Youth and Children’s Work
This Committee supports, encourages and promotes work among children and
young people, including the policy and oversight of the YCWT Programme, giving
oversight to Pilots, 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 Councils of the Church.
Committee Members
Convener: Revd Kathryn Price Secretary: Mrs Soo Webster Mrs
Brenda Cheer (to July 2003), Mrs Daphne Clark, Ms Lorraine Downer, Ms Helen
Honess (from January 2003), Mr Gareth Marshall Jones (FURY joint Chair 2003),
Mrs Kath Lonsdale (to July 2003), Mrs Hannah Middleton (from July 2003), Mr Huw
Morrison, Mr Jonathan Price (to January 2003), Ms Emma Pugh (FURY Chair 2002),
Revd John Sanderson, Ms Rosemary Simmons (FURY joint Chair 2003), Mrs Elaine
Thomas, Mrs Doreen Watson (from 2003), Mr Gus Webbe (from July 2003), Revd
Andrew Willett, Mrs Anthea Coates (representing Training Committee from July
2003), Mr Stephen Collins (representing YCWT team) Secretary for
Youth Work: Mr John Brown Pilots Development Officer: Mrs Karen
Bulley Children’s Advocate: Mrs Rosemary Johnston
1. Policy
1.1 These past two years have been dominated by the Youth and Children’s
Work Review and its recommendations and the resolutions that were passed in
2002. We have spent time working these through and translating them into a
coherent strategy, which we are presenting to General Assembly this year.
1.2 We began by adopting two aims, which arose from debate at St
Andrew’s and discussion in committee: a) that all children and
young people in the United Reformed Church have the opportunity to develop and
grow on their Christian journey; b) that the local church, at
all levels, be given the support it needs to fulfil its mission and share the
gospel of Christ amongst children and young people in its community.
2. Training
Working closely with the Training Committee we continue to monitor, and
take part in, the provision for training in work with children and young people
as it is offered to ordinands, ministers, paid workers and lay people through
the theological courses, Continuing Ministerial Education, Kaleidoscope and
Spectrum and Training and Learning for Service (TLS). Youth and Children’s Work
Trainers (YCWTs) are closely involved in the revision of Kaleidsocope and
Spectrum and the writing of new modules for TLS, in addition to their role in
delivering training, with other staff involvement, of Pilots officers and others
working with children and young people. As more churches employ paid workers, we
are aware of the need to reach a consensus in what constitutes acceptable
qualification.
3. Districts/Areas and Synods
The Committee read with interest those reports it received from
Districts, Areas and Synods. There is clearly some exciting work happening,
though it is equally clear that there is not equality of opportunity. Some areas
have plentiful resources, while others are not so fortunate. We hope that
through better resource sharing this situation can be improved. We would also
thank local churches for filling in the reverse of the annual returns form. This
information is currently being analysed and recorded for further use.
4. Ways of working
As indicated in this year’s resolution, we have adopted a new way of
working – through task groups. This is in its infancy at the moment, but the
groups are getting off the ground and are being supplemented by ex-committee
members and others with experience in the field. The intention is that this will
release time at our meetings to engage in more in-depth discussion, which has
been at times swallowed up in the detail of things.
5. Staff
The Committee received Lesley Anne DiMarco’s resignation almost
immediately following the 2002 Assembly, having already presented a case to the
Staffing Advisory Group for the continuation of the post. We were disappointed
that Mission Council delayed the advertisement of the post and the Church should
be grateful to the Children’s Advocate, Pilots Development Officer and YCWTs for
making sure that youth work did not cease altogether. John Brown came into post
on 1st January this year and has already made a difference. We cannot
overemphasise the strain that the 16 month vacancy put on the whole sphere of
youth and children’s work.
6. National Youth Resource Centre
6.1 Following the amendment at St Andrew’s, which set up a task group,
convened by John Humphreys, to review the National Youth Resource Centre and
make a recommendation to the 2003 Assembly, we have been concerned with first
the hopes of a renewal and then the implications of the closure of the Centre.
