Presence Matters: A Week of Assemblies at Ysgol Aberconwy

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Last week offered one of those gentle reminders of why this work matters so much. Over five days, I had the privilege of speaking in assemblies at Ysgol Aberconwy, gathering each morning with a different year group and, across the week, encountering the whole high school community.

There is something significant about the simple act of showing up. Assemblies are, by nature, brief and structured, yet they create a shared space where a school pauses together. In those moments, amid the busyness of lessons, deadlines, friendships, and the often-unseen pressures young people carry, there is an opportunity to speak about things that rarely fit neatly into a timetable.

The focus of the week was presence — what it means to be truly there for another person — and the closely related practice of active listening.

Presence can sound like an uncomplicated idea, but it is surprisingly countercultural. We live in a world of constant distraction, where attention is fragmented and silence can feel uncomfortable. For many young people, life is filled with noise. Against that backdrop, being fully present with someone becomes not just a social skill, but an act of care.

We reflected on the difference between being physically nearby and being genuinely attentive. To be present is to offer more than proximity, it’s to communicate, often without words, “I see you. I’m here. You’re not alone in this.” It is choosing to slow down long enough to notice the person in front of us rather than rushing past them.

Active listening sits at the heart of that presence. Listening is sometimes misunderstood as passive, as though it were simply the absence of speaking. Yet real listening requires effort. It asks for patience, curiosity, and the discipline to resist the urge to immediately solve, correct, or redirect. For young people especially, whose experiences are often interpreted or managed by adults, the experience of being heard without interruption or judgment can be quietly incredibly powerful.

Alongside these themes, I shared what it feels like to know God’s presence in seasons when life feels heavy. Not as a distant religious concept, but as comfort, steadiness, and reassurance. The assembly explored the possibility that presence — whether human or divine — has the capacity to reshape how we experience difficult moments. That being known, accompanied, and listened to can soften isolation and strengthen resilience.

What stood out across the week was the depth of engagement. Students listened thoughtfully, and the feedback from both pupils and staff was really encouraging. There was a sense that these were not abstract ideas, but realities already familiar to many in the room. Young people understand loneliness. They understand the relief of being understood. And They recognise authenticity when they encounter it.

Perhaps the most exciting outcome came after the assemblies had finished. Through connections formed during the week, around 200 young people linked in with our online project as a result. That movement from a morning assembly to ongoing digital engagement represents something new to us, and we don’t want to take it lightly. It speaks of trust, curiosity, and a willingness to continue exploring questions around wellbeing, identity, faith, and life.

Weeks like this reinforce an important truth. A few minutes in an assembly hall can prompt reflection, spark conversations, and open doors that extend far beyond the school gates.

We are hugely grateful to the staff and students at Ysgol Aberconwy for their welcome, openness, and generosity throughout the week. It was a joy to spend time with your community.

Brand new detached project in school launches successfully!

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Last week we were really pleased to launch a brand new detached youth work project at Ysgol John Bright, marking an exciting new chapter in our work with young people in the town.

We were present in the school’s outdoor spaces across the lunch period for Year 7, Year 9, and Year 11, simply showing up, being visible, and creating opportunities for conversation. We brought along a couple of informal activities, including a simple game and a chalkboard inviting pupils to respond to a question about God. What started as curiosity quickly turned into connection.

Across lunchtime, we engaged with over 50 young people, leading to a wide range of conversations; some light-hearted and playful, others thoughtful and surprisingly deep. The chalkboard sparked interest, questions, and honest reflections, giving young people space to share their thoughts without pressure.

One of the most encouraging aspects of the session was the chance to renew relationships with young people we hadn’t seen for quite some time, while also meeting and getting to know many new faces. Detached work often begins quietly, but this first session felt full of energy, openness, and genuine engagement from the pupils.
The young people were respectful, welcoming, and enthusiastic, and the school staff were pleased with how the session went. We’re grateful for the support of the school and for the opportunity to be present in a way that prioritises relationship and trust.

