Wednesday 18 January 2012
Welcoming Young People
I had a great session with some churches last night looking at welcoming children, young people and families to churches and Kat Witham of the Church of England Youth Council has some more useful insights here.
Friday 13 January 2012
Rock the Cathedral Gloucester on FRIDAY 16th March 2012
As I told you last term, people from other Gloucester diocese loved our idea of Rock the Cathedral so much that they’ve decided to do one too.
After a change of date (due to BBC filming) the event will now be on FRIDAY 16th March
Members of Worcester CandY Youth and Young Adults Councils will be helping out on the night.
Some of our schools will be running coaches down to Gloucester and there’ll be pizza on sale at the cathedral as well as bands, circus skills, an acoustic café, a gallery area of all kinds of activities, a homeless street display and much more!
Watch out for fliers about: Rock the Cathedral Gloucester on FRIDAY 16th March 2012.
After a change of date (due to BBC filming) the event will now be on FRIDAY 16th March
Members of Worcester CandY Youth and Young Adults Councils will be helping out on the night.
Some of our schools will be running coaches down to Gloucester and there’ll be pizza on sale at the cathedral as well as bands, circus skills, an acoustic café, a gallery area of all kinds of activities, a homeless street display and much more!
Watch out for fliers about: Rock the Cathedral Gloucester on FRIDAY 16th March 2012.
Youthwork Summit
The Youthwork Summit is moving to a new annual slot in MAY for 2012 so look out for more publicity about that in our next mailing and on the blog.
I’ve had the joy of being part of the summit both at Manchester this year and in London last year. I will be going again to The Youthwork Summit 2012 in London on SATURDAY 17th May.
It’s an essential day for youth workers at every level from every part of the UK so I am happy to be able to offer FIVE FREE TICKETS to the first FIVE people from the Worcester Diocese churches getting in touch about this event (limit of one free ticket per parish/church).
I’ve had the joy of being part of the summit both at Manchester this year and in London last year. I will be going again to The Youthwork Summit 2012 in London on SATURDAY 17th May.
It’s an essential day for youth workers at every level from every part of the UK so I am happy to be able to offer FIVE FREE TICKETS to the first FIVE people from the Worcester Diocese churches getting in touch about this event (limit of one free ticket per parish/church).
CandY at Synod
The children, young people and young adults of CandY invite all those aged 6-17 Saturday 10th March from 9.30am-3.30pm at OldSwinford Hospital School DY8 1QX.
The adult synod will be talking about Inclusion and the Anglican Methodist covenant.
We at CandY will be doing that too but also having fun, games and crafts together with the Chair of the National Church of England Youth Council, Kat Witham.
The adult synod will be talking about Inclusion and the Anglican Methodist covenant.
We at CandY will be doing that too but also having fun, games and crafts together with the Chair of the National Church of England Youth Council, Kat Witham.
Tryangle awards
WCVYS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WORCESTERSHIRE YOUTH SERVICE ARE LAUNCHING THE 2012 TRYANGLE AWARDS
You’ve got until Friday 17th February 2012 to send in your nominations for a Tryangle Award. There are eight award categories. See the Tryangle Awards leaflet and make your nominations.
The Awards Evening is being held at Worcester Warriors Rugby Club on Thursday 29th March 2012. Just take a moment to look around you or pause for that moment’s thought and identify that young person whose efforts, skills or perseverance merits that Award. Nominate now. For further details contact Phil Street on 07540 031 953 or email phil (at)wcvys.co.uk.
News from the Pews
I thought it would be good to have some updates from some of the work in parishes around the diocese to give you ideas and encouragement. This term we’ve got news from Bromsgrove.
Lis Bereen from Bromsgrove tells us about how their youth group looked like it might fold and what they did in response:
“Following a meeting with the minister we took some time out to regroup and get more staff and we now have a team that is twelve strong. We have divided into teams for Creative and Media, Sport, Craft and Cookery nights and that seems to be working well although there is always a bit of crossover. Last summer the "chill-out" room had a complete makeover with input from members (your suggestion partly) and is now tastefully decorated with comfortable furniture, a carpet and a large flat-screen TV with x-box. This room is a useful multi-purpose room for other groups.
There was a lot of talk (and anxiety) about how to attract new members but I was confident that if we put on an attractive programme this would build organically. And build it did. We went from 5 to 20 in a short space of time. We currently have more girls than boys which is an easier dynamic in the group. We have kept going over the summer with regular Sunday games in the park which has been well attended by staff and members. * The training you gave us has been very helpful and I have seen leaders' confidence and competence grow steadily. The leader who heads up the team with me has been on maternity leave but now her son is 3 months old she is returning to youth group. We are delighted as she has been much missed. She has still been involved with the admin side all along.
Our two peer leaders will both be at University from October but will still join us in the holidays. We have two new 16 year olds who we hope will take on this role (one male one female) and a 20 year old female student who has already proved her worth during the summer holidays and who is joining the sports team. She is doing this as a placement as part of her college course in Access to Social Work.”
