'Young people are the future - I would argue they are actually our present'

The subsequent U-turn which meant that, even though the injustice of low grades was turned around, there are still many students who have not got onto the university courses that they wanted.

This has put great strain on young people and we all need to be mindful of their mental wellbeing moving forwards.

Often people say that young people are our future.

I would suggest young people are actually our present, contributing so much to our society and we need to help them to know they are valued.

In the Bible, young people are often seen as heroes.

One of those is a boy called David.

He was looking after the sheep while his nation of Israel was under attack by the Philistines.

Their champion warrior was a giant of a man called Goliath – if anyone could defeat him, they would save Israel, but everyone feared him.

But young David came from his father’s field and faced the giant and slayed him with one stone in his sling.

This young person became the hero, because he was brave and, despite all the odds, faced his giant and won.

The other young person was called Timothy.

He became a young leader in a church and was mentored by Paul, who established many of the early churches.

Timothy was under great pressure and getting some opposition because of his age.

But Paul believed in his youthful leadership and told him: “Don’t let anyone look down you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy4vs12.

Our young people are precious and have much to contribute to society now.

Let’s stand with them and help them to feel valued. We pray this traumatic year will not be repeated in the future.

The Reverend Jonathan Haigh is a minister at Victoria Hall Methodist Church, Sheffield city centre, and Greenhill Methodist Church

See greenhillmethodistchurch.com