75 young people have now completed the course in the last 6 years, and many young people, church leaders and parents talk really positively about the impact this course has had on young people's discipleship as well as leadership and involvement in their local church. Many of the young continue to serve in their local churches and communities as well as further afield.
The course will not be running in 2024-25 but there will be other leadership opportunities for young people in the diocese and is hoped that Growing Young Leaders will run again soon.
Some feedback from previous years
- ‘Honestly I loved it all so much, I wish there had been more residentials but it was loads of fun’
- ‘I’ve enjoyed the sense belonging and community’
- ‘I really enjoyed meeting new people who share the same faith’
- ‘I have particularly enjoyed the residentials as it gave us a chance to get to know each other and develop our skills as a leader’
- ‘I’ve learnt to have more confidence in my abilities and to see ones I didn’t realise I had’
- ‘I’m much more confident within myself and my faith’
- ‘I’ve learnt how to be a good leader in a Christian context’
- ‘I have learnt I have a voice’
- ‘I’ve learnt you can be a leader at any age’
- ‘I’d do it again if I could’
- ‘Everything about the course has been hugely impressive and faith-building’. (Parent)