prestbury.net

The Youth Work Steering Group

WHAT IS A STEERING GROUP?

The 'eagle-eyed' amongst you might have occasionally spotted a meeting of the Youth Work Steering Group amongst the weekly diary of dates. You might even have wondered, momentarily, what the Youth Work Steering Group (YWSG) is! This is the opportunity to be enlightened!

The PCC has entrusted to the YWSG oversight of the youth work which is carried out in the Parish. The Steering Group is not a committee with any delegated powers but works more like a consultative group.

WHAT DOES THE YWSG DO?

The YWSG meets only four times a year and at every meeting the major part of the agenda is to receive a report on youth work from Andy Macauly, the Parish Youth Worker. With Andy, the YWSG reviews the progress of the various youth groups which we run. The steering Group discusses projects which have been undertaken with the young people, considers staffing and programmes of events. Andy also brings to the Group proposals for future work: any changes or areas of development.

The work that is carried on never remains the same and so Andy will usually have a new idea or project to discuss and the Group has the opportunity to raise any questions or make suggestions. All the youth work, particularly any new proposals, is discussed by Andy and Fr Michael, his line manager, during their weekly meetings. However, the members of the Steering Group will often consider things from a different viewpoint and so be able to make some very constructive observations!

The Steering Group is also in a position to give support and encouragement to Andy. They are able to recognise the enormous contribution he makes to our youth work and to the life of our parish. They are able to express, on behalf of us all, the deep gratitude and huge sense of pride we rightly feel in the quality of the youth work, which is admired and respected beyond the parish as well as within it.

FUNDING THE YOUTH WORK

Finance is, of course, a major concern. We have been able, over the past three years, to fund the post of a full-time Youth Worker through various grants. Andy Macauly has now been employed here for over three years and considerable efforts have already been made to raise additional funding to continue paying his salary and associated costs. The Steering Group is greatly indebted to Tricia Wilson who has worked tirelessly in identifying possible sources of funding and preparing letters and the necessary supporting information to enable a bid to be made.

At the present moment, these funds will run out during next year.

THE WAY FORWARD

The Steering Group, with Tricia's skilful guidance, is currently exploring the possibility of registering the Youth Work as a charity. This would mean having a group of trustees (initially these would probably be members of the Steering Group), members (hopefully yourselves!) as well as a separate set of accounts. Charitable status would hopefully allow bids to be made to some trust funds which will only consider applications from registered charities (and churches do not come into this category!).
We will keep you updated on the progress of the search for funds. In the meantime if you know of any possible source of funding, or have any ideas at all for raising some vital cash, please speak to Fr Michael or one of the other members of the Youth Work Steering Group: Linda Biggs, Julie Lane or Daphne Philpott.

Fr Michael

Youth Work (Part 2)

A flavour of some of the work we do in Schools

Pittville School

Most of the youth work we undertake is in Pittville School, the secondary school in the Parish. Circus Skills (such as juggling, diabolo, plates and unicycle) are a great tool to build young people's confidence and to foster significant friendships - especially with those young people who are helpers. It is very much a team effort - co-operating with Gloucestershire Youth service and with Fr Grant now also learning the skills and building the friendships.

Andy also spends a few hours each week in the Pastoral Work Area - an area where young people who find lessons really difficult, often because of their behaviour or that of others, can build skills and confidence in order to participate more fully in school life. A highlight last year was producing a video with the young people about the PWA and how it works.

There are also opportunities to take assemblies - a great chance to communicate something of a Christian perspective on the world in a creative way to many young people.

St Mary's Junior School

One area which we are developing is the youth work's links with Year 6 pupils at St Mary's Juniors. Recently a team from the youth work took the Synergy labyrinth 'God's Community', which is an interactive reflective experience, into school for Year 6. It was a vibrant atmosphere and encouraged some deep thinking from many pupils and certainly challenged the idea that the Christian faith was boring or irrelevant. Many thanks to Sharon, Clare and Daphne for their invaluable engagement with the students and for the great welcome from the Junior School!

The Real Thing

Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, our work in the Synergy and Elevate youth groups equips young people to live out their faith in the challenging environments of the different schools they attend. Those young people are the most effective ambassadors of the Christian faith to fellow students.

Please pray for the Christian witness of so many to young people in Schools.

For further information please contact Andy Macauly or youthprestbury.net