So who is involved?

There has been a small group of interested Parishioners involved in the development and appointment of the Youth Minister with the associated work plans with young people and if you are interested in supporting work and getting involved then please contact the Parish via the office. You can leave any questions here though!

Youth Ministry Committee refresh and new members needed

As from Summer 2011 Ann Barton who has been the anchor, chain and often the boat itself, in relation to the development of the Youth Ministry Team’s work over the recent years, will be stepping down from her role as chair to do “other things”!

Ann has performed many roles within the group and the work analysis recently undertaken has enabled the committee to identify a number of new roles which we will be hoping to recruit to during June and July.

These are volunteer roles and  so don’t expect to get paid in cash!  The rewards are elsewhere including:

1. Building your portfolio of volunteer and parish involvement
2. Reward of knowing that you’re making a difference to children and young people’s lives
3. The fun of meeting together to plan for the future
4. Meeting a diverse range of other organisations in the parish and local area who work with young people
5. Building your community and experiencing the sense of community in your local parish

The  roles unfilled are for:

• Chair for the group – Post 1 draft 1- Chair – currently Ann
• Secretary for the group Post 2 draft 1- Sec- Currently Ann
• Safeguarding and safety  - Outline to be completed – programmes, premises and people – currently Grant

Other roles which are filled are :

• Business planning and projects Post 3 draft 1 – Proj Funds Mgr- currently filled – Liz
• Youth Minister- Line Manager -Outline to be completed – Currently filled  Grant

We do expect other opportunities to arise and will keep parishioners and young people appraised in due course.

The core staff team who work directly and voluntarily with young people currently number approximately 15 people who staff sessions and holiday activities throughout the last year. not to mention those who have given their time to some of the more specific projects.

We have tried to set out in small but perfectly formed( not!)  job outlines, what we think these roles involve and how much time they take a week.  The latter is important as it is often a reasons people have given for not being able to volunteer when the arrangement is open ended.  The Parish Youth Ministry team is implementing an approach which seeks to clarify the roles responsibilities on both sides and identifies what is expected in the time committed, with regular opportunities for review and change if necessary.

This is so we can encourage applications from people who have the right skills and experience.

The last thing we want to do is to put anyone in a position where they felt unable to do what is being asked.  However the group is also very supportive and recognizes that people need a good introduction to the job and also to have a period of developing into the job.

So we will be promoting the availability of these posts in the near future, arranging an open evening for hearing more about the work and for those interested to ask questions.

If you are interested in applying for these voluntary positions then please ask for application forms which will be ready later on in May at the Parish Office.

Annual reflections and reports

So what have we been up to since the start?

Cyber Cafe bar project – raising funds to improve facilities

Cyber- Safety is an issue that all parents, young people and the Youth Ministry team take seriously.  The new Cafe Bar project will make this a key feature in terms of learning about safe use on the internet and social network media.

We are planning to transform the cafe bar area of the Youth Room so that it is a much more modern and up to date facility which will be attractive to young people and which will also be an asset to the wider community.

Plans are afoot and young people have been visiting various other establishments to learn about how these facilities operate.

What do you think about this – any ideas for design and facilities which will make the place attractive?

Annual planning for adults working with Children and Young people

This year for the first time adults from all of the different groups in the parishes, who work with children and young people, got together for the day and visited Douai Abbey in Berkshire.  The Home of Douai Monks, where is all began.  Well not quite true as that was in France in Douai!

Anyway the results of the discussions, the purposes of the visit and the next steps are still being discussed but the presentation attached provides some background which will be shared with those not able to attend later in June at a St Elizabeth’s Barbecue for vol!

postDouai Abbey Visit 2011

Wednesday after s-cool Group

This is not child care!  This is a group of young people Year 7 and above who are able to get together to do stuff after school for a couple of hours working with the volunteers.  Help with homework, games and activities and planning for things to do.  Older young people are encouraged to get involved in leading activities with younger people and develop joint projects.

Later in the summer term for a few weeks at the end of the year, the group will open to Year 6′s in St Anne’s for a couple of induction sessions and then look forward to seeing them from September after the summer.

Sunday evening Youth Group

This is aimed at 14-19 year olds and offers a place to come and meet friends and plan projects and things to do and places to go as a group or set of friends working with the volunteers.

Updated plans for the new year 2010 11

Having worked through a process of planning for this year the group have produced the attached documents to help us steer a course over the coming months

Youth Ministry Plans – current

Summer plans

We are about to put the word out to try and generate help from members of the parish and community over the summer.

We have set ourselves the objective of doing up the room which used to be called the snooker room and we have raised some money to contribute to this task.

Young people from the area have made a DVD which is to be played at masses over the coming weeks to generate interest and if you think you can help then get hold of Mike or Godric and fill out one of our helper forms.

Volunteer help form

Helping in this work

If you think you have a contribution to make to work with young people in the Parishes, please contact us by email or via the Parish office- Don’t leave personal details here. But ask questions by all means