The heart of Be Loved is to see young women thrive within themselves, their relationships and with God. We are passionate about inspiring healthy self-respect and encourage the ability to make valuable life choices.

Through the ‘Be Loved’ course we are equipping the group members to deal with life’s challenges head-on, using practical exercises and biblical truth. We love to see young women enjoying the life they have been given, and being excited for their future.

The programme has been specifically devised for 14-17 year olds, and runs as six weekly sessions, lasting two hours, in groups of 8-10 with two facilitators.

It fits perfectly into an educational half term and can be run by a youth leader, as part of an existing home-group, or youth group weekly meeting.

A creative Be Loved journal has been designed to assist the sessions, allowing the members to document their journey, and reflect back, once the course has finished. The journal contains inspirational testimonies, applicable bible verses, relevant questions, and effective activities related to each session.

The Be Loved sessions:

Week one: BE LOVED

Understanding that there are different ways to show love.
Learning about God’s love.
Discovering ideas for showing love to others.

Week two: BE YOU

Understanding that we are created in God’s image.
Grasping that we are all unique.
Realising that we are beautiful inside and out.
Discovering how to be all that we were created to be.

Week three: BE BOLD

Knowing who we are, what are values are, and learning to stand up for them.
Understanding that it's ok to disagree and have an opinion and to say no when things go against our values.
Stepping out of our comfort zone.
Finding our inner confidence.

Week four: BE FREE

Recognising the things that may be holding us back from being all that we were created to be.
Creating space to work through those issues.
Believing that we can be set free in Jesus name.

Week five: BE CREATIVE

Being resourceful and imaginative with the gifts and talents we have been given.
Learning how to get the best out of life.
Unlocking or re-discovering any hidden gifts.

Week six: BE FOCUSED

Learning to take our focus off the things and troubles of this world.
Developing a heavenly perspective.
Remembering to keep eternity in our hearts.

Each session has space for group discussion, self-reflection, group/pair work, creative practical exercises, prayer and spiritual pursuit. By looking at the topics as a group, it will help the members to develop listening skills, respect for each other and a sense of community.

The young women are encouraged to carry on journaling after the course, and to continue the level of openness that they have established within their group.

We have seen significant changes in young women’s self-esteem through participating in the Be Loved course. By asking them to fill in the Rosenburg self-esteem scale, we were able to identify their level of self-esteem, before and after the six sessions. Each member has seen a positive increase in their self-esteem after the six sessions, giving each of them a healthier level of self-confidence.

What Be Loved course graduates said:

"I feel better about myself and my worth."

"I enjoyed being able to talk openly and discuss a variety of things with a small group I was comfortable with."

"I feel like I can now stand up for myself."

"I liked that everyone was comfortable and could say things freely without being judged."

"I am now able to replace negative thoughts about myself with positive words from God."

Be Loved Director - Gemma Tuson

Founder of ‘Jam Magazine’ in 2001, Gemma Tuson co-created a teenage magazine, that was both credible and relevant for young people in the UK. Gemma developed the popular magazine for three years, and it continues to be published today, with many youth groups and churches benefitting from it. After pioneering ‘Jam Magazine’, Gemma went on to facilitate fashion, art and craft workshops in schools, youth clubs and council-funded youth initiatives. During this time, she gained vast experience working alongside young people from many different backgrounds. She is passionate about using creativity as a tool, to help people increase their sense of value and purpose, and believes the key to getting alongside young people is love.

Through mentoring, Gemma has seen first hand how young people respond to love; “realising that they are loveable can help break down barriers, soften hearts, positively affect relationships, help people to make good life choices, resist peer pressure and increase self-esteem.” Gemma also believes that God is the first source of love. She believes that if we look to Him for His love, then He will fill us with love for others. 1 John 4v19 says; “First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.” (MSG) Through the combination of eight years experience working with young people, and a strong sense of God’s calling on her life, Gemma has spent four years developing the Be Loved course, and creative journal, to help young women thrive within themselves, their relationships, and with God.