How community outreach helps people ‘2 Be Ready’ 

Sarah Bird explains how Upton Vale Baptist Church in Torquay, guided by faith, is serving the needs of the local community in pragmatic and effective ways. One example includes offering free-of-charge courses for people seeking work

 

If you wanted to find out more about Jesus, TikTok might not be the first place you’d think of looking. But senior pastor Simon Clay has been using the popular video-sharing platform since June 2022 and has more than 5,200 followers. His strapline for @bitesizebiblestudy— 'A nobody telling everybody about a somebody'—sums up his approach to inclusivity when it comes to sharing the word of God.

And it’s fully in line with the mission of his church, Upton Vale Baptist Church (UV) in Torquay, Devon; to offer practical, emotional and spiritual support that nurtures people to be devoted followers of Jesus Christ.


Simon Clay

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Yet, while Clay recognises the need to explore all avenues to reach people’s hearts and minds, he’s aware of the pressing problems in his local community that make it hard for some to see or hear the good news, whichever medium is used. It’s why, having moved from Leicestershire in 2024 to head up UV’s 300-strong members, he’s fully backing church members’ commitment, guided by faith, to serve the needs of the local community in pragmatic and effective ways through a series of different initiatives.

Nothing new in that, you may say; every church has its own community support in place. But perhaps there is something of a “perfect storm” today which is making community programmes more than a nice thing to do if armed with the right budget and willing volunteers. Clay recognises three shifts in the worldwide landscape that are prompting change in the role of the church:


1 Global shocks are changing professional lives, especially employability

World events, such as economic uncertainty and war, have caused significant social shifts in recent decades. In particular, the pandemic upended society and has left a considerable negative legacy.

Much has been written about the impact of “long COVID”, mental health and socialising issues, especially among young people, and there’s been a dramatic shift in workforce practices—working from home affects employers and employees alike.

For the South West with its reliance on hospitality and tourism, the pandemic created a profound economic shock, potentially the deepest in the past century, in a region that was already struggling to provide sustainable work.


2 Financial constraints are reducing support for the most vulnerable

While Torbay has a population of around 140,000 people, it is also the most deprived area in the South West with below average earnings, housing issues and financial pressures on social services. Growing social challenges from poverty, obesity and suicide put an additional strain on limited government resources.

The Baptist Church has a history of practical support to address social issues, acting as an advocate for social justice and supplementing existing services with its own faith-driven programmes. But these supplementary services are becoming even more essential as corporate or government funding for various programmes is significantly reduced or cut.


3 Traditional church strategies are under pressure

Declining congregations and the erosion of trust of the clergy are factors that weigh heavily on church leaders, prompting them to adopt a new kind of strategy to serve their church members and the wider community. Recent sexual abuse scandals have blighted people’s view of many Christian denominations, and numbers of Christians continue to drop—in the UK just 46 per cent of the population identifies as Christian according to a 2021 census (a 13.1 per cent decrease from the previous decade). 

While the recent Bible Society findings chart an encouraging increase in churchgoing, co-author Dr Rhiannon McAleer nevertheless stated the Quiet Revival report ‘does not challenge the well-established fact that fewer people in England and Wales are choosing to identify as Christian.’

While the fundamental promise of Christian life remains the same, a digitally-savvy, media-rich society, changing family dynamics, and generational and cultural sensitivities demand a new approach to encourage disciples of Jesus Christ.



Worship at Upton Vale

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Extraordinary things

In the backdrop of these three pain points, UV is undertaking community outreach programmes to address growing needs in the Torbay region and potentially further afield.

Even the UV building shows it’s not shy of the challenge. Large and imposing, the church sits squarely on a hill at the top of the town. Its premises include a rabbit warren of rooms and offices in addition to the main church hall. Many rooms are ideal for hosting groups and activities and offer an attractive proposition for partners who want to run their own events.

For instance, Ladies Lounge is a registered charity that supports those affected by domestic abuse, emotional or economic abuse or violence in Torbay. The UV youth basement is used for its regular meetings, two mornings a week, where ‘at risk’ ladies are offered snacks and refreshments and a safe space to share their experiences.

The group is run and staffed by UV members and enjoys craft activities which help the ladies to relax. Care, listening, encouragement and the learning of new life skills is making a huge difference to attendees’ confidence and well-being.

What’s more, many ladies are actively taking part in the Alpha Course and other church activities because they feel supported in this trusted environment. 

Conversely, some groups run outside of the UV premises so that people can meet on “neutral ground.”

Established six years ago, the Bereavement Friendship Group (BFG) is a UV initiative to help those who are grieving, whether due to a recent loss or from the past. The group meets informally each month in a local Torquay hotel, offering friendship and a listening ear in a relaxed setting. About 30 people are in regular attendance with an active rota of volunteer listeners. Those managing grief can attend the annual Upton Vale Bereavement Service in memory of their loved ones.  

In addition, the group has produced a pocket-sized booklet Support in sorrow: Hope and friendship for those who grieve that reflects on handling grief and includes the thoughts and observations on bereavement of those who attend the meetings.

'UV is a family of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the name of Jesus,' says Clay.

'We recognise the need to continually adapt and find new ways to communicate the good news; our community initiatives are fundamental to how we do that.'  

