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This Committee supports, encourages and promotes work among children and young people, including the policy for the YLTO and YCWT Programme, giving oversight to Pilots, the National Youth Resource Centre at Yardley Hastings, and relates to FURY Council. It also ensures that its concerns are fully taken into account in Doctrine Prayer & Worship, Church & Society, Life & Witness Committees, facilitating the involvement of young people in all the Council of the Church. Committee Members Convener: Revd Derek Lindfield (to February
2002), Revd Kathryn Price (from February 2002) Pilots Development Officer: Mrs Karen Bulley Centre Minister, National Youth Resource Centre: Revd Liz Byrne Secretary for Youth Work: Ms Lesley Anne Di Marco Children's Advocate: Mrs Rosemary Johnston 1 To begin at the beginning . . . 1.1 Much of the work of the Youth and Children's Work Committee has been extensively explored in the Review (see Appendix 10, much discussed around the church these past few months, which leaves this report with little to add. We are instructed, in the Committee's rubric, to support, encourage and promote and so this report will highlight ongoing, often unseen, work, point to innovative work and whet the appetite for work to come. 2 Keeping children, young people and workers safe 2.1 Ongoing work we hope, but the Children's Advocate and Secretary for Youth Work have been particularly busy these two years revising Good Practice and developing the protocols necessary for us to work with the Criminal Records Bureau. High profile court cases have made it quite clear that the Church, contrary to expectations, is not immune from child abuse and it is essential that all elders are familiar with the guidelines. Rosemary and Lesley Anne are to be congratulated for the clarity of Good Practice. 3 Working with children 3.1 URCHIN continues to be an essential source of information and ideas, which, coupled with the opportunities to meet and work with the Children's Advocate at gatherings and residential training events, must make the work of local, district and synod children's workers less fraught. 3.2 Rosemary is also to be found ' along with the Pilots' Development Officer ' on the Consultative Group for Children's Ministry, the main ecumenical body and a number of us discovered more about their work at a major conference in Durham last year. General Assembly agreed to support the Children are Unbeatable campaign and new materials are about to be published to move this forward. 4 Crossing the age gaps 4.1 Pilots is, without doubt, one of the success stories of the past two years and presents its own report this year. As an organisation it provides opportunities for both children and young people to have fun and learn in a Christian environment. 4.2 Uniformed organisations ' Boys and Girls Brigades, Scout groups and Guides and Brownies ' also cover the whole range and are in many churches the main activity offered. The Committee hopes to find ways of working closer with these bodies than has been the case in the past. 5 Training matters 5.1 Youth and Children's Work Trainers, whatever their title, also cover all the bases. The Committee is always amazed by their breadth of knowledge and range of activity, which is impressive. See what you think ' > training: Good Practice, exploring worship, drug awareness, Time for God volunteers, disability awareness, CME and POET, Kaleidoscope and Spectrum courses, Pilots Officers, Yardley Hastings community team, elders, social inclusion project volunteers > supervision and support: church-based youth and children's workers, district youth and children's work secretaries, synod and district events and youth forums, youth exchanges, Pilots at Cadbury World > development: local church consultations, new materials, Good Practice (2nd ed.) > links: Scottish Synod, CRCWs, National Youth Resource Centre and Windermere, Time for God, Spectrum, Kaleidoscope, Christian Institute for Training and Developement > even: helping to set up a puppet theatre! 6 Developing youth work 6.1 The youth work of the United Reformed Church is very disparate and often more honoured in the breach ' 'I'm afraid we don't have any young people'. Where it happens it is still the lively scene it ever was. The Committee was impressed by the ambitious Mission Means Me event held by East Midlands Synod and also glad to know that more traditional events, such as the Wessex youth camp, are still going strong. 6.2 The National Youth Resource Centre at Yardley Hastings gives its own report, as does FURY and both reflect in different ways the problems associated with falling numbers of young people in the local churches. 6.3 The Secretary for Youth Work has been very active in the Time for God organisation, currently as Chair of the Executive Committee and the Y&CW committee recommended the URC continue as a sponsoring body of TFG and make the opportunities it offers more widely known. 