Trainee Youth Leader

Description

### Context

The post is part of the Transforming Mission project, a model for renewal and evangelism across Cornwall set up by the Diocese of Truro.

Transforming Mission in Cornwall started in Falmouth in 2017 and has now created a further four resourcing churches in Truro, Camborne, St Austell and Liskeard.

### Transforming Mission (Camborne)

The overall Transforming Mission objectives in Camborne have been developing since we began in 2020 but they are essentially to:

• To engage with the community, especially the ‘missing generations’ in places other than the church building.
• Identify and train new leaders to start new worshipping, missional communities in the surrounding rural villages and housing estates.
• Grow vibrant multi-generational congregations and establish missional activities take place in the rural areas.
• Develop effective connections with all schools within Camborne & the surrounding villages (1 Secondary, 9 Primary, 2 Nursery and 2 colleges.
• Provide teaching and support to enable congregational members to be confident in talking about their Christian faith, resulting in a growth numerically and in depth of discipleship.

By 2026 there will be vibrant, missional, multi-generational worshipping communities in Camborne and in the surrounding rural villages. There will be places and activities during the week to connect with the ‘missing generations’ in the area. There will be welcoming, safe spaces where people will ‘see the gospel in action’ and join in. There is a potential for new ways of being church to emerge.

There will be new worshipping, missional communities in Praze and Troon and valuable connections made with local schools and colleges and effective work with youth, children and families.

We will have built on the work begun by The Community Kitchen, All Saints Community Centre, Troon Hall Trust. We will be working ecumenically and include the whole cluster, with each church valued for what they offer.

Purpose of the Role.

This job description is indicative and will be shaped in partnership with the ministry team leading TM Camborne. However, in order to provide a basis on which to start we want to present the following:

• To lead on our mission and outreach to young people, developing groups and events that give opportunities for them to discover God’s love for them.
• Pioneer a thriving young people’s ministry geared towards 11- 18 year olds, in areas where the church is not currently active, where we have identified a clear need.
• Finding new ways to connect the rural communities, the marginalised and isolated.
• Be creative and innovative in presenting the gospel to young people to draw them into the Christian faith and community.
• To develop the chaplaincy work in local schools and colleges.

Key responsibilities

• To facilitate events, activities and worship geared to young people, that encourages both believers and those yet to follow Jesus in their spiritual life.
• To be a voice for young people within the churches and wider community.
• To provide pastoral support for young people.
• To assist in the planning, monitoring and reporting of activity intended to achieve the objectives of TM Camborne.
• To identify and enable other volunteers to share in the ministry and mission to young people.
• To promote and support the development of vocations for young people.
• To work with other members of the ministry team to assist in the establishment of new groups and worshipping communities as appropriate,
• To play an active role in the Chaplaincy of Camborne Science & International Academy and build relationships with the colleges within the cluster.
• To make good and appropriate use of digital technology.
• Partner with the existing projects, as appropriate.

Safeguarding

• To adhere to the Diocese of Truro’s safeguarding policy and procedure as well as any other related laws and to do all that is reasonable to promote care and safety in the fulfilment of the role and in daily working life for all who may be vulnerable. This includes a responsibility to remain up to date with your own safeguarding training at the level appropriate to the role. Please note that this role requires an enhanced DBS check.
• To undertake other duties, as may be required from time to time, to ensure the effective and efficient fulfilment of the role.
• To undertake relevant training required to best carry out the role, if required.

Health & Safety

To adhere to the Diocese of Truro’s Health and Safety policy and procedure as well as any other related laws and to do all that is reasonable to promote care and safety in the fulfilment of the role and in daily working life. Key relationships

The key relationships for the trainee youth leader are with:

• Young people in the Camborne and surrounding area
• Local Schools and Colleges
• The Deanery Misssioner, Rev’d Graham Adamson
• TM Team Lead for [Employer hidden — view at passion-project.co.uk], Rev’d Rosheen Browning
• The congregations
• TM Ministry Team (Worship Leader, Families Lead and Project Manager)
• Youth Leaders in other TM resourcing churches.
• Diocese of Truro TM Programme Team

We can offer you

• A beautiful part of Cornwall to work in that has a rich history and culture.
• The opportunity to work with a well-resourced team dedicated to regenerating the church in this area who will support you and encourage creativity.
• A growing network of peer support where you can share good practice.
• An exciting time to pioneer new styles of worship and establish new worshipping communities
• A vision that seeks to engage in mission and ministry to the missing generations in our communities

Diversity

We understand the benefits of employing individuals from a range of backgrounds, with diverse cultures and talents. We aim to create a workforce that:

• Values difference in others and respects the dignity and worth of each individual
• Reflects the diversity of the nation that the Church of England exists to serve
• Fosters a climate of creativity, tolerance and diversity that will help all staff to develop to their full potential.

