Welcoming and supporting students studying in your area

Advertise who you are as a church and what you can offer. Find ways to connect with University structures and others who are offering Christian spaces.

Advertise in places in which students will see around the town/campus as well as online. Help students know that you exist, what you are about and when your services/small groups are.

Prepare/train the welcome team to be ready for when a student might come to your church. Make introductions to help the student to connect with people in the church.

Some students may arrive at your church on their own; make that an easy experience for them. Don’t feel you need to apologise if there aren’t any other students there, but enjoy having them with you and show them that you are glad they are there!

Explain briefly how the service will run and what they might need to be aware of and intentionally invite them to coffee afterwards (if that is the practice at your church).

Think about appointing 1 or 2 student ambassadors from your congregation who will particularly focus on welcoming students, getting to know them and telling them what is on at the church, as well as looking out for them over the following weeks.

Ask the students about themselves and whether they have been to church before. Don’t assume they have a similar church background, as it may be that they are exploring churches.

You may begin to find out about their passions and interests. This will help you to offer appropriate ways in which they could get more involved in church life which matches their interests, if they would like to.

Be led by the student as to how much (if any) involvement they want.

Give students opportunities to share what they are learning. You might invite a student to give a short talk about their course to one of your existing groups.

A student-led talk could spark lively conversation in settings like a coffee morning or knit and natter groups, helping different generations connect and learn from one another.

WhatsApp is simple to use and allows easy, direct communication with groups. Consider setting up a WhatsApp group for students and young adults, making it easy to share events and updates.

It also provides a natural way for students to get to know one another and build friendships.

Many students are open-minded and exploring new ideas. Alongside building relationships, you could offer a “Find out about Christianity” evening or short course (such as On the Way) specifically for students.

This can introduce the basics of the Christian faith in a relaxed and accessible way, especially for those who may be unfamiliar with it.

Create space to explore life’s big questions through taster sessions or informal discussions.

Topics might include identity, purpose, meaning, and life after death.

You don’t need to have all the answers—students often value the opportunity to think things through and engage in honest conversation.

Look for ways to join in with students’ interests as well as wider social and cultural moments.

• You could host viewing parties for events like Eurovision, major sporting occasions, or popular TV finals. Taking an interest in what students enjoy helps create a welcoming and relevant environment.
• Host a Sunday lunch. Sharing food is a simple and powerful way to bring people together, while also helping students with the cost of living. If your church has a kitchen, you could host a full Sunday roast. If not, a bring-and-share meal is still a great way to build community and offer hospitality.
• Offering social events without alcohol can be a welcome alternative for students who don’t drink or feel uncomfortable in drinking-focused environments. Events like dances, karaoke nights, or concerts can create a relaxed and inclusive space for everyone.
• Invite students to take part in interest-based activities such as board games, craft groups, choirs, or other hobbies. Connecting through shared interests is a natural way to build relationships and help students feel at home.

If your church has a calm, welcoming space with internet access, consider opening it as a study area. This gives students a quiet place to work, helps reduce heating and energy costs at home, and creates opportunities for connection and community.

Engage with the local student community by showing support for issues and events that matter to students.

Many students are on low incomes; finding ways to help them reduce their living costs can be a great way to show that your church cares.

• Create a borrowing cupboard

A borrowing cupboard can be a practical way to support students. Everyday items like saucepans, irons, or tools can be borrowed and returned as needed. This simple resource can ease financial pressure and demonstrate care in a very tangible way.

• Give out helpful gifts

Low cost but helpful gifts might include welcome cards that give some useful local information, mugs and tea bags, or small decorative items for a home. Much student accommodation doesn’t have outdoor space and beautiful gardens, so giving a house plant is a great way to add colour and nature to a student’s living space.

Many international students are far from home and may not return during term breaks. Simple acts of hospitality—such as shared meals or invitations to church events—can make a significant difference, helping students feel welcomed, included, and less isolated.

Many students have valuable skills, enthusiasm, and fresh perspectives that can benefit church life. Others simply want opportunities to meet people, contribute to their community and gain experience alongside their studies.

One-off community projects

Not every student is able to commit to a regular volunteering role, which is why flexible opportunities can be particularly effective.

Examples include:

• Church gardening days.
• Community litter picks.
• Decorating and painting projects.
• Church tidy-up days.
• Foodbank collections.
• Community events and festivals.

These all provide practical ways for students and church members to work together. These activities create space for conversations and relationships to develop naturally while contributing something positive to the wider community. Providing refreshments or sharing a meal after a volunteering session can be just as important as the activity itself. These informal moments often help build the connections that encourage students to return.

Churches can also play a valuable role in signposting students to volunteering opportunities elsewhere in the community. By supporting students in finding ways to serve, whether within the church or beyond it, congregations demonstrate a commitment to helping young adults flourish.

Longer term volunteering opportunities

Churches can also provide opportunities that complement a student's degree or future career aspirations. Many students are looking to gain practical experience alongside their studies, and churches often have a wide range of projects and activities where these skills can be developed.

A student studying marketing, media or communications may be interested in helping with social media, websites or publicity. Those studying education, social work or healthcare may value opportunities to engage with community projects, children's work or pastoral initiatives.

Offering meaningful responsibilities, alongside appropriate support and supervision, can help students build confidence, develop transferable skills and strengthen their CV while contributing to the life and mission of the church.

Where possible, churches could also connect students with members of the congregation who work in relevant professions, creating opportunities for mentoring, networking and encouragement.