Running Alpha Youth as a Lunchtime Club is a brilliant way to build connection and spark meaningful conversations with young people. Lunchtimes are short—so keep it bite-sized. Whether you run the series across a term or offer quick ‘taster’ sessions, it’s a great way to introduce students to the heart of Alpha Youth. You can use it as an opportunity to invite them to join the full series at a nearby youth group outside of school.

Keep In Mind

  • School lunchtimes are short—typically just 30 to 45 minutes—so don’t try to squeeze in too much content. Prioritise consistent connection and meaningful conversation instead. If you’re short on time, feel free to spread one session over two weeks.

  • The quality of school equipment can vary. While most classrooms have a TV or projector, the sound quality may not be ideal.

  • If Alpha Youth becomes popular, classroom space may fill up quickly, leading to overcrowding.

How To Run

  • Snacks – Bring a good snack but hand it out mid-session (e.g., during discussion) to keep pupils engaged. Be mindful of allergies—check in with the school or students beforehand to make sure everyone can safely enjoy it.

  • Games & Quizzes – Use icebreakers, quizzes, and prizes to make it fun. Connect games to the session theme or play them at the end to maintain engagement.

  • Essential Equipment – Have a laptop, adapters, speakers, snacks, and prizes ready.

  • Team Support – Aim for 1 leader per 10 pupils. Consider responsible older pupils as helpers.

  • Room Setup – Plan for group size. If space is tight, add chairs, use multiple rooms, or run Alpha in different terms for different year groups.

Setting The Tone

Each week, welcome the group, briefly explain what Alpha Youth is and set out some clear house rules:

  • Listen & Share – During the video, we all listen. In discussion time, you can talk about the question or anything else on your mind.

  • Bring Your Lunch – You bring your lunch; we’ll bring some snacks. We’ll also have a game, a quiz, and a video with real-life stories.

  • Stay or Go – If you need to leave early, we’ll give you a heads-up when there are 10 minutes left of lunchtime.