Through the Centre Management Committee, convened by Bryan Thomas until the end
of 2002 and by Bill Mahood until the closure, we tried to ensure that all was
done well. Following Liz Byrne’s move to pastoral ministry in Birkenhead,
Deborah McVey was appointed to be temporary Centre Minister. We are grateful to
Bryan and Bill for their leadership and would particularly thank Deborah for the
gracious way in which she ministered in a difficult situation and the Deputy
General Secretary for guiding us through the legal requirements. Thanks are also
due to all the staff and community team, who showed their commitment to the
Centre to the end. We also wish Liz Byrne and Ian Smith well in their new
pastorates, with gratitude for all they both did for the Centre, particularly
through its later difficult years. 6.2 The resolution that
closed the Centre last year also proposed that the Committee should investigate
the possibility of setting up a different programme to support local church
work. It is as a result of this exercise that we have arrived at the strategy
that is presented this year.
7. Pilots
Pilots has had a good two years, which is reported separately. The post
of Pilots Development Officer was reviewed in 2002 and a recommendation made
that it continue for a further five years, as much of the previous term had been
spent in setting up new processes and firming up old ones and little in the way
of real development had been possible. Mission Council agreed to three years,
but we remain convinced that Karen Bulley still has much to offer and are full
of admiration for what she has achieved in a relatively short time in the whole
life of Pilots. Neil Thorogood, convener of Pilots Management Committee, is also
to be thanked for his leadership and advocacy and his contributions to
discussion when he joins us in committee. A welcome development has been the
number of ‘roadshows’ that have taken place in many Synods and the increase in
the number of Regional Pilots Officers. By the time Assembly happens Pilots will
have been to Legoland, inviting the whole church to join them, be part of the
excitement and ‘Be a Pilot for a day’, building on the success of ‘Pilots at
Cadbury World’.
8. FURY
8.1 FURY, too has its own report, but the Committee was pleased to see
the success of the camp last year and has already made sure that funding is
available for the planning of the next one. 8.2 Discussions on a
membership for FURY are still ongoing, as there are many groups that need
consulting. However it is hoped that a proposal will be ready for FURY Assembly
2005.
9. DfES
The first three-year programme, with funding from the Department of
Education and Science, saw the establishment of some very different projects and
these can be read about in Mission Possible, available from the Youth and
Children’s Work office. The most recent programme has enabled a similarly wide
range of initiatives, aimed at involving young people in the structures of the
church. Equivalent sums of money were made available to the National Synods of
Wales and Scotland for projects which met the same guidelines. Outwith the
Synods, the money has been used to fund ‘What do you think’ – the pre-Assembly
briefing meeting for under-25s – and a survey, and forthcoming conference, for
Voyagers and Navigators, the 11-18 groups of Pilots. A Monitoring Committee,
convened by Ian Smith, assesses and evaluates all the projects and reports to
Youth and Children’s Work Committee. We thank all on the committee for this
work.
10. YCWT programme
10.1 In 2002 oversight of the YCWT programme was passed to the
Committee, which is grateful to John Proctor for finishing the revision of the
Staff Development Policy. We have been delighted by the resolutions coming to
Synods this spring, which suggest that by next year the team might be up to 12.
10.2 A continuing concern is the nature of support and training needed
and available to the Synod-based managers and this will be the subject of
further work.
11. Publications
11.1 This year saw the publication of In the beginning, to encourage
ministry with young children and their families, begun by Margaret Collins,
during her time on committee, as a response to many requests for information to
the office. Rosemary Johnston has completed the work, in close collaboration
with Doctrine, Prayer and Worship committee. 11.2 Rosemary has
also been working on a revision of the Charter for Children with Neil Thorogood
and the result is a series of posters and cards with suggestions for study and
activity, which will be published this year.
12. Other work
A report to General Assembly can only give snapshots of the work of a
committee over two years, but other significant involvement has been in the
Churches’ Network for Non-violence and advocating and enabling under-25s
engaging in the Catch the Vision process.
13. Thanks
13.1 There have been thanks peppered through this report, but some have
still been missed out. The staff has been the backbone of Youth and Children’s
Work these past two years, especially Karen Bulley and Rosemary Johnston, but
not excluding the YCWTs, who all carried an extra load most of the time. Because
of his previous experience, John Brown has slotted into the work almost
seamlessly. The folk associated with the National Youth Resource Centre have
been in our prayers for much of the time and we are grateful for their
dedication. The office staff support our work in very many ways, for which we
thank them. 13.2 We have said goodbye to a number of people –
the FURY chair (Emma Pugh 2002, Gareth Marshall Jones & Rosemary Simmons 2003)
changes every year, just as we have got to know them a little, Brenda Cheer and
Kath Lonsdale finished their committee terms last year and Andrew Willett will
finish this year. All have made invaluable contributions to our work. Finally, a
special thanks to Soo Webster, who carried on as Secretary to the committee for
an extra year to see the work of the Review through to some kind of conclusion
and finishes her term with us this Assembly.
