Urban Saints

What Urban Saints does

Urban Saints (legal entity: The Crusaders' Union) is a UK-registered Christian charity founded in 1906 and rebranded from Crusaders to Urban Saints around 2006, headquartered at Westbrook Centre on the Isle of Wight with a secondary presence in Luton. The organisation equips youth leaders, children's workers, and church volunteers across the UK and Ireland with accredited training, short courses, downloadable resources, peer community, and a residential venue to support their work discipling children and young people. Its core products are organised under Westbrook Academy (accredited programmes and short courses), a Resources marketplace, a multi-channel Community platform (Youth Leaders' Connect, Digi:Avenue, Zoom Drop Ins, meet-ups), the Westbrook Centre residential venue, and sub-brands including Energize and the Walk With Them Podcast.

The underlying technology stack is built on off-the-shelf SaaS rather than proprietary platforms: Moodle for learning management, Zoom for live cohort delivery, Beacon CRM and Cognito Forms for customer and application management, Worldpay for payments, Mailchimp for email, Xero for accounts, Breathe HR for HR, MyConcern for safeguarding, and Google Workspace / MS365 for internal collaboration. The organisation holds a notable first-mover credential as the first faith-based college to achieve endorsement through the Skills and Education Group Quality Licence Scheme, and operates in partnership with Perth Bible College (Australia) for academic credit and Churches in Communities International for ministerial accreditation.

Urban Saints generates income across five streams: voluntary donations (the primary funding source), one-off course fees for accredited programmes (£2,000) and short courses (£20-£290), resource sales (e.g., the £9.99 Good Practice Guide), Westbrook Centre venue hire, and bursary-supported subsidised training. Distribution is primarily self-serve through the website, supplemented by live Zoom cohorts, the Moodle LMS, the physical Westbrook Centre, and community-driven referral via Facebook, Discord, and in-person meet-ups. Marquee programmes include the Additional Needs Practitioner Course (21,000+ leaders trained over 12 years), the Amplify Young Evangelists Academy (a multi-partner consortium programme reaching 8,550 people with the gospel in its latest cohort), and the long-running Easter Cracked school-outreach programme (50+ schools and 3,000+ pupils engaged in 2026).

Name

Urban Saints

Legal name

The Crusaders' Union

Website

https://urbansaints.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Urban Saints is a UK charity (founded 1906 as Crusaders) that equips Christian youth leaders across the UK and Ireland with accredited training, downloadable resources, peer community, and a residential venue (Westbrook Centre) to disciple children and young people.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Youth Ministry Training

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI), Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE), Missionary Training Colleges & Schools (EDAHAKAF)

Keywords

• Youth ministry training
• Christian education programmes
• Discipleship resources
• Accredited ministry courses
• Youth leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

Ryde

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Course and Training Fees: Revenue from paid training courses including accredited programmes (Westbrook Academy certificates at approximately £2,000), short courses (£20–£290), webinars, and self-paced learning. Income supports the ongoing operation of Westbrook Academy and training delivery.
2. Resource Sales: Sale of downloadable and physical resources including the Good Practice Guide for Youth Ministry (£9.99), Risk Register Template, Volunteer Application Form Template, Bible Apps Worth Downloading, Scrolling for Truth, and When Exams Take Over resource.
3. Westbrook Centre Venue Hire: Revenue from residential stays, activities, and venue hire at Westbrook Centre on the Isle of Wight. The centre provides accommodation and flexible spaces for groups of different sizes, supporting learning, faith, and team building.
4. Donations and Charitable Giving: Primary funding stream through voluntary donations, monthly giving, Gift Aid donations, and legacies. Donors support the ongoing work of Urban Saints as they equip youth leaders across the UK and Ireland. Due diligence screening is conducted on significant donations in line with charity law.
5. Bursaries and Financial Support: Limited bursaries are available for Westbrook Academy students, typically awarded up to 50% of course fees, funded through donor support to increase accessibility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Urban Saints equips youth leaders across the UK and Ireland with Christian training (Westbrook Academy accredited and short courses), practical resources (safeguarding, additional needs, digital, wellbeing tools), a peer community (Facebook, Discord, Zoom, in-person meet-ups), and the Westbrook Centre residential venue on the Isle of Wight, all designed to help youth leaders disciple young people. It also delivers the Additional Needs Practitioner programme (the first of its kind in the UK for church and youth settings) and partners with Scripture Union and other organisations on the Amplify Young Evangelists Academy.

