YouShape
A year to grow in faith and explore God’s calling as a young adult aged 18-30 in the Diocese of Oxford.
Welcome to YouShape
A year to grow in faith, deepen your relationship with Jesus and explore where God may be calling you.
YouShape is a year-long journey for young adults aged 18-30. Join a small local hub, build friendships, explore Christian practices and share in retreats, residentials, pilgrimage and adventure.
See what YouShape is about
A simple introduction to YouShape – what it is, how the year works and what you can expect if you join. Applications open each summer.
A year shaped around you, community and adventure
YouShape is more than a course or a series of sessions. Across the year, you will grow personally, become part of a local community and share experiences that take faith beyond the usual routine.
You-Shaped
Make space to explore your faith, your gifts, your questions and your sense of calling. Through prayer, Scripture and reflection, YouShape helps you notice where God may already be at work in your life.
Community-Shaped
Journey with a small local hub of young adults. Eat together, pray together, have honest conversations and build friendships with people who are also trying to work out what following Jesus looks like in everyday life.
Adventure-Shaped
Step outside the ordinary rhythm of life through a residential weekend, retreat day and pilgrimage. Walk, travel, pray, laugh, reflect and make memories together along the way.
What you will do
Meet with a small local group for food, prayer, Scripture, conversation and practical Christian practices. Sessions across the year include Rule of Life, Examen, Lectio Divina, fasting, Sabbath and rest, stewardship, prayer practices and witnessing.
On Saturday 24 October 2026, we pause for a day of prayer, reflection and space to listen to God together.
From Friday 19 – 21 February 2027, all hubs come together for a weekend of worship, teaching, conversation, rest and community.
From Wednesday 2 June to Sunday 6 June 2027, YouShape participants walk together, pray together and share the journey. The pilgrimage creates space to step away from everyday life, deepen friendships, reflect and listen for God along the way.
On Sunday 11 July 2027, we gather to celebrate the year, pray for what comes next and commission participants for the next part of their journey.
Please pray for our 2026/27 cohort
The programme began in September 2026 and runs through to July 2027.
Please pray for all involved. If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with the team. Applications open each summer.
Find your hub
Your hub is your local YouShape community: the small group you will eat, pray, talk, laugh and journey with through the year.
Slough (Taplow)
Start something new. Be part of the first group to shape the life and story of this hub.
From Reading
High Wycombe
“My year would not have been the same.” – Ashleigh
From Beaconsfield
Oxford
“I felt really loved and appreciated.” – Darius
From Abingdon
Aylesbury
“The feeling of really belonging is rare these days.” – Josh
From Thame
Your area next?
No hub close enough yet? Tell us where you are. Expressions of interest help us see where the next YouShape hub should grow.
Tell us you’re interested ->Follow YouShape
Keep up with the journey, events, pilgrimage moments and life across the hubs on Instagram.
Your safety matters
YouShape follows the Diocese of Oxford's safeguarding policies and procedures. Convenors are safely recruited and trained, hubs are supported by local churches, and residential activities are planned with appropriate safeguarding arrangements and risk assessments.
For more information, visit the Diocese of Oxford safeguarding pages .
Questions?
Read the FAQs or contact the YouShape team. We are happy to talk through the programme, hubs, accessibility, costs and bursary support.