This first session felt like a really strong start. Detached youth work is about being there, listening well, and creating safe spaces where young people can explore questions of life, faith, and identity at their own pace. Next time we’ll be there for the other lunch, for years 8, 10 and the sixth form. We’re excited to continue building on this foundation and to see how these lunchtime connections grow over the coming weeks. Keep praying for us! 🙂

What to Expect from Llandudno Youth for Christ in 2026

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As we look ahead to 2026, we’re excited about what God is doing through Llandudno Youth for Christ — and what’s still to come. The year ahead is shaping up to be one of growth, deepening relationships, and new opportunities to walk alongside young people, families, schools, and churches across our town.

Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect from us in the year ahead.

Celebrating 15 Years of Service 🎉

2026 marks a significant milestone for our Centre Director, Tim, who celebrates 15 years working for the charity!

Our AGM – March 7th

Our Annual General Meeting & Celebration takes place on March 7th, and we’d love for you to join us. This is a chance to reflect on what God has done, hear stories from the past year, look ahead to the future, and reconnect with supporters, volunteers, and partners. More details will be shared soon — but for now, save the date!

Free Training for Parents, Carers, and Churches

Equipping adults to support young people well is a key part of our mission. In early 2026, we’ll be running two free courses:

  • Safeguarding Training – helping churches, volunteers, and parents create safer spaces for young people.

  • Parenting the Digital Generation – a brand new course designed to support parents and carers navigating social media, online culture, gaming, and digital wellbeing.

Redefine: Exploring Justice and Grace

Our youth discipleship project, Redefine will be tackling the theme of “justice and grace” exploring big questions about fairness, forgiveness, faith, and what it means to follow Jesus in today’s world. As always, Redefine will be a space where young people’s questions are taken seriously and honest discussion is encouraged.

New Detached Work in Local Schools

We’re excited to be launching two brand-new lunchtime detached youth work sessions in a local secondary school. This means meeting young people where they already are; building relationships, listening well, and being a consistent presence during the school day.

Expanding Our Schools Work

We’re also pleased to share that we’ll now be delivering termly assemblies in two schools, not just one. This expansion allows us to engage with even more young people, offering messages of hope, resilience, and faith in ways that are relevant and accessible.

Growing Our Online Youth Work

Online spaces are increasingly where young people ask their biggest questions, and we want to be there too. In 2026, we’ll be stepping up our digital youth work, especially through our ‘Ask Redefine’ TikTok account, where we respond to real questions submitted by young people themselves. It’s an exciting way to engage honestly with faith, life, and the issues young people care about most.

Developing Our Mentoring Work

We’re looking to grow our mentoring provision, walking one-to-one with young people who need encouragement and stability. Mentoring remains one of the most impactful ways we can invest in young people’s lives over the long term.

Partnering More Closely with Local Churches

Finally, we’re committed to deepening our partnerships with local churches. Whether through shared events, training, support, or collaboration, we want to serve churches well and work together for the good of young people across Llandudno.

We’re deeply thankful for everyone who supports, prays for, volunteers with, and partners alongside Llandudno Youth for Christ. As we move into 2026, we do so with hope, expectation, and a renewed commitment to seeing young people’s lives transformed by God’s love.

If you’d like to be involved in any of the work mentioned above, please get in touch — we’d love to hear from you.

Looking Back with Gratitude: 2025 at Llandudno Youth for Christ

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As another year draws to a close, we’ve been taking time to pause, reflect, and give thanks for all that God has been doing through Llandudno Youth for Christ in 2025. This year hasn’t been about big headlines or flashy success stories, but about steady faithfulness, small moments with big impact, and the quiet, often unseen work of God among young people. It’s quietly been quite amazing.

For us, this year began with a sense of return and re-grounding. After a sad local safeguarding incident, and two team members leaving the area as a result – including our amazing Staff Worker, Karen – we were forced to step back from our familiar rhythms.

A difficult start

This early period of change brought both challenges and joy. It reminded us that youth work is never just about grand programs or big plans, but about presence. Presence for us meant turning up, listening well, and walking alongside young people where they really are. More importantly, however, we needed the presence of Jesus. This meant providing spaces and opportunities for young people to encounter Him as a source of joy, hope, safety. and healing. For some of our team and young people, it meant allowing Jesus to come into our laments, loses and sadness and bring His peace. It’s fair to say this was a difficult for important season for us.

