2021 HIGHLIGHTS FOR 267

January
Well, as we all are fully aware, the year started with a lockdown and we were
May
We were finally able to have an ‘in-person’ Fuel and the wonderful
maybe all feeling like we had gone 10 rounds with Anthony Joshua! team at YWAM Harpenden hosted us. It rained, the wind blew, but
But we dusted ourselves off and headed into 2021 fully aware that no matter we still drank hot chocolate, worshipped and spent time together.
the fight, God would be present and would also be on the move. We began to run some ‘breakfast for 6’ events so that we could
Houseparty didn’t happen which was really tough as it had happened for the catch up and reconnect with leaders. Brunch has always been part
last 9 years. Still on New Years Day we messaged a bunch of people who had of the 267 DNA and we love treating people to some quality nosh
attended any of the Houseparty events while we chat. We recommend Hatch St Albans or George Street
and got them to share a memory of photo - Canteen by the way :)
good times indeed. Haven drop-in started again.
Claire and The Haven team started some The Team and Trustees had an away Day where we were able to
Zoom Haven courses in 3 secondary pray, dream, scheme and plan.
schools and these have really helped us see We recorded some challenging but incredible podcasts with Ellie,
the importance of what The Haven does. Alex and Lauren on the topic of ‘sexual violence against women’. I so
in awe of the intelligent and passionately articulate young people we

February
A new ‘lockdown style’ fundraiser happened with our
Guest Chef Night on Zoom. Around 100 people tuned
in to learn how to cook a lush Thai curry. A very lively
WhatsApp group allowed us to see one another’s crea-
tions too. We also managed to raise £2000, thank you
everyone.
Fuel obviously had to head
back onto Zoom but we still
had a consistent group joining
us and the possibility of pudding
and pizza delivered to your
home was a helpful incentive!
267 and The Haven also had
new websites made by our media
wizard/ninja Ben.
are journeying with.
It was a term of birthdays with The Haven reaching 4 years old and
267 hitting 14 years old!
June
Our plans for a summer festival accelerated as the
idea of ‘BackToLife’ really connected with people.
5 days over the summer to laugh, connect, rest,
pray, share, eat and develop deep community. We also
received a grant for £3000 to help us run this event!
Fuel happened at Christ Church St Albans. Worship and
preaching outside on the grass and the arrival of an ice cream
truck made it a superb gathering.
45 churches received one of our new ‘Welcome Packs’ - these
have been designed and created by Ellie with the hope that we can
build better links between 267 and the local church. We also want to
be able to
share the
resources

March
We got to record quite a few podcasts this year including
one about ‘dating’ and one about ‘grief and loss’ - we
are not suggesting that there is a connection between
those!
We ran a Zoom version of our
training event ‘The Conversation’
and had 14 leaders join to chat
about mentoring and discipleship
We made the decision to move all
our residentials to the summer, was
a hard call but will hopefully mean we will
be able to run them all.
Alex and Ellie have been producing some amazing online
content to encourage people including ‘Testi-Monday’, Two-
Minute Tuesday’ and ‘Five-Minute Friday’. Each of the aimed at
a different group of the
267 tribe.
and events
that we have
to offer.
July
With some appropriate restrictions in place we still managed to have our
annual fundraising golf day at Porters Park and raised just over £5000,
thank you all.
We continue to explore the possible of 267 having a new home at All
Saints Pastoral Centre in London Colney. The venue is now called
‘Academy Residences’ and we hope they might have space for our ministry.
After a long wait we were able to run a weekend away for school years 3, 4 & 5.
What a great time we had and it was clear everyone had missed being able to do this
Finally we were able to gather more than 6 people for a 267 tribe breakfast. Thank you
Hatch St Albans for hosting us. (Can you tell we love Hatch!)
‘BackToLife’ was everything we could have wanted or imagined. God was soooo good.
42 of us gathered and embraced the simple joys of being together. We had wonderful
food, we got creative with pottery, we got energetic on inflatables, we got spoilt with
ice creams, we threw frisbees and water bombs, we shared stories of faith and
challenge, we discussed and debated big issues, we reflected on the year gone by
and we laughed a lot!

