NEWS
The Investing Together Values
VALUE: Intentionally include the gifts and contributions of children and young people as equal partners and participants in God’s Kingdom, investing time and resources to reflect this.
ENGAGE: Adjust infrastructures and systems to enable the voice and participation of children and young people to be genuinely equipped in the local and national church, ensuring opportunities for them to shape how we join in God’s mission.
COLLABORATE: Work together across perceived divides, creating inter-cultural, inter-generational and ecumenical connections so that children and young people truly feel part of God’s wider church. We want to see everyone playing a part in God’s mission to those around us.
The invitation to invest together was launched on 23rd March, and you can find the video of the launch here .
A website is being developed, but an introductory document can be found HERE.
We very much hope that member churches will:
a. Add your name to this invitation to the church, so that we can collectively ask them to more intentionally move towards these values.
b. Share any stories to inspire or other resources, so that we can add them to the webpage once it’s ready.
c. Get in touch with any queries or suggestions.
If you’d like to know more, please contact Sarah Lane Cawte: sarah.lane.cawte@ freechurches.org.uk
Or Sarah Holmes: sarah.holmes@cym.ac.uk
A chance to join the CoNNECT II online, 12th March 2026
CoNNECT II
Exploring Story: Chaplaincy - Reflection - Research
12th March 2026 · 10:30am - 4:30pm, Lumen United Reformed Church & Community Centre URC, 88 Tavistock Place London WC1H 9RS
Join us for an inspiring opportunity to connect and network, focusing on the power of case studies. Building on the success of the first CoNNECT day, we invite practitioners, educators, researchers, and all those dedicated to advancing chaplaincy and pastoral care in diverse settings. This day is designed for anyone eager to deepen their understanding of chaplaincy, enhance practices across various contexts, and empower chaplains through collaborative research. Visit here for more information and registration.
A chance to join the CoNNECT II online
In addition to the general admission tickets, we have now set up an online-only ticket at £6. You can visit here for more information and registration.
Investing Together - Online Launch, 23rd March 26, 1 pm
Having spent a year consulting and co-creating this charter, we are excited to invite you to the online launch of this initiative…
Monday 23rd March, 1 pm on Zoom
Please join us, and spread the word to invite any individuals, churches, partner orgs etc…everyone who is passionate about sharing the Gospel with children and youth is very welcome to join us! We are calling the UK church to invest together in the faith of children and young people, informed by research and equipped and empowered by all of the resources, tools and training collectively pooled by CYP organisations. We can reach more children and young people when we invest together.
From Gemma Madle & Hannah Bowden (Youthscape), Sarah Lane-Cawte (Free Churches Group) and Sarah Holmes (CYM)
Education Sunday 14th September 2025: Lost and found
“Lost and Found” is the theme for Education Sunday 2025.
On Education Sunday, 14 September, we will be looking at the well-known parables from Luke’s Gospel, the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin (Luke 15.1-10).
In our schools, colleges and universities, there are many young people who feel lost, or appear to be lost. This can be because the institutions are so big that they don’t feel noticed, because don’t feel they fit with the expectations of the institution or their peers or because of the unseen struggles at home. Others appear to us to be lost because of the way they behave or fail to engage.
The introduction to the 2025 Education Sunday theme has been written by Rev Viviene Royal, the Executive Head of two alternative provision schools in the West Midlands. She says: “Our work is about being relentless in the search: finding the young person who’s become disconnected, rebuilding trust, and unlocking the door to learning again. We focus on the individual, and one-to-one pastoral support is key. Like the shepherd and the woman, we search and we keep searching.”
Please visit the CTE website to download the Education Sunday resources.
In addition to the usual resources for worship, we will be hosting a webinar helping churches to explore the issues raised by the TV series Adolescence and to consider how churches might respond on Tuesday, 16 September, from 4.30–6 pm.
Nourishing Roots with Catherine Todd – ‘Silence Inside’
A day of reflection, restoration and retreat for chaplains with Catherine Todd – ‘Silence Inside’
Date and time: Wed, 19 Nov 2025 10:00 - 16:00 GMT
Location: The Garden Room, Quaker Meeting House, John Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1SJ
Please join us on Wednesday, 19th November at the Quaker Meeting House, John Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1SJ.
Nourishing Roots retreat days, held three times a year, are an opportunity for chaplains in healthcare, prisons, education and beyond to retreat, reflect and recharge spiritually and emotionally from their challenging ministry contexts.
Catherine Todd will lead the day. She has worked in prison chaplaincy since 2007 in various prisons and now works nationally, supporting chaplaincy in the Youth Custody estate. Previously, she has worked in parish ministry, midwifery and nursing. She has also trained as a psychotherapist. Her particular interest is in experiential spirituality, of meeting the holy in the moment, wherever and whatever that moment is like. Silence is a good medium for this, and the day will very much be based in silence, with attentive, deep listening practices.
Tickets cost £15 for FCG Chaplains or £25 for non-FCG Chaplains. Please contact Mark Newitt at mark.newitt@freechurches.org.uk for FCG Chaplains ticket. note that refunds can be issued up to 7 days beforehand, but for catering reasons not beyond that date.
Register your place HERE.
Image by Michael Schwarzenberger from Pixabay