Afterwards, reentering schools, reconnecting with partners, and reestablishing routines all carried a renewed sense of calling and purpose.

Into Schools

One of the strongest threads running through this year has been our ongoing work in local schools. From amazing opportunities to give regular assemblies – including at Easter in a new school – to everyday conversations with the many young people we encounter every day, we’ve been reminded just how significant a single moment can be. One conversation and one honest question can ripple far beyond what we see at the time. Again and again, we’ve seen curiosity sparked, relationships deepened, and doors opened simply by showing up with authenticity and hope.

Alongside our wider schools work, this year also saw the continued growth of our RE teaching and creative engagement through projects like The Mary Project. Taking this Christmas workshop into school classrooms opened up thoughtful, reflective conversations about the incarnation, faith, courage, and calling — with young people who might never otherwise encounter the Christian story in this way. Watching students engage so openly and imaginatively with Mary’s story was a powerful reminder that RE, done well, creates space not just for learning, but for deep reflection and meaning-making. These moments affirmed our commitment to bringing high-quality, respectful, and faith-filled RE into schools as part of our wider mission.

Regular Projects

Alongside this, our youth gatherings have continued to grow as spaces of belonging and joy. Redefine has been a place where young people can be themselves, ask real questions, laugh loudly, and explore faith without pressure. The Christmas Carnival was a particular highlight — full of energy, chaos, fun, and warmth — a reminder that celebrating together is itself a powerful witness. For many young people, these moments of joy are just as important as the conversations about faith that sit alongside them.

This year we have also been thankful for the growing ways The Garage has been able to serve others beyond our own core programs. We’ve had the privilege of supporting a number of other groups, and it has been a real encouragement to see two churches now using The Garage as a base for their own youth work. Alongside this, we’ve been able to offer training for youth workers and church leaders across the area, equipping and encouraging those who are serving young people week in and week out.

A bit of a scare

You’ll know, of course, that this was a challenging year for me personally, after suffering a health setback that took me away from work for several months. During this time, being forced to stop was both frightening and humbling. It confronted me with my own limits and reminded me just how fragile we are, but it also revealed something deeply encouraging: this work does not rest on one person alone. While I focused on recovery, others stepped up, prayed, supported, and quietly carried the ministry forward. I am profoundly grateful for the grace, patience, and kindness shown to me during that season, and for the reminder that Youth for Christ is sustained not by strength or striving, but by God’s faithfulness and the generosity of His people.

During my return to work, we were also greatly supported by Jaime, who joined us as a short-term youth worker during those first few months. His presence, energy, and willingness to step into the life of the ministry made a real difference at a crucial time. Jaime invested in the young people, built relationships, and helped provide continuity while I found my feet again. We are thankful for the time he gave, the care he showed, and the way he served during that season.

Big thanks!

This year has also been one of transition and gratitude. We said a heartfelt farewell to Karen, whose faithful service and care have shaped countless young lives. Moments like this remind us that youth work is always built on people who give generously of themselves, often behind the scenes. We are deeply thankful for all who have served, volunteered, prayed, supported, and encouraged us this year — your investment matters more than you know.

We also cannot reflect on this year without giving thanks for Reverb Café. What happens through Reverb is nothing short of extraordinary. The love, consistency, and Christian welcome offered there form a vital foundation for everything we do as Llandudno Youth for Christ. Because of the faithfulness of the Reverb team, we have been able to continue supporting young people across Llandudno. Reverb’s steady presence has been a profound gift, not only to the ministry, but to me personally. Their service is a quiet but powerful witness, and we are deeply thankful for the way they embody Christ’s love day in, day out.

None of this work would be possible without our incredible volunteers and trustees. Their faithfulness, wisdom, prayer, and behind-the-scenes commitment sustain this ministry in ways that are often unseen but always vital. From trustees who carry responsibility and vision, to volunteers who show up week after week with patience, energy, and love — we are profoundly grateful. This year, especially, their support has been a reminder that Youth for Christ is a shared calling, carried by a community who believe deeply in the value of young people and the transforming love of Jesus.

