About us

Exodus was established in the year 2000 by Jackie and Martin, who remain actively involved in the projects operations and development. In 2023 they were recognised for their outstanding services to Young people and charity and each awarded an MBE

What began as a single activity club in the heart of Barnsley has grown into a vibrant network of 14 activity clubs, a weekend activity centre, three charity shops, a dedicated team of 18 staff, over 80 volunteers, three minibuses, and a large van. Today our projects span across Barnsley and Wakefield, guided by a board of eight trustees who help shape and inspire our future vision.

We work closely with children and young people, particularly those from less advantaged communities. Our mission is to steer them away from harmful lifestyle choices and create opportunities for personal growth, skill development and building their aspirations.

Because we focus on less advantaged communities, our services are provided almost entirely free of charge to the young people we serve. To continue this vital work, we rely on the support of those who have, standing in solidarity with those who do not.

At Exodus, we are committed to supporting children and young people in less advantaged communities through consistent, relationship-based engagement. Our primary focus is on running mid-week activity clubs in the heart of less advantaged communities that create safe, fun supporting environments where young people can grow, learn and thrive.

Our model includes:

-Kidz Klub for children in Years 3-5, and Rock Solid, our youth groups for young people in Years 6-9. We currently run 15 groups every week during term time.

-Weekend camps at our dedicated activity centre, Jenny's Field, where children and young people enjoy, educational experiences while building aspirations and strong relationships.

-Home visits to all our club members, allowing us to build trust with families and maintin accountability to parents and carers.

-Community partnerships with schools, community associations, ward alliances and local authorities to deliver events and support wider community development.

-Supplementary food parcels for families in need, arranged through our close relationships and regular visiting rounds.

-Volunteer development, a core part of our work. About half of our volunteers are former service users who progress from club participants to junior leaders and eventually adult volunteers. Many stay with us for over a decade, creating a sense of family that is the hallmark of our approach.

Our model is rooted in long-term relationships, community involvement, and a belief in the potential of every young person.

We exist to help children and young people in less advantaged circumstances to grow their aspirations and make positive lifestyle choices. Our Christian ethos ensures that the emotional, physical and psychological needs of young people are met, as well as their spiritual needs. A Christian perspective is taught alongside other legitimate world views, and our approach is recognised as reasonable, balanced and sensitive. We do not promote religion, we promote the growth and education of children and young people and don't apologise for affirming the message of Christianity, that has shaped our culture and society for two Millenia.

Our volunteers, staff and children go by our six core values

Kids and Fun are number 1
Be nice, think twice
Be fair, be firm
Plan it well and it will tell
See it, sort it
Don’t be slack, put it back

We offer far more than just activity clubs. Each week, we provide Family Support Sessions before every club, designed specifically for the families of children attending. These sessions cover a wide range of important topics including communication, mental health, and money management.

We also host regular Family Days and Jenny's Field, where families can come together to relax, have fun, and enjoy the facilities we have on offer. All activities and equipment are provided, with our staff and volunteers leading the day - so families can simply focus on enjoying their time together.

For younger children, we run weekly toddler sessions for ages 0-5 across our two sites, spread over a nummber of days and featuring different activities each week.

As a charity grounded in a Christian Ethos, our mission is guided by the principals of compassion, service, and dignity for all. These values inspire the way we design and deliver our services, fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where individuals of all backgrounds and faiths are valued. Through our work, we seek to reflect Christ's love by supporting personal growth, building community, and promoting the well-being of every participant.

You can support Exodus in so many ways. Our volunteers will testify that working for Exodus is like being part of a big family. There are roles to suit all skills and interests. We need volunteers to work in our activity clubs with children and young people. We need people to support our weekend activity camps. If working with children is not your thing, then we need gardeners, cleaners, cooks, administrators and shop workers. Please do consider giving a few hours a week to help in any way you can.

Because we target less advantaged communities, our services are all but free to the children and young people who benefit. So we need those who have, to stand alongside us in helping those who have not. So, if you’re thinking about running a marathon, riding a bike from coast to coast or walking the three peaks, please consider raising sponsorship money to keep our work going. In fact, any kind of individual and corporate fund raising will be met with huge smiles and heartfelt appreciation from everyone at Exodus.

We also have a monthly giving scheme called “Footsteps”, which enables companies and individuals to support our work regularly, giving us much needed and predictable income.

We can even offer advice and support in establishing a will if you consider leaving a legacy to Exodus. We’re here for the long haul, trying to improve the lives of children and young people in disadvantaged circumstances. You can be assured that any support you give in this way will reap benefits long into the future.