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Faith on Wheels
How the RoadHoG Bus is Transforming Wyberton
For the past 16 months, a vibrant splash of bright purple and green colours have been rolling into Wyberton every fortnight, bringing with it far more than just activities. The RoadHoG Youth Bus has become a vital extension of our mission, the House of God on wheels, showing that the Church shares the love of Jesus not only within its four walls.
A United Front
What makes the Wyberton outreach truly special is its heart of unity. This isn’t the work of a single congregation; it is a shared labour of love between:
•St Leodegar’s Parish Church
•Wyberton United Reformed Church (URC)
•Beacon Church (Ground Level Network)
Together, we have committed to being a consistent, caring presence for our local young people. By working across denominational lines, we show the community a unified body of Christ, focused entirely on the well-being of the next generation.
Meeting Them Where They Are
The bus provides a supervised, safe “third space” on the streets where young people feel truly seen and valued. The impact is felt across the village:
•Community Support: A local bus company generously provides secure parking, recognizing the project’s role in reducing anti-social behaviour.
•School Partnerships: Our local non-church primary school actively promotes the bus to Year 6 pupils, trusting us to provide a positive transition as they grow.
Grace in the Heart of the Community
As church leaders, we see the greatest fruit in the relationships being built. This project allows young people to experience “genuine Christianity” in a space that feels like their own.
Our volunteer leaders don’t just run a club; they embody the Gospel through long-term commitment. For many of these young people—who may never step inside a traditional church building—the RoadHoG bus is their first tangible experience of grace, safety, and belonging.
In Wyberton, we aren’t just waiting for the community to come to us; we’re driving the message of hope right to their doorstep.
RoadHoG is not just a Wyberton project, it was started nearly 20 years ago in Boston and developed as a Churches Together project to reach young people in Boston and surrounding villages. There is a second bus available and ready for a team to come forward prepared to use it to reach young people in another part of the county.
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We would love to hear from you about your CYF Ministry and what God is doing across the Diocese.
It could be a new group, church service, family event, youth outreach, messy church, holiday club whatever it is we want to hear about it.
Send a couple of 100 words and some photographs to micki.carey-slater@lincoln.anglican.org and we’ll share it to celebrate, inspire and encourage each other.
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Networks
- Growing Faith – Our Lincoln Diocese Network meets on 9th July from 7pm-8.30pm on zoom, when we will explore Growing Faith resources. Join the network: Growing Faith Network
- Anglo-Catholic Youth & Children’s Workers – 14th July 7.30-9pm on zoom where we will meet and share and create a resource together. To join the network, email clarewilliamsyouthwork@gmail.com.
- Toddlers – For all involved in toddler ministry in the North of the Diocese, the next network meeting will be held at The Cornerstone Church, Grimsby, in the community hall on 5th October from 1-2.30pm.
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Research
- SU “Take the Pulse” – Calling all toddler group leaders, parents & carers, youth/children’s workers, church leaders, Bishops and congregation members ….”We want to hear your views about the relevance of the Christian faith for children and young people today! Please take 10 minutes to complete Scripture Union’s Taking the Pulse online survey:”[su.org.uk/takingthepulse](http://su.org.uk/takingthepulse…)
- Fuller Youth Institute – For information about Gen Alpha Faith Trends see https://www.facebook.com/fulleryouthinstitute
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Additional Needs
- Sensory Health Check – “‘Churches are called to be places of welcome, yet there are many for whom church is so stressful to their senses that they can’t engage fully with it; some even stop going. In fact, during a recent survey I conducted, 61% of respondents said they avoided church because of sensory needs. That’s huge! Individuals with conditions such as ADHD, mental health issues, learning disabilities or autism often process sensory experiences differently, meaning that they may find certain aspects of church services — such as loud music, bright lights, sitting still, and welcome hugs— overwhelming, anxiety-provoking, or frustrating.” Read the rest of Anne Laure’s article here:
https://www.rootsontheweb.com/…/sensory-healthy-church
You can also hear Anne Laure on the Roots for Churches podcast:
https://rootsforchurches.podbean.com/…/making-church…/
Or watch on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXrGit87coM
- Belonging without barriers – “What if church wasn’t just accessible… but a place where everyone truly belongs?” Belonging without Barriers: Creating accessible Christian communities – “a powerful new resource calling us to move beyond inclusion to real, lived belonging.” “SEND specialist Trish Hahn knows first-hand what it means to search for a place where families are genuinely welcomed – and what happens when they finally are. In her story, she shares how creating space for children and families with additional needs can transform not just individuals but entire church communities.” Read Trish’s story: https://www.messychurch.brf.org.uk/…/messy-church-send…/ Explore her top tips: https://www.messychurch.brf.org.uk/…/welcome-for-all…/
- Growing Faith: Growing Confidence – The annual Growing Faith Conference for everyone putting children and young people at the centre in Birmingham on 24th June 2026. “An inspiring and participative programme will have a strong emphasis on the voice and agency of young people. It will include young people from Growing Faith Hub teams and elsewhere leading worship and sharing their lived experience. We’re very excited that our keynote speaker is Dave Boden from Grace Foundation. Dave will help us explore his fascinating and informative work on Gen Alpha.” https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/growing-faith-growing-confidence-tickets-1981570592986?aff=oddtdtcreator
- Neurodiversity and the church – Catch up with a pre-recorded webinar: https://churchsupporthub.org/all-resources/neurodiversity-and-the-church/ “Helping your church become a fully welcoming and accessible community for neurodivergent people of all ages and their families. AROUND ONE IN FIVE FAMILIES now have neurodivergent members with conditions like autism and ADHD. Many of these families find participation in church activities difficult or impossible, so becoming an accessible church for the neurodivergent is both a pastoral necessity and a missional imperative. This one-hour webinar for church leadership teams, presented by the Vision and Strategy Team in partnership with the College of Archbishops’ Evangelists, will explore the challenges faced by neurodivergent children, young people and adults and their supporting families and some of the steps which parishes can relatively easily take to help those who are neurodivergent to participate fully in church life. The webinar will be presented by Dr Naomi Fox, Founder of Growing Hope, which provides advice to churches and free therapy services for children, and Mark Arnold, Additional Needs Ministry Director at Urban Saints and Co-Founder of the Additional Needs Alliance.”
