INVESTING IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE There is strong support at Wade Street to engage a Youth Worker on a 3 year Placement from the Centre for Youth Ministry/St John's College Nottingham. Interviews for this post are currently being undertaken (May) for a worker to commence September 2005. This will be a very important decision for us in terms of committing scarce financial resources and more importantly ensuring we maintain and develop our ministry to young people. The purpose of this article is to provide everyone with some information and ask for prayer and support in guiding the Church towards the right decision. The Centre for Youth Ministry is held in high regard and aims to promote training and resources to support Christian Youth Work. They have developed a three year degree course integrating theology and youth work to provide a recognised qualification for Youth and Community Workers. To complete the course students must have a placement as a part time youth worker (14 hours per week). Such placements are typically offered through large churches like Wade Street or a group of smaller ones. Churches provide practical and pastoral support and have the opportunity to advertise for, and select the person to meet the specific needs within their church. The practicalities involve providing financial assistance to the individual. The Centre for Youth Ministry advise that a budget is set to cover some bursary support for the individual, the fees to The Centre for Youth Ministry and travelling expenses. Students are expected to meet their own course fees and will be able to apply for financial support from their Local Education Authority as for any other degree course. There is an option to provide accommodation through the Church and accommodation has already been provisionally offered close to the Church. The possibility of running this as a joint project with another church and sharing costs is being considered but the proposal put to the meeting on the 8th February (and subsequently agreed) will be for Wade Street to progress irrespective of the potential for another church to become involved. Why should we do this? In short the engagement of such a person will give us access to the resources and energy to co-ordinate the volunteers we have now; we can have a vibrant youth ministry. If we do this prayerfully and wisely, Wade Street will be a place where even more young people can draw together and feel comfortable to express their faith in Jesus and ask all those difficult questions. The Centre for Youth Ministry The CENTRE FOR YOUTH MINISTRY is a consortium of major Christian youth work training organisations, namely Bristol Baptist College, Frontier Youth Trust, Oxford Youth Works, Ridley Hall Theological College, Cambridge, St John's College Nottingham and Youth for Christ. The aim of the consortium is to create and provide training, resources and research in Christian Youth Work. The BA Honours Degree in Youth & Community Work and Applied Theology has been developed by the consortium to provide a vocational training course for people who wish to work as Christians with young people and communities. It is unique in being the only degree course in the country to integrate theology and youth work at every stage and in every module, and provides a recognised professional qualification for Youth & Community Workers. A major part of the learning on the course will take place in the placements. It will be here that the student relates theory to practice and theology to reality. The placements are key elements in the learning process and have been designed to enable the students to develop the skills, knowledge and ability to be a professional youth and community worker within Christian settings. This is achieved through the student acting as a "part-time" youth worker in a placement for the three years of the course. The placement benefits by having a youth worker for three years, developing the youth and community work and enabling long-term work to be established with young people. The student benefits from on-going experience in a youth work post, enabling them to develop their skills and expertise, and to relate their studies to work with young people. The BA Honours Degree in Youth Studies and Applied Theology is an alternative, non-professional route for students who do not wish to, or are unable to complete the professional qualification but wish to undertake a degree course. A Placement is a required part of the learning. Students on this course would not have a Fieldwork Tutor and their Line Manager would report less often and in more general terms. Other than those matters, the course is virtually the same as the professional route. Students will need to have a major placement for the three years of the course. It is envisaged that the majority of students will live in or near the placement and be involved in youth work set within the community of the local church and/or the local area. During the first two years the student is undertaking a professional training course and the type of work must be where young people choose to associate freely, as this is a core value of Youth & Community Work. Term Dates for 2005/2006 (subject to confirmation) Dates for the academic year 2005/2006 are as follows:
A full list of dates for the year will be sent to Placements when they have been approved. The Dates are normally available from the beginning of the Summer Term beforehand. Placements commencing in September 2005 will need to keep Wednesdays and Thursdays free each week for students to attend the Regional Centres, Fieldwork Tutorials and Small Groups. The following details have been extracted and adapted from our submission to St John's to provide potential candidates with some background information. THE PROJECT - WADE STREET CHURCH Project Title: 'Investing in our young people' Summary of the Project To Develop and build on existing youth work for 13-18 year olds in Lichfield. Who is responsible for the Project? A voluntary youth worker (Iain Kirkpatrick) is currently making the arrangements but ultimately it will be managed by the youth ministry team. Where is the Project based? Lichfield, Staffordshire. What is the purpose or mission statement of the Project? To create a place where even more young people can draw together and feel comfortable to express their faith in Jesus and get some realistic answers to difficult questions. What does it aim to accomplish? A larger more vibrant youth group built on the successful voluntary work which has already taken root. Who will the project engage with? Other churches in the area for shared events (circa 50-60 young people). Who else will staff the project? 6 volunteer workers. What is the management structure of the project? The Minister (Rev Ian Hayter) will be line manager and there will be an elder responsible for youth ministry. How will the student be managed? The Minister will be line manager but day to day responsibilities will be agreed by the team looking after youth work who will ensure adequate support and mentoring. How is the project to be monitored and evaluated? The numbers of young people attending regularly and the degree to which they meet with other young Christians in Lichfield; most of all spiritual growth will determine success. What resources are available for the project? Money has been set aside to fund the youth worker within a budget discussed with St John's. Wade Street Church has been redeveloped and the facilities for the youth work are set to be excellent. A budget is set aside each year to fund activities and provide resources. JOB DESCRIPTION Title of the post: Trainee for Christian Youth Ministry Placement name: Wade Street Church Line-Manager: Rev Ian Hayter Office base: Lichfield Geographical work area: Lichfield and surrounding villages Hours during term: 14 hours per week plus additional hours by agreement Hours during vacations: By agreement Length of Placement: Three Academic Years OVERALL AIMS OF THIS POST
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Aspects of the work which the worker will be directly involved in and responsible for)
PERSON SPECIFICATION
FINANCIAL AND OTHER ARRANGEMENTS Thus far the church has an earmarked budget. This includes some bursary/accommodation support, fees to St John's and travel expenses. We would expect the student to meet their own course fees, claiming from the LEA as appropriate. There is some flexibility regarding accommodation in that accommodation may be provided via the church; a provisional offer of available accommodation has been made. A budget is already set for resources and expenses associated with youth work activities.
Last updated: May 13th, 2005. This Page address: http://www.ldb.co.uk/urc/urchome.shtml |
