About
Thrive Youth Work is a project within Huntingdonshire Community Church (charity no. 803355) that aims to
“transform lives of young people by inspiring them to:
build positive relationships, make good decisions, develop emotional resilience,
and enjoy a strong sense of well-being."
The project was founded in 2018 in response to concern that some of the young people growing up in Huntingdon and the surrounding areas were struggling emotionally, behaviourally and relationally, and as a consequence were at risk of making poor life decisions, failing to engage well with education, and becoming vulnerable to potentially exploitative relationships and poor mental health.
Delivered by trained professional youth workers and volunteers, the team works in two local secondary schools in Huntingdon (Hinchingbrooke and St. Peter’s) providing 1-2-1 and Group Mentoring programmes offering early-intervention and pastoral support for those identified as struggling to cope emotionally, relationally and behaviourally. The team also host open-access safe-space break-time clubs in the schools. In the community after school, Thrive Youth Work delivers Youth Cafés in the Huntingdon area and trips/events for young people to socialise outside of school, engage in fun activities, access pastoral support and connect with local youth workers.
“transforming lives of young people by inspiring them to:
build positive relationships, make good decisions,
develop emotional resilience, and enjoy
a strong sense of well-being."
Our Vision
Our vision is to see children and young people growing up with positive relationships in their lives, able to make good decisions for themselves, who are emotional resilient, and enjoy
a strong sense of well-being.
Our Outcomes
Thrive Youth Work, in partnership with schools, communities and churches, makes a difference by delivering the following outcomes:
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Young people who have supportive, positive, and trusted relationships in their lives: with youth workers, family, teachers, peers and others.
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Young people who make good decisions: to stay in school, away from gangs, and set goals and work hard to achieve them.
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Young people who enjoy a strong sense of well-being: raised self-esteem, -confidence and - awareness, and emotional resilience.
Our Values
Connect
with young people where they are through relational youth work
Care
for young people in relevant ways, particularly through mental health support
Celebrate
young people for who they are
Challenge
young people in their thinking and actions
Create
safe spaces for young people in schools and communities,
and opportunities for young people to explore life.
Our Team
The Thrive Team is led by professional and qualified youth workers. Together with the volunteers they deliver the Thrive Schools and Community Programme.
Richard Schwier
Project Manager, Senior Youth Worker and Designated Safeguarding Officer Richard is the Project Manager and Senior Youth Worker with Thrive Youth Work project. He has more than 20-years’ experience of delivering youth work projects in schools, communities and churches, and of working with young people and children. He has a degree in youth and community work, is JNC level 2 qualified, as has an MA in organisational leadership. He is married with two teenage children, and loves activities involving outdoor life!
Ruth Hunt
Co-Leader and Senior Youth Worker Ruth is the Deputy Project Manager and Senior Youth Worker with Thrive Youth Work project. Since completing her music degree in 2014, she has enjoyed leading teams to deliver local and national community and youth engagement projects. For the past four years Ruth has been part of the leadership team for Thrive Youth Work. She has a L3 certificate in Youth Work Practice and in Safeguarding. Ruth is passionate about seeing young people enjoying life in all its fullness, good music, feeding people, and improving her half marathon time!
Sarah Gosling
Sarah has over 10 years’ experience working with young people in a mix of environments. She has worked in youth work both in church and community projects, has taught dance and been a Key Worker in an educational setting, within a specialist ASD provision. She has been a Christian since the age of 12, and her youth leader growing up inspired her to follow in her footsteps. Sarah and her husband have a vibrant young daughter, and they are a part of the Oxmoor Christian Fellowship. She loves being creative and especially loves sewing and crocheting! Sarah started out her youth work career with an internship with Thrive back in 2018 and has recently returned to working with them. She is excited to be back with Thrive and working in her local community!
Vicky Rodrigues
Safeguarding Trustee Vicky has over 37-years’ experience of working in the field of mental health with young people and adults both in a clinical capacity and at a strategic planning level within the NHS. She now works part time as a supervisor and Trainer in NVR (non-violence resistant) therapy with parents and is also a committee member for NVR UK. Vicky overseas all aspects of Safeguarding in HCC including the Thrive Youth Work.
Dawn Bridger
Thrive Administrator Dawn has been a Primary School teacher for over 25 years. She has a passion for working with children and families. Dawn became a Christian through her school Christian Union and spent many enjoyable years going to Youth events and camps in her Church. Dawn relocated to Huntingdon in August 2025 and joined Huntingdonshire Community Church. She has recently taken on the role of administrator for Thrive and has been visiting the cafes throughout the week. Dawn is looking forward to supporting this amazing team!