UK charity offers bursaries for church-led youth mentoring programs

The Christian charity Nicodemus has launched a new initiative to assist churches across the United Kingdom in establishing or strengthening community and youth mentoring programs. Through its 'Build Your Own Mentoring Programme,' the organization is offering bursaries valued at £1,040 to subsidize participation in a year-long training scheme designed to create safe, ethical, and sustainable outreach structures.

Participating churches will appoint a program manager to receive ongoing guidance, including six one-to-one online consultations focused on local needs, mentor recruitment, and long-term development. Additionally, up to five volunteers per organization can access a 12-hour foundational training course at no extra cost. Nicodemus CEO Jonnie Welford described the initiative as a form of practical, relational discipleship, emphasizing that consistent, structured support is essential for vulnerable young people. The program aims to equip local congregations with the resources and frameworks necessary to operate their mentoring ministries independently once the year-long training concludes.