April
We were ‘allowed out’ to lead the service at St
Luke’s Cell Barnes Lane and share about what
267 is up to. Great times.
The Haven started to visit schools again and Claire and then team
began running the fantastic 6 week ‘Haven in School’ Course.
Trustee Dave stepped down after many years of serving us as a
trustee and 267 friend. Thanks so much Dave. We have a new trustee
joining us, welcome Claire who has been a significant supporter of 267
for many years.
We have loved sending out ‘encouragement packs’ to leaders, students
and various other people. It is so important that we stay connected at a
time when we may feel massively isolated.
August
Mike joined YoungLife International and supported their non-residential
camp in Hatfield. He have done this for the last 2 years now and it is
such a wonderful time and great to partner with other organisations.
The team had some well deserved time off.
Mike met up with Olly and Becky who run a youth and kids work
organisation similar to 267. They are just beginning and we are spending
some time with them and hoping to run some events together.
We had our annual beach volleyball event at
Verulamium Park and for the 2nd year running
Mike avoided serious injury
Alex ended her time with us as
intern. We shall miss her
so much as she has brought
so much creativity, energy,
joy and inspiration.
November
The 267 Wine Tasting Fundraiser
has always been really well
supported and a stunning evening
for team and supporters alike.
This year we had art, music, beer,
quizzes and a bunch of utterly
gifted and servant-hearted young
people helping host tables. It was a
wonderful night and raised around
£5300 for our ministry.
The National Youth Ministry
Weekend returned after
being unable to run in
2020. This year we were leading the coaching stream and we
enabled 90 individuals out of 800 attendees to have a one-
to-one coaching session with a ‘seasoned’ youth leader. The

September
I know we aren’t completely back to “normal” but at
event was a much needed encouragement for the youth ministry
tribe.
The Haven has been having a great time in Katherine Warrington
the start of this term there does seem to be a sense School in Harpenden. So thankful for this ministry and for Claires
of energy and excitement about ministry that hasn’t creativity and tenacity.
been around for a while.
Haven in Schools continues to thrive with
sessions happening in Chancellors for the first
time.
December
At the beginning of December each year The Big
The Fuel tour began again and we started at St Paul’s St Albans Give happens and it is a chance for charities to find
and trialled a new food-related game: Spoon or Doom! donors to match fund any donations given. This year
Mike got to preach at St Luke’s Bricket Wood where his youth we has some very generous donors and we are able
work ministry began 24 years ago! to raise £4000
267 are partnering with Youthscape to run the coaching stream at The Music Makers Carol Concert happened in
the National Youth Ministry Weekend. It has been great to meet up with them to plan Harpenden and Claire was able to share about The Haven with
and prepare. everyone that came and we were also allowed to run a cafe to
This month 267 Alumni was launched. This is just a little something which will enable us raise funds for The Haven ministry. £931 was raised, thank
to stay connected with those guys we have journeyed with over the past few years but you all.
who now are ‘grown ups!’ We will have to wait a little longer for a new home for 267 as
our plans to move to The Academy have fallen through. It was

October
We love residentials and so this month we were overjoyed to
really tough to hear this news but we pray that God is already
preparing our new home and just needed a little longer to get
it ready! All the money given is being kept for what God has
be able to run our year 6, 7 & 8 weekend away. 28 young people next for us.
and leaders came away for a whole bunch of community, laughter, New Years Houseparty
teaching and fun. There was a slight ‘outbreak’ of COVID from happens on 30th
the weekend which we are truly gutted about. Thankfully the December to 2nd January.
cases were mild and everyone recovered pretty swiftly. As we all know this is an
The 267 Quiz Night has always been one of Mike’s highlights ever-changing season
so you can imagine how upset he was when this year he was in but we pray we will be
isolation for it. Some stunning work by the trustees to run it and able to run the event as
the new quiz master Claire has definitely put Mike out of a job! this beautiful Houseparty
We continue to be blown away by so many generous community needs to be
donations to a possible new home for 267. Almost together. Pray for us.
£10,000 has been raised to enable us to refurb and
move into The Academy.
The Haven has always imagined being able to run well-being cafe to support
and continue the amazing work it does. Thrive, launched this month and is
going to run for four weeks every term. Thank you FadetoBlack St Albans
for providing us with such a lush venue.
Ellie has changed her role with 267 and her new title is ‘Events and Social
Media Coordinator’. Ellie is going to continue to share all that 267 offers
to churches as well as creating new spaces and opportunities for us to do
youth and kids ministry.

Happy Christmas
We couldn’t do it without you!
i
i
i
i
i
ii