Hereford Diocese Youth Hub in partnership with the Methodist Church, Rural Media and other organisations in Bromyard, is delighted to announce that it has secured an award of £30,000 from the Safer Communities Fund to develop youth work.
The Safer Communities Grant scheme is funded by Herefordshire Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia Police. The scheme seeks to reduce or prevent anti-social behaviour and hate crimes committed by children and young people as well as seeking to prevent or reduce young people's vulnerability to child exploitation and substance misuse.
The funding will support a partnership in Bromyard through active engagement with young people in the community, with the Anglican and Methodist Churches working together alongside other local organisations, to deliver a regular programme of activities and events. The grant will be used to directly cover some of the essential set-up costs including equipment, venue hire, refreshments, and the activities being planned as part of this exciting joint venture.
This positive news is being warmly welcome by Revd Phil Miller, Vicar of St Peter’s Church, Bromyard. “We have been working across the churches in Bromyard, and with other agencies to see how we can come alongside the young people in the town.”
“With this grant my prayer is that we will be able to engage meaningfully with the young people of Bromyard, and give them the support that they need.”
The success in Bromyard is part of a broader expansion of youth ministry and provision across the region. Crate Stuff (led by David and Kathy Bland) in Leominster, have also secured £30,000 through the same Safer Communities Fund for youth work development. This will also be used to fund local work alongside the existing Youth Hub project in Leominster.
Meanwhile, to the north of the diocese, in Much Wenlock, South Shropshire, work has already begun with the launch of a youth drop-in event last week, supported by Heather Martin and Beckie Dotson, Youth Hub Co-ordinators. The initiative, run by Holy Trinity Church, received an enthusiastic welcome from young people from the local High School – especially the new Pizza Oven, funded by the Much Wenlock Ecclesiastical Charity. These developments reflect what appears to be a change in young people's attitudes toward faith - a trend that has been reported by the media about churches and Christian groups across the UK who are seeing a surge in young people exploring faith and coming to Church. The funding, joint partnership, and engagement with young people's needs at the heart of the work, is creating new opportunities for meaningful connection and community transformation.
Lizzie Hackney, Lead Intergenerational Missioner for Hereford Diocese, said: "Just as we are hearing encouraging news of young people encountering Jesus for themselves nationally, we are also hearing good news of God on the move, here in Hereford Diocese. During 2025, there has been a steady increase in moving stories coming through, of God answering the faithful prayers of our churches through new generations connecting with God and the local church. I have been particularly moved by hearing from our School Chaplains, of the numbers of young people using prayer spaces, joining bible studies, asking for prayer and sharing their testimonies in their school and local church. I thank God for the faithful congregations of Hereford Diocese and the love and care they show for the young people of our communities.”