Voluntary and Community Sector Grants

The fourth round of the vcs grants is now open - see here for details.

Mentoring Training

Our own Paul Wilcox is part of a team delivering a series of sessions on mentoring young people. If you’re looking to train up some of your teenagers as leaders or looking for some advice on working in one to one situations then this would be a fabulous session to attend Saturday 28 November 2009 at CPAS , Warwick, CV34 6NG. The usual cost is £25 but I am happy to subsidise places to £15 for leaders from churches within the Diocese of Worcester. Details here.

Edinburgh 2010: Youth Competition!

Next year the world church will be celebrating the Centenary of the World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh in 1910. Christians from all over the world will meet together in Edinburgh and explore different ways of "Witnessing to Christ today". In 1910 young people were not well represented at the Conference, even though it was mainly organised by student Christian organisations, so Edinburgh 2010 is setting out to be more diverse. There are already three ways that young people can participate, and for two of them there are prizes involved. Check out their site.

Child Protection training sessions 2009-2010

Here are the dates and approximate locations of this year’s child protection training events.
2009
STOURBRIDGE Christchurch, Lye, Wednesday 30th September 7.30-9.30pm
WORCESTER St George, Magdalen Room, Tuesday 3rd November September 7.30-9.30pm
2010
HALESOWEN Lapal, St Peter, B62 0BH, Wednesday 10th February 10am-12pm DAYTIME
WORCESTER St Martins, London Road Monday 17th May 10am-12pm DAYTIME
MALVERN St Andrews Church Hall, Wednesday 9th June 7.30-9.30pm
STOURBRIDGE St Peter’s Pedmore Wednesday 15th September 7.30-9.30pm
BROMSGROVE St John the Baptist Church Hall, Wednesday 20th October 7.30-9.30pm
BREDON Church Rooms, Wednesday 17th November7.30-9.30pm

Remember that all those working with children and young people in churches in the diocese should have attended this course recently. If you would like to book places or if you can’t manage these dates but have a group of you who would like to arrange an evening for training please contact Judy Baker or go to the website.

Peru Trip

I’m looking for up to 6 young people who will be aged 18-25 in August 2010 to come with me to Peru as part of our diocesan mission trip. The group will be helping build churches/ schools and there will be opportunities for running arts/music projects with local children. Those participating will need to be able to secure enough funding to pay for flights and some other expenses. If you are interested or know a young person who would be interested contact me as soon as possible to secure a place.

Prison's week

Resources are available for churches wanting to engage in Prisons Week. This year’s theme is Hold Fast to Hope. Check out this link for drama sketches, service help, stories of hope and a PowerPoint presentation.

Youth Evangelism Fund update

Over the summer I read through the many excellent applications for the Youth Evangelism Fund and can announce that we submitted bids for over £40k which far exceeded my hopes. There are some fantastic young people out there with ingenious ideas for sharing their faith with other young people and they will be getting some money to do just that. The national panel judging the bids will be meeting in October and we should hear the news then. In Worcester we’ll be having a grand funding award evening in the Abbot’s Kitchen at the Old Palace on Friday 20th November. We’ll be showcasing the work the young people are planning to do with the money and inspiring others too.

Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults

This statement from Robert Higham the Diocesan Secretary may help to clarify any questions people have regarding the Independent Safeguarding Authority

Some important information for parishes follows about the new Vetting & Barring Scheme to be administered by the Independent Safeguarding Authority.


These changes, following the lessons learned from the Soham murders, are intended to help protect our children and vulnerable adults.

You may have seen publicity in the form of packs of information sent out by the government concerning the new Vetting and Barring Scheme.

The VBS is a new scheme which is to be administered by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). It is being introduced in phases. The first phase begins on 12 October 2009, when additional "regulated activities" will be brought into force under the Vetting and Barring Scheme. This will significantly extend the scope of activities and workplaces covered by barring. It will be an offence for any barred person to work in regulated activities, and for any employer to employ someone he knows to be barred to work with children or vulnerable adults, either paid or voluntary. There will also be a new duty on bodies, including PCCs, to pass on information to the ISA about any individual who could be a risk to children or vulnerable adults.

There are currently discussions taking place between Archbishops Council staff and the ISA as to how to implement these changes and their effect on recruitment and safeguarding in the Church of England and the ISA has promised more specific guidance.

