Train, Equip, Inspire - Training and Inspiration from Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education

What does it really mean to pass on faith from one generation to the next? In this heartfelt and uplifting talk, Jane Atkinson invites children’s and youth leaders to rediscover the heart behind ministry: a living, authentic faith that children can see, sense, and respond to. Drawing on her own journey—from youth club to discovering Jesus at a Billy Graham rally—Jane shares powerful reflections on...

What does it mean to create a church gathering where every generation genuinely worships, learns, and encounters Jesus together? In this practical and inspiring session, Revd. Jono Peatman explores intergenerational worship—not just “all‑age services,” but a model of worship where everyone participates, contributes, and learns from each other. Drawing from personal experience, theological reflecti...

What if today’s children aren’t walking away from faith — but walking away from the church as we currently offer it? In this compelling and often surprising presentation, Mark Griffiths shares findings from a major research project involving 359 Year 6 children across seven Welsh schools. The results challenge assumptions about belief, belonging, mental health, technology, and what Generation Alph...

How do we pass on Christian faith to the next generation — and why does it matter so deeply? In this inspiring keynote, Bishop Philip shares a powerful message about the heart of children’s and youth ministry, exploring the what, how and why of faith formation. Drawing from Deuteronomy 6, he challenges us to live our faith with authenticity, integrity, and joyful distinctiveness. Because children...

In this heartfelt "Nuts and Bolts" session from the Youth Leaders Conference, Ali Demet explores one of the most profound questions young people carry: Do you like me? Drawing on insights from the Netflix series Adolescence, neuroscience, and scripture, Ali challenges youth leaders to build ministries rooted in love, emotional safety, and belonging. With practical reflections and powerfu...

In this heartfelt and practical "Nuts and Bolts" session from the Youth Leaders Conference, Susie Mapledoram shares essential strategies for maintaining mental wellbeing in youth ministry. Using the metaphor of an elastic band, Susie explores how stress affects us, how to spot the signs of burnout, and how to build rhythms of rest, joy, and resilience. Drawing from her experience as a Yo...

In this short and impactful "Nuts and Bolts" session from the Youth Leaders Conference, Ni-cola Scott shares practical insights on how youth leaders can lead with love through a lens of racial justice. Drawing from her work with the Shades Project and personal experience, Ni-cola explores cultural humility, belonging, and how to support young people from diverse backgrounds. This talk is...

In this short, high-impact "Nuts and Bolts" session from the Youth Leaders Conference, John Wyatt shares five essential principles for building and leading a thriving youth ministry volunteer team. Drawing from nearly a decade of experience, John offers practical, actionable advice on recruiting, motivating, and empowering volunteers. Whether you're just starting out or looking to st...

In this inspiring keynote from the Youth Leaders Conference, Ben Green shares a heartfelt message about the power of proximity to Jesus in youth ministry. Reflecting on generational shifts, the rise of spiritual openness among Gen Z and Gen Alpha, and the importance of legacy, Ben encourages leaders to pursue Jesus first and trust Him with the journey. With practical insights, biblical reflections...

In this heartfelt and humorous keynote from the Youth Leaders Conference, Rob Steward shares six powerful reflections from his 20 years in youth ministry. From the highs and lows of serving young people to the quiet revival happening across the UK, Rob encourages youth leaders to embrace small beginnings, stay faithful, and be open to the Spirit’s leading. With stories of transformation, biblical...

In this challenging and inspiring keynote, Bishop Joe encourages ministry leaders and disciples to stop inviting Jesus into our plans—and start joining Him in His. With warmth, wisdom, and insight, he explores how we truly "fix our eyes on Jesus" in a fast-paced, noisy culture. From Scripture and sacraments to everyday life and ministry, this talk re-centres us on what matters most: Chri...

In this powerful keynote from The Children's Ministry Conference 2025, Dr Carolyn Edwards explores how we can equip children and young people to live faithfully in a world filled with complexity, uncertainty, and growing mental health challenges. Drawing on her experience as a theologian and practitioner, Carolyn unpacks: - Why young people are experiencing an emotional and spiritual crisis -...

