From charity fundraising to running social nights, in sleeping bags and pyjamas, the most recent winners of URC Lundie Awards demonstrate how commitment and imagination is alive and well among the Church’s young people.
Olivia Stokes-Roberts (main picture) has “a special empathy” for the significant numbers of home-educated and neuro-diverse children attending Junior Church and Pilots at Hornsea United Reformed Church, says Elder and youth leader Margaret Knapton. “Olivia is able to engage the children lovingly in activities and support them through situations they find challenging – a gift we as children’s workers have very much appreciate.”
Olivia is now a member of the Pilots leadership team, taking a full and active part in the planning and delivery of sessions. “We very much value her insights on the dynamics of the group, which help us to involve all the children in safe, age/interest appropriate activities.”
Like many other 2026 Lundie winners, Olivia also reads in church and is involved in the planning of worship. Similarly, James Cole, at The Bay URC in Birchington, Kent, has organised a Songs of Praise afternoon, and carol singing in local cafés as part of the church’s outreach and charity fundraising. Not only that, but he also plays the organ for Sunday services, funerals and weddings, and has supported the church treasurer with online banking and by setting up a card payment machine for the church.
Charity fundraising is important to many nominees for the Lundie Awards, which celebrate the good work an individual child or young person is doing for their church and community. Rosie Stone put on her pyjamas to inspire the fundraising efforts at Stag Community Church for one of their chosen charities – One by One. Impressed by the charity’s work with children and families internationally, Rosie proposed a 10km walk around Rother Valley Country Park in South Yorkshire – in pyjamas. She not only gave “wonderful messages in church asking the community to support the walkers”, but she herself raised £150, and encouraged friends and grown-ups to also participate, said Children’s and Families Worker Lu Hunt.
And at West Bromwich Albion football ground, Alice Coleyshaw joined her family with whatever they could take to keep warm, and slept in the stands to raise funds for work with homeless people. “Actually, it was not that bad, though I would not like to do it every night like the homeless. For dinner I had a lovely steak pie that was delicious, but it is sad to know that the homeless don’t get anything.”
Endorsing Alice’s nomination, Sharon Lloyd, the URC’s Programme Officer for Children’s, Youth and Intergenerational Work, said: “How fantastic to have a heart for the homeless at such a young age. A worthy recipient.”
The Lundie Memorial Awards scheme was established in 2020. Award winners receive a medal and certificate, and get to choose how to spend £100 for the benefit of children or young people in their church, synod or local community. Over thirty awards are still available under the scheme. To find out more and to nominate a young person you know, go to bit.ly/URCLundie.
Pictured: (main) Olivia Stokes-Roberts; (middle) Alice Coleyshaw and James Cole; (bottom) Rosie Stone