Volunteer Young Adult Community
The Simon Stock Community at The Friars, Aylesford is a new initiative supporting and accompanying young people and young adults.
We are currently in the process of building and renovating the community base at The Friars, Aylesford, Kent.
The application process to join the community is not yet open. We hope this new development will be completed and ready to welcome you in 2027.
We will continue to share updates on these pages as the project progresses.
Volunteer Young Adult Community
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Advocates and Supporters
Become part of a growing network of advocates and supporters who share the vision and believe deeply in the value of this ministry.
Through prayer, encouragement, friendship and practical support, you can help create the conditions in which young adults and young people
can flourish. Your support enables young adults to grow in faith, confidence and leadership, strengthens ministry with young people, and
contributes to a visible and hopeful Christian witness rooted in prayer, hospitality and service.
Retreats and Programmes
We are always delighted to welcome schools, church communities and university groups, especially young people and children, with their teachers , chaplains and leaders. Set within 40 acres of beautiful grounds, The Friars offers a place of encounter through community, prayer, creation, history and art, rooted in the Carmelite tradition. Our emerging day programmes and retreats will create space for reflection, discovery and growth through guided input, creativitiy and shared experience. Supported by the Carmelite friars and delivered by the Simon Stock Young Adult Community, these programmes nurture wellbeing, confidence and spiritual growth in a caring Christian environment.
Volunteer Young Adult Community
The residential community is an immersive opportunity at The Friars for young adults aged 18 to 30. Volunteers are invited to live, pray and serve together, supporting retreats, programmes and events for children and young people. Rooted in the Carmelite tradition, this experience weaves together daily prayer, shared life, formation and service. Volunteers live in a young adult community , receive training and pastoral support, making a generous contribution to the life and mission of The Friars and beyond. The year offers space to grow in faith, deepen confidence and leadership, build lasting friendships, and gain rich experience of ministry and service.
Associate Community
The Associate Community offers a place of welcome and belonging for young adults aged 18 to 35. It is a non-residential pathway inspired by Carmelite spirituality, connecting those who share a desire to grow in faith, community and service within everyday life. Associates gather regularly for prayer, formation and social time, with opportunities to serve, support ministry and connect with the residential community and the wider Carmelite family. This pathway encourages discernment, deepens prayer and nurtures authentic Christian living, while fostering friendship, shared purpose and a strong sense of belonging.