The Synergy Network is writing to supporters to update them on plans for the Standing Together Weekend in July 2025.
The Synergy Network (SN) currently hosts an annual Standing Together Sunday each year in July (usually the Sunday before the schools and colleges break for summer vacations). This year it will be the weekend of 19/20th July 2025. Standing Together Sunday is a day for all churches, parachurch organisations and others in Britain and Ireland to share one Sunday where they pray for our young people and take action to address “Violence Affecting Young People” (VAYP). SN provides online resources in support of “Standing Together against serious young violence” Sunday.
For 2025, SN is inviting churches, Christian organisations, and all others to come together in unity, to bring our collaborative efforts towards reducing and bringing an end to VAYP. For 2025, we plan to increase the profile and impact of the Standing Together Weekend by reaching out to as many faith groups as possible. Standing Together events will take place on the weekend of the 19/20th July 2025. Please place this date in your diary!
For 2025, our new campaign is, ‘One Pledge: One Change’. The aim of the campaign is to encourage everyone, every church, every group working in this sector to make one pledge that will lead to one change in addressing the violence that is affecting young people across the nations. We propose that a series of events in 2025, will lead up to a big rally event for 2026, but we need your support and involvement.
“ONE PLEDGE:ONE CHANGE”. What do we want from our supporters?
This is our strapline for the year. We need you to support the various activities that will be taking place leading up to the Standing Together Weekend. We need you to consider and then make a pledge and commitment to one thing that you can do to help bring about that much-needed one change that can contribute to the reduction of violence against young people. Below is a list of various pledges to which you can commit to; this list is not exhaustive and you can suggest your own pledge. Remember, every little step can change a life, support a family affected by youth violence or prevent and save another from violence.
We are inviting faith leaders to help promote this event by recording a video of approximately 30 seconds to say what their ‘One pledge; One change’ will be. A few videos will be posted each month on our various platforms leading up to the Standing Together weekend in July.
In addition, we are requesting financial support and sponsorship from various stakeholders, government agencies, church governing bodies, businesses and other organisations. You can pledge significant financial support to this campaign and have your logo added the publicity material for the event. Together we can make a difference by making our communities safer for our young people.
Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact Joanna Brown, Synergy Network Lead Coordinator.
We look forward to your support: ‘One Pledge; One Change!’
Joanna Brown,
Non practising Barrister/Solicitor,
On behalf of The Synergy Network
Pledges for Standing Together:
- Receive Synergy Network Newsletters to stay up to date on the topic
- Find out what resources/organisations that work with young, vulnerable people are in your community
- Commit your congregation to monthly/regular prayer for young people
- Connect with your local school(s) – (Young Life International, Kick Academy, School Pastors, Street Pastors, Operation Forgiveness etc…)
- Explore mentoring/discipleship programmes for young people
- Prayer Walk your streets and schools and places where young people gather
- Donate to local organisations in your community who are doing good work (working with young people)
- Create spaces with young people for their stories to be heard in your church services/ bible studies, house or life groups etc
- Invest in youth work/(a) youth worker(s), especially those who carry out detached work in local communities
- Open your building for youth work organisations to operate in/from.
- Run a youth club/hub/space, especially during weekdays from 4pm to 7pm.
- Create your own pledge….