THE LIFE OF A SWYM TRAINEE

You can get involved as a youth worker by becoming a SWYM trainee or associate. SWYM runs a number of training course in theology, mission, and youth work. SWYM will work with you to find the most appropriate course and a youth work role in the South West. This hands-on youth work may be urban or rural, working with a single church or a joint church project, whether concentrating on schools work or church based work.

" Being in SWYM has helped me to develop as a person, a Christian and a youthworker. SWYM challenges you in your own faith while both encouraging and teaching you to be more Christ like as well as becoming the best youth worker you can be. Through SWYM I have met some wonderful people of who many have become good friends. Being in SWYM is fun, enjoyable and challenging. It is the place to be!" Rob, England

As a SWYM trainee you are based in a local project/church where you will work with them in reaching young people. This will usually be within a team. The work itself varies from place to place, some focusing more on schoolswork, some on youth cafes, and others on discipling young people. Within your work you will have a SWYM Area Co-ordinator who is there to support you. You will meet with them at least once a week at a cluster group and at other times on a one-to-one basis. There are the conferences every other month.

" Being in SWYM is amazing. I can be trained practically and spiritually and get on with it at my partner church! It's so good to be able to show Jesus to young people on the street, in school, ay church, in youth groups or wherever my placement takes me! The support I have received both from the wonserful SWYM team and the other youth workers has been fantastic. I am so excited to be doing this and seeing the difference knowing God can make to young people lives." Hannah, England

Schools work can be anything from running lunch time games or Christian Union type clubs, to lesson and assembly input, to hanging out with kids and taking part on school trips and residentials, to lesson support of individuals with specific needs and involvement in your specialist areas, be they drama, sport, science, music or languages. Community and church based work means youth clubs, bible studies, events, socials, weekends away, in fact anything you can think of. There will always be space given for you to try out things that interest you and to develop things that you have a passion for whether they are football outreach to jam making!!

" Over the past 7 months we have been stretched and challenged in our personal walk with God and in the way we live our lives. We have been taught many lessons on being Christ like and putting others first. Our outlook has completely changed and we are in a far better place spiritually than when we began SWYM. We both enjoy a challenge, and doing youthwork definitely provides that at times it is hard but the entire SWYM team offer the support you need. The training provided by SWYM at conference and our weekly clusters have been so good and rich in teaching that we have been so blessed and this has been the highlight of our time in SWYM. As a married couple it has been been fanatastic to be able to work together for God and would really recommend SWYM to other married couples! For anyone thinking of trying SYWM - DO IT! It's one of the best things we have done in our lifetime!" Ray and Becky Thomas, Hemyock, Devon

The training courses are designed to be a practical as possible; training takes around 8 hours a week, leaving 32 hours to be involved in hands on youth work. If you have already had training, but are looking for support, resources, and some informal training then you can become an associate. Associates can choose the level of input that they would like at Conference, but are still part of a cluster for support from other youth workers.

" I'm from Germany and joined SWYM in September '06. Since then I have had many positive experiences; the struggles with speaking another language were gone quickly. I've never done youth work before, and getting used to it was challenging but helped me to develop both in living my life as a Christian and sharing the Gospel with young people. Through the SWYM conferences my Bible knowledge and understanding grew a lot, I discovered hidden skills and gifts and whenever I needed help I have had supportive people around me. Because I enjoy working with SWYM I finally decided to do the BTh course for the next 3 years. " Matthias, Germany