A group of Doncaster youth clubs are hoping to make a positive impact among young people across church denominations after being successful in getting a grant of £2,500 from the Hollowford Trust.
Hope Doncaster is a weekend of social action across Doncaster for young people connected to church based youth groups, helping young people to show God’s love in practical ways. The aim is to empower young people, impact communities and work in unity across Doncaster. Hope Doncaster is coordinated by the Centenary Project Doncaster Youth Hub. Bringing together young people from all church denominations and youth group sizes.
Hope Doncaster launched in 2019 after a youth group went to Hope Bristol and wanted to replicate the project in their own community. The campaign was a success in 2019 with some fantastic good news stories, but unfortunately Covid-19 cancelled plans to repeat the project. Despite this, Hope Doncaster 2023 has been made possible by a £2,500 grant from the Hollowford Trust.
Hope Doncaster is taking place from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 June, starting with a launch evening on the Friday where young people will be commissioned to go out into their communities, hear from a guest speaker, worship and share food together. During the day on the Saturday youth groups will take part in their own social action projects, ranging from family fun days to litter picks. On the Saturday evening people will gather for a celebration, hear testimonies from the day and encourage young people to continue making a difference in their local areas. On Sunday the groups will go back to their churches to share stories about the weekend, using photos and a highlights video.
Mike North, Hollowford Trustee, said:
“We are really excited to support Hope Doncaster with our annual Big Award of £2,500. Hope Doncaster is committed to inviting many young people from youth groups all over Doncaster to put their faith into action and serve their local communities in different ways. The Hollowford Trust is all about seeing 10-25-year olds grow physically, mentally and spiritually, and this weekend of social action will make a wonderful impact in both the young people’s lives, and the communities they are part of.”
Rachel Ridler, Youth, Children’s and Families Worker at St Lawrence Church in Hatfield, said:
“As part of the Doncaster Youth Hub, I am really excited to have been able to secure this £2,500 from the Hollowford Trust that will enable us to restart HOPE Doncaster in 2023. HOPE Doncaster is an amazing weekend of social action in Jesus’ name across our city for young people connecting to church based youth groups. We would really love for churches from all backgrounds and denominations to take part, as reflected in our Youth Hub which includes representatives from the Anglican, Methodist, Pentecostal and Free Church backgrounds, as well as Youth For Christ. The Hollowford Trust grant will mean we can offer places at HOPE Doncaster for free, so all young people from any walk of life can take part in mission and love their community. Please join us in praying that God will move in the city of Doncaster through HOPE Doncaster and will impact our young people too.”
For more information, a copy of the poster or the leaders pack, contact hubs@centenaryproject.org.uk or check out our social media @CentenaryProject