6.4 Lesley Anne has also been central to the Social Inclusion Project, partly funded by the Department for Education and Skills (formerly the Department for Education and Employment). Local churches could learn a lot from the exciting outreach work that was carried out by other local churches with only a little funding. The Review and the URC website give further details and a handbook for churches wishing to move beyond their boundaries will be available soon. 6.5 The Committee recognises that the URC is now, more than ever, a church in three nations and regrets that because CTE has such an active Youth Forum and the DfES money was only available to English synods, Wales and Scotland often seem to be ignored. It is watching with interest the work done in the two National Synods to develop support structures for youth and children's work. 7 Working with others 7.1 Not content with its own agenda and meetings, committee members and staff have also been busy with other committees: > ROOTS worship material (Communications & Editorial, Life & Witness, Doctrine, Prayer & Worship) > new leaflets for new parents (Doctrine, Prayer & Worship) > theology for youth work (Doctrine, Prayer & Worship) > international programme to combat child poverty (Church & Society) > issues across the whole life of the church (Training) > international and interdenominational relationships (Ecumenical) The Committee fully intends to continue working collaboratively, but is exploring ways of making this less of a strain on individuals. 8 Looking ahead 8.1 Coming up in the next years will be opportunities to enrich children's ministry and new ways for young people to get involved in as many senses of that word as you wish. Look out also for the Committee coming to your synod ' we are here to listen to your plans, problems and prototypes, as well as to pass on information, instructions and ideas. 9 Do not go gently . . . 9.1 The Committee says goodbye to committee members every year and welcomes new ones. Their individual contributions are all valued, but to list them all would turn this report into something resembling a chapter of the Old Testament. However, special mention and sincere thanks should be given to one or two. We have been enriched by the presence of two FURY Chairs ' Huw Morrison and Lucy Hartwell. Pilots Management Committee is similarly grateful to Revd Stephen Haward, who has finished his term as convener. Finally, thanks are due to Revd Derek Lindfield whose term as convener of the Youth & Children's Work Committee has proved pivotal in many ways. The Committee is sure they will all continue to contribute to the life of their churches in different ways for some time to come.
FURY Chair 2001: Miss Lucy Hartwell 1 FURY Assembly outcomes 1.1 FURY Assembly continues to be a focal point for FURY. The last two years have seen a variety of motions brought for consideration, ranging from issues of world trade and justice to youth-led worship. FURY's involvement with the British Youth Council, a secular forum respected and acknowledged by the government has been the subject of much debate. FURY Assembly overthrew the motion that FURY's involvement be withdrawn, reasoning that a Christian voice within this forum is vital. Currently, the FURY representatives are working alongside those from the Methodist Church to increase their effectiveness. 2 New FURY Mission Statement 2.1 A considerable time has been spent continuing to address the outstanding issues raised by the FURY Review, most notably the FURY Mission Statement. After consultation with a cross section of FURY people, common themes were brought together as a draft. In accordance with the working method compiled by a previous FURY Chair, the draft working was offered for comment and criticism. The responses received allowed a wording to be prepared and offered at FURY Assembly 2002: Our mission is to discover God, to help each other grow in the Christian faith and, through our lives, reflect God's love to all. The Mission Statement was overwhelmingly accepted. The task now is to publicise it in order to foster some sense of identity and belong to FURY. 3 Elder for children and young people 3.1 Also arising from the FURY Review, the provision for elders with responsibility for children and young people was advocated. Although included as a recommendation in the URC Manual, in response to a FURY Assembly motion requesting that such roles be promoted, FURY Council Synod representative have been active in offering this as a motion for Synod consideration. This has happened in over half of the Synods to date. FURY Council is currently investigating how best to monitor the progress of the roles developing in local churches, often distant from the Synod meeting where decisions are made. 4 Communications 4.1 The past two years have seen the development of the Reform supplement f2 as a replacement for FURY National. Thoughtful passing on of this supplement by subscribers helps to bridge the communications gap identified by the FURY review. Increased submissions from church groups will help further with this. The recently launched www.furyonline.org.uk website is also aimed at information sharing. The role of district representative at FURY Assembly and FURY Council Synod representatives continues to be one of communicating. Some Districts and Synods use these reps at two-way communicators: is now the time to share examples of what is and is not successful? 5 Wider involvement 5.1 In 2000 FURY took an active part in an event called Breakout, which was an ecumenical version of the MAYC Breakout, held around the London Docklands area. The main partners were CTE members and the event attracted numbers of most of the main denominations. FURY continues to take a full part in the CTE Youth Forum and other ecumenical discussions and groups.
