About us

Values

We have a strong emphasis on the innate dignity of every young person as made and loved by God. We believe they can be empowered to reach their full potential and transform their communities. We affirm that only working in partnership can achieve this. We understand the need to innovate and create in order to take the good news relevantly to every young person. 

Strategy

Our four areas of strategy involve working in partnership with established local churches to reach the young people in their communities with the good news by :

• increasing local presence by building on our networks and developing work as it grows
• providing accessible educational opportunities for young people, especially those not in education, employment or training
• enabling young people to have experiences which are transformative and character building
• investing in people development, of our staff, our volunteers, young people and our partners.

We aim to deliver this work through detached projects, work in educational establishments, community events and volunteering.

• Outreach Programme: Detached street-based projects that engage disadvantaged and marginalised young people.
• Schools Based Programme: We are an Extended Services Partner Agency for 2 local secondary schools and deliver a variety of work within this context.
• Events Programme: We facilitate key events throughout the year for young people and the community, working together with different agencies and partners.
• Volunteers Programme: We utilise and train local volunteers to deliver much of our work and give them a range of opportunities to use and grow their gifts and talents. We provide opportunities for youth volunteering.

Governance

Our Board of Trustees are responsible for the stewardship of the charity and maintaining best practice throughout our projects.

We also have a Council of Reference who meet to provide advice and guidance.

Staff

Kate Robinson

Kate moved from Bristol to live in Durham in 2004 and loves it in the North East. She graduated with a 1st class Honours Degree in Youth and Community Work from Durham Univeristy in June ‘07 (JNC level 3). She has served as pioneering Centre Director since August ‘07. She is married to James who works as a youth and schools worker for a local church. She was born in Tanzania and loves making new connections there.

Helen Shepherd

Helen is originally from Cheltenham and now lives in Durham with her husband Charlie.  She trained through the Centre for Youth Ministry, finishing with a first class degree in Youth and Community Work and then moved to Durham to do a Master’s in Theology and Religion. 

She is based in Shildon for Durham YFC and runs two church-based youth groups as well as working with a local partnership of organisations who provide activities for young people in Shildon.  This includes working with a youth council to enable young people to influence decisions about their area.  She loves meeting new groups of young people and seeing them reach their potential. 

Joy Gaultney

Joy moved to Durham in 2008 to study Education Studies and Psychology at Durham University. She loves Durham and decided to stay and make it her home after she graduated in July 2011. She is based in the Durham YFC office and her role is focussed on doing Fundraising. She works with individuals, churches, and charitable trusts to support Durham YFC and ensure that it continues to have funding to do its work.

Team

We also have on team a selection of highly talented and passionate individuals who serve us regularly in a variety of ways. Some are on church internships, others are students making good use of their time in Durham! They are all super, their prayer and dedication to young people of local communities is honouring to them and their faith.

Meet some of our volunteers.