Fearfully and wonderfully made

Many local challenges have become a burning platform in Torquay: a high population of elderly or infirm residents, limited life skills in what has become a deprived seaside town, issues around homelessness, youth, children or vulnerable women as noted earlier. These issues are all common denominators in many other regions around the country, but unfortunately, unless there is a good relationship with local government services, efforts from church members can become ineffective or lost.

One UV case study that is a strong example of coordination and collaboration with secular bodies is 2B Ready (2BR). Supported by UV volunteers and benefactors, 2BR offers employability courses working closely with the Torquay Job Centre, Torbay Council and local schools. Participants sign up for five-week programmes that help to restore confidence, instil resilience and better prepare participants for the workplace.

Three years ago, when UV members asked themselves the question: “How can we help our local community?” employment was identified as a key issue. 

To address the challenge, UV initially licensed a course from a coaching charity. However, when the  charity decided it would no longer support the course in 2023, a UV volunteer with a career as a business writer offered to write a new course—and 2B Ready was born.

2BR courses are targeted toward:

• Post-education jobseekers who may have been out of work for an extended period or are having difficulty getting started in the job market
• Students in education, preparing 16-to 18-year-olds for the world of work by combining practical advice with tried-and-tested brain-training techniques (based on drama improvisation and neuro-linguistic programming exercises).

Although 2BR courses cover the basic requirements for employability (such as CVs and interview technique), they embrace the principle that being ready for work involves having the right mindset and approach. Indeed, the five 2BR sessions (based on the mnemonic READY) are focused on nurturing resilience within each individual and fuelling the persistence and preparation needed to find work.

Run from UV’s youth basement, 2BR’s jobseeker courses have limited requirements: comfortable seating, internet access, a small kitchen to make refreshments and toilets. The course itself is fully scripted, with additional visual aids in PowerPoint format. And while course content is being continually refined, the course can be made available under licence to other churches across the UK.

A dedicated website (www.2bready.co.uk) includes a password-protected back-end portal where all the course materials are held and course details can be logged—participants’ contact details, attendance records, assessment form responses and GDPR compliance. Marketing materials such as artwork for flyers and a roll-up banner are also available.

The course continues to go from strength to strength, backed by UV members. As with all UV’s community programmes, the 2BR team is supported by prayer and recognises the role of prayer in its future.

There is also a move to grow local community awareness—aside from strong relationships with senior officers in the Job Centre, the 2BR team is increasing its influence through events and a media programme to “spread the word.”



Feedback from course participants has been rewarding:

“A really holistic, positive and encouraging based to move forward,” said one jobseeker, while another stated: “I feel more confident for new job roles.”

Students also commented on the benefits:

“I’ve learnt the importance of being more resilient and that’s a big help,” said one attendee.

Finally, there are spiritual benefits from the care, support and commitment being offered: one attendee of both Ladies Lounge and 2B Ready went on to complete the Alpha course, was baptised in March 2025 and admits her life has been transformed through attending these community programmes.


Five steps for community outreach

Clay sums up, 'By tackling issues strategically as part of a planned evolution of what the church has to offer, thoroughly researching local issues and tapping into the skills and talents of our congregation, we have been able to match the solution to the problem more precisely with our local efforts.'

Community outreach can be hard to get started, especially when there may be many other “competing” initiatives. But UV’s experience highlights five-steps that can help other churches to develop their community response:
 

• Be strategic: Be clear on who will assess new initiatives and how they will be led. Consider introducing levels, like “manage, direct and signpost,” to effectively allocate time and effort.
• Clarify goals: Regularly “take the temperature” of your local community needs and adjust accordingly. Identify stakeholders and sense check their response.
• Focus fast: Pilot new programmes and refine the content and approach appropriately. Avoid “spray and pray” programme execution by doing a small number of initiatives well and closely monitoring results.
• Refine and refresh: Continuously track progress and refresh content to make sure it is fit for purpose. Seek out the right skills and, if necessary, train the trainers to maintain project quality.
• Widen the net: Grow an ecosystem of support to secure the funding and resources needed for the future. Collaborate and communicate so everyone “sings from the same hymn sheet” (with apologies for the pun).

In various parables Jesus asks us to think differently; indeed, his own birth was unconventional and unexpected. So, perhaps it is time to view local community outreach differently—and be ready for the impact it can have on your church members and mission.

Through community outreach, UV members are keen to fulfil God’s purpose, recognising that while He alone can “establish the work of our hands,” (Psalm 90:17) they can all play a part.

'We see our church family as entrepreneurs,' concludes Clay. 'We’re offering help and hope as we seed, share and embrace the good news of Jesus.'
 

Sarah Bird is a professional business writer with more than 30 years of experience. She is the author of two 2B Ready courses for jobseekers and acts as a volunteer coach on behalf of Upton Vale Baptist Church. She is also author of Nail Your Narrative: How to use storytelling to reinvent your career in midlife. 

 

If you’d like to know more about any aspect of the community outreach mentioned in this article contact sarah@2bready.co.uk.

Images:
External view of Upton Vale Baptist Church | Paul Eaton
Simon Clay | Paul Eaton
Worship at Upton Vale | Paul Eaton
READY word | WOKANDAPIX | Pixabay
2BR website image (woman surveying the landscape) | Denys Nevozhai | Unsplash


 

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