Product overview

Urban Saints is a Christian youth ministry organization operating primarily as a platform of interconnected services rather than a single software product. The core offerings include: Westbrook Academy (training division providing accredited courses, webinars, and short courses for youth ministry); a Resources marketplace (practical tools, templates, and guides across categories including Schools, Youth Group Support, Leadership Development, Additional Needs, Safeguarding, Wellbeing, and Digital); Community platforms (Youth Leaders' Connect on Facebook, Digi:Avenue Discord community, Zoom Drop Ins, and Meet-ups); Westbrook Centre (residential venue on the Isle of Wight for retreats and group stays); Energize (discipleship materials platform); and the Walk With Them Podcast. The organization also delivers specific training programmes including the Additional Needs Practitioner Short Course and Youth Ministry in a Digital Age, which are notable for their structured curriculum delivery. Urban Saints operates as the operating name of The Crusaders' Union, with history dating back over 100 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Westbrook Academy: Training division providing webinars, short courses, and accredited qualifications for youth leaders including chaplaincy courses and youth ministry training.
• Westbrook Centre
• Westbrook Academy

Products and services

• Westbrook Academy Urban Saints' training division offering webinars, short courses, and accredited programmes (Contemporary Youth Ministry, Community Chaplaincy, Youth and Families Chaplaincy) for youth ministry leaders. The first faith-based college to achieve endorsement through the Skills and Education Group Quality Licence Scheme (QLS), with academic credit pathways via Perth Bible College and ministerial accreditation via Churches in Communities International.
• Contemporary Youth Ministry An accredited 30-week programme equipping youth leaders to thrive in discipling young people through practical modules covering the changing youth landscape, contextual mission, and apologetics. Delivered 2 hours per week via Zoom with 1–2 hours homework per week and a 2–3 hour weekly ministry placement. Priced at £2,000 with bursaries up to 50% available.
• Community Chaplaincy An accredited course preparing individuals for chaplaincy across diverse settings including schools, sports, urban communities, prisons, and homelessness projects. 30 sessions delivered online starting 17 September 2026, leading to QLS Level 4 Advanced Certificate with pathway to ministerial accreditation through Churches in Communities International.
• Youth and Families Chaplaincy An accredited course equipping youth leaders to disciple young people and support their families with confidence, covering character and calling, chaplaincy contexts, and multi-faith environments. 30 sessions starting 16 September 2026, leading to QLS Level 4 Advanced Certificate and pathway to ministerial accreditation with Churches in Communities International.
• Additional Needs Practitioner An eight-session online course equipping youth and children's leaders to understand, include, and support those with additional needs or disabilities. Led by Mark Arnold, the first additional needs course of its kind in the UK designed specifically for church and youth settings, covering autism, ADHD, sensory needs, behaviour, the Invited to Belong framework, and the Equality Act 2010. Priced at £290, available via live online cohort or self-paced route.
• Discipleship 101 A 10-session interactive formation series with biblical reflection, journaling, group discussions, and case studies, designed to help participants cultivate a personal and communal culture of disciple-making. Suitable for churches, Christian organisations, and leadership cohorts. Priced at £275.
• Youth Ministry in a Digital Age A four-session course helping youth leaders navigate the opportunities and challenges of ministry in a digital world, covering social media for ministry, digital safeguarding, AI engagement, and sustainable digital leadership habits. Priced at £140 for four sessions (6:00pm–8:00pm).
• Self-Care A six-session course equipping students to put practical self-care strategies in place to mitigate against the potential negative physical, emotional, and spiritual impact of front-line roles. Addresses burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue with case studies, reflective practice, accountability, and personal self-care framework development. Priced at £195.
• Schools Worker A six-session course equipping church workers, volunteers, and teachers to partner with schools from a Kingdom perspective. Covers school culture, collective worship, holistic care, and community links. Priced at £195 for six sessions of 2 hours each.
• Mentoring & Coaching Young People A six-session course developing effective, supportive mentoring skills for those working with children and young people. Covers active listening, mentoring contracts, coaching tools, and healthy endings. Self-paced and live options available.
• Impact Training Series: Starting Your Ministry A five-session course providing early essentials for starting or strengthening youth ministry. Covers vision, understanding young people, safeguarding, discipleship, and programme planning. Priced at £125 for five sessions.
• Supporting Young People with Additional Needs A single-session course bringing clarity and confidence in supporting young people with additional needs, fostering genuine inclusion and lasting belonging. Includes on-demand videos plus practical tools. Priced at £20.
• Supporting Families of Young People with Additional Needs A focused one-session course equipping participants with deeper understanding of the lived experiences of families navigating additional needs. Includes pre-delivered training workbook, on-demand videos, and a live Zoom session with discussion groups and Q&A. Priced at £20 for the session on 29 September 2026.
• Amplify Young Evangelists Academy A six-month evangelism mentoring programme for young people aged 11–17 with gifting and desire to share their faith, recruited by youth pastors or church leaders. Run in partnership with The Message, Scripture Union, Festive, London City Mission, Luminosity, Nxt Move Europe, and The Way. Includes two in-person residentials per cohort, monthly online peer group mentoring, and evangelism masterclasses.
