NYMW 2025: Full Schedule

5:00pm GMT

Seminar: Grant, that we may serve you

Friday November 14, 2025 5:00pm - 5:45pm GMT

Finances are tight, perhaps more so now than ever, and especially if you've got big dreams for growing and developing your work. Yet there are also literally thousands of local and national funders who are keen to support projects which match with their own charitable objectives. So how do you find them, and how do you write to and approach them in a way that gives you the best chance of success? This session from a seasoned fundraising expert will get you going with grants.

Contributors

Chris Curtis

Chief Executive, Youthscape

Chris Curtis (he/him) is Chief Executive of Youthscape, a UK-based non-profit working to renew the church's engagement with young people. He has helped develop Launchpad, a new UK program to help smaller churches start innovative youth ministry projects from scratch. He's also helped create Essentials, a new youth ministry training progr... Read More →

Friday November 14, 2025 5:00pm - 5:45pm GMT
Vox 4

Seminars

5:00pm GMT

Seminar: No More Bored Games

Friday November 14, 2025 5:00pm - 5:45pm GMT

Vox 3

Tired of the same old games? Need some fresh inspiration? Look no further. We’ll introduce you to some new games as well as some familiar favourites with unique twists. There’ll be a chance to test them out so come along and play!

Contributors

Charles Merritt

Creative Content Developer, Youthscape

Charles works for Youthscape as an Innovation and Resource Developer, in other words, gets to be creative and make up some cool stuff for young people to use. He also leads a Year 5-8 group as a volunteer for his church which has been a fun challenge to engage an interesting range... Read More →

Gillian Austin

Essentials Training Lead and the National Church Training Coordinator, Youthscape

As part of the Youthscape team, Gillian leads Youthscape Essentials, where she finds great satisfaction in seeing youth leaders grow in confidence as they integrate current research and new skills into their ministry. Gillian also plays a key role in developing Launchpad, providing... Read More →

Friday November 14, 2025 5:00pm - 5:45pm GMT
Vox 3

Seminars

6:00pm GMT

Seminar: From Youth Helper to Youth Leader

Friday November 14, 2025 6:00pm - 6:45pm GMT

Vox 5

Youth ministry survives and thrives on the back of an army of dedicated volunteers across the UK. Yet so many of them are unable to see themselves as leaders, and imagine a diminished role, where they are just helping out. In this seminar we'll explore how to help volunteers to have a vision for youth ministry, and their role within it. Also suitable for volunteer leaders and teams who are keen to grow in their leadership.

Contributors

Alex Drew

Director of Training, Youthscape

Alex Drew is Director of Training for Youthscape, leading the Youthscape Essentials training programme for volunteers.

Friday November 14, 2025 6:00pm - 6:45pm GMT
Vox 5

Seminars

6:00pm GMT

Seminar: Translating God: All the Headlines

Friday November 14, 2025 6:00pm - 6:45pm GMT

Vox 3

Contributors

Hannah Bowden

Youthscape

Hannah is a Senior Researcher within Youthscape's Centre for Research. She has a research background in education policy and young people in local authority care and specialises in qualitative research. After receiving her Doctorate from the University of Birmingham in 2022, Hannah... Read More →

Gemma Madle

Researcher, Youthscape

Gemma Madle is Researcher for The Youthscape Centre for Research and edit The Story, a quarterly journal of research for youth work.

Friday November 14, 2025 6:00pm - 6:45pm GMT
Vox 3

Seminars

6:00pm GMT

Seminar: Trauma-Informed Youth Ministry

Friday November 14, 2025 6:00pm - 6:45pm GMT

Vox 4

It's one of the key phrases of the moment - and with good reason. If there are young people in our groups and communities who have experienced serious or complex trauma, then we need to understand our role in journeying alongside and supporting them. Hear from an organisation with over 25 years of experience working with these young people and their churches, and spend time together unpacking how a trauma-informed approach to youth work can deepen connections; improve wellbeing; impact community and bring about culture change in the church.

