We want to say...

A MASSIVE
THANK YOU
Let's take a look
at 2020
2020 highlights
for 267
January
We began the year with our awesome Houseparty. We gathered 36 young people, 10 leaders
and 4 small children. Instead of talks, this year we had 8 young people leading 4 bible studies
from the book of 2 Timothy, and it was such an inspiring and powerful time.
We ran Xsite in Harpenden. Fuel continued to be 'on tour' and in January our venue was The
Salvation Army in Harpenden.
The Haven Ministry had a Team Day at Buckden Towers to pray and explore the next steps of
this phenomenal resource.
2020 was meant to be the year we began a series of fundraising challenges to raise money for
our own venue. But we shall wait for next year.
Our team has grown again as we had Ellie start in January to be our 'Ministry Development
Worker.' Ellie is going to be spending her time building links with churches and supporting youth
workers.

February
Mike spoke at the St Albans Vineyard Youth Weekend Away. Xsite ran in St Albans and
CHARGE started again at St Paul's Church. The Haven started gathering at St Paul's and High St
Methodist. 267 Breakfasts were as popular as ever and a superb chance for leaders to network
and support one another (and eat great food!)
The Fuel Tour continued at Forest Town Church and over 56 young people from 8 different
churches gathered.
We spent 24 hours away on retreat at Buckden Towers with 12 youth and children's leaders.
Sadly, we had to move all our kit out of our storage venue in Wheathampstead. Vineyard kindly
lent us some space until we find a new home for all our resources.
Our annual Wine Tasting event was a huge success raising almost £8000 for 267. Thank you,
all.

March
We manage to run our only residential of 2020 in March. We took away the school years 3, 4 &
5 to Felden Lodge and had a great time chatting about how important it is to 'find your flock'.
March was when everything had to stop and so Fuel, CHARGE and 'The Conversation' (our
training evening) all had to be postponed.
We started the year so strong and with some very exciting plans but, like everyone, we were
unable to run 'in person' ministry for the foreseeable future.

April, May and June

As the world struggles to navigate lockdown and the pandemic, and all youth and children's
ministry moves online, 267 takes some time to pray how we can best serve leaders and young
people during this time.
Ben helps us record some Zoom podcasts and it has been great to get these out onto Spotify
and iTunes. Mike has also been writing some blogs exploring what God has been speaking to
him about in this season.
Tribe Breakfasts, Trustees meetings, Fuel and team meetings all move online. There are still real
moments of light and encouragement though. Fuel especially is a fun time and the opening quiz
where the winner gets pizza or pudding delivered has been a particular highlight.
Ellie and Liz went on furlough and 267 agreed to top up the 80% furlough payments so that the
team received a full salary. God has blessed us and we feel this is the right thing to do.
2020 highlights
for 267
July
Claire and Mike hosted 'cream tea for 6' in Claire's garden. This was a chance, as lockdown eased a bit, to gather
people and find out how they are. We managed to do this three times over the month.
The Haven wonderfully received a grant this year so we have been able to give out 150 care packs which Claire
and the team put together. These care packs were given to young people who have been struggling with anxiety
during 2020.

August
267 partnered with YoungLife to run a socially-distanced summer camp during August. 30 young people in 6
bubbles were able to take part in creatively distanced sports and activities.
We managed to run our beach volleyball event without having to call an ambulance (last year Mike forgot he
was in his late 40's and got injured!) It was great to be together, play volleyball and eat pizza. Good times.

September
We have a new intern, Alex, and she is so awesome. Alex will be supporting Fuel as well and really investing in
our online presence. Alex brings some beautiful creativity and energy to the ministry.
Ben has spent loads of time building us a new website as well as building a specific website for The Haven. Check
them out:

www.the267project.com & www.thehaven.uk

We managed to reschedule our summer Golf Day for the end of September. God enables us to run a safe and
wise event which raised over £7000! In a year where fundraising has been harder, we are so thankful for this
wonderful opportunity, and for so many generous golfers.
After a term of Fuel being on Zoom, we were able to meet in person this month. 48 young people met, within
restrictions, at St Paul's Church.

October
It was such a joy to host Fuel at Vineyard St Albans for the very first time. To partner with them has been such
a joy and both teams ran Fuel together and 80 young people attended. Despite being spread out and in masks, we
had a superb time. During these times where the more creative and interactive aspects of Fuel can't happen, we
have produced Fuel 'worship bags' - each young person gets a bag with the Fuel logo and in it is a range of items
to help them engage during worship, the talk and any times of prayer.
Every year we have a 267 Team Away Day; this is an opportunity to gather the whole team and trustees to pray,
dream and creatively think about ministry together. One word that really came out of our day was 'agile' - our
ability and calling to be creative, innovative and reactive in this uncertain season. We were really diving into how
267 can be the solid ground for leaders, young people and children.
267 Breakfast happened in 6's. We visited the stunning Potting Shed in St Albans and bought a bunch of youth
leaders breakfast! Connecting face to face is so important to us and something we have missed deeply.
November
The Haven has still been able to go into schools and provide an essential space for young people dealing with anxiety and stress. We look
forward to the continued growth and fruit of The Haven in 2021.
Ellie has been creating a Church Welcome Pack - this is going to be posted out in the New Year to around 100 churches to offer our
support for their youth and children's work. We are really excited about this and feel 267 has the resources and team to be able to offer
significant support and encouragement at this time.

December
This month 267 and Youthscape are teaming up to bring 'The Big Shout Out.' More than ever, youth leaders need encouraging and, through
this, we are hoping people will really take the opportunity to cheer one another on. At the beginning of 2021, we are going to release a week
of encouragements which will include short videos of fellow youth workers, podcasts and blogs, all designed to show support as we all
begin this New Year!
As we have had fewer fundraising opportunities this year, we had the Bike for 267 event. We had 10 people cycling a minimum of 26.7
miles and the hope was that people would donate £26.70 to 267 (see what we did there ?!) Nigel and Lin, Alan and Mike also managed to
cycle 267 miles each! We have been blown away by people's generosity and so far, this event has raised over £6000!
Each December, The Big Give happens and it is a chance for 267 supporters to have their donation doubled by the addition of a generous
pledger. This year we raised £4500 through a very generous pledge and some wonderful donors who had their gift doubled.
One of Alex's creative endeavours has been 'The 267 Advent Calendar'. This is running across our social media platforms during advent and
features a range of funny, thoughtful and lively videos to help people journey through advent. It has been wonderful to see Alex's creativity
come alive and also for the team and other 267 friends to get involved. Check it out on Facebook and Instagram during December.

Big Plans & Prayers

The growth of The Haven, into schools and drop-in groups in local churches. We'd
also love to consider employing another part-time worker to help Claire really
take The Haven further.

It would be great to run all our residentials in 2021, after missing many of
them this year. Taking children and young people away is always a significant
time for their relationship building and faith development.

Our hope is still to have a venue/retreat centre of our own to grow and develop all
areas of 267 ministry. To have a space that can be used for leaders, volunteers,
resources, kids and young people, training, The Haven, retreats, small group
residentials and everything else God has begun in us.

Zoom enabled us to continue to connect with one another

whether that be Fuel, networking breakfasts or just between
the team. But it wasn't the same as being together!