What is Agents of Change?
Agents of Change: Youth Leadership for Peace and Justice is a national leadership programme from Million Minutes that brings together young people aged 15-17 from schools and parishes across England and Wales. Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and inspired by the Gospel call to peace and justice, the programme equips young people with the skills, confidence and networks to become leaders in their communities.
Through a residential experience, online mentoring sessions from Church and civic leaders, and opportunities to engage with decision-makers, participants explore peacebuilding, nonviolence, advocacy, theology and social action. The programme culminated in a national showcase event where young people share their experiences, amplify the voices of their peers and present their hopes for change.
At Million Minutes, we believe that when young people are listened to, accompanied and empowered, they can transform both the Church and society. Agents of Change is an opportunity for the next generation fo young Catholic leaders to do exactly that.
For a full overview of the programme, click here to download our Agents of Change booklet.
About Agents of Change
The programme begins with a residential weekend, bringing together the group of passionate young people for a weekend of learning, reflection, and collaboration as they developed plans for their final community project.
Through workshops, discussions, reflection, and shared worship, the group strengthen their leadership skills, build lasting connections, and grow in confidence as young leaders committed to creating positive change in their communities.
The programme culminates in a national showcase event hosted by the Agents of Change young leaders.
This year event, entitled ‘In Our Own Words’, opened with testimonies from the young leaders on the topics of what being Catholic means to them, where their faith is misunderstood, and on how their faith leads them to love, serve and act. The event participants were then invited into breakout conversations to explore these themes further with the young leaders.
Many of the participants commented on the deep faith, honesty and enthusiasm the young leaders brought to the evening and how they left with a renewed sense of hope. One participant said: “I was impressed by the depth of knowledge of the faith that was evident in the 3 who spoke and the way they were able to articulate this knowledge.”
Other Opportunities
Some of the group travelled to London to join a prayer vigil event, as part of the Refugee Week organised by the FCJ Sisters and the Columbans. The day began at the FCJ Centre for Spirituality and EcoJustice with introductions and reflection, before the group walked via Parliament Square to the vigil outside the Home Office. The group then returned to the FCJ Centre for a debrief over snacks.
The day sat with a hard theme: that Jesus himself experienced life as a refugee, and what that means for how faith communities welcome people fleeing conflict and persecution today.
The Agents of Change young leaders then go on to take part in online mentoring sessions with experienced leaders. These help the cohort to reflect on their aspirations, further develop skills, and receive guidance in developing projects or advocacy initiatives.
We were delighted to welcome Raymond Friel to lead one of our mentoring session this year who explored ten habit of Gospel-inspired servant leadership.
The Archdiocese of Liverpool Social Action Conference brings together people from across the Church, charities, schools, and local communities to explore Catholic Social Teaching and inspire practical action for the common good. This year's theme, "Humanitas: Flourishing in Action", focused on how faith can shape compassionate leadership, community engagement, and social justice. Million Minutes was proud to support the event through our Agents of Change programme. Some of our Agents of Change young leaders facilitated a workshop as part of the day titled “In Our Words”.
Interested in Learning More?
Are you 15 -17 (Year 10-Year 12) and want to be involved in this programme? If you have any questions or would like to find out more about the programme, please feel free to contact us at info@millionminutes.org. We’d love to see you at our next Agent of Change cohort!
Thank you to the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace for funding this project.