Are co-ordinators the unsung heroes of a thriving youth and family ministry?
As this is the first national RECOGNISE! week, celebrating everyone who works in children, young people and family ministry (CYPF), we asked people what is helping to make youth and family ministry work in our diocese. Most of the people we spoke to said: it helps to have a co-ordinator. Co-ordinators, administrators, project managers – call them what you will, they are the grease to the wheels of this critically important ministry and often its unsung heroes. As Mary Worrall, a volunteer and co-ordinator for children and family ministry in Pontesbury says, “When you’re asking busy people to volunteer, they want to be able to ‘pile up’ and get to work straight away with the children and families. Most of them don’t have time for admin stuff.” The "admin stuff" includes things like rotas and activity schedules, paperwork, liaising with the Parish Safeguarding Officer, purchasing supplies, arranging venues, building relationships with schools and other organisations, tracking attendance and much more. Some co-ordinators are paid workers while others are volunteers themselves.
In Pontesbury, Mary co-ordinates the children and family activities that happen Monday to Saturday, for younger children, including monthly Messy Church, Open the Book, and the annual Holiday Club, while Rebecca Maddox takes care of Sundays, and Joe Barnes, a part-time paid youth worker, handles the 11+ age group, all under the overall supervision of Rev’d Greg Smith. Says Mary, “The volunteers meet once a term, or thereabouts, to decide what we want to do, and I take care of the details. At Messy Church, for example, that means the 5 volunteers can more or less just turn up and get to work. Then the busy mums and dads, grandparents or carers can just sit for a while, and listen to Rev’d Greg, and let us feed them and the children, which they really appreciate. I really enjoy the work. I’m in my 80s now, so I have cut back, but it’s an essential ministry and so worthwhile.”
Jane Tate co-ordinates CYPF ministry in Holmer parish, where there is a dizzying array of youth, family and intergenerational activity throughout the week. Jane is pictured above with pictured above with Beckie Dotson, Intergenerational Missioner from Sutton Hill. The ministry in Holmer is fuelled by volunteers and coordinated by Jane, with guidance from Rev’d Wayne. Like most of the co-ordinators we spoke to, Jane explains that part of her role is to enable volunteer ministry. Holmer volunteers Janice and Graham Greenow describe what motivates them to participate: “Helping with the children is always a fun challenge. They have their own way of saying things which really makes us think about our own faith, which is good for us,” says Janice. Graham adds, “I feel privileged to be the one responsible for the fire pit at Lighthouse, our after-school club for 5-11s, which always causes such excitement with the regular indulgence of marshmallows and chocolate biscuits!”
Besides Lighthouse, Holmer’s CYPF ministry includes Open the Book at Holmer CofE Academy, a drop-in cafe at the Church Centre called Holmer Hub, Busy Bees parent and toddler group, a Friday evening Youth Group for 11-16 year olds, four-times per year Outreach events on the local housing estate, plus an Easter Activity Day, a Beetle Drive and Pancake Evening, a Puppet Show, a Charity Bingo Night and monthly Church and Chips. All this takes an army of volunteers, most of them co-ordinated by Jane.
Says Rev’d Wayne, “As I’m just coming up to my first year in post, I still marvel at those who volunteer to guide and help serve the younger (and older generations) in the life of our church and kingdom. To witness the dedication and selflessness week after week and year after year is just a blessing and the life of the church and community couldn’t function without their input. When we ask ‘where is the Holy Spirit at work?’, just look across those who volunteer and serve.”
At the new Youth Hub in Bishop's Castle, volunteers from St John the Baptist church are 'piling in' to make the ambitious project a reality. As Churchwarden and volunteer Kathy Taylor says, “Being a Churchwarden can be hard work (as I know from six years’ experience in a previous diocese) but having a fabulous team, as at St John the Baptist in Bishop’s Castle, makes it more manageable. Many of that team also volunteer for the inspiring and energising youth hub and the monthly Messy Church. We individually and collectively enjoy our roles in bringing God’s light into our communities through prayerful activities."
Youth Hubs Co-ordinator Heather Martin says "Volunteers play a vital role in youth ministry. While we have paid teams in Hub locations, they are there to help coordinate and support the work of volunteers in the local church. In a rural diocese, managing teams of volunteers and pooling together resources from village to village takes a lot of organisation. I want to support churches to do this in a way that empowers, encourages and supports those discerning their call to engage with young people."
Thank you to all our CYPF workers, both paid and volunteers, and to all the brave co-ordinators wrangling them! We recognise you all, this RECOGNISE! week and every week!
If you are interested in helping to co-ordinate youth ministry in your parish, or volunteering, contact your local minister or PCC or look on your parish noticeboard or in your parish magazine for contact information. All unpaid and paid staff working with children, young people and vulnerable adults will require a DBS check and to complete safeguarding training.
NOTE: Hereford Diocese is recruiting for a Youth Hub Co-ordinator for the Ludlow Archdeaconry. You can find out more about the post here. Applications close 21st July, 2025.
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