Children's Worker

Working for Queensway Chapel in Melksham

Project Type: Single Church

Project Area: North

Job Title: Children's Worker

Type of Post: Trainee

Number of Hours: 37

Allowance/Salary:
In accordance with SWYM recommended allowances.

Accommodation:
In accordance with SWYM guidelines.

Training Options Available:
Foundation Year: Yes
Trainee Youth Worker Course: No
Advanced Youthwork Course: No
Associate: No

Job Description:
Children.

Sunday School: school years 1-5 (ages 5-10).
Meets on Sunday morning at the same time as the main service in the Chapel. The children start in the main service but leaver after approximately 10-15 minutes and go over to their own activities in Queensway Hall. Syllabus needs to be decided upon and teaching sessions delivered. Challenges are: wide age range; disruptive attention-seeking disinterested children; delivering an interesting contemporary programme and style; keeping the Christian message foremost.

Ys Up: school years 1-5 (ages 5-10).
Thursday evening 6:60-7:15pm. High energy games, Bible story, song, drink and biscuit, option to do craft. Presently led by Sue Henderson with team of helpers.


Youth.

FUSED : school years 7- 13, ages 11-18.
Meets on Sunday morning at the same time as the main service in the Chapel. The children start in the main service but leave after approximately 30 minutes and go over to their own activities in Queensway Hall. Syllabus needs to be decided upon and teaching sessions delivered. Challenges are: wide age range; eager and interested children; deep Bible knowledge within the youth; being prepared for deep and difficult questions; delivering an interesting contemporary programme and style; keeping the Christian message foremost. Even though this looks like a wide age range we are currently getting about 8-10 young people attend this session and the age range is currently from 11-16.

Thursday Evening, meets for meal, and fellowship then separate groups for teaching and Bible study. A sort of youth House Group. Numbers for Thursdays is 15-20.

Occasional ‘social’ activities.

Monthly visit to The Mix (usually, but could be other events) on a Sunday evening.

Events such as New Wine, Soul Survivor, Spring Harvest.

Word Up, school years 6-9, ages 10-14.
Monday evening, 7:00-8:30pm. Traditional Youth Club with no formal Christian ‘message/talk’. Opportunity to get alongside kids and build bridges, create positive image of Church. Presently led by Brian Vince with team of helpers.

EXPECTATIONS/INVOLVEMENT of SWYM YOUTHWORKER.

Definite involvements:
 Sunday: FUSED
 Monday: Word Up
 Thursday: FUSED

 Other:
o FUSED, socials & ‘informals’
o The Mix
o events.

 Coordinate YP involvement in Hope 08.

Possible involvements:
Depends on gifting/calling…
 Secondary school assembly
 Secondary school homework club
 Start a new ‘café style’ activity/club for school years 10-13
 Help at Open House (Adults Lunch Club on Tuesday)

Team building.
Build a team to help run these activities.

Communication/reporting.
Communicating is important. By communication we share vision and solicit prayer support and practical help. It should be done formally and informally.

Weekly Report:
 Achievements (i.e., what you and YP have done)
 Encouragements
 Disappointments & challenges
 Dreams/visions (not that we want to hold you to these but so that we can pray about them and share them with you, appreciating that dreams and aspirations change)
 Items for Prayer.

Fellowship:
Comfortable with doctrinal position, ethos and values of the fellowship.

Expected to be in fellowship with the adult members of the church. However, it is recognised that it will not be possible for the job holder to attend adult events which are at conflicting times to young people’s activities. In practical terms this will be achieved by attending a House Group, Services (most probably an evening one), Prayer Meetings and other events where practical.

Leadership Team.
Occasionally attend Leadership Team Meetings (usually first & third Tuesday evening in the month).

Essential Criteria:
-Able to receive direction but capable of showing initiative.
-Practical creative ability for craft.
-Able to be part of a team.
-Take the lead where appropriate.

Preferred Criteria:

Draft Weekly Timetable

Project History & Affiliations:
Started in 1924 meeting in rented accommodation until 1967 when acqured own premises. Extended in 1981, 1994 and 2004. Open Brethren roots. Strong focus on community outreach including youth work

Denominational affiliations: Melksham Family of Churches (local CCT Ecumenical Partnership; Evangelical Aliance partnership and New Wine Network.

Structure & Vision of the Project:
Church governed by a leadership team. Delegated authority given to each activity/ministry which are run by teams. Youth and Childrens work are a delegated ministry and part of the church as such. Our vision is summed up in our mission statement as - helping people become fully commmitted followers of Jesus.

About the location of the Project:
Queensway Chapel is situated in a residential area of Melksham, a medium sized town on the river Avon in the North of West Wiltshire, 12 miles South-East of Bath, 7 miles South of Chippenham, 8 miles West of Devises. UK Census of 2001 cites population at 20,000.

About the youth work of the Project:
Youth work covers ages 11-18 and is church based. The youngsters have recently adopted a new name of their choosing "FUSED" Funky Unique Spiritual Enthusiastic Disciples! The focus is primarily on discipleship though recently the number has grown as friends have been invited. Attendance is 8-10 on a Sunday morning and 15-20 on a Thursday evening.

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