We also want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who gives financially to support our work. Your generosity enables everything we do, often in ways that are not immediately visible but are deeply significant. Alongside this, our monthly prayer gatherings have been a vital source of strength and encouragement throughout the year. Bringing together people from across different churches to pray for young people, for schools, and for our projects has been a powerful reminder that this ministry is rooted in prayer and shared faith. These times of coming together – quietly, faithfully, and expectantly – have underpinned the work more than we can ever fully express.

Small faithfulness with big impact

As we look back, we’re struck by how much of this year has been about small faithfulness. There have been no shortcuts, no quick fixes, and no instant transformations; just the steady work of planting seeds, trusting God with the growth, and remaining present in the lives of young people. And that, we believe, is exactly where God is at work!

At the heart of all of this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Everything we do flows from a deep conviction that young people need Jesus more than anything else; not as a slogan or a solution, but as a living Saviour. We believe in the life-changing hope found in knowing Him, in the deep, unshakable love He offers, and in the peace that comes from standing upon Him when life feels uncertain or overwhelming. We’ve really encountered that this year!

Our longing is that every conversation, club, assembly, and gathering might create space for young people to encounter Jesus in ways that are real, meaningful, and transformative.

So as we head into a new year, we do so with gratitude rather than certainty, hope rather than hype. We’re thankful for what has been, attentive to what God is doing now, and expectant for what lies ahead. Thank you for being part of the story of Llandudno Youth for Christ this year – a story rooted in the love of Jesus and the hope He offers.

We can’t wait to see where God leads us next, and how He will continue to draw young people to Himself.

Taking “The Mary Project” Christmas Workshop into School

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Over the past few weeks, we’ve had the joy of writing and designing a brand-new schools workshop. We called it The Mary Project, and it quickly became clear that this was something special. We have just piloted it with with Year 7 pupils at Ysgol Aberconwy.

The Mary Project explores bold courage and healthy fear through the person of Mary, the mother of Jesus, using the Christmas story as its foundation. Rather than presenting fear as something to simply avoid or defeat, we invite young people to think about fear as something more complex, something that can be challenging, meaningful, and even formative. Courage, for Mary, didn’t mean being ‘fearless’ it meant being afraid, trusting in God, and doing the hard things anyway.

The Mary Project has been designed as a fully interactive experience, combining relevant games, small-group discussions, personal moments of quiet reflection, carefully selected videos and music, an entirely ad hoc (and hilarious!) nativity, and gives a small meaningful token for each young person to take home.

Mary’s story gives us space to talk honestly about uncertainty, risk, courage, and saying “yes” when you don’t have all the answers. These themes resonate strongly with young people navigating big transitions in their own lives.

Why this matters at Christmas

We intentionally created The Mary Project for this particular time of year to help serve the needs of local schools. The run-up to Christmas can be notoriously difficult for schools to programme. Timetables are disrupted, excitement levels are high, and regular lessons often become harder to sustain.

This workshop was created to fit flexibly into busy December schedules, offer something meaningful without adding pressure, and complement RE provision while remaining engaging and accessible

Feedback from the RE teacher, Head of RE, and the students themselves was very positive. Young people were thoughtful, engaged, and willing to reflect. This is no small achievement in the final weeks of term. We’re very grateful to the school for allowing us the chance to run this project and trusting us to speak into their pupil’s lives.

What’s next?

This session was always intended as a pilot, and it’s given us plenty to reflect on. We’re already planning small tweaks and improvements, with the hope of rolling The Mary Project out to several more schools next year.

We’re deeply encouraged by how warmly it was received and excited about developing this further as a resource that supports schools, young people, and meaningful conversations about faith, fear, and courage.

If you’d like to know more about this workshop — or explore joining us in other projects and youth ventures — we’d love to hear from you.

 

A Christmas Carnival to Remember – Redefine Recap

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Last night at Redefine we kicked off December in Christmas style with one of the most fun and thoughtful sessions we’ve had all term!

After decorating the tree, we transformed part of the space into a mini Christmas carnival, complete with festive games, lots of laughter, and a little healthy competition.

Huge congratulations to Levi, who absolutely smashed it and walked away with the legendary Santa socks prize. Commiserations to our leaders Tracey and Troy, who heroically took last and second-last place… someone had to!

