The Children and Youth Ministry Support team exists to help every parish in our diocese become a place where children, young people and their families can encounter the love of Jesus and truly thrive. This is core to the Growing Younger priority in the diocesan vision.
We dream of seeing children and teenagers who love being part of churches that love having them there — churches where they are welcomed, known, and valued.
What that looks like in practice varies hugely across the diversity of London. For some churches, it means finding ways to include children and young people in the life of the church — like welcoming them as servers, involving them in the worship group, or making sure they have a voice in shaping a community project. For others, it’s about offering age-appropriate ministry: from parent-and-toddler groups to youth clubs, holiday clubs, or fresh expressions like
But often, it starts with something really simple: learning the names of the young people in your church, asking good questions, and making space to listen well.
So how do we help your church find its way to welcome and disciple children, young people, and their families?
We answer your questions
Whether it’s about recruiting volunteers, choosing a new resource, or figuring out how to support a specific young person — we’re here for it. We respond to all sorts of queries, big and small.
Sometimes a church gets in touch because a new family has joined and their children are struggling to settle. Sometimes a vicar wants to revisit their church’s long-term vision for children’s ministry. Whatever the situation, we’ll help you ask the right questions and offer practical, grounded advice to help you take the next faithful step.
If you’re not sure where to begin, our resources page is a great place to start — or just get in touch.
We offer training
We want every volunteer and every children’s, youth, or family worker to feel equipped and encouraged in their role.
That’s why we offer a wide variety of training — from local, half-day sessions for volunteers to specialist one-off events with guest speakers. We’ve also developed several online options and downloadable materials so churches can deliver training in-house, at times that suit their context.
You can explore our training opportunities here. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for — ask us. If we can’t offer it directly, we’ll try to signpost something that meets the need.
We support paid workers
Many churches across the diocese employ children’s, youth or families workers — and we know how important it is that these staff are supported well.
We offer tailored support for line managers and clergy, as well as spaces for workers themselves to reflect, grow and feel part of a wider network. This includes regular network gatherings, 1:1 support, and help with job descriptions, recruitment, and supervision.
We also advocate for the value of these roles across the church, helping parishes think through sustainability, funding and mission strategy when considering employed posts.
Ready to explore more?
Whether you’re starting from scratch or building on years of experience, the diocesan team is ready to walk the journey with you. You can find resources, training and advice via our main support page.
Or if you’d prefer a conversation, drop us a line — we’d love to hear what’s going on in your church and how we can help. Email us at cypf@london.anglican.org.