Hereford Diocese was awarded £500,000 Investment Programme funding from the Church of England's Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board in early 2024. This significant funding is matched by local diocesan investment mission funding to support the first of our exciting Youth Hubs pilot project in two key rural areas:
Leominster
Serving Leominster and surrounding villages, this hub will establish new worshipping communities tailored to the needs and interests of local young people while providing support and resources to churches throughout the area.
Bishops Castle
Focused on Bishop's Castle and neighbouring rural communities, this hub will pioneer innovative approaches to youth ministry that address the unique challenges and opportunities of deeply rural settings.
The Youth Hub research project represents a cornerstone of Hereford Diocese's strategic vision to grow younger and more diverse by 2030 in line with the Church of England’s vision. The funding is the first step toward our ambitious goal of establishing 25 new worshipping communities specifically designed for children and young people throughout rural Herefordshire, laid out in our strategic vision.
What Are the Youth Hubs?
The first Youth Hubs which are now up and running are already vibrant centres attracting young people, creating new pathways for them to explore and deepen their faith. Each hub is:
- Developing new worshipping communities as extensions of local churches
- Implementing supporting community-based activities shaped by and for young people
- Creating innovative school partnerships to reach students where they are
- Connecting with surrounding village churches to expand rural youth ministry and helping to connect our dispersed young people to places where they live and are part of community
- Employing and developing skilled, dedicated Youth Pioneers and Youth Community Workers
- Foster local leadership development among clergy and young adults
