In 2018 the Anglican churches of Bromsgrove launched the Bromsgrove Youth Project.
The initial objective was to research the issues and concerns that dominate the lives of the most disadvantaged young people in the town. Since then the project has funded and managed the provision of detached youth workers to support young people on the streets of Bromsgrove.
Clearly identifiable as Church of England youth workers, the project’s ethos is rooted in an approach that is focused on non-judgemental listening and acceptance. The gospel is shared when raised by the young people themselves.
Ray Khan, Vicar of St John’s Church in Bromsgrove, said: “When the project started, it was a simple idea – to listen to the voices and experiences of young people who have been disengaged from the formal support structures and agencies that exist in Bromsgrove. We wanted to record their voices in reports and a video. Too many times we assume what young people want, but that’s not how God works. We wanted people to understand what it feels like to be a disengaged young person in our town. There was no other plan than to listen and tell their stories.”
Here is a video about the work produced in partnership with the Diocese of Worcester. With the exception of Ray Khan's self filmed introduction, the rest of the video was filmed prior to lockdown in February 2020.
Please do not share this video on social media. Contains one use of bad language.
