Like many churches around the country, Ridgeway has many older members and a considerable number of children and teenagers involved in the youth activities. It is the generation in between where numbers are very low, and it is at the 20-40 age group that our outreach programme has been focused. In January 2004, a circuit funded Outreach Worker was appointed to kick-start our efforts at bringing more people in this age group into the Church community.

Moving from Market Harborough in Leicestershire, James Darby was responsible for organising outreach events for all areas of the Church community, events to which people can also invite guests who may be reluctant to actually come to a Sunday service. Most of these events have included Christian speakers who have given a short message suitable for those who are Christians already as well as those who may be interested in learning more.

The outreach events have often taken the form of a meal, with a Scottish theme for Burns Night and an Indian meal at a nearby Balti restaurant. Events have also been planned for younger people and families, such as our 'Harvest Festival on a Farm' and the visit to a Donkey Sanctuary. James has also run two courses of 'Christianity Explored', which has its own website here. You can read more about these events on the Past and Future Events pages.

James was with us until the end of July 2005 when he left to take up a new job as a lay minister in Nottingham, and in September 2005 Catherine Stead took over the job of outreach worker for a further twelve months on a part-time basis. Since September 2006 the outreach programme has been the responsibility of a small group within the church community.