The Church of Ireland Diocese of Connor

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Funding to help parishes engage with young people this summer

Monday June 7th 2021

Funding is available to help parishes in Connor Diocese to engage with young people over the summer months.

The every initiative invites all parishes to apply for a single grant of up to £150 to support them as they endeavour to gather young people together – and Diocesan Youth Officer Christina Baillie and members of the Youth Council are on hand to offer additional support.

“The last 18 months have been a tough time for all of us, but especially for our young people,” Christina said.

“Often the summer months are downtime for activities and events with young people in our parishes. However, because of the pandemic, we believe this summer is a great opportunity to connect with young people and provide something to support them through these next steps. Therefore, from July to September, we would love to encourage every parish in Connor Diocese to connect with young people.”

Christina continued: “Our young people value connection and relationship, therefore we invite each parish to prioritise this in the coming weeks. There is no set expectation of what this will look like or how this will happen. Whether this is two young people or a group, whether it is for a planned outdoor activity, Bible study or an informal chat – whatever you do will be significant.”

Christina recommends meeting outdoors in small groups as this mitigates many of the risks attached to Covid-19.

“Whether you have engaged with young people before or during the pandemic, this moment presents a new opportunity, a fresh start and we believe that our young people will value this invitation,” Christina said.

“To support you, we will be available to meet with parishes to plan, to assist with risk assessments or support with leading at events. We believe this support could be really significant to help build confidence, prepare for leading events and tailor support to your parish context.”

The funding, of up to £150 per parish, is aimed at supporting parishes to facilitate gathering young people again, and could be used for a range of purposes, for example, outdoor equipment such as gazebos or games equipment, or additional hand sanitiser or PPE.

Parishes can apply for up to £150 by completing the form HERE:

Only one application per parish is permitted. Applications will be considered by members of the Connor Youth Council, and funds will be provided on production of receipts.

The final date for applications is June 25 and the Youth Council hopes to respond to the requests by July 2.

Please contact Christina on christinabaillie@connordiocese.org or 07753 312405 if you have any questions about the application form or for more information on how the diocese can provide specific support.

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