Welcome to YouShape
A Year of Discovery and Deepening Faith
YouShape is a one‑year formation journey for young adults who want to grow in faith, explore calling, develop leadership, and discover how their gifts can serve the Church and the world.
When you apply, you commit to journeying with a local hub community, building rhythms of prayer and discipleship, taking part in retreats and pilgrimage experiences, and stepping into opportunities to lead and serve others. Many participants finish the year with deeper friendships, clearer direction, and greater confidence in their faith and vocation.
Apply for YouShape 2026
Programme runs: September 2026 – June 2027
You are signing up to a shared year of formation — designed to help you grow in faith, explore calling, develop leadership, and discover how your gifts can serve the Church and the world, with real opportunities to lead and to serve others.
Grow personally through prayer, Scripture, reflection, and discipleship.
Belong to a hub community that journeys together across the year.
Pilgrimage, retreats, and shared experiences that deepen faith and calling.
Returning participants are warmly welcome to apply again.
📕 The Programme
Throughout the year, YouShape gathers young adults into a shared rhythm of community, retreat, pilgrimage, and celebration — moments that shape faith, friendship, and calling.
Monthly Gatherings
Engage in nine themed, peer-led sessions forming a shared "rule of life." Each gathering focuses on communal cooking, eating, worship, and learning. Explore themes like hospitality, prayer, Scripture, justice, calling, and resilience, fostering deep and sustainable discipleship.
Monthly meet-ups typically occur on weeknights or weekend afternoons, depending on your local hub’s schedule.
Retreat Day (28 February)
We will gather for a dedicated retreat day at St Katharine’s, Parmoor, offering space for prayer, reflection, worship, and shared time together as a community. This day creates a gentle pause in the rhythm of the year — an opportunity to rest, listen, and refocus.
Weekend Away — Read about our weekend away
Join all hubs for a countryside retreat featuring worship, teaching, workshops, and community-building activities. A time for rest, reflection, and reconnection.
Pilgrimage (27 – 31 May 2026)
A few days walking together in the Peak District with a simple rhythm: walk · breathe · listen · eat · pray · laugh. Read full pilgrimage details.
Commissioning Service (Summer 2026)
Celebrate your journey with a diocesan service at Christ Church Cathedral (or a similar venue). Family, friends, and parish members are warmly invited to this joyful occasion.
👥 Find your people · Find your hub
YouShape hubs are local communities across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire where young adults grow in faith, friendship, and purpose — small, welcoming spaces designed to help you belong quickly.
What to expect
Monthly gatherings
Food, prayer, Scripture, and honest conversation in a relaxed, welcoming rhythm.
Small consistent groups
Usually 6–12 people — enough to feel lively, small enough to feel known.
Belonging and growth
Space to belong, ask questions, and grow at your pace — no pressure, no pretending.
Well supported
Led by convenors and rooted in trusted local churches with safeguarding and care.
Your hub
Each hub is rooted in a trusted local church and led by a trained convenor who keeps things welcoming, organised, and well-supported. Use the map below to explore hubs near you and take your first step into community.
🧭 The Pilgrimage (27–31 May 2026) Open brochure ↓
Not a fitness test. Not a school trip. A pilgrimage. A few days walking together in the Peak District with a simple rhythm: walk · breathe · listen · eat · pray · laugh. Click to explore the full journey.
What’s included
Accommodation, all meals, packed lunches, snacks and drinks, transport to and from daily walking start/end points, guided reflections, and full group support throughout the journey.
The journey
We walk stages of the historic Hope Valley route through the Peak District: Edale, Bamford, Hathersage, and Eyam. The pace is steady and accessible with regular breaks, reflection points, and shared moments of silence and conversation.
A typical day
Each day begins with breakfast and a short reflection, followed by walking in community. Evenings include shared meals, gentle worship or reflection time, and space for conversation, rest, journaling, and laughter.
What to bring
Walking boots or sturdy waterproof shoes, waterproof jacket, layers, small day bag, refillable water bottle, and personal essentials. A full kit list is sent after registration.
Why come?
Participants often experience clarity, deeper friendships, renewed faith, and courage for their next step in life and discipleship. Walking side‑by‑side creates space for honest conversation, prayer, and reflection that rarely happens in everyday life.
🙏 Let us pray
Father God, we pray for young adults across the Diocese of Oxford. Bless them as they gather, grow, and seek you. May these spaces become communities of friendship, faith, and courage.
Lord Jesus, we pray for the YouShape convenors. Thank you for their time, creativity, and care. Strengthen them with patience, imagination, and joy as they walk alongside young adults this year.
Holy Spirit, go before every gathering, retreat, and journey. Shape this season into deep faith, lasting friendships, and joyful adventure with Jesus. Awaken calling and vocation, that each young adult may follow with courage and joy.
🛡️ Your Safety Matters
At YouShape, safeguarding your wellbeing is always our top priority. Here’s how we ensure every participant feels safe, supported, and respected:
- All activities fully adhere to the Diocese of Oxford’s comprehensive safeguarding policies .
- Our Convenors are safely recruited, DBS-checked, and regularly receive dedicated safeguarding training.
- Every Hub is actively supported by a local parish, each with designated safeguarding contacts and clear procedures.
- Communication occurs through secure platforms (WhatsApp, email) and is always established with participant consent and clear boundaries.
- Overnight activities (retreats or pilgrimages) are fully supervised, featuring gender-sensitive accommodations and thorough risk assessments.
Each parish has an identified Safeguarding Lead available to support you before, during, and after all activities.
Questions?
Visit our FAQ page for common queries, or contact the YouShape team directly — we’re here to help.