We are excited to be welcoming Ed (more from him in a moment) from South West Youth Ministries to the illuminate team from September as part of his internship. However, in order to make this happen Ed still needs accommodation. Could you provide a room for Ed? Ideally this needs to be in and around Stroud Town Centre as he doesn’t drive. Thanks to a successful grant application there is a small fund available to hosts for expenses. Read more
A short update this month: “I have been reflecting on the Door2Door fundraising walk I completed last month, and have been struck by the similarities to youth work and ministry that have been evoked in me. In a way, I considered the walk a type of pilgrimage between all our centres, a journey reflecting on the impact of The Door’s work. It was also reflective of the often long, slow journey that is ministering to Read more
For many students in years 10 and 12 the last few weeks of the summer term are a time when they seek out work experience opportunities. The illuminate team are always happy to welcome young people to join us during this time, to find out more about our work and to learn a bit more about what happens ‘behind the scenes’. One of these young people, Sammy, joined Isak for a week in June 2025 Read more
This last month I have had the privilege of taking part in the first session of a pilot training course run by the Growing Faith Network called Discovering Chaplaincy. In this newsletter I would like to share about the principles of Chaplaincy covered in that first lesson and reflect on how they are applying to the work that is happening right now in Stroud. Principle 1: Each person is made in the image of God. Read more
For this month’s newsletter please have a read of an excerpt of our first report to the Growing Faith Network Learning Hub. “Before we get into the story of the first few months of work, allow me to introduce the main players of our work in the Stroud District. First we have Archway School, the largest comprehensive school in Stroud, then we have the local network of parish churches, and finally we have ourselves the Read more
A short reflection from Isak Recently I have been reflecting on the book of Joshua in the Bible, specifically when the two spies are sent into Jericho and go into the house of Rahab the sex worker. As I was reflecting on this I feel it relates to how God consistently works beyond our expectations, and how this is happening with our work now. In the story Joshua sends two scouts into Jericho, and in Read more
Isak’s Update February 2025, the second month of my illuminate adventure, has been full of excitement and rewards. I have had the privilege of teaching some RE lessons at Archway, sessions in the Tin Church (Paganhill) continue to draw in many young people, the curious questions lunch time group is organically growing and providing a safe space for young people in Archway to explore big life questions, and most excitedly we took a group of Read more
Isak has been a member of The Door and illuminate teams for a few years now, but as of January 2025 he has stepped up to become the illuminate Coordinator part-time alongside his other community youthwork activities across Stroud and beyond. We asked him to introduce himself… Let me start by saying how excited I am for the potential impact illuminate might have in Stroud and how privileged I feel to now be in the Read more
illuminate has had an encouraging start the the new term, reopening it’s drop-in youth sessions in Stroud and in Dursley. We had the privilege to host all of the new year 7s from Archway for a lesson in the Tin Church, sharing with them all about what it means to be part of a local church community. Many of those year 7s have visited our drop in session on a Monday. Isak has been leading Read more
Have you ever wondered how to best disciple young people and encourage passion in them to put their relationship with God front and centre in their lives? Primarily, I would say that is done through consistent relationships with each other and trustworthy adults. However, it is also well worth considering taking your young people off to camp. In youthwork, there is nothing quite like taking a few days away on retreat with the sole purpose Read more