CYO Colchester

07/10/2026

Join us for a traditional rendition of the timeless Charles Dickens classic! Delivered by Colchester Arts Centre Director Anthony Roberts, featuring musical accompaniment by Jamie Cunliffe.

Date: Tuesday, 22 December 2026
Times: Doors open 7:00 PM | Show starts 7:30 PM
Location: St Anne’s Church Hall, Compton Road, Colchester CO4 0BH
Tickets: £6

Tea & coffee will be served, and you're welcome to bring your own refreshments!

Book your tickets: cyochristmascarol.eventbrite.co.uk

All proceeds support the work of Christian Youth Outreach (CYO), helping children and young people grow in hope, life, and faith across Colchester.

Colchester Arts Centre Director Anthony Roberts delivers a traditional rendition of the Dicken's classic, accompanied by Jamie Cunliffe.

05/10/2026

Huge privilege to be a part of C3’s Impact Sunday! Great to see old and new faces and celebrate how God is changing lives in Colchester.

Thanks for all those who stopped by to chat and find out more about the incredible work of CYO as we equip churches to deliver chaplaincy in their local school.

Last year, 110 children and young people went to church because of a chaplaincy connection in their school! God is on the move.

Find out more are: https://www.cyocolchester.org.uk

28/09/2026

A great privilege to join the celebrations at Colchester Baptist Church on Saturday as they welcome Rev Dr Israel as Lead Minister.

A wonderful service and an exciting time for the church!

23/09/2026

Huge thank you to Dr Josh Hunt from BOOST for leading our team in excellent training on bereavement.

A hope-filled, informative and practical training session learning theory, theology and practical tips to support students who have experienced grief and loss.

29/07/2026

Our final principle of chaplaincy is Gift—because we firmly believe that chaplaincy is a beautiful gift given by God to our local schools.

To keep pressure off tightening school budgets, CYO and our Mission Partners provide all chaplaincy, mentoring, and prayer spaces completely free at the point of service. This means schools never have to choose between financial constraints and the vital pastoral care of their students.

But to keep this gift free for our schools, we rely entirely on the generosity of individuals and churches across Colchester who believe in bringing hope, life, and faith to the next generation.

Could you help us sustain and grow this vital gift? Your financial partnership directly impacts young lives:
💶 £10 a month could provide resources to run a life-changing Prayer Space each term.
💶 £25 a month could fund regular coaching and supervision sessions to support and develop a chaplaincy team.
💶 £50 a month could fund a comprehensive, year-long training and support package to launch a brand new Mission Partner into a school.

Every one-off donation or regular monthly gift ensures that our mission and vision is fulfilled in Colchester.

Give a gift to support the work of CYO today via Stewardship:
https://www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/20035646

Thank you for being part of the journey!

22/07/2026

In a world that can often feel overwhelming for children and young people, chaplains are called to point towards Hope in all seasons of life.

Through interactive, creative, and expressive projects, chaplains help students build the tools they need to overcome life's transitions, changes, and anxieties - bringing hope and pointing towards the Hope-Giver.

Just look at the impact of pointing towards hope so far this academic year:
✨ Over 2,400+ students have experienced a Prayer Space—a dedicated, hands-on environment to slow down, reflect, pray, and explore spirituality.
✨ Over 500+ students have found joy, encouragement and a place of belonging in school Lunch Clubs.
✨ Hundreds of primary students have engaged with projects like Bounce, helping them discover their identity, community, and destiny.

By fostering emotional resilience and spiritual health, school chaplaincy ensures that no student has to face the future without hope.

Check out our latest school project updates and see hope in action: www.cyocolchester.org.uk

17/07/2026

Thank you to our wonderful staff, trustees, volunteers, and Mission Partners who have worked so hard this year helping children and young people grow in hope, life, and faith.

We couldn't do it without this brilliant team of passionate, dedicated, gifted individuals giving their time, effort, and energy. Thank you. A great way to wrap up the year celebrating and sharing together.

Time for rest and preparation for next year!

15/07/2026

Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can say to a child or young person navigating the pressures of life is simply: "I am here."
Our third principle is Presence—chaplaincy is fundamentally a ministry of presence. It is a regular, consistent, and intentional Christian presence in the school corridors, staff rooms, and playgrounds.

What does this "presence" look like in practice for CYO?
👂 Mentoring: Providing a safe, consistent, listening ear for over 100+ students going through tough times or needing extra emotional support.
🎒 Being Available: Walking alongside students and staff through both the vibrant highs and the difficult lows of the academic year.
🏫 Consistency: Showing up week-in, week-in out, so the school community knows they have a reliable anchor of support.

We are so proud of our team of staff, volunteers, and Mission Partners who embody this principle of presence every single week in primary and secondary schools across Colchester.

Read more about our chaplaincy and Mission Partner work here: www.cyocolchester.org.uk

08/07/2026

Chaplaincy isn’t a solo mission—it’s a shared one!

Our second principle of chaplaincy is Mission, rooted in the truth that chaplains share in the mission of God. At CYO, our strategy is to as a catalyst to equip, empower, and enable the local church to join in with sharing and showing God's love in schools.

Through our Mission Partner model, we bridge the gap between church and school. Over the last year, we’ve seen incredible growth, with local churches stepping up to own and deliver 75% of school chaplaincy in Colchester! By training church congregations for the long haul, we are building natural pathways where thousands of young people can explore the Christian faith and find a true place of belonging.

Is your church looking to intentionally engage with a local primary or secondary school? Let’s partner together.

Find out how we train and coach church teams at: www.cyocolchester.org.uk/mission-partner/

01/07/2026

Every single student and staff member in Colchester’s schools matters deeply.

As we champion school chaplaincy across our city, our first guiding principle is "Imago Dei"—the foundational belief that every person is uniquely made in the image of God.

At CYO Colchester, this means chaplains step into school environments seeing the inherent value, dignity, and potential in every child and young person. Whether we are running lunch clubs, helping with RE lessons, or offering an interactive space for reflection, our starting point is always the same: you are valued, you are seen, and you matter.

Want to find out more about how we support the spiritual development and pastoral care of students in Colchester? Visit us at www.cyocolchester.org.uk