The Great Santa Debate

We then shifted gears into a lively discussion focused on the question, What should Christians teach about Santa? Our young people brought brilliant perspectives, asking big questions about truth, imagination, celebration, and what it means to keep Jesus at the centre of Christmas without taking away the fun. It was thoughtful, respectful, and… occasionally hilarious.

Next we opened up the Christmas story and took a deeper look at the two groups who feature in so many nativity scenes but often get overlooked, the Magi and the Shepherds.

We explored what it meant for both these groups to leave everything in the hope of encountering a Saviour. What might we be called to leave behind if we want to follow Jesus with the same courage and curiosity?

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Redefine night without good snacks! There was hot chocolate, yule log, and—for those worried about the sugar levels—plenty of fruit and berries to balance things out.

All in all, it was a brilliant evening. It was fun, meaningful, and full of the kind of conversations that make Redefine special.

The Ripple Effect of One Easter Assembly

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Last week, our team had the privilege of visiting Ysgol Aberconwy, delivering an AS-Level Religious Studies lesson. It was a normal school day on the surface, but God was speaking in ways we didn’t expect.

As we walked back to reception, one of the pupils who was helping to escort us said something that stopped me in my tracks. Earlier this year, she had come to our Easter assembly, where we talked about Jesus being the real meaning of Easter.

She told me that what she heard that day “got through” to her. More than that, she felt moved enough to talk to her brother. Together, they found a Bible and since then, she’s been reading it with her mum, and the family has started looking for a church to belong to.

I don’t know about you, but that gives me goosebumps.

Why This Is So Encouraging

  • It shows that what we do in schools matters. Whether it’s lessons, assemblies, or just building relationships, seeds are being planted.

  • Faith is being passed on in homes. This pupil didn’t just walk away, she took what she heard home, shared it, and her family is starting to explore it together.

  • God is at work in ordinary places. Not just in churches, but in classrooms, corridors, and living rooms.

This moment reminds us that we don’t always see the full picture of what God is doing. Sometimes, all we see is a smile, a “thank you” at the school gates, or a student coming up to say, “I was at that assembly, and …”

How You Can Join In

Would you pray with us? Here’s how you can partner in this kind of story:

  • Pray. Please pray for that girl, her brother, and their mum as they explore the Bible and search for a church. Pray for clarity, community, and courage.

  • Give. This kind of school work — the assemblies, lessons, follow-up — doesn’t happen on its own. Your giving helps us reach more schools, more students, and more families.

  • Volunteer. We’re always in need of people who can come alongside us — whether as school workers, prayer partners, or as part of our youth-worker team. If God is nudging you, let’s talk.

Back in the Saddle: My first few weeks back

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After a season away, stepping back into my role as  Centre Director of Llandudno Youth for Christ has felt a bit like re-joining a fast-moving conversation — but in the best possible way. These first few weeks of my phased return have been full, encouraging, and pretty exciting. I’ve already remembered why I love this work so much.

Redefine Is Back — and Brilliant

One of the biggest highlights has been coming back to our Sunday evening Redefine discipleship nights. We’ve launched straight into exploring the idea of wisdom — what it means, where it comes from, and how young people can navigate a world that feels chaotic, loud, and complicated. Both sessions have gone really well. The group has engaged deeply, asked sharp questions, and pushed into what wise living actually looks like in real life. It’s been amazing to see the energy and thoughtfulness in the room! The young people are awesome!

Back Into Schools

I’ve also had the chance to reconnect with our local schools. I visited Ysgol John Bright to meet the assistant head, which was encouraging — there’s still a real openness to collaboration moving forward. Then it was off to Ysgol Aberconwy, where I taught Religious Studies to AS-level students. They were brilliant — curious, switched-on, and not afraid to wrestle with the big questions. It’s one of those sessions you leave thinking, Yes, this is why we do this.

AskRedefine Returns

Our online work has restarted too, including our popular AskRedefine TikTok series. Young people send in real questions about faith, God, life, doubt, hope, and everything in between, and we respond with short, honest videos that are always under a minute long. It’s always a joy to see how these digital conversations open doors that might not appear in a classroom or youth club. We’ve already got a (huge!) backlog of questions waiting — which is a nice problem to have!

