Lucy attended Blackburn Cathedral last Saturday, to meet with youngsters from all over the Diocese, led by Bishop Phillip. One of Bishop Philip’s declared aims on becoming Diocesan Bishop last summer was mission to and with young people.

The new Youth Forum comprises young people from parishes between the ages of 11 and 17 who will meet with a team of senior leaders in the Diocese two or three times a year with the following aims:

· To listen to God (through prayer, worship, and the study of Scripture) and to each other.

· To be a voice for children and young people in the Diocese of Blackburn

· To discuss and advise on areas of the life of the Diocese that have particular interest to the young (for example youth and children’s ministry)

· To participate in the consultation processes which will eventually result in the new Diocesan strategy which will replace the current Vision 2026

· To feed their views into governance processes of the Diocese (such as the Diocesan Synod) through presentations or video messages

· To attend to their own growth as Christian disciples and leaders and hear to God’s call in their lives