Become a Ministry Partner
Find out how to register as a SWYM Ministry Partner.
Thinking about becoming a Ministry Partner?
If you’re thinking about registering, then the best thing to do is to get in contact so that we can arrange to visit you and discuss how we can work together. Here’s a brief overview of how it works:
1. Get in contact with SWYM
The first step is to contact us, and we will arrange a meeting with your local area co-ordinator who will help guide you through this process.
2. Complete online forms
When you are ready to apply to register as a Ministry Partner, complete our online form. Once you have registered, there are two forms that you will need to complete:
- Ministry Partner Form – This tells us about your setting, vision and goals.
- Job Description – This tells us more about the specific work that a trainee will be doing when placed. You will have multiple Job Descriptions if you are looking for more than one trainee.
Advice on completing the Ministry Partner Form and Job Description can be found in the Ministry Partner Next Steps Handbook. You will also need to provide a copy of your Safeguarding and Health and Safety Policies.
3. Trainee recruitment process
We receive applications from across the UK and around the world throughout the year from people who wish to be part of SWYM. As part of the application process, we will take up three references and conduct an initial interview.
Having assessed applicants’ suitability to join one of our training courses, we will put forward an applicant who best suits your profile. Due to the nature of placing trainees, it is unusual for SWYM to be able to offer more than one applicant at a time to a placement to interview.
Ministry partners are encouraged to look for potential applicants as well as waiting for applicants that will come through SWYM. A ministry partner could place an advert in national or regional magazines and advertise with local churches and contacts.
4. Ministry Partner interviews
The ministry partner will need to interview the applicant to make the correct appointment. This may include a number of interviews and visits. The ministry partner should also be aware that most of the applicants are not able to afford to pay for extensive travel arrangements and help should be offered by the ministry partner for this. If, after the interview, you decide not to go ahead with that trainee, we will request some feedback and suggest another trainee.
Once a ministry partner is happy with a SWYM approved applicant, a role can be offered directly to the applicant by the ministry partner or through SWYM. It then becomes the applicant’s decision whether he/she wishes to accept the placement’s offer. Once all parties are agreed on the placement, the agreements need to be completed and then details of accommodation, arrival in the placement, start date and any other specific matters need to be clarified.
5. Placement Agreement signed and confirmed
Once all the checks and arrangements have been made the Placement Agreement will be signed.
6. Trainee starts!
It is the ministry partner’s responsibility to arrange for the trainee to travel to the induction programme, all training conferences and local cluster meetings.