Two awards have been made for Youth for Christ’s contribution to youth work in the UK. In Devon, the Teenbridge Project has received a Home Office Respect Award for its work with teenagers on the streets. In Manchester 7 young people won a Manchester City Council Community Award for their volunteer youth work with local youngsters, supported by M13 Youth Project.

Teenbridge Project is a Christian youth project working with young people out on the streets of Teignmouth, Dawlish, Kingsteignton and Bovey Tracey. Volunteers meet young people during the evenings in all weathers, in parks, on local estates and on the seafront, and provide hot soup as well as friendship and support. Project Co-ordinator Peter Twigg who collected the award from Home Office minister Hazel Blears MP said: “We were absolutely delighted to receive the award. It was quite a surprise. It was good for our volunteers because it is hard work. Without them, we couldn’t do it”.

Community Spirit is a youth movement “by young people, for young people”. It was set up by 7 teenagers concerned about the lack of activities for the younger children on their urban estate in Manchester. They run mentoring projects and a weekly youth club (supported by M13 staff), for which the group were awarded the prestigious “Pride of Manchester” Award, for “Young People’s Contribution to the Community”. Helen Gatenby, who heads up M13’s work in Manchester, said “the award is a great encouragement to the young people. It recognises their important and positive contribution to regenerating their local community and sets a fabulous example. We are really proud of them, and so are the youngsters they work with!”

Youth for Christ’s work across the UK is characterised by young people spending time engaging with teenagers just a few years younger than themselves. Using sport, music, drama, friendship and finding new relevant ways to reach teenagers, YFC is unique in its scope and variety of work. Each month 200,000 young people hear and see people living out the gospel of Jesus Christ in their local areas, in schools, on the streets and in groups and prisons through the work of Youth for Christ.

Richard Bromley, YFC’s Director of Local Ministries is encouraged by the recognition being received, at both national and local level: “The Youth for Christ staff and volunteers are making a big impact on the lives of teenagers today. Young people look for role models, acceptance and friendship. We offer all those things – and more - and communicate the good news of Jesus Christ relevantly to them at the same time”.







Source: Youth For Christ