Trainee Youth Minister

Working for Culm Valley Centre for Rural Training and Excellence (CREATE) in Uffculme

Project Type: Multiple Church Organisation

Project Area: Central

Job Title: Trainee Youth Minister

Type of Post: Trainee

Number of Hours: 32 + cluster + study

Allowance/Salary:
£25 per week subsistence plus accommodation, and expenses

Accommodation:
To be confirmed

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

Job Description:
To work with Revd Selina Garner and a team of volunteers to establish 'A Rural Centre for Training and Excellence' for Developing Young Leaders in Youth and Children's Ministry in the Culm Valley Mission Community.

Church based youth ministry
To support Sunday morning activities and all age worship in the local churches in Kentisbeare, Uffculme and Willand.
To support evening groups across the Deanery and be involved in exploring new forms of worship and Christian discipleship.

Young leaders training
To establish a regular training programme for young people from the rural villages that will support and offer new opportunities for them to engage with the mission and ministry of the church. Trainees will also act as role models and provide mentoring for young people in our schools and churches.

Web based networking
Developing a networked Christian community of young people and leaders through the Squarefish website and branding.

Special events and residentials
Organising a special events programme including retreats, residentials, activity days and training courses for the Deanery.
Opportunities to be involved in piloting a contemplative style to youth ministry are available.

Schools ministry
To be involved in the current schools ministry to develop pioneering opportunities for teaching the Christian faith to those young people with no other links to their local Christian communities. Opportunities for detached work, lunch time clubs, supporting the CU, assemblies and lesson support are all available.
To encourage young people to help run after school clubs for children in Square Corner and the local primary schools.
To find creative ways to get to know the year 6 pupils before they make the transition to secondary school.

Small groups
Running weekly interest-based sessions with a small group of young people you have chosen to work with.

Spiritual formation and leadership training
To invest in your own spiritual formation and prioritize the place of prayer, reflection and study in your time management.
To develop the skills knowledge and attitudes that will develop Godly leadership.

Main Responsibilities
We hope that the centre will offer a good training base for you to explore and develop your leadership skills and spiritual formation as well as gaining experience in working with young people both in the formal and informal education environments.

In the first term you will have the opportunity to explore youth ministry within the broad range of approaches covered by the job description and you will be offered training and support in the various ministries. In the following terms you will be invited to take a growing responsibility for different areas and explore pioneering new ways to develop rural youth ministry.

As part of a pioneering team we will work together to divide the general responsibilities and work depending on your previous experience. We plan to create a tailor-made package that offers you the chance to be stretched, explore new ministries and build on existing talents and interests. You will work as part of a team linked to the training centre to organise various events. You will be supervised and supported in the different areas of ministry and meet Selina Garner your line manager weekly for general supervision and support.

As a member of 'The Centre for Rural Training and Excellence' (CREATE) you will be encouraged to contribute to Deanery and Diocesan networks to share and explore best practice during the course of your training.

Essential Criteria:
A Christian faith and a desire to serve
A willingness to be part of pioneering and setting up a new project
One of the young people will need to hold a driving licence.

Preferred Criteria:
Some experience in youth ministry

Draft Weekly Timetable

Project History & Affiliations:
The Culm Valley Mission Community is an Anglican partnership that is developing 'A Centre for Rural Training and Excellence' to raise young leaders. In January 2010 the three PCC's met and unanimously agreed to support Revd Selina Garner (The Deanery Pioneer Youth Minister with pastoral responsibility for St Mary's Uffculme) in the training and developing of young leaders. They committed themselves as a Mission Community to becoming a supportive context in which young leaders can be trained and their ministry developed. This project also supports the youth network Squarefish that has been set up to develop youth ministry in the area. Through Squarefish there are various opportunities to provide activities and events that support Christian youth ministry ecumenically across the region. The local secondary school in Uffculme has welcomed the involvement of Selina and the current trainees. The local churches are also actively involved in the three primary schools. There are lots of exciting opportunities to explore a range of approaches to rural youth ministry and a supportive team of people from various Christian denominations who are keen to work with the trainees.

Structure & Vision of the Project:
The vision was to establish 'A Rural Centre for Training and Excellence' for developing young leaders in youth and children's ministry. This involves supporting two trainee students and other volunteers in developing their gifts and skills in working with children and young people. Revd Selina Garner who is an experienced youth work practitioner and trainer as well as an ordained minister overseas the project. St Mary's Church, Uffculme owns a building with a cafe that is being developed and this offers a base for 'The Centre for Rural Training and Excellence.' On the second floor there is now an office and shared small group area for the SWYM trainees. The vision is to pilot and develop new initiatives for working with children and young people. We are currently developing a contemplative approach to youth ministry and developing links to exploring the Christian faith with Christian outdoor education centers in the area. We are also pioneering ways to explore the Christian faith through film making and photography. Over the last year we have introduced Godly Play to the area. As the project develops we are becoming a resource for other Christian youth ministries in the Deanery and Diocese.

About the location of the Project:
The Culm Valley Team Ministry is in Mid-Devon near Cullompton and Tiverton. It includes the villages of Uffculme, Willand, Kentisbeare, Ashill, Bradfield and Blackborough. These are rural communities with an active Christian presence, supported by a team of people as they engage in mission and ministry in their parishes. The trainees currently live in Uffculme.
The Culm Valley Mission Community is part of a supportive Deanery in which Selina has an active role. Across the Deanery there are many opportunities through Squarefish to explore and support youth ministry. Cluster meetings take place in Exeter. Cullompton is the nearest town but Tiverton, Exeter and Taunton are accessible from Uffculme using public transport.

About the youth work of the Project:
There are opportunities to support local churches in offering a programme for young people on a Sunday morning. In addition we have developed an active role in the local secondary school and help with assemblies, lunch time clubs and after school clubs as well as occasional lessons and special events. There is a weekly Christian Union supported by the SWYM trainees. Working alongside some young people the current trainees have established a weekly afterschool café. They also take the young people on various Christian weekends and holiday weeks. In addition we run a programme of special events and activities throughout the year and seek to allow the trainees to develop their own talents and gifts and share these with young people wherever possible. This has involved an Uffculme Slum Challenge, night walks, youth alpha and a developing music ministry under the leadership of our most recent SWYM trainee. We are keen to support and develop a young leaders mentoring programme to encourage them to develop and use their skills in church life and mission. The Squarefish network and movement provides a supportive community and lots of opportunities to develop a broad range of skills in working with young people across a large number of different organisations. There are plenty of opportunities to work in the local primary schools as time allows.

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