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

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 .

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

TIME TO GET QUALIFIED

From January 2012 WCVYS is offering a Level 2 Certificate in Youth Work Practice.

The qualification is part taught, but mainly work based. WCVYS seeks to recruit 24 participants who will have to produce a portfolio of evidence of their work in their clubs and organisations.

The qualification is aimed at volunteers and paid staff working in the voluntary youth sector in Worcestershire.

The qualification will cost £101 to anyone from a WCVYS member organisations.

It will result in a Level 2 ABC Awarding Body qualification and the taught elements will be delivered at Droitwich Youth House.
The qualification includes six units:
Understanding Youth Work
Safeguarding Young People
Health and Safety
Provision of Information
Youth Work Principles, Knowledge and Skills
Designing and delivering peer education

Please see the attached information for full details.

Anyone that wishes to find out more should email Phil Street at phil@wcvys.co.uk

Youth and Mental Health issues

Worth watching this video then head over to young minds website to read the manifesto.

Tryangle Awards 2012

WCVYS in partnership with Worcestershire Youth Service are launching the

THE 2012 TRYANGLE AWARDS

CELEBRATE ACHIEVEMENT- NOMINATE A YOUNG PERSON FOR A TRYANGLE AWARD

Young people do some remarkable things and too often this goes without recognition. Tryangle Awards are for young people who have achieved, but their achievement has gone unnoticed. Those unsung heroes who get on with life and face the odds, never receiving acclaim or credit.

We’d like you to put forward a young person or group of young people who you believe deserve to have their accomplishment celebrated.

You’ve got until Friday 17th February 2012 to send in your nominations for a Tryangle Award. There are eight award categories, so come on and take a look at the Tryangle Awards brochure 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  email phil@wcvys.co.uk