The Children, Youth & Families Department of Rural Missions
We are passionate about supporting the local church in their work with children, young people and families.
Our Story
The Resources Cupboard was launched in June 2021 with a mission to serve smaller, local churches in their mission with children, young people and families. We joined the Rural Missions family in June 2025, recognising our shared vision and heart to support smaller, rural churches in their unique contexts with relevant training, resources and support.
We have a local base in Bedfordshire where we have been working to support churches since our launch, as well as providing support and a voice for the rural church across the nation.
Bedfordshire
We have a growing number of rural churches across Bedfordshire, who we support, resource, encourage and connect together. Since November 2021, we have been working alongside the Sharnbrook Deanery to support the development of what has become the Children’s, Young People and Families Support Hub. This work has been far-reaching and varied and has included: emerging leader training for young leaders, reviews of existing activities post-covid, support in launching new worshipping communities, including Wild Church and youth-led worship, sourcing and suggesting resources for individual activities, developing training across the Deanery and establishing a model and framework for project development. From January 2024 – December 2025, we were a Growing Faith Learning Hub. You can read more about this phase of the project
here, and we are now entering a new phase of the project, as the Deanery is recognised for its innovative approach to collaborative working as a hub of rural churches.
This approach is extending elsewhere in Bedfordshire, with individuals and groups of rural churches coming to us for encouragement, training and resourcing. We host monthly ‘coffee shop catch-ups’ where all those who seek to serve children, young people and families in their context can connect with others, share ideas, ask questions and pray together.
We also have a locally based lending library with a range of resources you can use in your children’s, youth and family ministry.
See HERE
Nationally
We understand the unique complexities of mission with children, young people and families in rural communities and seek to be a voice for the rural church in the UK at this time. We regularly travel to churches, denominational gatherings and national conferences to speak on relevant issues and how we can respond. We would be very happy to see how we can help you, your church, or even a group of churches in your area. Please do
get in touch.
Would you like to join together with others in rural churches across the UK?
Our Rural Church networks are a great way to meet (virtually) with others in similar situations, to share ideas and questions, and to pray together. For more info, visit HERE
We also have a number of resources which have been created to help make your lifer easie. From curriculum to consent forms, question cards to colouring! You can access our resources here.
30/06/2026