Children & Youth

Why young people?

While young people face unique challenges, we also believe that God is doing a new thing through this generation.

We take our inspiration from Isaiah 61:

• …to proclaim good news for the poor 

We believe the voice of young people is marginalised in society; as we stand with them, we will together seek to speak up on their behalf and give them a voice both in what we do and in wider society. 

•  …to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour… to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair 

We recognise this is a hurting generation, but we see the image of God in each and every young person we work with. In all we do, we place value on their lives and their stories and seek to intentionally build up their self-worth to enable them to thrive and flourish. 

• …they will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations

We believe young people have unbridled potential; potential to dream, to lead and to restore the forgotten places and rebuild communities. We’re committed to raising up disciples of Jesus within our tradition of social change and justice, not only for the future, but for the here and now.

Being-with and being-for young people

Throughout the Bible we see God’s plan for humanity in our connections with one another and our connection with God. Since 2021 we’ve been using the word ‘withness’ to describe this.  

Jesus came to be with us and to teach us this withness. From gathering around tables to eat and drink in remembrance of Jesus to our healing Jesus in hospitals, feeding Jesus in our soup kitchens, sheltering Jesus in our homeless shelters, welcoming Jesus in the refugee, or visiting Jesus when he’s incarcerated, we are practising withness with God as we practise it with one another.*

Essential to every relationship is the connection that comes from being ‘with’.

Our ministry with young people is about connection, one to another, about sharing in suffering and joy, about persons meeting persons with no pretence or secret motives. It is about shared life, confessing Christ not outside the relationship but within it.

As we share deeply in the lives of young people it leads them to discover a greater sense of value, of being heard, of being loved, of sensing the presence and of God’s activity in the world where liberation, wholeness, justice and salvation is found, not just confined to our buildings, but everywhere.

With God. With Creation. With one another. 

* Drew Downs. 2017. 'To Create Withness', Drew Downs. 7 October. Available at: drewdowns.net [Accessed 28 April 2022].

Our work with young people is focused around three integrated ministry essentials:

• Mission
• Discipleship
• Leadership

These essentials are rooted in The Salvation Army’s God-given identity.

Mission

Engaging with children and young people and the issues that affect them in their community. 

• Promoting innovative models of mission and justice.  
• Enabling and encouraging young people to join in with God's work in the world and to speak up on issues of justice impacting their lives. 
• Identifying resources and programmes that will nurture community and build up lives. 
• Prioritising outreach with young people on the margins. 

Discipleship

Equipping and inspiring children and young people to become passionate followers of Jesus Christ. 

• Promoting youth and children’s discipleship as a whole of life commitment. 
• Enabling young people to live out and share the gospel in their communities. 
• Identifying, developing and providing resources and training. 
• Prioritising soldiership as a covenanted lifestyle and radical expression of discipleship. 

Leadership

Equipping and empowering youth and children’s leaders of all ages to enhance their communities and our world. 

• Promoting and recognising leadership in everyone. 
• Enabling and empowering missional leaders. 
• Identifying, developing and providing resources and training. 
• Prioritising the exploration of vocational leadership.

The Children & Youth Department at Territorial Headquarters (THQ) is committed to equipping and developing youth and children’s leaders so they can perform their roles effectively.

Provisions have been made that enable grants to be offered for:

• Supporting volunteer youth and children’s leaders in developing themselves by attending training courses, conferences, formal study, accredited courses, and by attaining role-related professional qualifications.
• Supporting young people (youth and children aged 5-25) in leading and participating in a local project.
• Supporting volunteer youth and children’s leaders with resources, such as teaching materials and equipment.
• An initial investment for starting up a new outreach activity, such as a children or youth club focused on reaching young people within the community.

For paid youth and children’s leaders, the funding route for training is through SISTAD. Find out more about support for employees on sistad.org.

Apply for a grant

We have a number of grants youth and children's leaders can apply for.

• About Volunteer Children and Youth Leader’s Grants
• Youth and Children's Grants Evaluation

Application forms

• Young People's Outreach Grant
• Young People's Participation Grant
• Youth and Children's Resources Grant
• Volunteer Youth and Children's Leaders Training Grant

• Lieutenants Kat and Jonny Whitmore, Territorial Youth and Children’s Secretaries
• Phil Ball, Deputy Territorial Youth and Children’s Secretary
• Richard Prescott, Outreach Mission Partner (Children)
• Austen Hardwick, Discipleship Specialist (Children)
• Jo Taylor, Discipleship Specialist (Youth)
• Tracy Wood, Leader Development (Children)
• Matt Perkins, Leader Development (Youth)

Many divisions have youth specialists and children's workers. Contact your division to see what local support is available.

• Email: childrenyouth@salvationarmy.org.uk
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