Church Urban Fund

20/08/2026

Who made you feel welcome when you needed it most?

In Matthew 25:35, Jesus says, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

Sometimes welcome is a meal, a conversation, a listening ear, or simply someone making space for us when we need it.

We’re celebrating the people and places that help others feel seen, valued and that they belong.

Who has been that person for you?

Find out more about our Harvest campaign: cuf.org.uk/welcome

20/08/2026

Looking for a practical resource for your youth group?

Growing Good: Youth gives leaders everything they need to guide young people through meaningful conversations about faith, community and action.

The pack includes a fully explained leader’s guide, a large community map and additional resource sheets. Each session includes activities, Bible reflection, discussion, prayer and action-planning, helping leaders run the course with confidence.

Growing Good: Youth is available for £14.99, plus postage and packaging.

Order your pack: https://buff.ly/pCSG7rj

13/08/2026

What could your youth group do to make a difference locally?

Across six engaging sessions, Growing Good: Youth helps young people:

• Explore their community and its strengths
• Recognise local challenges
• Discover the gifts within their group
• Speak out about injustice
• Choose a project
• Create a practical action plan

The resource combines games, Bible reflection, discussion, prayer and action-planning to help young people turn their ideas into meaningful community action.

Discover Growing Good: Youth: https://buff.ly/pCSG7rj

12/08/2026

Labels. Stereotypes. Zeitgeist and assumptions. All encourage society to judge whole communities rather than individuals. Dr Aimi King encourages us to pause when we encounter stories about places or people we think we already understand, and ask key questions: https://cuf.org.uk/news/shes-got-an-asbo
Diocese of Leeds, Church of England National Estate Churches Network

Dr Aimi King unsticks the labels of poverty

12/08/2026

It began as a simple task: helping to clear leaves from an elderly neighbour’s garden.

But when Barbara came outside and began sharing her story, something changed. The young people discovered that their time, energy and willingness had real value, while Barbara offered hospitality, connection and wisdom.

The garden looked different by the end, but so did everyone involved.

Read this powerful story about why contribution creates transformation: https://buff.ly/ub1GTEa

10/08/2026

A simple welcome can make a big difference.

Places of Welcome bring people together in churches, libraries, community centres and other local spaces. Each one is different, but they all create opportunities for people to connect, build relationships and share their gifts and skills.

Because strong communities are not only built through services. They are built when people feel seen, heard and able to contribute.

Discover Places of Welcome and learn how you can get involved: https://buff.ly/1Lk3DA4

06/08/2026

Help young people grow in faith and make a difference in their community.

Growing Good: Youth is a six-week resource for youth groups aged 14 to 18. Through Bible reflection, prayer, discussion and practical activities, young people explore their local area and discover how God can use their gifts to bring hope and positive change.

Take your youth group on a journey from discovery to action.

Order your pack: https://buff.ly/pCSG7rj

04/08/2026

Congrats to Together For Change on the opening of Saints Bar Pool in Nuneaton, a welcoming community café and social enterprise where local people can access support, develop new skills, build friendships and take part in activities shaped by the needs of the neighbourhood. https://buff.ly/4LboW4d Warwickshire County Council Church of England Diocese of Coventry

A new community hub dedicated to bringing people together, tackling inequality and creating opportunities has officially opened in the Bar Pool area of Nuneaton.

04/08/2026

Everyone deserves a place where they feel welcome.

Places of Welcome are friendly community spaces where people can meet others, enjoy free refreshments, have a conversation and feel part of their neighbourhood.

They are open to everyone, whatever their circumstances. Whether you are looking for connection, local information or simply somewhere to spend time with others, there is a place for you.

Find your nearest Place of Welcome: https://buff.ly/1Lk3DA4

Local community groups providing their neighbourhoods with places where all people feel safe to connect, belong and get involved.

03/08/2026

What changes when we stop asking, “What is wrong with young people?” and start asking, “What is strong?”

In our latest blog, youth worker Dan Sandford-Smith reflects on how this question transformed his approach to community work, moving from programmes focused on needs and problems to relationships built around gifts, strengths and contribution.

Discover what young people taught him about belonging, community and the power of being needed.

Read the blog: https://buff.ly/ub1GTEa