Camborne Science and International Academy is one of the diocese’s three Flourish Worshipping Community pilot locations and in May, leaders from all three locations, colleagues from the National Society for Education and the Growing Faith Foundation joined Bishop James and Lee Moscato at the school to hear the good news about how this location is growing and growing.

Picture Credit: Camborne Science & International Academy

The morning started by hearing from young people from the school who shared what Flourish Club (their name for their community) means to them.  Lee and James were visibly moved when hearing about the difference this club makes to the students.  The young leaders shared how they lead assemblies to share what’s happening in Flourish Club and how they enjoy engaging with God Send materials that help them explore and ask questions about their faith.  Those gathered heard about the community events that, in partnership with local churches, sees families gather for Christingle and Easter services.

Creating safe spaces

Colleagues from the national team were clearly delighted when hearing about how this space, that’s now in its second pilot year, is creating a safe space where young people can express their thoughts about faith, explore it alongside their peers and do so in a place in which they feel they belong.  The young people commented on how they look forward to coming along to the club which takes place throughout the week both during the school day and after school with colleagues from churches across the town coming in to lead sessions.

During the morning, those gathered heard how the work at Bishop Bronescombe is also growing and how the next phase in their pilot location is moving towards supporting young people transition from primary to secondary school – something that the Growing Younger vision is keen to explore and develop across our diocese.  Similarly, colleagues from Bodmin College and Bodmin Way shared how the relationship between church and school in the Bodmin area is strengthening through the Flourish Pilot.

Lee Moscato, Diocesan Director for Education and our Diocese Lead for Flourish, said: “God is clearly at work here and seeing these young people grow in terms of their confidence, their leadership skills and in faith is so fulfilling.  Something that really excites me is how other schools, especially secondary schools, are keen to know more about what similar Flourish locations could look like in their schools and this is something I am exploring with several schools across the diocese.”