Trainee schools youth worker

Working for Connect Chulmleigh in Chulmleigh

Project Type: Multiple Church Organisation

Project Area: Central

Job Title: Trainee schools youth worker

Type of Post: Trainee x 1

Number of Hours: 40 inc training

Allowance/Salary:
Connect will fund:
- SWYM training fee contribution
- travel costs for Connect work
- contribution to mobile phone costs
- accommodation and food costs.

Trainees are expected to come with personal support; suggested amount £30 a week.

Accommodation:
Hosted with a family/couple living in or near Chulmleigh

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

Job Description:
Connect is in its fourteenth year. It is an ecumenical project supported by all the major churches in Mid Devon. The Connect team of up to 5 trainees works in the three community colleges in Crediton, Chulmleigh and Okehampton. Connect is a charity (registered UK charity number 1126303) and is managed through an executive committee and local management groups in each of the three areas. See www.connect-devon.com for more details.

We are looking for trainees who will join with us in Connect to help us to:
- demonstrate Christ's love for young people
- offer support on behalf of the local churches to the local community colleges in developing young people mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually and socially
- encourage young people to work out, own and stand for their Christian faith among their peers, in their school and community.

Main responsibilities
These are agreed with your line manager, SWYM area coordinator and Connect local management group. Connect trainees are encouraged to work both to their strengths and also to develop their confidence in aspects of youth work that are new to them.

Responsibilities will include:
- providing lesson support and input into lessons, usually within religious education, citizenship, ethics and PSME
- contributing to school assemblies
- organising lunchtime/afterschool Christian clubs
- encouraging young people to attend activities and camps organised by eg, SWYM, Soul Exeter, Devon Christian Youth Camps
- making contact with year 6 pupils in local primary schools in the summer term before moving to secondary school
- assisting with local church and community youth clubs to build links between church and school
- making presentations to local churches about the work of Connect
- producing a monthly email prayer letter
- assisting with occasional fundraising events for Connect
- working with the team and management to develop the work of Connect.

There is a weekly Connect team meeting for discussion and planning.

The SWYM area coordinator supports the Connect team through a weekly cluster meeting and regular liaison with your line manager.

You will meet regularly with your line manager to discuss and plan your work and to evaluate its impact. You will also be provided with a personal mentor who will be there for you to help you in your personal development.

Essential Criteria:
Personal Christian faith and desire to grow as part of the church community
Enthusiasm for work with youth and knowledge of youth culture
Able to manage your own time and work, with support from your line manager
Good communication skills
Team player
Able to show initiative
Able to reflect on the impact of your work and to contribute to and share in Connect's ongoing development
Confident to operate in a large comprehensive school community and to relate in a professional manner to staff and students

Preferred Criteria:
Prior experience of schools youth work
Creative
Planning to stay more than 1 year
Able to drive

Draft Weekly Timetable

Project History & Affiliations:
Started in 1996
Mid Devon schools work in 3 community colleges, Crediton, Okehampton, Chulmleigh
Usually team of 6 trainees, 2 in each school
Ecumenical, most major churches involved

Structure & Vision of the Project:
Structure: executive committee, with local management group in each of 3 areas formed of
reps from churches in each area.
Vision: mission statement
- To demonstrate Christ's love for young people.
- To offer support on behalf of mid Devon's churches to each community college in developing young people mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually and socially.
- To encourage young people to work out, own and stand for their Christian faith among their peers, in their school and community.

About the location of the Project:
Chulmleigh, Rural mid devon area.

About the youth work of the Project:
Based around Chulmleigh Community College and outlining villages.

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