Ideas of ways you can accompany young people now, in the context of Covid-19:

  • Hold an online retreat - things that work well include: a late start, use of small groups, creation of polls and breakout rooms on zoom, pub quizzes

  • Move your youth clubs online you could host a pub quiz, talent show, silent disco etc

  • Hold a virtual tea/coffee session

  • Focus on a scripture reading and get your young people to create an image from the scripture using their Lego pieces (this works well especially for the younger years)

  • Open up an online space that your Alter Servers can attend after your virtual live streamed mass

  • Provide links to virtual masses and prayers in the UK and masses in different languages to your young people whether it’s something happening locally, as a diocese, or internationally! - More opportunities exist than ever before!

  • Send a daily encouraging email message – this could be anything from a quote to an action to take during the week - personal touch, fidelity in uncertainty.

  • Set up a Google classroom with key groups ie regular Lunchtime mass/chaplain groups - virtual journeying together.

  • Give your young people the option to send in prayer requests

  • Reach out to your young people – email them let them know you are there for them

  • Use Kahoot to engage the young in quizzes etc: https://kahoot.com/

  • Baking as a form of connection with the young - use hashtags to see what people are creating on Twitter

  • Hold a virtual assembly - include bidding prayers

  • The CYMFed Faith in Action Award is encouraging young people to think outside the box in how they serve to earn credits towards their Faith in Action Award. A download is available for registered users of the Faith in Action Award website here: https://faithinactionaward.co.uk/members-area.

  • Encourage them to create a prayer wall through the app Padlet

  • Hold images of the cross/Christ to the camera - invite participants to share their thoughts and questions

  • Record the accounts of your young people, ask them “What is happening in your life now?” “Where is God to be found in this?”

  • Speak their language, connect with young people’s parents - for most young people the only time they experience Church is in school settings

  • Meet them where they are at - What online tools are they already using that they connect with? E.g Insightful YouTube videos. Use those tools to engage with them

  • Use sport, art, fundraising, baking etc as a tool to connect

Let us know how you get on by tweeting or contacting us!

accompany.JPG