No bed of roses for our young people

The Diocese of Chester hosted a Valentine’s day training course to help young people to navigate the complexity of relationships in the modern age.  

Aimed at those who minister with children and young people in our churches, the day helped them to explore and better understand how to support young people to make and maintain healthy relationships.

Specialist training was delivered by ACET UK who champion healthy relationships and sexual well-being and support young people in making wise and healthy choices. Over 40 people had travelled from across the Diocese to attend the day at Holy Trinity Church, Macclesfield. 

Youth, Children and Families’ Missioner in the Diocese of Chester, Jonathan Masters, says that anecdotally young people are feeling less and less hopeful about the future. He says: “Our leaders of children and young people are reporting an increasing number of people struggling with their relationships. When there are multiple young people sharing these experiences in your church or youth group, you can quickly feel overwhelmed and unsure as to how to respond and react. This training day has given our leaders the necessary support, learning and knowledge to leave feeling encouraged and inspired in their work.”


Specialist training was delivered by Graham Cheeseman from ACET UK

Statistics from a Mental Health Foundation report published in 2018, show that young people in the UK are struggling to cope. The report states that: 

  • 10% of 5 – 16-year olds have a clinically diagnosable mental health problem
  • 70% of children and young people experiencing mental health problems have not had interventions early enough
  • 50% of mental health problems are established by the age of 14, 75% by the age of 24

Over 40 church leaders of young generations came to learn how they can better support young people to navigate their relationships. 

Jenny Heathcote, a sexual health doctor who travels to schools teaching sex education said the day had been a great help: “The day has proved to be very useful to me. Some of my time is spent providing sex education to children in church schools and today has helped me to better understand sex in a Christian context.”

Rebekah Davies is a Children and Youth Ministry Trainee at St. Mary's, Cheadle, and has been affected by poor mental health in the past. She says: “There’s a lot of pressure on young people to be accepted by their friends. Too often it’s made worse through social media and the way people present their ‘perfect lives’. For me, God has shown what it is to be loved and to be a part of a wider church family. I can be so confident when I walk out of the door that I have a father in heaven who loves me, who created me to be me and has a purpose for me. I can be encouraged by that and it’s this hope that I want to share with others in my ministry with children and young people in Cheadle.”


Rebekah Davies is a Children and Youth Ministry Trainee at St. Mary's, Cheadle

If you work with children and young people in the Diocese of Chester and have not yet joined the network of leaders of young generations, get in touch. The Diocese of Chester supports leaders of young generations (children and family and youth workers, whether paid or voluntary) through its network which meets at least once a term to worship and offer one another support. Everyone who works with children and young people is welcome to join. 

Page last updated: Thursday 14th February 2019 4:34 PM
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