Lis Bereen from Bromsgrove tells us about how their youth group looked like it might fold and what they did in response:
“Following a meeting with the minister we took some time out to regroup and get more staff and we now have a team that is twelve strong. We have divided into teams for Creative and Media, Sport, Craft and Cookery nights and that seems to be working well although there is always a bit of crossover. Last summer the "chill-out" room had a complete makeover with input from members (your suggestion partly) and is now tastefully decorated with comfortable furniture, a carpet and a large flat-screen TV with x-box. This room is a useful multi-purpose room for other groups.
There was a lot of talk (and anxiety) about how to attract new members but I was confident that if we put on an attractive programme this would build organically. And build it did. We went from 5 to 20 in a short space of time. We currently have more girls than boys which is an easier dynamic in the group. We have kept going over the summer with regular Sunday games in the park which has been well attended by staff and members. * The training you gave us has been very helpful and I have seen leaders' confidence and competence grow steadily. The leader who heads up the team with me has been on maternity leave but now her son is 3 months old she is returning to youth group. We are delighted as she has been much missed. She has still been involved with the admin side all along.
Our two peer leaders will both be at University from October but will still join us in the holidays. We have two new 16 year olds who we hope will take on this role (one male one female) and a 20 year old female student who has already proved her worth during the summer holidays and who is joining the sports team. She is doing this as a placement as part of her college course in Access to Social Work.”
Positive for Youth
The Government has just launched its Positive for Youth campaign. The national Church of England Youth Council will be bringing something out to link in with this soon.
The Key
A reminder about our course for those about to start, or new to, youth work or children’s work in churches.
Emma and I will be running The Key for 6 weeks on Wednesday evenings from 25th April - 30th May, or alternatively on two full day Saturdays 12th and 26th May.
The Key is an interactive learning experience full of games, quizzes, reflections, ideas, practical advice, helpful tips, and the hope is that The Key will act as a pathway to training and development.
Please complete the booking form on our website if you want a space on this popular course.
Emma and I will be running The Key for 6 weeks on Wednesday evenings from 25th April - 30th May, or alternatively on two full day Saturdays 12th and 26th May.
The Key is an interactive learning experience full of games, quizzes, reflections, ideas, practical advice, helpful tips, and the hope is that The Key will act as a pathway to training and development.
Please complete the booking form on our website if you want a space on this popular course.
Child Protection Training Sessions 2012
Here are the dates and approximate locations of this year’s child protection training events.
WORCESTER The Old Palace, Wednesday 15th February 10.30am - 12.30pm DAYTIME STOURBRIDGE Lye & Stambermill, Christ Church hall, Monday 12th March 7.00 –9.00pm EVESHAM Church House, Tuesday 1st May 7.00-9.00pm
REDDITCH St Peter’s Church Centre, Ipsley, Tuesday 31st May 7.00-9.00pm
WORCESTER The Old Palace, Abbots Kitchen, Monday 4th October 7.00-9.00pm
STOURPORT St Michaels & All Angels, Tuesday 20th November 10.30am - 12.30pm DAYTIME
If you would like to book places please contact Judy Baker 01905 732811 jbaker(at)cofe-worcester.org.uk
WORCESTER The Old Palace, Wednesday 15th February 10.30am - 12.30pm DAYTIME STOURBRIDGE Lye & Stambermill, Christ Church hall, Monday 12th March 7.00 –9.00pm EVESHAM Church House, Tuesday 1st May 7.00-9.00pm
REDDITCH St Peter’s Church Centre, Ipsley, Tuesday 31st May 7.00-9.00pm
WORCESTER The Old Palace, Abbots Kitchen, Monday 4th October 7.00-9.00pm
STOURPORT St Michaels & All Angels, Tuesday 20th November 10.30am - 12.30pm DAYTIME
If you would like to book places please contact Judy Baker 01905 732811 jbaker(at)cofe-worcester.org.uk
Resources
For groups in the Worcester area, you might consider asking Worcester Action for Youth to help you with a session. They can offer all kinds of experts in crafts, creative arts workshops and sports. Check out their booklet for this term which is enclosed.
To make a booking you can contact the office on 01905 350550 Tuesdays 10am - 2pm Thursdays 10am - 2pm. Worcester Action for Youth, The Old Scout Hut, Medway Road, Worcester, WR5 1LN Email info(at)wayworcester.org or visit their Website .
The National Church is offering some really good resources at the moment, One of these is the Going 4 Growth website which is regularly updated with useful things and includes things linked into the Olympics if you want to do some forward planning. They recommend Scripture Union’s Decathlon which will be in our resources library soon. They have also launched another great new resource called Worship Workshop which is now online. See the flier for this fabulous new resource for helping groups of children, young people and adults plan worship for schools and churches.
To make a booking you can contact the office on 01905 350550 Tuesdays 10am - 2pm Thursdays 10am - 2pm. Worcester Action for Youth, The Old Scout Hut, Medway Road, Worcester, WR5 1LN Email info(at)wayworcester.org or visit their Website .
The National Church is offering some really good resources at the moment, One of these is the Going 4 Growth website which is regularly updated with useful things and includes things linked into the Olympics if you want to do some forward planning. They recommend Scripture Union’s Decathlon which will be in our resources library soon. They have also launched another great new resource called Worship Workshop which is now online. See the flier for this fabulous new resource for helping groups of children, young people and adults plan worship for schools and churches.
