Young People - Youth Work and Informal Education

Introduction

The emphasis of the Church of England's work with young people through youth work and informal education is on promoting education and learning that provide a range of opportunities for the spiritual growth and social development of those between the ages of 11 and 25 years. The Church's concern is not only for young people within it but also those in the wider community.

There is a strong commitment to support and advise those who work with young people regionally, in dioceses, and locally, in deaneries and parishes.

Policy

Monitoring, shaping and influencing national policy developments in services for young people and enabling appropriate implementation of policy at all levels is a key aspect of the Church's work nationally, and of its National Youth Advisers in particular. 'Good News for Young People: The Church of England's National Youth Strategy' (2002) provides a focus on Young People and Worship, Young People as Leaders, Resourcing Youth Workers, and Young People and Mission.

Young People's Participation

Enabling and encouraging young people to participate more fully in church and community life has been and continues to be a major area of ongoing development. There are regular opportunities for young people to participate in the Church of England Youth Council and to attend General Synod as observers. This is in addition, and complementary, to diocesan and regional initiatives that encourage young adult participation.

Vocation

Opportunities, for both young people and youth workers, are provided on a regular basis for the exploration of vocation with in the field of working with young people.

International Work

Many dioceses have links with partner dioceses throughout the Anglican Communion and offer opportunities for young people to participate in exchanges and visits. Nationally there are strong links with the International Anglican Youth Network, supported by the Anglican Consultative Council

Partnership

The Church's work with young people in a youth work and informal education context involves collaboration and partnership with the wider Anglican Communion and Anglican voluntary societies, as well as with a variety of other Christian and secular agencies. These include the National Youth Agency, the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services, Churches Together in England, and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. The Church of England also works in partnership with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and is included in the Department's register of National Voluntary Youth Organizations

Training

The on-going development of high quality training for both volunteers and paid youth workers is a high priority. For volunteers, 'Equipping' has been developed. It is Core Competencies, Learning Outcomes, Suggested Evidence of Assessment for those working with Young People on behalf of the Church of England, a training framework for the Church's youth work. It has been developed as part of the National Youth Strategy. The Core Competencies and Learning Outcomes have been produced to enable the dioceses of the Church of England to work towards a common core in their provision of youth work training. As these are Core Competencies and Learning Outcomes, appropriate for developing good practice for any work with young people, they still enable an individual diocese to continue to use and develop the training appropriate for them and their workers. There are close working relationships with both national agencies and ecumenically including some Church Colleges, the Centre for Youth Ministry, Oasis and Spectrum. Alongside this is the on-going work with Diocesan Youth Officers Network and a range of training opportunities are offered in Dioceses.

For further information contact:

Peter Ball: National Youth Adviser - Participation and Youth Work Development

Julia Eden: Executive Assistant

Links
Diocesan Youth Officers	http://www.youth.anglican.org/england
National Youth Agency	http://www.nya.org.uk
National Council for Voluntary Youth Services	http://www.ncvys.org.uk/
Anglican Communion	http://www.anglicancommunion.org
Church of England Youth Council	http://www.ceyc.org
Girls Friendly Society	http://www.gfsplatform.org.uk
Church Lads' & Church Girls' Brigade	http://www.clcgb.org.uk
International Anglican Youth Network	http://iayn.anglicancommunion.org

Key Texts

Youth A Part (GS1203 - 1996)

Accompanying (GS Misc 523 - 1998)

Taking A Part (GS Misc 608 - 2000)

Good News for Young People - National Youth Strategy

 

 

feedback | contact us | links | site map | copyright & disclaimer | privacy | site help
Supported by Ecclesiastical Insurance Group
Site developed by ILRT