The Ministry Experience Scheme (MES) and Future Youth (FY) Stream
The Ministry Experience Scheme (MES) and Future Youth (FY) streams aim to help those aged 18-30 gain valuable vocational and leadership experience as they serve for a year in a church placement. The aim of the schemes is to help participants test a sense of vocational calling and gifting alongside some theological training.
Church Information
We run our own MES and FY stream in the Diocese of Guildford, providing training and vocational conversations, with churches designing how they want their day-to-day placement to operate for their participants. Both schemes run September-July, and the registration pack for church placements can be found below. We can host up to 10 participants, and welcome applications from churches all over the diocese. Please get in touch with our MES Coordinator to register interest or ask any questions about becoming a church placement: sophie.blake@cofeguildford.org.uk
For more information on the national schemes, click here:
Church Application Pack 2025/2026 to join Ministry Experience Scheme / Future Youth
Apply here to host a participant
Participant Information
Thinking of becoming a MES or Future Youth participant next year? We would love to help you explore your calling. Churches are responsible for directly recruiting their participants. The following churches have been approved for 2025/26 to host a participant. For more information from each, please contact them directly.
Youth Catalyst Project Placement
The Youth Catalyst Project, part of the Diocese of Guildford, are also offering MES with the team as a Diocesan placement, as opposed to a traditional church placement. The scheme runs during the normal timeframe of 1 year beginning in September, and participants will attend the same training events and conferences, however, they will work with our Youth Worship & Mission Team Lead to explore vocational and ministry options in worship, production, preaching, and youth work for 11-18 yr olds. While participants would be encouraged to explore a leadership position within their church, we would not be overseeing this and it is a suggestion, as their main post is with the Youth Catalyst Team.
If you have any queries, or simply would like to have a chat about MES and FY before getting in touch with any placements to see if it is for you, please feel free to contact our MES Coordinator at sophie.blake@cofeguildford.org.uk.