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Toddlers
- 1277 – Make Them Count National Month of Prayer – Resources to help you pray and celebrate: https://www.facebook.com/joanna.gordon.71/videos/999114859457082/?idorvanity=304869586306050
- The Effective Toddler Group Guide – “This toolkit brings together research, practical guidance, case studies and real‑life insights to help Family Hubs, local authorities and community organisations strengthen the quality, reach and impact of toddler groups. It explains why these groups are such a vital part of early years support, how they can be powerful spaces for connection, learning and early identification of need, and what effective partnership working looks like in practice. Whether you are setting up a new group, supporting existing community provision, or developing a wider early years strategy, this toolkit provides the tools, examples and resources needed to create inclusive, confident and high‑quality toddler group experiences for every family.” https://www.local.gov.uk/toolkit/effective-toddler-group-guide?fbclid=IwY2xjawSFf45leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBGUml2OGI2cVFCOFQwaW5Ic3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHueoCYOY6ysgGue7IQi06c28hFvZSLCuPTAnxFUdGRf2bNY6-2PZQKA_fkwu_aem_X9soqeKgTedjELbdhsu5cg
- Growing Faith Early Years – Growing Faith are very much at the start of a scoping phase of working out whether/how the Growing Faith Foundation could support children and the adults who work with them across church, school and home in this age group. They are asking for us to share about a project / ministry / approach we’ve come across. https://churchofengland.tfaforms.net/4904560
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For the Summer
- Youth Pilgrimage in Walsingham – 3rd – 7th August. “The Youth Pilgrimage is a week of lively worship, teaching, fellowship and fun for 11-18 year olds. The traditional pilgrimage devotions are presented in an upbeat, lively and enjoyable way which makes them relevant for our young people in today’s world. Over 500 young people gather in Walsingham for the week from all over the UK and internationally, giving them a chance to meet other Christians and explore their faith in a safe environment. Over the years it has changed the lives of countless young people who have never forgotten their week in Walsingham and many of them have come to love the Shrine and to make the pilgrimage ever since. The 2026 theme is Gaudete – Leaping for Joy! This follows the Shrine’s overall theme of the 2026 pilgrimage season – ‘Mary: Cause of our Joy’.” https://www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk/youngpilgrims/the-youth-pilgrimage/
- Satellites – 6th – 10th August https://www.youthscape.co.uk/satellites/home
Satellites is a five-day event in the Summer to catalyse and support year-round, life-long faith. Everything we do on site is designed to help young people live out their Christian life for the other 360 days of the year.
- SU Holidays – https://events.scriptureunion.org.uk/events.php Choose from multi-activity residentials with a mix of sport, adventure, arts and crafts, fun and games, or go for one of our specialist holidays which focus on a specific activity. Examples include: sailing, technology, outdoor activities and baking. We aim to make our holidays and events as inclusive as possible, if you think your child may need additional support to access a SU event please get in touch:holidays@scriptureunion.org.uk
- “Explore the Book” – holiday clubs inspired by Open the Book, offering a “complete set of ideas and resources to run a holiday club. It’s accessible for different ages, settings, run times and attendance numbers. You’ll find a pick and mix of games, activities, crafts, Pinterest Boards and storytelling ideas to make your holiday club work for you. Available exclusively to Open the Book members. “High Five Fest Five stories of people who met Jesus and how that changed them. The Great Outdoors Five stories of Jesus that take place outside with a mental health touchpoint in each session. COMING SOON – The Big Splash Five stories in the Old Testament that involve water and are also stories where God made a ‘big splash!’
- SU Holiday Clubs – https://content.scriptureunion.org.uk/collectiondetailpage/holiday-club-material
- John Hardwick – https://www.johnhardwick.org/holiday-clubs
- Roots for Churches – Intentionally intergenerational holiday club – https://www.rootsontheweb.com/i-am-looking-for/public-copies/journey-of-a-lifetime The three sessions within this resource pack focus on encounters with Jesus, using 12 transformative spiritual practices and including take home resources.
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Reading
- Church Together – Church Together is a guide to all-age ministry. “It has dozens of field-tested ideas for worship, service, special events, and more. It also lays out a clear “why” for all-age ministry, along with best practices.” ISBN-10: 082720759X ISBN-13: 978-0827207592
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Put Your Church on the Map!
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We are mapping CYF ministry across the Diocese, to help us to celebrate and support the fantastic ministers and work that goes on.
Make sure your parish is included and let us know how we can support you, too.
It is so good to see your heart for Children, Youth and Families. Thank you.
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NB: Members of The College of St. Hugh Team are sent information from a large number of organisations about training and resources, and we endeavour to ensure that what we pass on to you via this bulletin is appropriate and of quality. However, it is important to note here that the views expressed by any individual, group, or organisation listed are entirely their own and may not necessarily reflect those of the Team or the Diocese of Lincoln.
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