Sheffield Young People To Run Big Brother House For Charity

From July 18^th to 22^nd members of the Steelroots Youth Community in the S17 area of Sheffield will be running a 'Big Brother House' streamed live on the internet to raise money to sponsor African children through their Secondary School Education.

Six lads (aged 16-19) will spend five days as house-mates secluded from the outside world except regular phone calls from 'Big Brother' (the host Youthworker Joel Toombs). As well as trying to raise a lot of money for a very worthwhile cause they will have the challenge to maintain round-the-clock-prayer (in the prayer room) and complete various fun tasks and challenges set by Big Brother. Footage of their 'journey' will be streamed on www.steelroots.org.uk/big-brother every evening and video diary entries recorded of their thoughts and feelings as they go!

Viewers will be encouraged to donate online or sponsor the housemates directly in order to cover the school fees for an entire year for ten African young people. For £15, associate charity 'Grassroots Trust' will cover school fees, books, exam fees, a bike/travel expenses, food, accommodation (if necessary) medical costs and even extra tuition around exam time.

Housemate Alex: “The aim is to give some African young people the same opportunities and education as we take for granted here in the UK. Over in Tanzania if they don't have the money they can't go to school – it's that simple. Over here everything is paid for and we don't even have to think about it.”

Soon to be in the house, Will said; “As Christians we want to not only talk about the injustice in the world that tears at God's heart strings but do something about it. This initiative is about praying like mad and also fundraising like mad. It's going to be hard but it'll be amazing to spend so much time in God's presence praying for him to intervene in our lives here and across the world.”

Organiser Joel Toombs added, “this idea emerged from the desire to do three things... Firstly, the young people wanted the opportunity to further explore prayer in a Christian context. It follows on from the recent success of providing a prayer space that young people can come and reflect on life and process their thoughts and engage with God through creative and relevant means.

Secondly to harness the privileged position of many in our region for the good of those who could really do with the support; rather than for our own selfish desires as we so often default to.

Thirdly, to be a presence for good within the local community. Steelroots is a group of young people who, motivated by their Christian values, want to inspire and provoke the region by acting with passion for justice and compassion for people."

If you have any prayer requests for the Big Brother prayer room you can email them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and the housemates will endeavour to pray about them on your behalf.

Steelroots Youth Community is a collaboration of the work of the 'Dore Churches Youthworker Trust' and the 'Churches For Youth in S17 Trust'. The work broadly covers church based Christian worship and discipleship as well as working in and aiding the locals schools in various ways and general community based youthwork. Steelroots aims to be 'a more radical community of young people that encourages each other and all young people in S17 to walk together with God.'