In this heartfelt and honest keynote from The Children's Ministry Conference 2025, Victoria Stamp explores the intersection of mental health, ministry, and discipleship—offering insight into how we support children and ourselves in emotionally demanding environments. With wisdom and authenticity, Victoria challenges us to rethink common Christian responses like "just be thankful," an...

In this thought-provoking Nuts and Bolts talk from our Youth Leader Conference in 2024, Ben Green explores the complexities of ministering to young people in today's world, where issues of human sexuality and gender identity are often shrouded in confusion and controversy. Ben leads us through this topic by highlighting;👉 Love and acceptance - The importance of unconditional love and acceptan...

In this Nuts and Bolts talk from our Youth Leader Conference in 2024, Sarah Davison from Scripture Union, discusses the importance of hybrid ministry in reaching today's youth. She shares her research findings and insights from her work with young people, highlighting the need for both online and in-person experiences to effectively engage them in faith. Discover things like:- 95% of children...

Are you struggling to transition from casual conversations to meaningful discussions about faith with young people? In this Nuts and Bolts talk from our Youth Leader Conference in 2024, Andy Brown shares practical tips and strategies for building genuine connections and fostering deeper conversations about spiritual matters. Discover how to:👉 Build authentic relationships - Learn the importance o...

Are you struggling to inspire and motivate your youth ministry team? In this insightful Nuts and Bolts talk from our Youth Leader Conference in 2024, Sarah Earnshaw shares practical tips and strategies for creating a compelling vision that will ignite passion and drive positive change. Discover how to:- Define your vision - Explore the importance of a clear and inspiring vision for your youth mini...

Are you a youth worker looking for inspiration and guidance? In this encouraging talk at the Youth Leader Conference in October 2024, Dave Green shares his personal experiences and insights on the transformative power of prayer in youth ministry. Discover how prayer can deepen your relationship with God, empower you to overcome challenges, and witness incredible transformations in the lives of you...

Are you a youth worker feeling overwhelmed and unsure of your impact? Join Aaron Gonzalez from Alpha Youth, as he shares powerful insights on the true purpose of youth ministry. Aaron was the first keynote speaker at our Youth Leader Conference in October at St James' Church in Clitheroe. The conference was run by Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education and is part of a series of conferences and...

Talking at our 2024 Children's Ministry Conference title 'The Main Thing', Iain Parks, the new Blackburn Diocese Director of Education, shares with us his thoughts for imagining possible futures for our children’s ministry and inspiring us to act remembering that Jesus is THE MAIN THING. He also encourages us to 'hit the ground kneeling' before rushing off to make changes. We o...

Talking at our 2024 Children's Ministry Conference title 'The Main Thing', Ruth Hassall, Discipleship Co-ordinator at St Thomas’ Lancaster, encourages us about the importance of retreat by reminding us that if Jesus is to be the centre of our children's ministry, He needs to be at the centre of us. We offer a whole range of free training for those ministering to children. To find o...

Talking at our 2024 Children's Ministry Conference title 'The Main Thing', Sharon Pritchard, Children’s Ministry Advisor for Durham Diocese, encourages us to reflect on WHY we do, what we do - HOW we do it and then challenges us to consider ‘Is what we’re currently doing still right?’. We also find out how using Lego as a tool in our children's ministry, can be a great way to share...

Lucy Skelton led a Nuts and Bolts seminar at Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education's Youth Leader Conference on Saturday 14th October 2023. Lucy, who has been working with young people for over 20 years, discussed the three things that she discovered that she does in her youth work practise. The first thing she does with young people is trust them. She said that most adults who encounter them,...

Liz Boland led a Nuts and Bolts seminar at our Youth Leader Conference in October 2023 on how to lead a youth group session for young people. Liz speaks about planning a session and starting by looking at the Bible passage and thinking about how to make it relevant to the young people. Think about the point you're trying to make and how to make it memorable, accessible, and useful for them. Ti...

Andy Brown led a Nuts and Bolts seminar at our recent Youth Leader Conference on how to manage behaviour in a youth work context. Andy quotes Proverbs 3: 11-12 which says, "My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." As youth leaders we need to hold the idea of discipline and...