FURY Council
Committee Members
FURY Chair 2003: Miss Rosemary Simmons & Mr Gareth Marshall-Jones FURY
Chair 2004: Miss Amanda Wade FURY Chair Elect: Mr Gareth Jones 1.1
Many things have happened in FURY over the past two years. In January 2004, John
Brown was inducted to the post of Secretary for Youth Work. The induction took
place at FURY Assembly and FURY welcomed this unique opportunity to witness and
promise to support their Secretary for Youth Work. 1.2 The time
before John’s appointment was a difficult one, with a vacancy lasting 16 months.
Ian Smith acted as an interim Secretary for Youth Work for 6 months, but FURY is
grateful to all those who stepped in to fill the breach at other times,
specifically the Youth and Children’s Work Training team, Karen Bulley (Pilots
Development Officer), Rosemary Johnston (Children’s Advocate) and Ray Adams. All
of these did so in addition to their own jobs, which sadly meant that
occasionally other areas of work paid the price. 1.3 FURY
Council has had a busy two years. As well as fulfilling its usual
responsibilities of planning FURY Assembly, FURY Council has also been very
involved in organising and supporting FURY Camp 2003. This event was a success,
with over 100 participants spending a week in a field in Sussex. This was the
first FURY Council organised national youth event for 5 years, and we are
pleased that its success has led to the beginning of planning for another camp
in 2005. There will also be a reunion for all the 2003 participants in 2004. 1.4
FURY Council is made up of a variety of representatives; one from each Synod as
well as three representatives who are elected annually at FURY Assembly to serve
a two year term. In addition to these, other groups are represented on FURY
Council – the United Reformed Guide and Scout Fellowship (URCGSF), Pilots,
Girls’ and Boys Brigade. FURY also sends a delegation to British Youth Council
and the leader of this delegation also sits on FURY Council. As well as these,
there is a Chair and Chair-elect who are also elected at FURY Assembly. One of
FURY Council’s primary roles is to carry out the work of FURY Assembly
throughout the year and so the type of work varies from year to year. FURY
Council also differs in its approach to pieces of work; discussing items in
small groups before feeding back into a plenary, setting up task groups to look
at particular issues or plan events, and even keeps discussing in the gaps
between the three meetings in a year by the wonders of email. 1.5
This multiplicity of approaches has a range of benefits. It enables us to make a
better use of our time, allows us to use people’s strengths and talents to FURY
Council’s advantage and to make use of the expertise of people outside FURY
Council, whilst still retaining an overview. 1.6 FURY has a
FURY Communications Group (FCG), which looks after and contributes to many of
the more public aspects of our work, from setting up and maintaining the website
(www.furyonline.org.uk), to producing FURY’s
quarterly pull out in Reform, f2. This is designed so that once it has been
read, it can be pulled out and passed on to young people in your church – if you
do not do this already then please do so! 1.7 FURY Assembly
happens annually and every district is invited to send two representatives and
an observer. Sadly not all districts take up this opportunity, but despite this
our numbers have been rising and approaching 200. There is always a diverse
range of business and the inevitable entertainment. The business has included
styles of worship, the role of District FURY representatives, the funding of
places at FURY Assembly as well as political issues such as the war in Iraq. As
well as dealing with motions that are brought by representatives, we also look
at issues within the wider church. In 2004 we were delighted to welcome a
representative of the “Catch the Vision” Group to speak, enabling FURY to
contribute to this important debate. We are still working on issues from the
2002 General Assembly; specifically some of the points raised in the Youth and
Children’s Work Review. One of the biggest issues has been the recommendation
that FURY has a recognised membership, instead of the current system, whereby
any young person, aged between 11 and 25, who has any connection with the United
Reformed Church, be it attending Sunday morning worship, belonging to the Guide
company or attending the youth group is a member of FURY. Work is still ongoing
and there are no obvious answers. FURY has also been very involved in the
aftermath of the decision to close the National Youth Resource Centre at Yardley
Hastings. FURY Council has been instrumental in collating some of the personal
stories and memories of the centre and is actively involved in planning for the
future with representation on the 12c task group. 1.8 Another
annual event is “What Do You Think” the pre-General Assembly event for young
people. For the past two years we have obtained DfES money to fund this and have
seen our numbers rise. This is a fantastic opportunity for the under 26
representatives to meet and prepare for Assembly, by looking at the book of
