Supporting young people moving to university

The process of applying and preparing begins way before results day. Applications, interviews, open days and choosing between different options can be both exciting and stressful. Churches can support young people simply by taking an active interest in this stage of life.

Asking how things are going, what options are being considered and how they are feeling about the future helps them feel seen and supported. Praying with and for young people during this period can also provide reassurance and a sense of grounding.

It is important to recognise that the process of moving into higher education is not the same for everyone, because of this, churches should avoid assumptions and instead take time to ask questions and listen carefully. Being willing to learn about each young person’s individual pathway helps ensure support is relevant and genuinely helpful.

It can also be valuable to involve the wider congregation in the journey. Rather than simply announcing where a young person is going, churches can create space for them to share something of their hopes, questions and plans in their own words. This helps the church community understand their journey more fully and deepens the sense of shared care and prayer.

• Consider marking this transition in a church service as the young person leaves. This could include prayer, a blessing, or a simple act of sending. Think about what would work best in your church context, and explore existing resources from organisations such as SCM or Fusion for inspiration.
• Invite the congregation to sign a card with messages of encouragement and prayer. This simple gesture can be a tangible reminder to the young person that they are known, valued and supported by their church community.
• Support young people in building connections before they arrive at university. Help them link with a university chaplaincy or local church and, where appropriate, introduce them to Methodist churches or ministers in the area. A personal introduction can make it much easier to take that first step.
• Invite one or two people from the church to act as a link person while the young person is away. They can commit to keeping in touch, checking in regularly, and praying for them. This helps maintain a sense of belonging and ongoing care.
• Send them off with a care package - this could be practical, spiritual, or both. Ask the young person what would be helpful and involve the church where possible. This might include useful items for daily life, as well as something meaningful like a prayer book, Bible, or written prayers. Even a small package can communicate love and support.

• Ensure the contact person is keeping in touch with the student. Key times would be during freshers week, on their birthday and during exam times. This could be a quick message on their phone or a card in the post.
• If someone from the church is visiting the area where the student lives, and it was felt they knew them well enough, they could make contact with the student and take them out for a coffee.
• Have a regular prayer slot for those who are away, for example in the prayer meeting, Sunday service or notice sheet.
• Ask the student to send video updates that can be shown in a Sunday service.
• You may like to send the student occasional gifts from the church – e.g. takeaway vouchers.
• If the student is struggling to connect with a church locally think about what online provision you could make available so the student could connect with their home church services or small groups (although this shouldn’t replace trying to connect in their new locality.)

When students return home during holidays it is important to recognise that they often come back changed. Living away brings new experiences, greater independence and different perspectives. Churches should be intentional about welcoming them well and acknowledging the significance of this transition. This might include:

• Offering a warm, personal welcome that recognises their return without making assumptions about how they have changed.
• Taking time in conversation or within a service to acknowledge they are back and to show genuine interest in their experiences.
• Asking open questions about how they are finding life away from home, what they are learning, and what has been most significant for them.
• Creating space for them to share something of their journey if they feel comfortable, without putting them on the spot.
• Recognising and affirming the growth, maturity and independence they may have developed during their time away.
• Inviting conversation about how they would like to be involved in church life during their time at home, rather than assuming previous roles or patterns still fit.
• Encouraging them to explore new ways of belonging, whether through small groups, serving opportunities or informal connection with others in the church community.

This approach helps returning students feel seen as young adults, valued for who they are becoming, and welcomed into a church community that continues to walk alongside them.

It is also important to recognise that returning home post-university can be a disorientating and uncertain time. After years of independence, young adults may return home to a different rhythm of life, family dynamics, and expectations that no longer feel familiar. Others may be moving back to the area and trying to establish themselves while also searching for work, housing and a sense of direction.

During this transition, churches can offer continued support that acknowledges this complexity. Rather than seeing graduation as the end of pastoral care, it can be helpful to remain alongside young adults as they navigate what comes next.

This might include offering encouragement, maintaining contact, providing space to talk through decisions, or simply continuing to include them in the life of the church without expectation or pressure.

By continuing to invest in relationships during this in-between season, churches can help young adults feel grounded and supported at a time when much of life may feel unsettled or uncertain.