Youth workers and community leaders across the Diocese of Bristol have embraced innovative listening tools to ensure that the voices of young people and learning disabled individuals are heard, as part of the Vacancy in See consultation process for the next Bishop of Bristol. 
At the heart of this initiative are the Youth Echo listening groups. The groups are facilitated spaces, developed so that young people can respond to a series of conversation prompts in a safe, structured environment. In pursuit of elevating a wider range of voices within the consultation, our Children, Young People & Families team developed Echo Focus - a specially adapted version of the Youth Echo programme designed to spark meaningful conversations around the future leadership of the Diocese.
Echo Focus follows a three-stage plan, guiding participants through prompts that explore the Church’s strengths and challenges, its role in the community, and the qualities of effective leadership. To make these complex themes more accessible and engaging, Youth Engagement Officer, Rachel Newton, worked with the diocesan communications team to transform the prompts into creative, hands-on activities. Participants illustrated their ideas by drawing on blank silhouettes of a person, highlighting what would be in their heart, head, and hands, or by adding sticky notes to themed posters, sharing their thoughts in a visual and collaborative way.
These creative and interactive activities have sparked interesting and insightful conversations across the Diocese in schools and churches. Suggestions have ranged from Florence Nightingale, admired for her compassion, to Einstein, valued for his curiosity and innovation. Others have proposed Moana for her courageous leadership, or Dumbledore for his wisdom and problem-solving. Participants reflected on the importance of a Bishop who genuinely cares for young people and the environment, someone who is honest, listens deeply, shows kindness, thinks critically, and embraces everyone with acceptance.
Rachel Newton, Youth Engagement Officer at the Diocese of Bristol, reflected:
“So far, the findings of Echo Focused have been fascinating. The conversations it has sparked highlight the power, wisdom, and importance of youth voice.”
Whilst Echo Focus was originally designed for youth voices, its application hasn’t stopped there. At LIGHT Church, Chippenham, an inclusive, accessible church for learning disabled people, leaders have been adapting the resources to gain input on the consultation from their congregation.
Using the prompts as a basis, leaders created a sensory session which allowed attendees to express their ideas and hopes for the new Bishop in ways that were accessible and meaningful to them.
The LIGHT Church community, have expressed a deep desire for the next Bishop of Bristol to be a wise and prayerful leader - someone who is kind, inclusive, and nurturing, with the strength of a parent figure and the gentleness of a good listener. They hope for someone who communicates clearly, knows the Bible well, enjoys music and singing, and is friendly, approachable, and visibly present in their community.
Alice Kemp, Disability Coordinator at Diocese of Bristol, said:
‘Learning disabled people are so often left at the margins of society and their feelings and opinions not considered, so it was great to be able to include their voices in the consultation process.’
Through Echo Focus, seeds are being planted for a future where leadership is shaped by compassion, courage, and the collective wisdom of all.
Get Involved
Could you facilitate an Echo Focus listening group in your church or community?
To learn more about Echo and how it’s amplifying youth voices across the Diocese, visit our Youth Voice webpage or contact Rachel Newton at rachel.newton@bristoldiocese.org.
For more about LIGHT Church, visit their Facebook page or contact Alice Kemp at alice.kemp@bristoldiocese.org.