Rural Missions : Children, Youth + Families

The Resources Cupboard — the Children, Youth & Families Department of Rural Missions

Helping your church connect with children, young people and families

You do not need a large team or lots of resources to make a difference. We help churches explore practical ways to build relationships, share the good news of Jesus and nurture faith across generations.

Whether you are starting something new, developing an existing activity or wondering what might be possible, we would love to hear from you.

Ask about support for your church

How can we help?

Our support recognises the opportunities and challenges of ministry in smaller and rural churches. We listen to your situation and help you consider next steps that fit your people and community.

Advice, encouragement and training

Explore ideas with someone who understands children, youth and families ministry. We offer practical guidance and tailored workshops, and contribute to church, denominational and conference gatherings.

Explore free Tailor-Made support

Resources you can use

Find session outlines, activities, craft templates and practical materials to support your ministry. Our resources include the Children, Youth & Families Missional Toolkit and Farmer John’s Farm videos with accompanying session resources.

Browse CYF resources Explore the missional toolkits

Connection with others

Share questions, ideas, resources and prayer with others serving children, young people and families in rural churches across the UK.

Our national online chat community offers a way to connect between activities and church commitments. It is a chat space rather than a scheduled video meeting.

Explore the national CYF online chat

Supporting churches across the UK

We understand that rural ministry can involve small teams, scattered communities and children of different ages learning together. We help churches explore possibilities shaped around their own circumstances.

We work with individual churches, groups of churches and wider Christian networks, offering encouragement, training and resources. We also bring the experience of rural churches into national conversations about children, youth and families ministry.

Tell us what you are exploring, and we can discuss how we might help.

Talk to us about your church

Our work in Bedfordshire

Alongside our national work, we have an established local base in Bedfordshire, supporting churches through relationships, practical help, training and shared learning.

Walking alongside local churches

Since November 2021, we have worked with Sharnbrook Deanery to support the development of its Children’s, Young People and Families Support Hub.

This collaborative work has included:

Training and encouragement for emerging young leaders.
Reviewing existing activities and exploring their next steps.
Supporting new worshipping communities, including Wild Church and youth-led worship.
Suggesting resources and developing training for local churches.
Helping churches plan and develop projects together.

From January 2024 to December 2025, this work was part of a Growing Faith Learning Hub. The relationships and learning from that period continue to inform our support.

Learn about Growing Faith Learning Hubs

Coffee shop catch-ups

Our monthly Bedfordshire coffee shop catch-ups bring together people serving children, young people and families. They offer space to share ideas, ask questions, pray and encourage one another.

Check upcoming catch-ups

Bedfordshire Lending Library

Borrow resources for your children’s, youth and family ministry through our local lending library. The library page explains how borrowing and collection work.

Explore the Bedfordshire Lending Library

See what this looks like in practice

From school visits and family activities to new opportunities for worship and belonging, discover how churches are building relationships and helping younger generations explore faith.

Read our good news stories

Our story

The Resources Cupboard began in April 2014, when Becky May launched a ministry to resource local churches through written materials and training.

In June 2021, it became a charity, developing its support for smaller churches through practical resources, training and opportunities to work together.

In June 2025, The Resources Cupboard joined the Rural Missions family, bringing together a shared commitment to helping smaller, rural churches in their mission with children, young people and families.

Today, that work continues as the Children, Youth & Families Department of Rural Missions, combining our established Bedfordshire relationships with wider national support.

Let’s explore your next step

You may have a particular question, an idea you would like to develop or simply a desire to connect with children and families in your community. We would love to listen.

Contact our team

Email info@ruralmissions.org.uk or telephone 0330 043 1435.