Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Children and Young People

Thursday 16 April 2026 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Church of England runs tens of thousands of community projects for children and young people across England.
  • Churches in Telford, including Telford Minster, St Michael's, and St Leonard's, offer pastoral support and volunteer spaces to families.
  • The Minister agrees to write to the Local Government Minister to encourage collaboration between faith-based organizations and local authorities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Shaun Davies Lab Telford
Children & Families Religion & Faith
Context

The question arises from the need to support children and young people in communities with various activities, focusing on the role of the Church.

Question

What steps is the Church taking to support the provision of activities for children and young people in communities?

Answer from Marsha de Cordova

Parishes across England run tens of thousands of community projects, including parent and toddler groups, holiday clubs, and breakfast and after-school provision. Under its vision 2020 strategy, the Church of England aims to double the number of children and young people in congregations by 2030. This is backed by £236 million over three years to support youth opportunities, particularly in low-income communities.

Answered
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Q2 Shaun Davies Lab Telford
Children & Families Religion & Faith
Context

Rev. Laura Lenander at Telford Minster, Rev. Andy Ackroyd at St Michael's church and Rev. Jo Farnworth at St Leonard's church play a key role in supporting families through pastoral care and providing spaces for volunteers.

Question

In Telford, the Church—through Rev. Laura Lenander at Telford Minster, Rev. Andy Ackroyd at St Michael's church and Rev. Jo Farnworth at St Leonard's church—plays a key role in supporting families, including by offering pastoral support and providing spaces for volunteers. What more will the Church do to support these churches and parishes in fast-growing areas such as Telford?

Answer from Marsha de Cordova

I express my thanks to all the churches in my hon. Friend's constituency for their work in supporting families and young people in Telford, and I especially congratulate Rev. Laura Lenander, Rev. Jo Farnworth and Rev. Andy Ackroyd. By opening their facilities throughout the week, they provide safe and welcoming spaces where young people can receive support and build strong relationships, demonstrating that the church is at the heart of its community. I am pleased to learn that Rev. Jo Farnworth has been made the independent chair of the South Telford Pride in Place programme, and I look forward to hearing more about the work it is doing in the area.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked what more the Church will do, but no specific future actions or commitments were provided by the answerer.

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Q3 Mark Pritchard Con The Wrekin
Local Government Religion & Faith
Context

There are issues with communication and resource sharing among central Government, local government, and the Church of England in delivering new services for young people.

Question

Will the hon. Lady write to the Local Government Minister, because I think some councils are a little bit timid when it comes to faith-based organisations? The dioceses of Lichfield and Hereford, which fall under The Wrekin constituency and are partly in the Telford constituency, do a fantastic job, but I think there is a problem between central Government, local government and the Church of England in communicating, sharing resources and actually delivering new services for young people together.

Answer from Marsha de Cordova

The right hon. Member highlights the true value of what can happen in our local communities when churches, local authorities and all other stakeholders work together. Yes, I will take him up on that, and write to the Local Government Minister to encourage such a co-working relationship in his constituency.

Answered
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