Our Values
At Phase Hitchin, our unwavering commitment to our values serves as the foundation for every aspect of our organisation. From our internal operations to our transformative work with young lives, we strive to wholeheartedly embody our values, driven by a common purpose: enhancing the wellbeing of children and young people.
Passion for young lives
We want to inspire, teach, develop and encourage young lives and the adults who support them, enabling them to thrive.
Committed to make a difference every day
We arrive everyday inspired to impact lives though our talents, passion and hard work coming together as a team to be our best.
Christian faith at our core
Our Christian faith and values underpins our work and organisation, offering hope and light.
Phase's Journey: From Humble Beginnings to Community Cornerstone
Phase embarked on its transformative journey in 2002, initiated by the spirited efforts of Churches Together in Hitchin (CTH). The small but passionate team set out with a clear mission: to support young lives and see them thrive through impactful educational and personal development activities. Their early focus on Hitchin Boys' School laid a robust foundation, earning Phase a solid reputation. This groundwork paved the way for exponential growth; by late 2006, bolstered by a substantial anonymous donation and under the guidance of a new Director, Phase expanded its reach. The organisation began influencing all three Hitchin secondary schools, significantly enhancing its educational offerings with mentoring sessions and sixth form enrichment programmes.
In 2008, Phase launched 'Slum Survivor,' a unique residential programme that engaged 36 local youths and successfully raised over £3000 for charity. Although this was a one-off event, it marked a significant moment in Phase’s history. Over the following years, Phase helped run a number of youth summer camps and holiday clubs for children, extending its educational and extracurricular initiatives into primary schools and organising town-wide events with the local churches. This period further cemented Phase’s role in shaping local youth. By 2015, Phase’s dedication to community growth was underscored by welcoming two committed volunteers to the staff. The years following saw strategic enhancements to the organisational model, welcoming new roles focused on wellbeing and mental healtht, ensuring Phase’s continued presence in every school across Hitchin, both primary and secondary. Today, Phase stands as a beacon of support and development, continually adapting to meet the evolving needs of the community it cherishes.
Phase's evolution from a modest initiative to a cornerstone of community support highlights the power of vision, commitment, and community engagement.
Each step of the journey has not only expanded the scope of the impact but also deepened the roots of Phase within the educational and wider community of Hitchin.
The Culture of Phase
A Living Story
At Phase, culture isn’t something we write once and forget. It’s how we live, decide, and serve — every day, shaped by our faith and our calling.
Our journey is guided by five commitments: empathy, a can-do attitude, Christian praxis, a listen-learn-do spirit, and integrity. Here's how they have come to life.
Empathy First
Ten years ago, in a small workshop, we faced a rising crisis: self-harm among young people in Hitchin. Rather than look away, we listened. We heard the fear and loneliness behind the statistics.
That bold listening led us to invest early in preventative services — a decision that stretched us but reflected who we are: people who run toward need with compassion, not away from it.
Can-Do Spirit
When Covid-19 turned the world upside down, we made the hard choice to furlough staff early. It was painful — but it allowed us to pivot fast.
Within weeks, Phase was running a new virtual mentoring service, providing vital connection and hope to young people at a time they needed it most. We didn’t wait for perfect conditions; we acted with faith and creativity.
Christian Praxis
Our work is rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus.
We seek to walk humbly, serve generously, and love unconditionally.
Our Christian faith isn’t a badge — it’s the wellspring that fuels our empathy, courage, and commitment to justice.
Listen, Learn, and Do
Listening is never passive at Phase; it leads to action.
When we launched the Grow programme, taking Year 12 students into primary schools, our focus was on supporting the younger children. But as we listened to feedback, we saw a deeper opportunity: to invest in the growth of the Year 12 leaders themselves.
We raised the bar, setting high expectations for leadership and personal development. The impact has been powerful — the feedback from students and schools alike shows that when we listen, learn, and act boldly, everyone grows.
Integrity and Trust
Trust is our currency.
Whether mentoring a student or reporting to trustees, we aim to act with honesty,transparency, and respect.
We know that trust is built over time — and we commit to earning it daily through our words, our actions, and our heart for young people.
This is Phase
A place where empathy fuels courage, where faith fuels action, and where listening fuels lasting change.
What do we do?
Find out more about the services that Phase offers to young people, parents and the schools in Hitchin. Driven by their 3 core aims or Promote, Prevent, Support.
Who makes it happen?
Meet the team of people that make up Phase and all the work that they do throughout Hitchin.