reports together as well as hearing and questioning some guest and expert
speakers. This weekend is ably led by members of the YCWT team and FURY Council. 1.9
One of the other big issues that FURY faces is the huge disparity between
Synods. Some of the representatives on Council are fortunate to come from Synods
who employ a member of the YCWT team as well as having Synod Youth Secretaries
in post, some of whom are employed specifically by the Synod. In contrast we
have other Synods, who report that they have no YCWT, no Synod Youth Secretary
and even no youth structure. This variation makes it difficult to progress work
across all Synods simultaneously and while some areas become more and more
successful, there are others which are the exact opposite. The chance for the
Synod representatives to join together at FURY Council and share their
experiences, both good and bad, is a valuable chance to support each other. The
role of district FURY representatives also varies greatly and it is crucial that
the wider church realises the contributions these representatives can make when
encouraged, supported and made aware of the structures. 1.10
FURY has an exciting future ahead. The programme of national events is beginning
to grow, with FURY Assembly, What Do You Think? and FURY Camp reunion and Camp
all available for young people. There is a website and magazine for people to
read about FURY and contribute their experiences of FURY, whether it be from
their local church or nationally. FURY has a lot to offer young people; so
please try to give your support and encouragement.
Pilots
Committee Members
Convener: Revd Neil Thorogood Treasurer: Revd Martin
Truscott Pilots Development Officer: Karen Bulley Mrs
Marilyn Armstrong, Mr John Hornby, Mr Huw Morrison, Revd John Sanderson, Revd
Stephen Haward,
Revd Sandra Turner
PILOTS: BECAUSE CHURCH IS MEANT TO BE AWESOME!
1. We Hear You!
1.1 Pilots across Britain are saying fantastic things to the United
Reformed Church! Pilots is the United Reformed Church’s non-uniformed
organisation for children and young people made up of Deckhands (5-6 years),
Adventurers (7-10), Voyagers (11-14) and Navigators (15-18). The Congregational
Federation share as sponsors of Pilots. 1.2 As of April 2004
there were 500 Pilots Officers in 150 Companies. That is a continuation of the
steady growth across Pilots, and especially in its older age groups, for some
years now!
1.3 In 2003-2004 a major research project has allowed Voyagers and
Navigators to tell us what matters to them. Amongst other things we discovered
that 91% attend their Pilot Company every week and 53% are in worship in their
local church at least once a month. That’s a real indication of how well Pilots
enables congregations to develop strong relationships with young people and
children; relationships that transform churches and Pilots alike! We also know
that Pilots allows major worship and Christian exploration to escape the Sunday
straight jacket and dance into weekday evenings at times and in ways truly
relevant to the lives of young people. We discovered that 40% of Voyagers and
Navigators expressed a desire to exercise leadership in Pilots. As a result many
will gather for a conference in August where they will be able to take
responsibility for shaping their own future. 1.4 Hear and
rejoice with Pilots as they tell us the top five things that they like best
about their organisation:
2. We are Here for You!
2.1 Pilots is an expanding, exciting and innovative organisation because
it is truly local. We have a brilliant national team in our Pilots Development
Officer (Karen Bulley) and our administrative support (Sylvia Paine), who in
turn resource a network of Regional Pilots Officers and work extensively with
Synod Youth Leadership Training Officers. So every local company is never far
from personal, committed and effective support and encouragement. Pilots has
proven tools to help local churches foster lay leadership amongst children and
young people.
2.2 In the last two years we’ve run 27 Pilots Roadshows across the
country to help churches discover how Pilots can help them. We have also run
several “So you want to know more about Pilots” and Pilots Officers training
events at Windermere. Pilots is truly “owned” by a local church which is
responsible for its Pilots company and its leadership. That’s an important
commitment. It also means that the success of a Pilots company is truly a
success of a local church and something to shout about! We are
creating an exciting Pilots web site to support local churches in their work
with Pilots.
3. We Do it Big!
3.1 By the time Assembly meets Pilots will have taken over Legoland
Windsor for a day in May. Thousands will travel from across the three nations of
the United Reformed Church. Hundreds of churches will share a day of fun, faith
and fellowship. Pilots is able to go large with skill and a real taste for
adventure! 3.2 Pilots continues to be an ecumenical organisation
shared with other denominations. We continue to produce Voyages that explore
many parts of the world and the lives of young Christians in those countries.