If you have a specific concern about someone's suitability to work with children or vulnerable adults please contact Maria Johnson, the Bishops Representative for Child Protection and Bishops Representative for Vulnerable Adults (maria.johnson@cofe-worcester.org.uk telephone 01886-853566)

As soon as we have more information we will let you know.

However, registration of individuals with the ISA for the new scheme will not start until October 2010 so there is no need for PCCs or Parish Representatives for Safeguarding to change the way they currently recruit volunteers or paid workers, including carrying out CRB checks.

(Both Child Protection training and Vulnerable Adults awareness training in 2009-2010 is available as advertised in the diocesan mailing of 21 August 2009)

Robert Higham

Diocesan Secretary

One World Week

Resources are now available for One World week this year. Check out their website for youth resources and interfaith resources for the 18th-25th October this year. Use with your youth group or with the wider church family.

Job Opportunities

vinvolved Youth Volunteer Advisor - East

£20,202 per annum

37 hours per week

Office base is in Droitwich. Work will cover Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wychavon.

Forming part of a team to assist in the development of a new vibrant youth volunteering project across the county.
- To inspire and engage young people to participate in volunteering opportunities
- To consult with young people to promote youth-led approaches to volunteering
- To champion youth-led volunteering through the creation of a county-wide Youth Action Team
- To reach out to young people who are under-represented in volunteering
Commitment to youth-led, inclusive and high quality work essential.
Experience of working with young people is essential.
Employment is subject to satisfactory enhanced CRB disclosure.

Closing Date: Friday 18th September 2009 12 noon.

Interview Date: Monday 28th September 2009.

Forms: To download an application pack.

Some Job Opportunities

Full-time Youth Worker

Christ Church Selly Park

£19 - £25K

Christ Church Selly Park, Birmingham is seeking a Full-time Youth Worker to exercise leadership in overseeing, co-ordinating and delivering our youth work we’re looking for a creative, energetic and inspiring leader, who is enthuisiastic about encouraging and discipling young people.
We want someone who is interested in working in a growing church that seeks to be at the heart of its local community.

For more information, www.christ-church-selly-park.org.uk

Closing date October 21

Youth Workers

Diocese of Gloucester

£24,481 – £29,230

Our Children and Young People’s Department is seeking to appoint two dynamic and inspiring youth workers to develop work with young people across the Diocese. Both these posts are offered on a fixed term basis due to their funding arrangements. They are new posts and will provide the successful candidate with diverse and rewarding roles.
Affiliated Schools Officer
(Initially a fixed term three year post)
£24,481 – £29,230
This newly created post provides an exciting chance to work alongside affiliated church secondary schools and associated communities/ parishes. This post offers a new opportunity for an appropriately qualified/experienced creative, self-starter to develop a youth work approach in a school context.
Youth Development Officer
(Fixed term, full-time three year post)
£24,481 – £29,230
This new post will provide young people with new opportunities for discipleship and participation across the diocese, by working specifically with them, and with church leaders, and volunteers.

To find out more about the Diocese of Gloucester visit our website
You can also download all the information about both posts including the person specification, job description, and the application form which can be sent in hard copy or replied to on-line.

The closing date for both applications is 8th October 2009.
For the Affiliated Schools Officer, interviews will be on 19th October.
For the Youth Development Officer, interviews will span a two day process on 22nd and 23rd October.

Youth Co-ordinator

Aldridge Parish Church

up to £18,000 pa

Praying - building - growing

Do you….

• love young people?
• want to make the Bible connect with them?
• long to see them mature as disciples of Christ?
• want to see them come to Christ?
• have the vision to care for them?
• want to be part of a lively and thriving Church?
• want to be supported and encouraged by a strong staff team?

If yes…
we want to hear from you as we need a new Youth Co-ordinator

• to lead and organise the youth work
• to head up our existing deeply committed volunteer youth leadership team
• to inspire and manage up to 200 young people
• to be a role model of Jesus Christ to our young people
• to help young people take their place in the Church

We need…

• a mature and lively Christian with a real passion for God with proven ability with young people
• a team player
• someone who wants to grow in their faith and as a person

Interested…

• Start date Autumn 2009
• Salary up to £18,000 pa
• 6 weeks holiday

See www.aldridgeparishchurch.org for job specification and check out www.aldridgeyouthfellowship.co.uk