Tuesday 12th August is International Youth Day.
In another article to mark an important date in the EDI calendar, NEC Ordinary Director Sean Taylor takes a look at the importance of the date and what it represents. He also considers youth engagement within SNU Spiritualism, with three touching examples of youth participation in our churches and centres.
Today, Tuesday 12th August, the SNU celebrates International Youth Day – a global celebration established by the United Nations, highlighting the challenges and issues faced by young people across the globe.
Today provides an opportunity to recognise the valuable contributions of younger people to the SNU, while also highlighting the need to address the concerns and aspirations of our younger generation. Acknowledging International Youth Day is Important for the Union. Young people around the globe face a wide range of challenges, including bullying, mental health issues, limited access to education, poverty, and more. International Youth Day serves as a platform for us to raise awareness of these issues and take meaningful action. It also is a valuable opportunity to celebrate their contribution to our movement and reflect on how we further engage with younger people. Highlighting the challenges young people face, celebrating their contributions to society, and promoting their meaningful engagement in building a better future for our religion is vital to our movement.
At last month’s Peace Walk held annually at the National Memorial Arboretum, it was wonderful to see a number of young families attending the event. It was great to see that the Peace Walk was a celebration for the whole family and this is something that we are very keen to maintain and encourage.
Multiple generations came together for Peace Walk 2025, with a notable increase in attendance of under-18s (photo © Graham Lucas Commons @ SNU 2025)
We want to emphasise the vital role of young people in shaping and strengthening the future of our movement, our religion and our Union. These three young volunteers with Scottish & Irish DC are great examples of how young people make a meaningful impact within our churches. Jacob is 11 years old and he is an absolute asset to Hamilton SNU church. On arrival, he welcomes the congregation and hands out the hymn books, ensuring the people have everything they need ahead of the Divine Service. He is currently making diamond art coasters and other items for sale, with all proceeds going toward church funds.
Jack is 14 years old and a member of Ayr SNU church, and is making a similar impact and contribution. He will sometimes introduce the mediums on platform, gives a warm welcome to the congregation, sell raffles tickets and also helps with the domestic chores.
These three young volunteers with Scottish & Irish DC are great examples of how young people make a meaningful impact within our churches…
The youngest of the three volunteers we’re celebrating today is Leo. He is just 6 years of age, and after school he loves attending with his gran, Susan Quinn, President of Methven & District SNU Church; Scotland’s newest church. Leo helps set up the tea trolley and put out SNU leaflets.
Jack, Jacob and Leo are active members of their churches.
In 2024 the Scottish & Irish DC recognised both Jacob and Jack for their continuing hard work and valued contribution during their Volunteer Day. No doubt the DC will be awarding Leo a prize this year, too.
Jack (pictured left) and Leo (pictured right) are fantastic examples of youth engagement and participation in our churches and centres.
Ayr SNU church is currently planning building works to their church, which will allow them to open their Lyceum as soon as possible. Ayr have also been successfully fundraising to provide resources for their Lyceum when it opens. This is the first Lyceum to open in Scotland since 1992.
These are just some of the examples of good news stories that show the dedication of some of our younger members and the commitment of our churches to promote and include younger people within our religion.
We are certain that there are lots of other such good news stories around our District Councils and we would very much welcome hearing about them.
Since 1994 with the ‘Spirit of Youth’ project, the SNU has acknowledged that ongoing work is necessary to encourage more younger people to get involved with the movement…
Since 1994 with the ‘Spirit of Youth’ project, the SNU has acknowledged that ongoing work is necessary to encourage more younger people to get involved with the movement. More recently, a small working party within the Union began to identify ways in which we can proactively support younger people to have a positive experience of Spiritualism. This ongoing commitment is vital to ensuring that younger people feel included and able to actively participate in their communities. The work to support younger people into the movement needs to be sustainable. When younger people feel empowered they become catalysts for innovation, change and resilience in their churches and DC’s. They feel they can envisage a path and possibility to becoming our pioneers of tomorrow.
International Youth Day emphasises the importance of our investment in our younger people, and the need to continue creating opportunities for their growth and development. It also aims to encourage younger people to contribute to their communities and to actively involved in decision-making processes that affect their lives and the future of Spiritualism.
As we have seen in the example of our three featured volunteers, youth participation can very much be alive and real within our centres and our congregations.
But as a day of contemplation and consideration, we leave you with a few questions to consider, both as Spiritualists and as a collective society under the Brotherhood of Man:
What would you consider the biggest challenges facing young people today?
How should we mentor and support young people in your DC/church community?
Do you have any stories and/or photos of younger people being an active part of their church communities?*
* Please do not provide photographs or share any information pertaining to minors without first getting the express, written permission of a parent or legal guardian.
| We invite you – our members and friends – to share with us your responses to the questions above, and any examples you have of youth engagement that you would like to share.
You can also email your comments, stories and photos to Ordinary Director 3, Sean Taylor, directly at od3.nec@snu.org.uk. |