4. We Work!
4.1 The whole of General Assembly is too short to tell you all the good
news about Pilots. All you have to do, if you want to let Pilots bring its blend
of fun and faithfulness to your church, is contact the Pilots Desk at the United
Reformed Church on 020 7916 2020 or email pilots@urc.org.uk! You won’t regret it!
Resolution 38: Youth and Children’s Work Committee
General Assembly notes that after considerable research the
Youth and Children’s Work Committee has been unable to comply with the
instruction contained in resolution 12 of 2003 ‘to use the model of the Ginger
Group teams and work with others in drawing up plans for the development of a
team to become a resource to local churches . . .’. General
Assembly therefore calls upon the Youth and Children’s Work Committee
to re-establish a network of District and Synod youth secretaries to complement
the children’s work network; to develop an
Assembly-wide database of youth and children’s groups and workers, with the aim
of sharing resources and skills; to have
regular quality mailings, building on the success of Urchin and Bridge, which
shall include opportunities for the participation of young people and children;
to develop a five year plan, focusing work under the headings of Belonging,
Worship, Discipleship, Evangelism and Action. All are to be featured in every
year, but with a particular emphasis on one in each; to ensure that all those working within the United Reformed Church with children
and young people are adequately trained for their role; to monitor, in collaboration with Training Committee, training in work with
children and young people offered at all levels, including ordination,
Continuing Ministerial Education and Training and Learning for Service; to support and advocate the Youth and Children’s Work Trainers’ programme;
to create a forum for theological reflection on youth and children’s ministry
both within the United Reformed Church and ecumenically; to offer opportunities for children and young people and those who work with
them to explore faith development and spirituality; to ensure good stewardship.
1.1 The Youth and
Children’s Work Committee met soon after General Assembly 2003 to decide how to
proceed with Resolution 12 and identify the issues that needed to be explored.
We set up a task group, under the convenership of Stephen Collins, made up of
people with a wide range of experiences (ex-Ginger Group member, local church
minister, youth worker, FURY rep, etc). 1.2 The group met and
produced three different models – an Assembly-level mission team of 12, a team
of 6 employed through the Government’s New Deal programme, a team of 12 Synod
Representatives to work with and through FURY Council. The costs of the
programmes ranged from £114,480 to £36,700. These models were used as the basis
for wide consultation, including a session at FURY Assembly and written
responses. 1.3 The evidence from much of the consultation proved
to be of a negative nature towards the idea of setting up a new Ginger Group
type project. The main concern is the recruitment of young people to the scheme
at a time when there are so many similar programmes, many offering the
opportunity to travel abroad. It was also recognised that the needs of local
churches have changed in the twenty years since the original Ginger Group
programme came to an end, not the least being the development of the YCWT
programme. The Committee was also concerned that, whatever the final strategy,
the main focus and beneficiary should be work with local churches. We recognised
that many of the young people in the Ginger Groups found it to be a
life-changing experience, but were not so convinced of the long-term effect in
local churches. 1.4 Taking all this into consideration, the task
group produced a fourth model. The proposal was to employ a co-ordinator to
establish a database as a tool for the sharing of skills and resources.
Individuals would be asked to offer time and/or talents and these would be
matched with local churches expressing a particular need. The Youth and
Children’s Work Committee considered this at their meeting in February and
raised a number of issues, ranging from practicality to more imaginative use of
those already working in the Synods – YCWTs, youth and children’s workers, Synod
and District youth and children’s secretaries. 1.5 At the same
meeting we started to develop the skeleton strategy that we had begun to put
together – using task groups to take on specific areas of work, these task
groups being made of committee members, Church House staff, YCWTs and others
concerned with work with children and young people. It was clear that many of
the ideas coming from these task groups echoed those coming from the ‘Ginger
Group’ task group. We therefore felt that the most holistic way of approaching
an overall strategy was to combine the two. The result is the strategy now
placed before Assembly for its support. The strategy includes a resource-sharing
database and developing network as the bedrock, with a five-year programme of
resources and events offered to all aspects of our remit – children’s groups,
youth groups, Pilots, uniformed organisations. Other aspects of the strategy –
training, theological reflection and budgeting – provide the necessary support. 1.6
The Committee would like to thank the members of the task group and all those
involved in consultation for the very thorough work they carried out.
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