From Monday 17 to Wednesday 19 August, St Columba’s, Derryvolgie, will partner with Connor Diocese to host Streetreach: three days of practical outreach, community connection and youth-led service in the area around our church.

Streetreach is a diocesan youth mission opportunity designed to help young people step out of their comfort zones through practical service, prayer, evangelism and local mission. This year, we are delighted that Connor Diocese is partnering with St Columba’s, Derryvolgie, as young people and leaders come together to serve our local community in visible, practical and meaningful ways.

Serving our community in practical ways

Across the three days, Streetreach teams will be involved in a range of activities designed to bless, encourage and support the community around Derryvolgie. These will include drop-ins, litter picking, leaflet drops, community fun days, painting fences, cutting grass and offering a helping hand wherever it is needed.

Each activity may seem simple on its own, but together they communicate something important: the church cares about its neighbourhood, young people have a valuable role to play, and small acts of service can create real moments of connection, encouragement and hope.

Celebrating the value and potential of young people

Streetreach is not only about what young people do for others; it is also about what happens in them as they serve. Taking part in meaningful community action can help young people build confidence, develop leadership skills, form friendships and experience the encouragement that comes from knowing their contribution matters.

At a time when many young people face pressure, anxiety and uncertainty, opportunities like Streetreach can have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. Serving alongside others, being trusted with responsibility, and seeing the difference their actions make can help young people feel valued, seen and supported.

It also gives the wider community a chance to see young people at their best: compassionate, capable, energetic and willing to make a difference. Streetreach challenges the negative stereotypes that can sometimes surround perceptions of young people today and instead showcases their potential, kindness and commitment to something bigger than themselves.

A shared mission of faith, service and hope

We are grateful for the partnership with Connor Diocese and excited to welcome the Streetreach team to Derryvolgie. Over these three days, we hope to see relationships strengthened, practical needs met, young people encouraged, and our community reminded that the church is here to serve with love, humility and hope.

Whether through a conversation at a drop-in, a cleaner street, a freshly painted fence, a cut lawn, a leaflet through the door or a family enjoying a community fun day, Streetreach is an opportunity to share God’s love in practical ways and to celebrate the amazing contribution young people can make when they are encouraged, equipped and given the chance to serve.