Training, Teamwork, and… Emails

On the ground, things have been just as full. I’ve run a couple of training sessions and begun overseeing our new youth worker, Jaime. It’s been good to get into a rhythm together and start thinking about what comes next for the team.

And yes — I have also heroically battled through a couple of hundred emails from my time off ill. (No medals were awarded, but I feel I earned one.)

Between meetings, visits, and catch-ups with supporters and partners, it’s been a full but deeply encouraging restart. It has at sometimes been overwhelming, but I’ve genuinely enjoyed reconnecting.

How You Can Join In

As we step into this next season of ministry, we would love your support. Would you consider:

🙏 Praying for us — especially for wisdom as we grow our work with schools and deepen discipleship with young people.
🤝 Volunteering — whether regularly or occasionally, your presence makes a huge difference.
💛 Giving — helping us continue and expand this work across Llandudno and beyond.

Thank you for cheering us on. It’s good to be back — and even better to be moving forward together.

Getting Back on My Feet – An Update from Tim

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Hi everyone,

I wanted to take a moment to share a bit of a personal update.

Back in April, life came to a sudden halt. Early one morning, I was meant to be flying to Prague to present a paper at a youth work research conference — instead, I woke up on the floor, my face covered in blood, and ended up in A&E. The doctors said I’d had a major stress event, along with a concussion and a resulting minor traumatic brain injury.

The months that followed were tough. For a long while, I couldn’t drive, walk far, read, or write. Most of the time I was just… asleep. It’s been the darkest season I’ve ever walked through — full of exhaustion, pain, and a lot of uncertainty.

But it’s also been a time of deep gratitude. My wife has been incredible, walking with me every step. My family have stayed close. The medical team have been brilliant. And our trustees at Llandudno Youth for Christ have shown such understanding and care, giving me the time I needed to recover. The team have been amazing, keeping Redefine going strong in my absence. I’m also hugely grateful to those of you who prayed, and to those who gave so that we could bring a second staff member on board — that generosity made a real difference when we needed it most.

Most of all, I’ve been so aware of the nearness of God. Even in the silence and weakness, His presence has been real and constant — sometimes gentle, sometimes overwhelming, but always there.

The good news is that I’m now back at work on a phased return, currently 12 hours a week. Mornings are good — I feel almost like myself again, but as the day goes on, I still tire quickly. Projects will slowly start returning to normal over the next months, starting with Redefine.

Since starting with Llandudno Youth for Christ back in 2011, I’ve seen God do amazing things through countless clubs, schools work, projects, events, and conversations with young people across North Wales. This year has reminded me in a very personal way that this is God’s work, not mine. He’s carried it, and me, the whole way through.

Thank you so much for your prayers, kindness, and support. They’ve meant more than you could possibly know.

With love and gratitude,
Tim

Another assembly week – in a NEW school!

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Last week, we had the privilege of spending five full days at Ysgol Aberconwy, delivering assemblies to every year group. It was an incredible opportunity, and we’re so thankful for how it went!

The response from pupils was genuinely encouraging – they were engaged, respectful, and full of curiosity. We also managed to connect with a number of staff members, and we’re having some great follow-up conversations with a some heads of year, RE, and PSE about ways we might work together going forward. Everyone we’ve spoken to has been really positive, which is so encouraging as we look to build long-term, meaningful partnerships in the school.

Our assembly theme was Easter, and as always, we aimed to be clear about the Gospel while remaining respectful of the school environment. There were some brilliant and memorable moments – from a rubber duckling and a very posh M&S Easter egg, to Tim’s now-infamous ‘Bill and Ben in the Box’ skit, which had the pupils (and staff!) smiling.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported and prayed for us during the week – we felt it. Please do keep praying, especially that the right relationships would form and grow from the conversations we’ve started.

Can you help?

We’re launching new projects in a new school, which is incredibly exciting – but it also means our budget is stretched, and we’re in real need of more volunteers. If you think you could help in any way – whether practically, prayerfully, or financially – please get in touch.

You can also give online by clicking here.

Your support really does make a difference. Thank you!