News release: Through the Roof Celebrates 1000th Roofbreaker

Through the Roof recently registered its 1000th Roofbreaker, and calls on others to join this growing initiative, as we celebrate the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December 2025.

What is the Roofbreaker movement?

Supported by three years of funding from Benefact Trust, Through the Roof provides resources, training and support to volunteer disability champions – or Roofbreakers (named after the Bible account in Luke 5) – to journey alongside disabled people in UK churches.

Despite the potentially destructive name, the purpose of Roofbreakers is to build up the Church – embracing everyone as made in God's image and enabling disabled people to be fully involved in building God's Kingdom.

Our 1000th Roofbreaker!

The 1000th Roofbreaker to sign-up was Clive at the FIEC Leaders Conference in Blackpool.

Clive and his wife, Hannah, have a wonderful daughter, Chloe, who is 20 years old, and is a wheelchair-user with a learning disability. Clive said that Chloe has taught him many things in life – the most important of which is that we are ALL made in the image of God.

Clive and Hannah would love to see others in the Church engaging with the subject of disability inclusion, for each to be a community where everyone knows the reality that everyone is made in the image of God and ALL are fearfully and wonderfully made.

('Made in God's Image' was the 2025 theme for Disability Awareness Sunday, which can be celebrated on any Sunday! To access free disability inclusion resource for churches, follow this link to our Disability Awareness Sunday page.)

Transforming the Church

Through the Roof’s Chief Executive, Tim Wood, declared, "It is great to reach this significant milestone, but we can't stop there! We want to see a Roofbreaker in every church. In the UK, the number of young people under 18 is about the same as the number of disabled people. If we think about how much time, resources and energy goes into children and youth ministry and compare that to disability ministry – there's a huge difference! That's why we're so committed to supporting people who want to be ambassadors in their local context".

Jo Luck, Senior Grants Officer for Benefact Trust, said: “Through the Roof’s Roofbreaker initiative is transforming churches into truly inclusive communities. Reaching 1,000 Roofbreakers is a milestone worth celebrating – it reflects a growing commitment to ensuring disabled people are fully involved in church life. Everybody should feel empowered and have equal opportunities to thrive, and that’s why we feel privileged to support Through the Roof with this vital work.”

Tim concludes, "Through the Roof wants to ensure that we're all reaching out to those who get overlooked, to make sure everyone finds their place in God's family. We want to enable disabled people to use their gifts to disciple others and bless the Church. We'd love more people to join us in making a difference."

Be part of the change

Join 1000+ Roofbreakers so your church can be blessed by the full involvement of disabled people: visit https://www.throughtheroof.org/roofbreakers/ (social media @TTRChangesLives).

More about Through the Roof and Benefact Trust

Through the Roof trains and equips churches and other organisations to be inclusive of people across the whole spectrum of disability. Watch the video ‘Why every church needs a Roofbreaker’ on YouTube (@TTRChangesLives) to find out more.

Benefact Trust is one of the UK's largest grant-making charities and awarded a record £25.5 million to churches, charities, and communities in 2024. Its funds come from its ownership of the Benefact Group – a specialist financial services organisation. Follow Benefact Trust on social media @benefacttrust, or visit their website for more information.