• Scrolling for Truth A digital literacy resource helping young people navigate an online world of constant content, misinformation and deepfakes. Includes a leader's article and ready-to-use youth session plan in PDF format, covering the SIFT checking method for questioning online content.
• The Good Practice Guide for Youth Ministry A comprehensive 51-page PDF practical guide including safeguarding and compliance for safe, confident youth ministry. Covers risk management, data protection, team responsibilities, inclusion, digital communication, and food safety. Priced at £9.99.
• Risk Register Template A template helping identify, track, and manage key risks in youth groups, churches, or organisations, including safeguarding, GDPR, and volunteer risks.
• Volunteer Application Form Template A template helping recruit volunteers safely and responsibly, with region-specific versions for DBS, PVG, or AccessNI.
• Bible Apps Worth Downloading A guide helping make sense of Bible and faith apps available to young people today, supporting Scripture reading, prayer, and everyday discipleship.
• When Exams Take Over: Practical ways to support young people An article providing practical ways youth leaders and parents can walk alongside teenagers during exams.
• Walk With Them Podcast A podcast featuring real conversations, insight, and ideas for anyone discipling young people, exploring faith, culture, and what it means to walk with young people online and offline. Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
• Energize Online discipleship materials for children and young people providing resources for anxiety, stress, and other relevant session topics and activities, available at energize.uk.net.
• Westbrook Centre A welcoming residential venue on the Isle of Wight (Oakhill Road, Ryde, PO33 1PU) hosting retreats, conferences, group stays, and activity days. Provides accommodation and flexible spaces for groups of different sizes, supporting learning, faith, and team building.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 21,000 leaders trained in additional needs ministry through the All Inclusive? series
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Christian Connections in SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Wayne Dixon, associated with Christian Connections in Schools, has been serving schools across Slough, Windsor, and Maidenhead for over 40 years. He runs the Easter Cracked programme and is connected to the Urban Saints ecosystem through schools-focused content and collaboration.
• Perth Bible College (Australia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestbrook Academy partners with Perth Bible College, which formally recognises their chaplaincy courses. Graduates receive academic credit toward either a Diploma or Graduate Diploma in Ministry (Chaplaincy). The level of qualification depends on the student's existing qualifications when commencing the course.
• Churches in Communities InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraduates of the Contemporary Youth Ministry, Community Chaplaincy, and Youth and Families Chaplaincy courses can apply for accreditation with Churches in Communities International. After a 12-month probationary period, candidates may also be eligible to apply for ordination. Dr Keith Foster, Academy Principal, described this as an exciting partnership for nationally recognised ministerial accreditation.
• Skills and Education Group (QLS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestbrook Academy is the first faith-based college to achieve endorsement through the Skills and Education Group's Quality Licence Scheme, recognising the quality and credibility of its training. The QLS endorsement applies to accredited courses including Contemporary Youth Ministry, Community Chaplaincy, and Youth and Families Chaplaincy.
• Amplify Consortium (The Message, Scripture Union, Festive, London City Mission, Luminosity, Nxt Move Europe, The Way)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmplify Young Evangelists Academy is a six-month evangelism mentoring programme run in partnership between Urban Saints, The Message, Scripture Union, Festive, London City Mission, Luminosity, Nxt Move Europe, and The Way. The programme includes two in-person residentials, monthly online peer group mentoring, and evangelism masterclasses. In the latest cohort, 150 young people joined and reached 8,550 people with the gospel.
• Scripture UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Amplify consortium. Easter Cracked resource is available through Scripture Union. Scripture Union is a long-standing Christian youth and schools ministry organisation in the UK.
• Fundraising RegulatorminorOthersIndependent regulator of fundraising in the UK. Urban Saints displays the Fundraising Regulator badge on its website, indicating compliance with fundraising standards.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Scripture Union: Long-standing UK and Ireland Christian youth and schools ministry organisation. Direct peer in mission, schools outreach (Easter Cracked is also distributed via Scripture Union), youth discipleship resources, and youth leader training; Urban Saints is also an Amplify consortium partner with Scripture Union.
• Youth for Christ: UK Christian youth work organisation focused on evangelism, schools work, and volunteer youth leader development. Direct peer in mission, schools engagement, and training of volunteer youth leaders across the UK.
• Youthscape: UK Christian youth ministry research and training organisation providing resources, training, and events for youth workers. Direct peer in producing paid and free resources for UK youth leaders and in operating training events.
• The Message: UK Christian youth-focused charity working with schools and churches. Direct peer as both Amplify consortium partner and as a provider of Christian youth ministry resources and schools engagement programmes.
• London City Mission: UK Christian charity focused on evangelism and mission in London, including youth-focused work. Direct peer as an Amplify consortium partner and as a provider of evangelism training and youth outreach programmes.