Contributors

Lianne Silvester

Church Connections Development & Safeguarding Lead, Transforming Lives for Good (TLG)

Lianne Silvester is the Church Connections Development & Safeguarding Lead for TLG with over 35 years of experience in working with children, young people, and families. Her role is to support local churches in creating safe and welcoming spaces where authentic relationships can form... Read More →

Friday November 14, 2025 6:00pm - 6:45pm GMT
Vox 4

Seminars

2:00pm GMT

Seminar: Mercy in a Cancel Culture

Saturday November 15, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm GMT

Vox 3

Young people are growing up in - and fearful of - a culture where people can be 'cancelled' for holding a different opinion, or socially slipping up in some way. The Christian concepts of grace and mercy are alien and even unpopular in this context, but they also present the best solution to a growing wave of judgementalism. Here we'll explore how to teach and model revolutionary mercy to young people - and invite them to extend it too.

Contributors

Natalie Williams

CEO, Jubilee+

Natalie Williams grew up in relative poverty in the deprived seaside town of Hastings. She became a Christian at 15, which changed her life completely. Natalie has been involved with Jubilee+ since its first year, and took over from founder Martin Charlesworth as Jubilee+ chief executive... Read More →

Saturday November 15, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm GMT
Vox 3

Seminars

2:00pm GMT

Seminar: Reasons to believe - what's the place of apologetics in 2025?

Saturday November 15, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm GMT

Vox 5

Young people might not still be asking the exact apologetics questions tackled in 1990s youth work - but questions around suffering and plausiblity exist alongside new and emerging challenges. This session will both inspire you to give young people "an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Peter 3 v 15), and equip you with responses to some of the most common challenges to the Christian faith.

Saturday November 15, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm GMT
Vox 5

Seminars

2:00pm GMT

Seminar: Why are we afraid of the Old Testament?

Saturday November 15, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm GMT

Vox 4

The majority of most youth Bible engagement stays in the relatively safe and familiar territory of Jesus and Paul. Yet to do this misses out on two-thirds of Scripture - ALL of which is useful for teaching and training the next generation (2 Tim 3 v 16). So how do we build our own confidence – and that of our young people – in handling those first 39 books? This session - led by one of the UK's most brilliant theologians - will help!

Saturday November 15, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm GMT
Vox 4

Seminars

3:00pm GMT

Seminar: Evangelism with and alongside young people

Saturday November 15, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm GMT

Vox 4

What kind of evangelistic approaches are appropriate and successful in 2025? Should peer evangelism really be your most important focus? Could there still be a role for stadium events? And exactly why does everyone use Youth Alpha? This session won't be afraid to tackle the tough questions in pursuit of the ultimate Great Commission goal. You'll leave feeling excited and energised about sharing faith with and among young people - and you'll be equipped for the task.

Saturday November 15, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm GMT
Vox 4

Seminars

3:00pm GMT

Seminar: Rooted - Exploring spiritual practices with young people

Saturday November 15, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm GMT

Vox 5

If our role in Christian youth work is to enable young people to form a relationship with God, then what does that actually look like in practice? Spiritual disciplines and practices are ancient, Biblical tools that have served the church for thousands of years – things like fasting, solitude and meditation which might feel unfamiliar in our work. This session will help you to make them relevant and practical for today's generation.

Saturday November 15, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm GMT
Vox 5

Seminars

3:00pm GMT

Seminar: Toxic Gender Ideologies

Saturday November 15, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm GMT

Vox 3

Speaker and description TBC

Saturday November 15, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm GMT
Vox 3

Seminars

4:00pm GMT

Seminar: Contemplative prayer as youth mission

Saturday November 15, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm GMT

Vox 3

Are you passionate about guiding people on their spiritual journey? This seminar introduces Taketime, a simple meditation practice that can help individuals encounter God and experience deeper spiritual connection. Experience Taketime firsthand and learn how you can share its transformative and therapeutic qualities with others.

Contributors

Rev Clive McKie

Founder and Pioneer Methodist Minister, TakeTime Meditations

Rev Clive McKie founded Taketime Meditations, to offer accessible pathways to connect with Jesus. A pioneer Methodist minister and Prison Chaplain with 30 years of experience, he has also trained over 500 Taketime Practitioners.

