Making space for young people in church 

Spaces, a new ministry by The Boys’ Brigade, is all about helping churches intentionally disciple young people. Pilot churches share their experiences

​Churches often put a lot of energy into getting young people through the door – but often struggle to give the same focus to discipling them once they’re in. By pairing their energy in attracting young people with consistent discipleship support, churches can help young people deepen and sustain their faith.

As young people’s interest in faith continues to grow, Spaces, a new ministry by The Boys’ Brigade, is all about helping churches intentionally disciple young people. 

Spaces groups are designed to support and equip churches that want to help young people - boys and girls - over the age of 11 explore the big questions about faith and meet with Jesus.

Already, churches that have been involved in this first-year pilot of Spaces say that young people are seizing the opportunity to have those deeper conversations about faith – and really value the space and time set aside for them.

And churches are increasingly excited about helping young people discover what it means to follow Jesus.

The Boys’ Brigade Ministry Lead, Peter Andrews says, ‘There’s a real hunger out there among young people wanting to explore their identity and purpose, and we want to help churches step up to meet this need.

‘We believe God is on the move among this generation and we want to seize the moment and help bring in this harvest our worshipping communities so our congregations are full of young people.’





Safe space

One church that has been running a Spaces group for the past seven months is Christchurch in Abbeydale, Gloucester. Abbeydale is an ecumenical church which embraces four Christian denominations, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Church.

The church has run a Boys’ Brigade group for years and was keen to start a young people's group focused on exploring the Christian faith.

Since March 2025, its Spaces group has proved a welcoming and safe space on a Wednesday evening for young people who want to explore faith more deeply.

Group leader Margaret Pang says that, while initially she found it a challenge to keep the young people engaged in discussion for the whole session, their engagement has grown over time.

‘Some of the young people have been able to really reflect on what they think about faith and share uncertainties they have, so they can explore with the rest of the group to find some sort of answer. They have grown in confidence to ask deep questions that relate to their lives.

‘One of the biggest moments that I have been proud to be a part of was when one of our young people who I didn't think knew much of the Christian faith asked me whether God could use them within their career aspirations.’

The challenge now will be promoting the group to others outside the church but it's something Margaret wants to persist with.

‘Despite the modern culture and short attention spans that young people live with nowadays, we found that given the opportunity, young people actually want the chance to ask the big questions in life.’


Going deeper

Ministry Lead Peter Andrews says that Spaces is designed to come alongside churches who want to invest in the discipleship journey of their young people but who lack the resource or confidence to do so.

Spaces provides training and readymade, road-tested resources that take the stress and pressure out of running a youth group. It also offers churches an invitation to be part of a supportive learning community of worshipping communities across the UK with the same heart for young people.

Crucially, churches do not need to have had any previous relationship with the Boys’ Brigade to start a Spaces group.

‘Christian youthwork programmes, The Boys’ Brigade’s included, can be very busy and whilst this helps keep young people engaged, it can often mean that there isn't space for deeper conversations,’ says Peter.

‘This can mean that even young people who identify as Christians aren't necessarily equipped to hold fast to their faith when it rubs up against the reality of life, or when they move onto university or the workplace.

‘We hope that Spaces helps young people become more like Jesus through developing faith that lasts. We hope that our groups are places which wrestle with and don't shy away from difficult questions, where young people can feel valued and heard.’


Reaching out

Another church that has recently set up a Spaces group is St John’s Bransholme on the northern outskirts of Hull. The church had no previous connection with The Boys’ Brigade and no group specifically for discipling young people.

The parish is statistically one of the most deprived in the country: Bransholme is one of the largest council estates in Europe, with a reputation previously for anti-social behaviour and crime. There are few places outside school where young people can come together and few organised activities for them to join, says the church minister, the Revd Andrew Silley.

‘We have always been wondering what we could do to invest in young people so when I saw Spaces advertised and had a look, I contacted the Spaces team who shared the vision,’ he says.

He has been encouraged by the young people's initial response to St John’s Spaces group, which began in June. Meetings are held on Sunday evenings, for young people in years seven and above. There's a strong emphasis on discipleship but ‘with plenty of fun and food on the way’.

‘The young people have enjoyed coming along and are starting slowly to open up and engage more in the conversation. When we had a break over summer, they had been asking: “When are we starting back?”’


Next steps

Following a successful first-year pilot, Spaces is now looking to significantly increase the number of Spaces groups. A related aim is to create learning communities where people leading Spaces can share good practice and learn from one another.

‘Lifelong discipleship needs strong foundations and Spaces is all about helping leaders invest in the faith journey of their young people in practical, achievable and effective ways,’ says Peter Andrews.

‘Jesus modelled discipleship in small groups and we hope that Spaces will be known for establishing groups where he is at the centre and where young people can be equipped to follow him.’

Churches pay an initial registration/subscription fee of £200 for the first year, which covers training, resources and support, and then their subscription can be renewed annually. The subscription includes training for leaders, discussion materials, prayer/worship ideas, icebreakers, challenges, and access to the termly learning communities. Session plans cover topics ranging from Bible stories to prayer, from the environment to identity.

Margaret Pang says she found the session guides easy to follow and the detailed session outlines ‘make facilitating conversations a lot easier than you might think, even if it is something that you don't have a lot of experience in’.

Spaces meetings are normally held weekly but host churches can decide when and how often to host groups. It's recommended that groups are limited to 12 young people or fewer and held in a comfortable space, but not a private home. A successful Spaces group needs at least two facilitators and at least one helper.
 

To find out more, head over to spaceshub.org