Designed By Associate Package
The SWYM Associate package offers regular local gatherings of like minded people in youth ministry, to learn, support and pray for each other, plus attendance at our bi-monthly conferences.
We recognise that youth work can be potentially isolating especially when your training is completed, and can be even more so in the many rural areas of the South West. The SWYM Associate Package is designed and aimed at Christian Youth Workers employed in the South West with the aim of providing continued professional development for them in their roles as well as time for spiritual and personal refreshment. SWYM Associates will on the whole be full timers based in the South-West who have already been trained or have experience and are looking simply for informal input and support.
The Associate Package includes a number of elements with the intention of providing support and encouragement for those that access it. These include:
Conference
Each Associate will be able to attend six 2 day conferences at Hill House in Bridgwater. The Associates will have a day of professional development on the first day and then a day of led retreat on the second day. On top of this there is invaluable time to spend networking and sharing ideas with the wider community of SWYM as well as having the opportunity to join in times of sung worship.
Community and Support
On top of the excellent input offered at the conferences it is hugely beneficial for youth workers to feel part of a community of people who can support them both personally and in their work. The support that SWYM offers can be a part of the strategy for churches as they look to encourage their youth worker by simply giving them access to 90 others who are doing the same thing and by being a part of a servant community who pray and look out for each other. Having the chance to come to conference for 2 days will give this kind of access and help create community for the youth worker.
Cluster Input and Ideas sharing
Being a SWYM Associate also gives you access to Cluster as a weekly support. SWYM runs a number of different clusters around the region for youth workers to gather within a local area. Cluster runs weekly but this can be attended by an Associate as often as they and the project/church feel is appropriate, although regular attendance is recommended for ongoing support and relationship. Cluster consists of a meal together, sharing, worship and training. Each week there will be a training session which will be adapted to fit the group and associates can be a part of forming this teaching to be most helpful for them. In the past associates have said that ‘cluster is like a little oasis’. The SWYM Area Co-ordinator will also be available to your youth worker to ask questions and offer resources and be a sounding board for ideas. This can be invaluable resource for them as a listening ear for your worker.
To become an associate please contact your local area co-ordinator for more information.