Church because our experience tells us that the energy for youth work must come from the top. As youth work develops in your context, it may not stay the practical responsibility of the incumbent but it must start with you.

How does Launchpad benefit me?

Launchpad aims to build knowledge, confidence and momentum. It is vitally important that clergy do not feel alone in the task to welcome young people into a Church community and to see it become truly intergenerational

What if I am not leading an Anglican Church?

Launchpad is currently funded by the National Church of England and is therefore available to all Anglican Churches. However, our aim is to be able to resource all Churches that wish to welcome young people and if this is you, please contact us

What if I already have youth work in my context?

Launchpad is aimed specifically at churches where there is little or no connection with young people. If you have some form of ministry happening Youthscape Essentials might be for you. Find out more

Will the parish have to pay to take part?

There is no cost to take part; the Diocese, and Youthscape cover the cost of the programme and your workbooks. You’ll get the opportunity to view some of Youthscape's resources throughout the programme and receive a discount code to the store upon your completion of the programme.

What does Launchpad consist of?

Each of the five core sessions takes place around a shared meal. Sessions offers an insight into the lives of young people today through their own voices, as well as through an academic text. Clergy work alongside peers from their dioceses and with a trained youth work facilitator who will visit each Parish offering thoughts as to next steps.

What do participants need to commit?

Incumbents commit to five sessions and a final Celebration which marks the start of the journey for individual Churches and for the Diocese as a whole. Additional to the sessions, Launchpad includes at least one Parish visit and a coaching call to support development. Youthscape are proud to be research-based every cohort has the opportunity to be involved in the longer term.

How was Launchpad developed?

Launchpad was first piloted in 2017 with clergy in the Church of England. Our content has been developed following updated research, new resources and feedback from our partners.

Who delivers the programme?

Youthscape works with expert youth leaders as facilitators, who deliver and customise the programme to the clergy in their own region. Launchpad’s success lies primarily in the ongoing relationships formed between the Clergy, the Diocese and Youthscape.

Where is it currently being run?

Launchpad is currently being run in the Angican Dioceses’ of Bath & Wells, Birmingham, Bristol, Canterbury, Chelmsford, Derby, Ely, Exeter, Guildford, Hereford, London, Oxford, Portsmouth, St Albans, St Eds & Ipswich, Truro, Blackburn, Chester, Durham, Newcastle.

The Launchpad Team

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Alice Smith

Director of Church Development

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Becca Willett

Senior Regional Partnerships Officer - North

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Lou Mcgoldrick

Regional Partnerships Officer - Midlands

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Chris Scorah

Regional Partnerships Officer - South

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Charlotte Barnes

Digital Resources Assistant

Contact Us

If this is of any interest, or if you’re curious to know more, we’d love you to get in touch.

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