The borough of Tower Hamlets has a very large proportion of young people compared to other areas nationally - and a large proportion of those are from economically and socially deprived backgrounds. Click on the link below to see how our Church attempts to reach out to some of these kids, whatever their religious, cultural or social backgrounds.

Click here for a List of Youth and Children's Projects

Crunch began around six years ago. Initially it met to discuss whether there was mileage in re-establishing an across churches youth event, however there were some more pressing concerns, namely,

• To be supportive of paid and volunteer church youth workers in Tower Hamlets and on its borders by meeting to pray together and sharing concerns and encouragements in the work
• To network more widely with church and non-church agencies
• To establish opportunities for collaborative working

Crunch meets monthly and have re-established a youth event for young people. To find out more contact Mark Hutchings, Youth Worker, Bethnal Green Mission Church on 020 7729 4286 or email youth@bgmchurch.plus.com or call Ryan Lynch, Senior Youth Worker, Good Shepherd Mission on 020 7739 3822.

Youth events planned for the coming year will take place on the following dates. Please contact Mark for more details.

Sunday 7th October – East London Tabernacle

Sunday 9th December – St Paul’s Shadwell

Sunday 24th February 2008 – probably Good Shepherd Mission

Sunday 27th April 2008 – TBA

Sunday 29th June 2008 – TBA

The Gap Project is a Youth Inclusion Project has been running for 7 years and aims to help young people overcome barriers, learn new skills and gain confidence. They are always looking for volunteers to help with the project but people who work with young people may feel that they know some who could be referred!!. Please have a look at their website: www.thegapproject.org which has a lot of detail on it.

Watch this space....

www.christianmuslimforum.org.uk - useful for interfaith stuff and has a youth section

www.volunteering.org.uk - useful for policies and stuff for volunteers

www.playtowerhamlets.org.uk - play association for TH and if join them get loads of e-mails with training info for working with children and other
useful local info. Click here to view their information sheet.

www.amp.uk.net - this site is called the 'voice of young people in tower hamlets' and has some good info

www.unlock-urban.org.uk - Unlock produce resources for working with young people in Urban contexts and help to 'reveal Good news of a down to earth Christ'

www.curbsproject.org.uk - produces christian resources for working with children in urban contexts

www.citygateway.org - a borough wide and well organised youth charity that came out of Christ Church Spitalfields

www.docklandsyouthservices.org - a good source of local information and activities for young people

www.toyhouselibraries.org.uk - actively facilitates and promotes play as central to pre-school children’s wellbeing. Members are able to enjoy benefits of a mobile toy library.