National Youth Resource Centre Management Committee Committee Members 1 New Direction 1.1 The beginning of 2001 brought with it a new direction, exploring the possibility and reality of developing the Centre as a Christian community with a greater depth of spirituality. This organic development gave us a real sense of being drawn on by the Spirit. Work still goes on in discovering what it means to be a Community of God's People, and the development of a weekly Community Meal, regular Spiritual Development for the Community Team, Bible Study for the whole community and ideas for the grounds continue to enhance the way forward. At the heart of all we do are the greatest commandments: Love God, and love all God's people. 2 Jigsaws 2.1 Jigsaws continue to be a success story. Over the last 2 years over 500 people from over 40 churches have attended Jigsaws. These events are an opportunity for groups to experience what it means to live in community, to explore their faith and spirituality and to build up relationships with one another. Themes such as 'Journeys', 'The Lord's Prayer' and 'Who is God?' have been explored using different focuses including creativity and activity. During the spring of this year the Centre has been working with Commitment for Life to create a new Jigsaw. In the autumn of 2000 a successful exchange with Windermere took place, and we were able to run a Jigsaw for groups from Scotland and the North East. In the summer of 2001 Wessex Synod held an 'at home' Jigsaw, using material that had been prepared, tried and tested at the Centre. Our hope is that there will be more opportunities for us to 'go out' with Jigsaws in the near future. 3 Programme 3.1 The success of Jigsaws has compensated for the lack of response for some programme events, which led to the setting up of the Programme Advisory Group in 2001. Made up of representatives from many areas of youth and children's work in the URC the group has enabled us to look objectively at the learning experiences of the past few years. We hope that the 2002 programme is more relevant to young people and those who minister to children and young people in local churches. We have seen a number of successful events in the last 2 years, including Junior Theatre Week, which began in '98 and continues to grow in number, having staged a number of musicals including 'Bugsy Malone' and 'Oliver'. 4 Community Team 4.1 During 2000 and 2001 there have been 23 Community Team members from all over Britain and the world, each bringing their own skills and experiences and creating a constantly changing and refreshingly dynamic community. We are developing a partnership with the United Church of Zambia, with a young adult from the UCZ joining the CT each year for the next 3 years. CT members come and go throughout the year, staying from a few weeks to a year. A new induction/training policy has been put in place to ensure that all CT members are as fully prepared for life at the Centre as possible. We have seen many young people grow in confidence, develop in their faith and discover new skills during their time on the CT, enabling them to enrich their local church on their return home ' there are many young people who have been CT members who are now making a difference in the local and wider church. 5 Relationship with Yardley Hastings URC 5.1 We enjoy a close and supportive relationship with Yardley Hastings URC, the two communities worshipping together every Sunday morning. A 'Sharing Agreement' has been prepared to further recognise and firm up our relationship with one another. At the heart of the lives of the two communities is the recognition that we are 'two communities ' together as one'. 6 Good Practice 6.1 As a regularly changing community we are constantly having to look at our practices. The continuing development and implementation of many new policies goes to ensure that the Centre remains a safe and secure place for children and young people. When the Centre Minibus needed renewal, we decided that hiring transport was less hassle and more cost effective than owning our own vehicle. 7 Centre Management Committee 7.1 The CMC continues to support the work of the Centre. The setting up of a Health and Safety/Grounds and Property Sub-Committee has greatly helped in the upkeep of the Centre, not least as the recent quinquennial structural survey revealed a few surprises ' the roof has now been repaired! 8 Marketing 8.1 We are constantly looking at new approaches to marketing including using Reform, youth and children's work networks, the Internet and personal advocacy. 9 People 9.1 2002 began with the Centre Minister taking maternity leave. The work and development of the Centre continues under the direction of the Acting Centre Minister and with the hard work and support of the Centre Staff and the Community Team. The Centre is also supported by YCWT's bringing their skills and experience to the life of the Centre. 9.2 We are indebted to all those in the wider church who have supported the Centre in many different ways.
