What is the Local Agents of Change programme?
This programme is based and facilitated locally, with resources provided by the Connexional Team and opportunities to meet with other children and young people from across Britain. It is aimed at children and young people in school years 4 to 13/P4 to S3.
As a Local Agent of Change, participants will be asked, with the help of a named adult Local Supporter, to talk to their friends and then tell the Church about the things that matter to children and young people. This will help to shape the work of the Methodist Church across Britain and, most importantly, the work of their local church.
Participating in the programme will:
- start children and young people on a vocational pathway that may lead them to take up other opportunities and roles
- help children and young people to grow in their discipleship
- encourage children and young people to take action in their local church and community
- enable children and young people to engage more in, and contribute to, the life of the Church
- offer opportunity for meeting and working with other children and young people from around Britain.
Please note: The safeguarding of the children and young people taking part in this programme rests with the named Local Supporter and the local church/circuit.
See the section below on key dates for online 'Find out more' drop-in sessions.
How does the programme work?
Twice a year the Local Supporter will be sent a link to a 'Use Your Voice' consultation pack. The Local Agents of Change will use these packs, with the help of the Supporter, to run consultations with their friends and peers. The Local Agents will then be invited to feedback what they find, including at online gatherings with the Youth President and Youth Reps. More importantly, they will be asked to share their findings with their local church/circuit. The local church/circuit will be asked to commit to praying for, listening to and responding with the Local Agents of Change.
How do we sign-up?
- A named adult (the Local Supporter) signs up to run this programme locally with any number of children and young people, before end of December 2025. Use this form to sign-up.
- We then contact a named minister to ask them to confirm that the church/circuit will support both the Local Supporter and the Local Agent(s) of Change.
- In January 2026, we send a welcome email to all our Local Supporters and the first 'Use Your Voice' pack.
Why do we want Local Supporters to sign-up?
- Local Supporters will be invited to bespoke gatherings for training and support.
- Your help is needed to measure impact of the programme and monitor how many groups are signed up and where.
- The Connexional staff leading the programme will be able to contact you directly with information about the twice-yearly online gatherings for Local Agents of Change, as well as any other opportunities that might be relevant to them.
What are the key programme activities?
- The ‘Use Your Voice’ pack, will be published twice a year. This is designed to equip the Local Agents of Change, with the help of an adult Local Supporter, to consult with other children and young people and then feed this back to the local church/circuit in a variety of ways. This could be in a meeting, in a Sunday service, via a poster or other appropriate methods.
- An online gathering, hosted by the Youth President and Youth Reps, will take place twice a year. All Local Agents of Change will be invited to attend this meeting to tell our Youth Reps and Youth President what they have been doing and hearing locally. Other ways of feeding back to the wider Church will also be offered for those unable to attend the gatherings.
What is the role of the local church/circuit?
- Pray as a church/circuit for the children and young people on the programme and those supporting them.
- Listen to what children and young people have to say, through providing space in meetings, services and other contexts to receive feedback.
- Respond to what children and young people share with you through dialogue and action together.
The local church/circuit will also be responsible for identifying (and confirming the safe recruitment of) a named adult Local Supporter to help, facilitate and encourage the Local Agent(s) of Change to undertake the programme tasks.
Key dates for 2026
'Find out more' 30 minute online drop-ins (optional). New dates added!
- Monday 3 November, 1pm: sign-up here.
- Tuesday 18 November, 1pm: sign-up here.
- Thursday 4 December, 7.30pm: sign-up here.
Deadline for registering as a Local Supporter: Monday 15 December 2025
Local Supporter online briefings (you will be invited to choose one when you register)
- Thursday 15 January 2026, 10.30am
- Tuesday 20 January 2026, 7pm
'Use Your Voice' pack sent January 2026 and September 2026.
Online gathering for Local Agents of Change with Youth President and Youth Reps:
- Saturday 14 March 2026, morning (time TBC)
- Saturday 28 November 2026, morning (time TBC)
