The Urban Mission Year
The Urban Mission Year is a transformative, year-long journey designed to disciple, inspire, and equip people for Urban Mission.
Since 2003, UDB has been part of the story God is writing in Erdington. Come and be part of that story.
Testimonials
“It has been foundational in helping me grow in faith, leadership, and confidence.” - Hannah
“Being a part of the story of what God is doing in Erdington is a true privilege, just like being able to form relationships with the brilliant young people that we serve” - Louie
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My experience of the Urban Mission Year has been transformative. Each week, I have looked forward to my time at UDB, where I have had the opportunity to lead girls’ group, mentor young people, and build meaningful relationships with the community.
Through the UMV training sessions, I have developed in both faith and character. We have explored questions such as “What is mission?” and considered how to translate the theology of mission into our context in Erdington. I have also learnt about spiritual disciplines and how to implement them more intentionally in my daily life. These sessions have been foundational in improving my habits, skills and routines.
Through UDB, I am now equipped to mentor young people, leading both group sessions and 1-1 mentoring school. Alongside this, I have developed practical skills such as article writing, graphic creating, and planning activities.
UDB has deeply impacted me by challenging me to bring Jesus into every part of my life. Most notably, experiencing a working culture where Jesus is at the centre of decision-making and where prayer is prioritised has strengthened my relationship with Him and laid a strong foundation for my faith. It is incredibly encouraging to be surrounded by a team that champions and supports one another, encourages you to go deeper, and who carry a genuine passion for the of the work they do.
I would highly recommend the UMY at UDB. It has been foundational in helping me grow in faith, leadership, and confidence, It has been incredible to be a part of a community full of heart and a shared desire to serve and love the community.
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My year as an Urban Mission Volunteer has been deeply formative on a variety of levels. I have learnt more about God, myself, mission and service in a way that I can’t compare to anything else.
Simply showing up weekly has had a huge impact on me. Being surrounded by a team that fervently pursues God first has encouraged me and sharpened me within my walk with Jesus. My relationship with Jesus and the way that I see the world alike have been transformed by this year, and it is an experience that has significantly marked me.
Being a part of the story of what God is doing in Erdington is a true privilege, and it has similarly been such a privilege to be able to form relationships with the brilliant young people that we serve and get to see them and know them week in week out.
Not only have I learnt about Urban Mission this year, but I have also learnt about a huge variety of areas, receiving valuable input and wisdom from the members of our brilliant team and beyond. I have been given a huge variety of opportunities to grow and try new things that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to, such as mentoring and leading drop in clubs, as well as contributing to the grant writing team.
This year has been truly significant for me, which makes saying goodbye all the more harder! I am so grateful for what this year has given me and what I have learnt and been able to give, and I highly recommend you exploring if it is for you!
How it works
Our Urban Mission Year for 2026/27 runs from September to July.
You must commit to a minimum of 2 days a week, including Wednesday mornings, so you can be part of our team time and training.
You benefit the most when embedded in a community, so this year cannot be done remotely. Applicants must be willing to live in and around Birmingham.
It’s free!
What’s Involved?
You will become a valuable member of our team, helping to deliver sessions for children and young people across Erdington. You’ll be out walking the streets, in youth clubs, working in schools, and creating safe spaces for children and young people.
You will receive fortnightly training sessions on a variety of themes, including spiritual formation, personal development and Urban Mission.
You will receive a mentor who will meet with you regularly, help you set goals and encourage you throughout the year.
You will have a CliftonStrengths assessment and a 1-1 session with a strengths coach.
You will have space to explore your strengths and passions, seeing how they can contribute towards the life of UDB and beyond.
FAQ’s
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No! Only a passion and desire to invest in children and young people. During your time with us, you will receive various training sessions related to youth work and lots of hands-on experience.
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Yes! The course is free and voluntary, taking up a minimum of 2 days of your week. We would recommend getting a part-time job alongside it, to help with your finances.
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Yes. Although 2 days a week is the minimum requirement, if you want to commit more time in your week, that is a conversation we could have.
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Yes. During half terms and holidays, we still run activities for the kids and young people and you’d be expected to still be around, unless you were taking annual leave.
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No. Accommodation is not provided, but if you are struggling to find somewhere, please get in touch. We have a network of people who might be able to help.
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You’ll join our team and will likely work with everyone at some point. Who you work with will depend on your personalised schedule. Check out our team page to get a taste of who we are.
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Please feel free to get in touch with ash.porter@urbandevotion.org to ask away.