Broad incumbents

• Church Army: UK-wide evangelistic organisation training and commissioning evangelists and youth workers. Broader incumbent with overlapping youth ministry and accredited training programmes but a wider missional portfolio beyond youth.
• CPAS (Church Pastoral Aid Society): UK evangelical organisation supporting churches and ministers including youth and children's work streams. Broad incumbent providing training, patronage, and resources for church leaders including youth ministry.
• Spring Harvest: UK Christian events and training organisation hosting residentials and conferences for church leaders and youth workers. Broad incumbent in the same training-and-residential space, particularly the Westbrook Centre venue-style offering.

Regional players

• Crusaders (Australia/New Zealand): Original sibling organisation of the same historic Crusaders movement founded 1906, now operating separately in Australasia. Regional peer with shared heritage, similar youth ministry focus, but serving Australia and New Zealand rather than UK and Ireland.

Emerging players

• Festive: UK Christian charity focused on schools ministry and youth evangelism. Emerging peer and Amplify consortium partner with overlapping mission in schools engagement and youth evangelism training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/urbansaints
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCchiL8ganzWWCS-i0SoLzWg
• Facebookfacebook.com/urbansaints
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urban-saints
• Instagraminstagram.com/urbansaints
• TikToktiktok.com/@urbansaints

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Urban Saints