NDCYS Annual Report

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Dear readers,

I am delighted to present our second annual report of the work of Nottingham Diocesan Catholic Youth Service (NDCYS) over the last academic year (September 2024-August 2025). I hope you enjoy reading about the development of the ministry of the Youth Service, which has only been possible through the continued dedicated work of volunteers, staff and trustees.

This year’s mission team, Jakob, JP, Molly, Eleanor, Nele and Helena served with generosity, great love and I would like to thank them, particularly for their kindness and hospitality to each of our visiting young people and staff. I am grateful to returning volunteers who supported our open retreats and busy summer term. We welcomed back Issie, former team member (and daughter of two past team members!), as Programme leader for the year. She now heads off to begin her teaching career. We also said goodbye to Annie and Elise who have completed their apprenticeships and now move on to exciting new roles where they can put their studies in youth and community work into practice. They go with our heartfelt thanks for their service and continued prayers for their next steps.

We welcomed Fr Neil People’s as our Chaplain, and long-serving trustee, Yvonne May, into her new role supporting the pastoral care and formation of the community. They have brought so much to the life of the community over the course of the year, ensuring the experience of the volunteer mission team promotes their flourishing and growth as well formed, rounded young adults ready for the next stage of their lives.

A particular highlight for some of the team this last year, was a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi with the Diocesan Vocations team and other young adults from the Diocese. Originally planned to attend the canonisation of Carlo Acutis they ended up attending the funeral of Pope Francis when, sadly, he died on the day they left for Rome. A truly momentous occasion, which deeply moved them.

This year saw us continue the work of review which began last academic year as we seek to answer the question: what do we want for our young people as a Diocese? We have refined a working set of four innovations, which we have experimented with this year and continue to develop as we move into the coming year. Further details of how we have developed this work, including our next steps, are set out on page 8 of this report.

At The Briars, we began redeveloping the programmes last year and have continued with this, adding two new programmes in response to the needs of the young people. We have also extended our open retreat offering as we seek to further cement The Briars as a place of renewal and the hub for youth ministry in the Diocese; a place where young people meet Jesus and grow as His disciples and find their place in the world.

As I stated this time last year, it is exciting to present this report but we do so in a period of transition and with a great deal more to do. We have only scratched the surface of the innovations identified in the review and further experimentation, listening and funding is needed to take our initial steps to the fullness of their potential. In the year that the `Quiet Revival` report identified significant growth in the number of young adults attending church, with particular growth in the Catholic Church, our work takes on an even greater urgency to be equipped to be ready to receive and accompany those who `come home`. Please keep our work and the young people of the Diocese in your prayers. Thank you for taking the time to read this report, we hope it will be an uplifting sign of hope and of much more to come.

Erin Doughty

Director of Youth Services

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