We are very happy to inform you that the HOPE Youth Corps will come to the UK this summer for the first time.  

What is the HOPE Youth Corps (HYC)? 

The HYC is an innovative volunteer programme that brings together a diverse group of secondary school students, college students and university students for community service and leadership development. It is for children and students affiliated with the Churches of Christ. HYC participants must be at least 15 years old and baptised disciples, or seriously studying the Bible with the intent to become a disciple. To find out more, please go to www.hopeww.org and click on the links to Hope Youth Corps.  

What is the objective of HYC?  

The objective of HYC is to provide an impacting 12 to 14 day experience that is both fun and inspirational for all involved. The goal is to provide this experience through programmes built around service and relationships that will change the lives of the communities served and the participants. HOPE Youth Corps is driven by the ministry of Jesus with the purpose of impacting the hearts of the volunteers and of those being served.  

When and Where will HYC take place this summer?  

Our first ever UK HYC will take place in Birmingham and London. From Thursday, 16 July through Wednesday 22 July, the group will be in Birmingham. The Youth Corps will then move from Birmingham to London on Wednesday, 22 July, and remain in London through the Spiritual Enrichment Weekend, and will conclude the following Wednesday, 29 July, back in Birmingham.  

Who may participate in HYC?  

Currently, there are 16 American students from churches all over the States who are confirmed participants. This number may increase to as many as 25. They have had to fundraise to pay for first,  their plane tickets and then, an additional $1000 USD for their expenses during their 14 days with us in the UK. We would like to add 10 -15 UK secondary school, college, and university students to this number. We will take no more than 40 participants all together. 

Why am I only hearing about this now?  

The opportunity to host the HYC in the UK arose at a late date this year, when a planned site in Mexico became too dangerous to host its participants for this summer. The HYC director rang me (Tammy) and asked if we would like to host a HYC in the UK. After prayer and consultation with HOPE worldwide (UK)'s, Wil Horwood, and several other ministers, I  wholeheartedly agreed. 

How can a child from my family or my church get involved?  

The application process is simple: any baptised teen or student, or someone seriously studying the Bible between the ages of 15 and 22 is welcome to apply. The application involves two parts: 1) a one-page essay written by the applicant on why he/she would like to take part in HYC this summer; and 2) two character references from adults in his/her church, no more than 1 paragraph long. All this should be e-mailed together -- the format is not important -- to Julia Wakefield at wakefield_julia@yahoo.com. The deadline is Wednesday, May 27. Participants will be selected by a selection committee, comprised of members of the Midlands Churches leadership group and Wil Horwood, our HOPE worldwide (UK) Country Director.  

What will HYC do in the UK?  

Parts of the HYC's itinerary while in the UK are still under construction and will be finalised shortly. Generally, before their day of service with HYC begins, the students will meet together for daily Bible lessons and discipleship groups, based on a spiritual book entitled, "If You Want to Walk on Water, You Have to Get Out of the Boat," by John Ortberg. After lunch, their day of service with HYC begins. In Birmingham, they will shake-a-bucket to raise money for a women's and children's AIDS shelter in Chennai, India; they will spend time with the ill and elderly in a care home; they may paint the interior of some flats in the community in great need of beautification; they may spend time serving the children and teachers in an entirely Islamic primary school. They will have a day off with the Midlands Churches and take part in the annual Youth Ministry Bible Bowl and have Sunday dinner in disciples' homes. In London, they will also do some painting and DIY in one of the ODAAT houses; they will spend time with ODAAT residents; they will take part in the Spiritual Enrichment Weekend; they will sleep rough (with excellent supervision and security!) in a London Park during the Big Night Out sponsored sleepout to benefit the homeless, and enjoy a day of sightseeing.  

What will this cost?  

Each participant will spend £670 for their 14 days on HYC here. This covers their accommodation in hostels, their meals, transportation, and one day of sightseeing in London. This does not include pocket money.  

For our potential UK participants, there are several options.  

1) The full two weeks, Birmingham and London, costs £670. This option allows the UK student full participation in the entire HYC in both cities, Birmingham and London, meals and accommodation included. The student on this option will also have to pay the additional cost of transportation to Birmingham, and then back home from Birmingham. All other transportation costs during HYC are included in the £670.  

2) Birmingham Only costs £290. This includes everything except transportation to and from Birmingham. The dates of this Birmingham Only HYC are 16 July - 22 July.  

3) London Only costs £380. This includes everything except transportation to and from London. The dates of the London Only HYC are 22 - 29 July.  

Who is responsible for the children while they are involved in the HYC?  

While in Birmingham, the HYC will be led by Andy and Tammy Fleming, assisted by Vanessa Ormsby and J Valentino of the Birmingham church. Wil Horwood, country director for HOPE worldwide (UK), will be on hand in Birmingham for the group's orientation and will also be with them as their site leader during their week in London.  The HOPE worldwide organisation will also send a trained male and female intern, with HYC experience,  as chaperones and mentors. When the group moves to London, Wil Horwood will assume the oversight of the group, assisted by the two HOPE worldwide staff interns, and either J and Vanessa from Birmingham,  or a pair of equally reliable and mature disciples.    

Church leaders: please forward this e mail to the parents in your congregation of teens and students, and to any students. Please prayerfully consider whether or not your congregation might be willing to sponsor or subsidise the participation of any of your eligible teens or students. Perhaps you could offer a HYC scholarship to a worthy applicant within your church! What a great way to inspire your young people.   Please also prayerfully consider if you and your congregation might be willing and able to host a similar HYC event next summer in your city!  

Parents of teens and students: please give this opportunity serious consideration. This will be a life-changing experience for all the children and adults involved, and, prayerfully, for those in the community whom we serve as well! There is nothing like spending 24 hours a day in the company of like-minded peers who love God and want to make an impact for good with their lives. Their morning Bible lessons and discipleship groups will be excellent. They will have the opportunity to build deep relationships that can last a lifetime with other Christian kids just like themselves. There is still plenty of time to raise the funds needed to allow your child to participate (car washes, boot sales, bagging groceries at Sainsbury's, etc).  

Please keep us in your prayers. The reason we jumped at the chance to host this HYC this year is that we really believe that the entire experience will help our young people here in the UK who participate to become more like Christ. We believe it will strengthen and encourage our local church, as well as be a blessing to the community we serve during the few days of the event. We'd love to see as many as possible of our young people have a similar opportunity in the coming years.