Chaplaincy
On Thursday 26th January chaplains from secondary schools, FE colleges and local universities will again be gathering together as a network for support and resources.
Eighteen chaplains were able to attend the day in July and appreciated the chance to get new ideas and hear about the work of other chaplains.
If you are a chaplain to young people in a school, college or elsewhere let me know and we can welcome you to the group.
Eighteen chaplains were able to attend the day in July and appreciated the chance to get new ideas and hear about the work of other chaplains.
If you are a chaplain to young people in a school, college or elsewhere let me know and we can welcome you to the group.
SpiritED Fund
In the summer mailing I reminded you of our second round of the SpiritED fund. The successful bidders for round two were The Outer Limits group from Longdon who bid for £50 to buy Youth Bible Study Guides written by Chip and Helen Kendall and the Inspyre group from St Peter’s Ipsley who bid for £50 for resources to help them set up a new creative prayer space for young people.
TEENAGE PREGNANCY – A CHALLENGE FOR OUR CHURCHES
A workshop for clergy and youth workers to raise awareness of the issues and look at
ways we may address them in our parishes
Saturday 25th February 2012 from 9.30am to 3.30pm St Michael’s Church, Stourport.
It is still the official common teaching of mainstream Christian Churches that sexual intercourse belongs within a monogamous heterosexual marriage. For one of every three teenagers, the church is therefore a place where they do not feel welcome as the perceived message is one of condemnation should they face difficulties in their sexual relationships. The church has a historical role in supporting those who face a problem pregnancy and yet, in handing over our ‘Moral Welfare’ services to the State in the 20th century, we appear to be failing teenage parents in our 21st century ministry.
Although the teenage pregnancy rate declined by 12% between 1998 and 2009, it is still unacceptably high compared to the rest of Europe. This workshop therefore looks at the problems we face through the perspective of our Christian values and examines practical strategies for our ministry to young people. We welcome clergy, youth workers and lay people working with young people or with a concern for their welfare. We will have the opportunity to share good practice, engage with others working in this field and strategies and materials available to support this work.
The workshop will be facilitated by The Revd Canon Jane Fraser, a Minister in Secular Employment in this Diocese working as a trainer and consultant in the field of sexuality education. She is a qualified social worker, the author of many sex education materials and has acted as Faith Advisor to the independent Advisory Group of the Teenage Pregnancy Unit.
To book a place please email; training@cofe-worcester.org.uk; or ring 01905 732812 with your name and contact details
Saturday 25th February 2012 from 9.30am to 3.30pm St Michael’s Church, Stourport.
It is still the official common teaching of mainstream Christian Churches that sexual intercourse belongs within a monogamous heterosexual marriage. For one of every three teenagers, the church is therefore a place where they do not feel welcome as the perceived message is one of condemnation should they face difficulties in their sexual relationships. The church has a historical role in supporting those who face a problem pregnancy and yet, in handing over our ‘Moral Welfare’ services to the State in the 20th century, we appear to be failing teenage parents in our 21st century ministry.
Although the teenage pregnancy rate declined by 12% between 1998 and 2009, it is still unacceptably high compared to the rest of Europe. This workshop therefore looks at the problems we face through the perspective of our Christian values and examines practical strategies for our ministry to young people. We welcome clergy, youth workers and lay people working with young people or with a concern for their welfare. We will have the opportunity to share good practice, engage with others working in this field and strategies and materials available to support this work.
The workshop will be facilitated by The Revd Canon Jane Fraser, a Minister in Secular Employment in this Diocese working as a trainer and consultant in the field of sexuality education. She is a qualified social worker, the author of many sex education materials and has acted as Faith Advisor to the independent Advisory Group of the Teenage Pregnancy Unit.
To book a place please email; training@cofe-worcester.org.uk; or ring 01905 732812 with your name and contact details
Wednesday 11 January 2012
Get set Go!
For those of you thinking about doing something to fit in with the Olympics, why not check out:
SportMakers or More than Gold. Scripture Union also have a good book called Decathlon.
Remember the Olympic torch is coming to our area on 24th and 25th May and 30th June and 1st July .
SportMakers or More than Gold. Scripture Union also have a good book called Decathlon.
Remember the Olympic torch is coming to our area on 24th and 25th May and 30th June and 1st July .
Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) Dudley
There is still £18,000 available to be allocated through the Youth Opportunities Fund in January and February 2012 for projects and activities designed by and with young people aged 13 - 19 (or up to 25 for those with disabilities) who live in the Dudley Borough. The panel have decided to hold further road shows for applications of up to £750 in January and February to allocate the remaining funding which would need to spent and the scrap books returned by 31st March 2011.
Booking
In order to book a place to see the panel please contact the main youth service office on 01384 815173.
The next 2 dates which young people can meet with the panel are:
Monday 30th January - Venue to be confirmed - for projects that benefit young people in Stourbridge and Halesowen areas.
Saturday 11th February - Coseley Youth Centre for projects that benefit young people in Dudley North and Dudley Central areas.
For more details see their site
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