These resources are aimed at supporting parishes and deaneries to engage with young people of secondary school age and above.
GROW: Youth Discipleship Ambassadors
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12
What is GROW: Youth Discipleship Ambassadors?
Whether you are part of a large thriving youth group, or the only young person connected with your church, GROW is about investing in young people as disciples of Jesus.
Together we explore themes of scripture, worship, prayer, love, generosity, sharing faith and rest through small group discussion and a lot of fun – all deeply rooted in how we each Live Christ’s Story.
GROW: Discipleship Youth Ambassadors is for young people between the ages of 11-16. Participants will spend a year exploring themes above, and at the end of the year, participants are commissioned as a Youth Discipleship Ambassadors, equipped to be more actively involved in mission and ministry with their church, and in supporting younger people on their faith journeys.
Where and When?
In 2025, GROW will take place in 5 locations across the diocese: Stokesley, Scarborough, North Holderness, York and Southern Ryedale. The gathered sessions will be just over an hour long, each month from January to November, with the Commissioning service taking place in January 2026 at York Minster. Details of dates and times are available here.
What are the benefits to you?
- Space to explore and deepen your faith.
- Challenges and support, to help you grow as a disciple.
- Commitment from the local church and the diocese to disciple and listen.
- Opportunity to spend time with other young people and have fun whilst exploring faith in Jesus.
- Input from experienced leaders to support your growth in faith.
What are the benefits to your church?
- Support and resources to enable young people to flourish in their own discipleship. This is especially useful if you don’t have an employed or volunteer youth worker.
- Opportunity to intentionally listen to the voices of young people and adjust your provision accordingly so that you are able to reach out effectively and relevantly to your community.
- New ideas and insights for the whole congregation to deepen their own discipleship, particularly regarding the Rhythm of Life resources.
- Evidence for younger families considering joining your worshipping community that you will invest in their children as they grow into teenagers.
What is the commitment required from the Local Church?
- Regular prayer for the young people on the programme.
- Provision of opportunities for the young person to serve in the life of the church and community and share what they are learning about discipleship with members of the worshipping community.
- Celebration of the young person’s achievements including attendance of family and supporters at the commissioning service in January 2026.
Take Part!
Registering to be part of GROW is very straightforward. A simple application form can be accessed here. Once the application has been received and processed, you will be contacted.
Any Questions?
If you would like to have a conversation with a member of the team, please get in touch:
Sammi Tooze, Discipleship Adviser Angela Brymer, Children and Youth Adviser
Online Youth Work
Most youth organisations have avoided the use of video conferencing – which means the guidance is lagging behind. We need to engage effectively with our young people, but that we do so in a way that protects them and us.
Below you will find a parent permission form and guidelines for online engagement. If you require word versions please email childrenandyouth@yorkdiocese.org
Online Youth Engagement Parent Consent
PDF / 357 KB
Online Youth Engagement Risk Assessment
PDF / 336 KB
Online Youth Engagement Communication Log
PDF / 69 KB
Guidelines for Video Conferencing with Young People
PDF / 353 KB
Zoom Shortcuts
PDF / 268 KB
Getting Started with Zoom Part 1
PDF / 829 KB
Getting Started with Zoom Part 2
PDF / 554 KB
Guidelines for Working Online with Children
PDF / 374 KB
Youth Curriculum Resources
Below are session ideas that can help your youth group engage more deeply with the Bible. Choose a single session, or plan a whole year, it’s as flexible as your needs. Take a look at the Introduction and User Guide to see what Bible passages and themes are covered and how to get the most out of the material.
Introduction and User Guide
PDF / 560 KB
Abraham
PDF / 433 KB
Jacob and Esau
PDF / 404 KB
Joseph
PDF / 438 KB
Paul
PDF / 409 KB
Parables
PDF / 404 KB
Priests
PDF / 354 KB
Miracles of the Day
PDF / 391 KB
Actions of Jesus
PDF / 415 KB
Moses
PDF / 503 KB
Miracles of Jesus
PDF / 510 KB
Judges
PDF / 397 KB
Jonah
PDF / 387 KB
Exile
PDF / 451 KB
Pentecost and the Early Church
PDF / 405 KB
YFC Interactive Youth Edition of the Good News Bible
Youth for Christ and Bible Society have teamed up to create a truly unique Bible that meets the needs of young people today by connecting directly to their world.
It features:
- links to a dedicated YouTube playlist with 30 videos unpacking and offering support on key themes and issues found in the Bible.
- Hundreds of interactive elements throughout the Bible to encourage a deeper engagement with the text
- space on each page for writing, doodling and drawing
- full-page introduction to each book of the Bible, showing what it’s all about and how it fits into a bigger story
- 32 colour pages of key things to know about the Bible, help with tough topics, and journalling space