History
GenR8 was established in 2001 as a single team of five volunteers to bring entertaining, high quality assemblies with a Christian ethos to local primary schools.
After a conversation between Steve Whyatt and John Hardwick, both involved in children’s ministry, the idea of forming a team to go into schools with assemblies was born.
There are now several assembly teams working in Cambridgeshire and North Hertfordshire, with an affiliate team based in King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Over several years, the work of GenR8 has grown to include Prayer Spaces, workshops, transition sessions and so much more!
GenR8 became a registered charity in March 2010 and is a local mission partner of Scripture Union.
Over 75 volunteers are involved with GenR8; all are committed Christians from different denominations in the local community and most have experience of working with children in schools or church settings.
Steve Whyatt. Co-Founder
Steve set up GenR8 with John Hardwick in 2001 having previously worked for Scripture Union in the Cambridgeshire area as a field staff member specialising in schools, and also as a Baptist Church Youth Worker in Histon. He was employed as director of GenR8 in 2010 and continued in this position until March 2023 when he took a step back to focus on a new role as a project leader. Steve left GenR8 employment in May 2024 due to ill health but he hopes that he can continue to be involved with GenR8 in a voluntary capacity in the future as he remains passionate about children and young people having the opportunity to hear about, learn from and experience the Christian faith.
John Hardwick. Co-Founder
John is supported by Counties and brings his unique talent to a variety of different settings around the country as well as locally. John is an internationally known children's song writer and author; many of his scripts and songs feature in GenR8 assembly presentations. John is part of a Baptist church in the Cambridge area. Visit John's website.