Saturday November 15, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm GMT
Vox 3

Seminars

4:00pm GMT

Seminar: Intergenerational Youth ministry

Saturday November 15, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm GMT

Vox 5

Could connecting the dots between the generations be the most important element of helping young people to find a home in the Christian faith? If we want teenagers to develop faith that lasts a lifetime, and build relationships with a church rather that just a youth group, we need to take intergenerational ministry seriously? So what's the practical application beyond the 'buzz' phrase? Come along to this session and find out.

Saturday November 15, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm GMT
Vox 5

Seminars

4:00pm GMT

Seminar: Mind the Gaps- Getting Transitions Right

Saturday November 15, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm GMT

Vox 4

If we want to help young people to develop lifelong faith, then we need to be mindful of the classic drop-off points for youth engagement at church: in years 6, 10 and 13. What can we do to help young people to stay connected to their faith and community when so much else is changing? A children's minister, youth worker and student specialist join forces to help you bridge those classic gaps.

Saturday November 15, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm GMT
Vox 4

Seminars

9:00am GMT

Seminar: One-to-one 101

Sunday November 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am GMT

Vox 4

Mentoring, coaching and other types of one-to-one youth work are all proven methods that build relationship, skills and faith. This session will equip you with a basic toolkit for one-to-one settings, talk you through best practice, and provide you with great content ideas for these contexts.

Sunday November 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am GMT
Vox 4

Seminars

9:00am GMT

Seminar: Revitalise - How to get out of a youth group rut

Sunday November 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am GMT

Vox 5

What do you do when your weekly youth group just feels like it's going through the motions? You might be as passionate and envisioned as ever, but everything just feels a bit flat, or even stale. If that's your experience, stand by for 45 minutes of quick-fire ideas and inspiration to help you inject energy and fresh ideas into your youth ministry.

Sunday November 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am GMT
Vox 5

Seminars

9:00am GMT

Seminar: The Bible-centred Teenager

Sunday November 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am GMT

Vox 3

One of the most familiar and enduring challenges of youth ministry is helping teenagers to develop a love of Scripture. Or even – on a more basic level – to get them to read and engage with it at all. We know how much goodness and truth the Bible contains for young people, but we also recognise how alien it is to their generation. Help is at hand though, and this seminar will help you to think practically and pragmatically about bible engagement, and give you plenty of tips and ideas to build your confidence in this vital area.

Sunday November 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am GMT
Vox 3

Seminars

10:45am GMT

Seminar: Beyond the silos: Faith in real life

Sunday November 16, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am GMT

Vox 4

Young people - like all of us - are prone to a kind of dualism that means our 'Christian' and 'everyday' lives look nothing alike. How do we help young people not only to recognise and understand this issue, but also overcome it? This practical session will help you to disciple teenagers in a holistic way that ensures they not only allow God into every area of their lives, but put him at the very centre of it.

Sunday November 16, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am GMT
Vox 4

Seminars

10:45am GMT

Seminar: Five ways to grow your group from 5 to 15

Sunday November 16, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am GMT

Vox 5

The majority of Christian youth groups now are small but perfectly formed. Yet while we want to recognise the beauty and value of the small, we also hope that more young people in our communities can know God's love for them. So what are some simple, applicable strategies to help you to build out your group in ways that don't undermine your values or culture? This session will provide them.

Sunday November 16, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am GMT
Vox 5

Seminars

10:45am GMT

Seminar: Transgender - Understanding and Response

Sunday November 16, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am GMT

Vox 3

It's one of the most complex and misunderstood subjects that youth leaders can encounter - but that doesn't mean we can revert to simplistic answers. This session will unpack what it means to experience gender dysphoria, and suggest what it might mean to truly support trans and non-binary young people in our churches, groups and communities.

Contributors

Chris Curtis

Chief Executive, Youthscape

Sunday November 16, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am GMT
Vox 3

Seminars