National Impact Day 2011

Saturday 26th November saw Impact groups from across the country travelling to Derby's Diocesan Centre, in Mackworth, for the National Impact Day annual event. This year's theme was ‘Worth More than Gold' and was an opportunity for the young people to see Impact on a national level. The day also involved a training event for adult companions and chaplains of both Impact and YCW, giving them an opportunity to come together to reflect and learn more about their important role.

The young people were able to explore the international reality of YCW, looking at where YCW is present around the world and how discuss how such young people are connected. They reflected on their faith, exploring how the teachings of St Paul (that we are all one body in Christ) related to the international reality of young people that they had identified.

To take action and reach out to other young people in the UK, those attending the National Impact Day were invited to the Flame Congress in March, were they will have an opportunity to meet thousands of other young people from across the UK engaged in their faith.

To reach out to the young people around the world ‘Adjuvo!: Youth Helping Youth', a new project of the YCW, was launched. This project is giving them, as members of YCW Impact, an opportunity to help raise money for young people taking action around the world. Adjuvo aims to enable young people in all parts of the world to be aware of the situations and the conditions that affect their lives and to be proactive in responding to them.

The young people were invited to a once in a lifetime opportunity: to take part in the International Congress of YCW movements. From Friday 31st August to Sunday 2nd September—the middle weekend of International Congress—the Impact groups were invited to camp at Alton Castle and spend the weekend meeting delegates from around the world as well as organise events for them; allowing them to share the reality of being a young person in England and Wales in 2012.

Everyone came away from the day with energy and enthusiasm. All were able to take away ideas of how to take action in their local groups that would reach out to young people, not just in the UK but around the world!