Our Impact

Our Impact in 2024

Since 1906, Urban Saints has been reaching young people with the good news of Jesus, helping them live lives of faith, hope and love. From the beginning, we have seen local leaders equipping young people to live like Jesus and make a positive impact in their communities and beyond. From connecting with young people and seeing them for who they are, to releasing them to live a life of meaning and purpose, we are as committed as we have ever been to seeing young people everywhere walking with Jesus – living lives of faith, hope and love.

Energize

Energize remains a core part of how we will achieve our Vision and Mission at Urban Saints. 2024 saw the beginning of a partnership with Raise Up Faith to bring Energize resources to a wider audience, and to further develop the resources available to our subscribers, through modernising some content and developing brand new resources. At the end of 2024 our total subscribers stood at 1,510.

Additional Needs

This has been the busiest year ever for the Additional Needs Ministry, with 88 training and conference events reaching around 1,850 children’s, youth and families workers, church leaders, parents carers and guardians, and others who journey with and support children and young people with additional needs. We know that on average each person trained positively supports two children and young people, so that’s around 3,700 more who are included, supported, and helped to belong during 2024!

I’ve been telling so many people about your brilliant workshops since yesterday! So informative and useful whilst being kind and affirming throughout. Genuinely the best (for so many reasons) things I’ve been to for years. Thank you.

-  Feedback from workshop sessions at the ‘Joined Up’ conference

We’ve worked in partnership with church denominations and Christian organisations to help them share ways to ensure that no child or young person is excluded from knowing about the Good News of Jesus. During 2024 we have also got involved in more media activity, including featuring on BBC TV’s ‘Songs of Praise’ and their Radio 4 ‘Sunday Worship’ programmes, as well as being regular contributors to Premier Radio and others.

Writing continues to be a growing way for the Additional Needs Ministry to share our message, and as well as writing articles for UK based and international publications, we are writing a new book for Grove, ‘Creating Inclusive Collective Worship For All’, to help churches and school include everyone in collective worship.

As the work of the Additional Needs Ministry continues to thrive and grow, it increasingly permeates through all areas of Urban Saints wider ministry, ensuring that all that we do is accessible, inclusive, and supportive for all.

Westbrook Academy Launch

November 2024 saw the launch of Urban Saints very own training and equipping arm – Westbrook Academy.

The academy is aimed at equipping youth leaders, workers and volunteers to be the best version of themselves through accredited training courses plus other short course continuous professional development options. This is a huge undertaking, over the coming months seeing the implementation of platforms and systems, along with the production of procedures and courses, to position Westbrook Academy as a major trainer and equipper within this challenging yet important market.

A lot has been achieved in the first few months: Operational systems are in place and accredited partnerships have been established. Our first cohort of students commenced (2nd April 2025). Taster webinars have been delivered to increase awareness of the Academy and related courses – a total of around 150 people were in attendance across the first three in early 2025. 

This page is an extract taken from the Annual Report and Financial Statements for The Crusaders' Union - 31st December 2024.   Click below to download the full report. Download full 2024 report (pdf)