Committee Members PROVEN PERFORMANCE! POWERFUL POTENTIAL!
> In 1998 we had 92 Pilots companies. By 2001 this grew to 146 with over 2,800 children and young people. Our 70-year-old organisation is 60% new! More companies are being launched all the time > The energetic recruitment of officers locally and regionally is reinforcing Pilots as a strong national organisation > Pilots is revitalising work with children and young people in our churches 2 Bursting with Life and Hope! > The Pilots' day at Cadbury World (30th June 2001) was a massive success and sign of life as 2,987 Pilots and friends gathered for fun and worship. What a glorious day! What a symbol of hope for our churches! > A higher profile nationally (with staff and funding) is leading to deepening commitment locally as companies feel well supported and resourced > Pilots is increasingly seen as a dynamic, relevant and exciting organisation with real potential to make a difference to the lives of people and congregations > Pilots companies can take root in any context. Pilots can be a particularly powerful form of ministry in some of our more deprived communities > Pilots companies are creating opportunities across the country for the love and challenge of God to become real in fresh and exciting ways 3 Saving the Church from Sunday? > As many churches struggle to attract children and young people to Sunday worship, Pilots is increasingly providing powerful children's and youth worship mid-week. Pilots' sessions are becoming the preferred focus of worship and Christian encounter for children and young people in local churches with dramatic results > Do you wonder how to break out of the Sunday slot and engage with your community at a better time and day for them? Look no further than Pilots! We're challenging the fallacy that if it isn't on Sunday it isn't really Church! 4 Building Exciting Bridges! > Large numbers of non-Church children and their families are being reached through Pilots > Wonderful interfaith bridges are being built ' some Pilots companies include Sikh and Muslim children > Ecumenical connections are growing ' the Congregational Federation are a sponsor (with 24 companies), and Pilots runs in the Church of Scotland, Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church of Wales and the Church of England 5 An Organisation Reborn! > Pilots' administration has been dramatically improved > A new affiliation scheme has been introduced providing a much more coherent picture of Pilots > Good Practice is advocated widely > Resources for local companies continue to improve and are greatly welcomed > High quality training for those working within Pilots is increasingly available, relevant and enjoyed Resolution 41 Policy for youth and children's work General Assembly a) recognises that the prime venue for work with children and young people is the local church, and b) encourages the Youth and Children's Work Committee to work with the recommendations in the review report, developing them as a coherent policy for youth and children's work in the United Reformed Church. 1 The Youth and Children's Work Committee was grateful for the thorough work done by the Review Group and broadly accepted their recommendations. Underlying these recommendations is a strategy aimed at focussing support on the work of the local church and the Committee asks General Assembly to support this policy. Work on implementation has already been commenced by the Committee. The remaining resolutions seek to engage other Councils and Committees of the United Reformed Church to work with them in their own fields. Resolution 42 Training for ministers General Assembly asks the Training Committee to consider and implement the recommendations in the review report which relate to initial ministerial training and the need to provide ongoing CME training opportunities in all aspects of work with children and young people, including contemporary youth culture. 1 Ministers are not the sole agents of youth and children's work, but their interest and support is essential. The Youth and Children's Work Committee agrees with the Review Group that the core curriculum for initial ministerial training should include work with these age groups. Ministers should be encouraged to seek out further opportunities to explore this field as part of CME. Resolution 43 District/Area Councils and Synods General Assembly asks Synods and District/Area Councils to consider and, as necessary, to implement the recommendation in the review report regarding their work and to report back to Mission Council in March 2003. 