Growing Younger Enabler (Youth/Youth and Sports) in Ely

This is a great opportunity for an experienced youth or youth and sports minister and inspiring leader, with a heart for empowering the local church and those working with children, young people and their families to share mission and discipleship together. It is an exciting time to join the Diocese Growing Younger Team as the Diocese of Ely seeks to prioritise Children, Young People and their families.

The Growing Younger Enablers are part of the Growing Younger Team within the wider Mission and Ministry department of the Diocese of Ely. They will play a key role in the delivery of the Growing Younger and wider Mission and Ministry priorities through inspiring, enabling and supporting parishes, benefices and deaneries to grow their mission and ministry and discipleships with those aged under 18 and their families, as well as supporting and training those who minister with them.

The role will include raising local aspirations for ministry, mission and discipleship among young people, supporting the development of locally owned vision and strategy for growing younger; and equipping those who minister with children, young people and their families through training and local support.

Each member of the Growing Younger Team has one or more specialisms in mission and ministry such as youth, children, intergenerational, sports and/or schools but should be confident across all aspects of mission and ministry with children and young people with an ability to draw from the specialisms of other members of the team as required.

As a member of the Mission and Ministry team, everybody will:

• Be an active and engaged member of the team, prioritising collaboration, good communication and prayer.
• Work to achieve the team wide priorities to:

• Nurture Confident Leaders [Grow]
• Work with parishes to enable sustainable ministry [Deepen]
• Strengthen support for parishes to enable them to engage in community mission [Engage]

As a Growing Younger Enabler, You Will:

• Proactively develop and respond to opportunities to share the Growing Younger vision to double the number of children and active young disciples in the churches in the Diocese of Ely by 2030.
• Support local parishes and benefices across the diocese, clergy, paid CYF ministers and volunteers, facilitating development of vision and the prioritisation of mission and ministry with children and young people in the local context.
• Embed and support good practice and share creative ideas and stories of impact to inspire a missional response, encourage growing discipleship journeys and raise aspirations and hope at all levels within the church.
• Support, champion and help develop existing ministries with young people across the Diocese, encouraging leaders (clergy, paid ministers and volunteers) and helping to refine vision, focus and increase missional opportunities.
• Highlight and signpost appropriate resources for those working with young people.
• Support the recruitment and formation of local leaders through raising awareness of the need, identifying and encouraging potential new leaders, and increasing understanding and delivery of good practice.
• Provide or facilitate high quality training for clergy, curates, employed ministers, volunteers and others.
• Support and model a culture where young people and their families are integrated throughout the church where children and young people of all ages are valued and given opportunities to share in mission and ministry and promote intergenerational values.
• Facilitate networks and learning communities of leaders (paid and voluntary) to increase support and share learning and good practice.
• Retain an up-to-date knowledge of relevant and innovative resources, programmes and good practice for mission and discipleship with young people; signpost and share with parishes where relevant.
• Work to develop support for parishes around the ‘points of transition’ particularly as young people move into ‘young adulthood’.
• Hold relationships with relevant resourcing organisations and networks, as delegated by Growing Younger Development Officer (Team Lead).
• Meet regularly for reflection, supervision and line management with the Growing Younger Development Officer.
• Uphold the high safeguarding standards, supported by the Diocese of Ely Safeguarding team.

Salary: £29,000 (based on a FTE position of 35-hours/week)

Working hours: Part time, 0.5 FTE, 17.5 hours per week. Expected to cover the ‘Key Duties’ of this role, as agreed with their line manager, commensurate with a 0.5 post.

Location: Etheldreda House, Ely, CB6 3NX, with travel around the Diocese. A hybrid working policy is in place and a hybrid working arrangement, as agreed with line manager, is available if required. There is an expectation that all members of the Mission and Ministry Department are in the office on a Tuesday.

Contract: Permanent (subject to the successful completion of a 3-month probation period)

Employer: Ely Diocesan Board of Finance

Pension: Membership of The Church Workers Pension Fund (non-contributory)

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS with Barred List check (regulated activity with children and child workforce) disclosure and satisfactory references.

As this role involves representing and supporting the mission and ministry of the Church, there is an Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010 for the postholder to be a practising Christian.

For an informal discussion about these roles, please contact Ruth New, Growing Younger Development Officer, on ruth.new@elydiocese.org

Job Information Pack, including the Person Specification: Download here

Application Process and Key Dates

Closing date: Friday 20th February 2026

Interviews in Ely: Monday 9th March 2026.

Application Form: Download here

Applications: Completed Application Forms should be sent to Peter Leech, Director of Mission and Ministry via email at peter.leech@elydiocese.org

The Ely Diocesan Board of Finance (EDBF) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees to undertake safeguarding checks and training relevant to their role and to adhere to the Church of England’s safeguarding policies and procedures.

The Diocese of Ely is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce which represents our context and wider community. We are aware that those of Global Majority Heritage/United Kingdom Minority Ethnic (GMH/UKME), women, and disabled people are currently under-represented among our clergy and workforce, and we particularly encourage applications from those with the relevant skills and experience that will increase this representation.