Standards of Behaviour and Conduct

Staff and volunteers are expected to act at all times with due consideration for others and in a manner befitting their position as representatives of the Church and as professionals, whatever their job.

*This job description is a summary of the key areas of responsibility in the job.  It is not intended as a definitive statement of job content. The job description will be reviewed periodically, and may be subject to amendment.*

Appendix

The [Employer hidden]

There are 5 churches in the cluster. The largest is St Martin & St Meriadoc’s Church, Camborne, a town centre church that has a long history. Camborne is an historic mining town, 15 miles west of Truro and is a main stop on the London to Penzance railway line. It is an area with significant challenges, being one of the poorest towns in the country. Camborne and the surrounding villages now rely more on the agricultural and tourism industries and there is a good secondary school, Camborne Science & International Academy. It is a place of tremendous opportunity —God is at work here, bringing people to serve him here and together doing new things to grow the church.

As part of Transforming Mission we are in the process of upgrading the audio-visual facilities of Camborne Churchand other aspects of the interior space, whilst being sensitive to the beauty of a medieval church. The current average weekly attendance is about 75, with a small number of young people on the fringe who have recently outgrown Sunday school.

Also in the cluster is Tuckingmill Church, which has more sacramental tradition and supports a successful community centre on the edge of the town centre, which is an independently run charity. There is a well attended toddler group.

Holy Trinity, Penponds has a ‘high church’ tradition, and serves a small village with many young families, just outside Camborne. There a successful mid-week after-school club there.

Treslothan Church and Crowan Church are village churches of central Church of England tradition. Neither of them are situated in their local villages (Troon and Praze-an-Beeble respectively) so new ways of the church reaching the communities must be found, making use of facilities like the local schools or village hall. Outdoor storytelling and Wild Church are emerging here. Troon village has a Church Hall with good facilities and there is some rural youth provision to connect with in Praze. Many young people are isolated by geography as well as disadvantaged economically so creative ministry in this area has a lot of potential. We are actively working and praying to start a new missional community in Troon, especially around the housing estate.

Essential Criteria

We are looking for:

• A leader with a passion to see young people encounter God; and capable of nurturing their faith;
• A self–starter who shows initiative, organization skills and drive;
• The ability to grow ministry to young people within churches and communities, with dispersed young people from a range of backgrounds;
• A desire to work in a team to grow worshipping communities;
• A leader with their own personal pattern of prayer and reading the bible.

Essential

• A clear testimony of faith in Jesus Christ and a vital, growing personal relationship with Him.
• Committed to the welfare of young people as whole persons, made in the image of God.
• Commitment to the mission, vision and worship philosophy of TM and, in particular, to growing ministry that is relevant to young people.
• A desire to see young people discover Jesus and walk into the purposes of God in their life.
• A heart for the renewal and revitalisation of the Church in Camborne and surrounding areas.
• Approachable, with an ability to build positive relationships with young people and their families
• Ability to build strong & effective relationships within a team.
• An understanding of the nature of issues that affect the young people in Cornwall.

Skills

• Ability to communicate biblical truths in a relevant and engaging way for young people.
• Ability to utilise social media and digital communications creatively and effectively.
• Ability to inspire and communicate vision.
• Strong organisational & administration skills.

Experience

• Leading and planning teaching and worship that effectively engages 11-18 year olds.
• Creating and developing new initiatives and events that engage young people.
• Experience of engaging with people in community settings.

Preferred Criteria

• A qualification, skills or experience in youth work.
• A qualification or some training in Theology or Biblical Studies.
• A full clean driving license.

Accommodation Details

This is subject to negotiation with the suitable candidate, as yet there is no host family found for Sept 2023 start.

Week Overview

Subject to agreement, but a week could look like this:

Day                  Morning                Afternoon                            Evening

Monday            Cluster                        Cluster                                       Study

Tuesday            Team mtg       Schools and "Tea Time" Drop-in       Off

Wednesday       Line manager              Outreach                                    Off

Thursday         Preparation                Off                    Alpha /Home Group

Friday             Mentor/Study               Preparation                     Outreach

Saturday                  Off                                Off                                      Off

Sunday                 Church                              Off                              Youth Group

Only registered members can apply for placements.