Where have we come from?
BCY was founded in 1990, the result of churches in Bury St Edmunds and the surrounding district identifying a need to develop consistent Christian input into local middle and upper schools.
Today BCY continues provide lively and inspiring presentations in assemblies, lessons and lunch-time clubs, and runs out-of-school events which complement the schools ministry. To deliver this we involve local churches wherever possible. We also work in partnership with a Christian youth football club, Sporting '87 (www.sporting87.co.uk), the "Open the Book" programme (www.openthebook.net), SCATE (www.scateministries.co.uk) and the local branch of The Gideons.
Where are we going?
Together with local churches and youth workers, BCY has constantly sought new ways to bring the gospel to the attention of young people in a changing and challenging educational and social climate.
A pressing challenge for the future is the proposed reform of the schools structure, although these plans are currently on hold pending reassurance from central government that the funding to make these proposals reality will, in fact, be forthcoming. If it goes ahead, the reorganisation would see the current three-tier structure being brought in line with the national norm of just two tiers. We are currently evaluating several options to try and discern which will be best for BCY at this important time.
In addition to this we are looking to develop more meaningful relationships with churches and more far-reaching and impactful ways of engaging with schools. We are in the process of investigating several very exciting possibilities which would see BCY moving on into significant long-term projects (we will keep you posted, we promise!).
We are also currently looking to source accommodation and some extra finance to enable us to host someone for a six month internship. We have someone in mind who is looking to test a calling from God into evangelism - and who we feel could bring real benefit to the day-to-day running of BCY! If you can help with either of these then please get in touch.
These come in addition to our commitment to continue to deliver assemblies, lessons, lunch clubs and support to the Christian Unions of a consistently excellent standard.