1 Districts/Areas and Synods are recommended to give priority to the building up of local church work. This might include offering help with implementing Good Practice, providing information on the employment and funding of paid youth and children's workers, encouraging young people, and particularly the 18-25 age group, to take an active part in the life of the District/Area and Synod as adults in their own right. The development of networks within and between Synods will facilitate communication. Resolution 44 Committee structure General Assembly agrees to change part of the committee structure agreed in 1994 so that Youth and Children's Work Committee is no longer required to send representatives to the Church & Society, Doctrine, Prayer & Worship and Life & Witness Committees. 1 Members of the Youth and Children's Work Committee are not seeking to isolate themselves from the work of the other committees. They have, however, found the 1994 requirement unnecessarily burdensome. New ways of sharing information, concerns and ideas as well as asking for and offering opportunities for consultation can be explored, that would increase the integration necessary for a coherent application of the Youth and Children's Work strategy. Resolution 45 National Youth Resource Centre, Yardley Hastings General Assembly asks the Youth and Children's Work Committee to work with the Centre Management Committee, the local church and the Northamptonshire District Council to implement the recommendations in the review report regarding Yardley Hastings, seeking help as necessary from Mission Council. 1 The National Youth Resource Centre was opened a decade ago with great excitement and since that time it has entertained and inspired numbers of young people. Many of our younger ministers cite membership of the Community Team as a significant factor in their spiritual journeys and others, now in many different fields of employment, also consider their time at Yardley Hastings life-changing. However the Centre has also experienced difficulties and the range of resources proposed in the New FURY document has not been achieved. Changing life-styles and the fall in numbers of young people in the church have contributed to the decreased use of the Centre. The Youth and Children's Committee is committed to the ideals implicit in the New FURY Project, but is not convinced that a residential centre is the best way of supporting local church work. Resolutions 46 Pilots General Assembly celebrates the success of the relaunch of Pilots and commends the programme to those churches not yet on board 1 Pilots is a success. The growth in new companies, revamped materials, new training programme, not least last year's gathering at Cadbury World, all contribute to the excitement surrounding the whole programme. The Youth and Children's Work Committee is proud of its achievements and recognises that there is much to be learnt from its ways of working with children and young people. top. Resolution 47 FURY General Assembly asks the Youth and Children's Work Committee to work with FURY Council to implement the recommendations in the review report regarding FURY, in particular the proposal to build an effective network through District/Area Councils and Synods. 1 FURY too is successful in giving young people in the United Reformed Church an opportunity to contribute to the whole life of the church and FURY Council in particular has been an excellent learning experience for many. However, the aim of including all youth activity under one name has not worked out in practice. The recommendation to make FURY an organisation that can be signed up to - either by groups or individuals - is intended to give the organisation more focus and FURY Council a recognised constituency. The resulting network will complement the work to be done by Districts/Areas and Synods. Resolution 48 Youth and Children's Work Training Programme General Assembly affirms the continuation of the Youth and Children's Work Training programme, with an increasing emphasis on development. 1 The YCWT programme has been a prime factor in the support offered to local churches. Development is already in the job description and the support offered. Discussions are taking place between the Youth and Children's Work Committee and the Training Committee to determine the best way of managing the programme and of ensuring that the support it offers is available in equivalent ways in those Synods no longer participating.
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