Celebrating the first year of YouShape

Eighteen young adults from across the Diocese of Oxford have completed the first pilot year of YouShape. They celebrated a year of discipleship, friendship, and exploring God’s call on their lives. 

YouShape is the Diocese of Oxford’s year-long discipleship and leadership programme for young adults. The programme gives participants the opportunity to deepen their faith, explore their vocation and develop confidence to serve in their churches, workplaces and communities. 

Their journey was celebrated at the YouShape Commissioning Service, held at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, on Sunday 12 July. Young adults from the Oxford, Aylesbury and High Wycombe hubs gathered with friends, family, clergy and supporters to give thanks for all that God has done during the year. The service served as an end point and celebration, as well as a marker to send them out to continue following Jesus and living out their faith in their churches, communities, workplaces and everyday lives—using their gifts, serving others and remaining open to where God might be calling them next. 

Reflecting on the YouShape Pilgrimage, Darius from the Oxford Hub said: “I was encouraged by many of the people… From the leaders who supported me on the first day when I thought I couldn’t climb Mam Tor, to people carrying my bag on the last day when I was also struggling, I felt really loved and appreciated.” 

Beth from the Aylesbury Hub commented on her experience throughout the year: “Soul and spirit changing. A reminder of how blessed we are to experience such love and how easy it should be to show that to others because we have it abundantly.” 

Participants shared testimonies about their experiences of YouShape and the difference the journey has made to their faith, confidence, friendships and sense of calling.  

Together, they prayed, reflected and were commissioned to continue following Jesus and living out their faith wherever God has placed them. 

It was a joyful and moving evening, celebrating the friendships formed, the growth that has taken place and the courage of these young adults in responding to what God may be calling them towards. 

A huge thank you to everyone whose faith, skill and hard work made this first year possible, and who has walked alongside and encouraged our young adults throughout their YouShape journey. 

As the first YouShape cohort returns to churches and communities across the diocese, they do so equipped to serve, lead and encourage others in their faith. The pilot year marks the beginning of what is hoped will become a growing movement of young adults living out the gospel across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. 

If you are a young adult aged 18–30 sign up for one of our hubs in Slough/Reading, Aylesbury, Oxford or High Wycombe. Or if you know someone who might be interested share this with them. 

Find out more and apply: https://oxford.anglican.org/everyday-faith/youshape/