Support Youth Worker

Support Youth Worker- Job Description:

Job Purpose
Forefront Community Church is an independent evangelical church with a town centre presence through its Community Centre in Chard. In recent years we have focused on our service to youth and children, and our paid Youth Worker has created opportunities to support the work of the local secondary Academy with faith-based
mentoring and education support. This recruitment aims to build on that foundation, starting an after-school drop-in at the Community Centre, and reaching out to new cohorts of teenagers.

The Support Youth Worker will report to the Youth Worker as their line manager and will receive support and encouragement from a designated mentor. They are expected to attend Forefront Community Church, where they will join the Youth Worker and a team of volunteers in running the church youth work. We invite them to join one of our Life Groups, and to develop an understanding of our evangelical distinctives. They will be motivated by a desire to see the Gospel lived out by the
youth of Chard and district in a way that is relevant and genuine.

The candidate will be actively involved in our local schools (particularly upper primary and secondary) including mentoring; leading after-school activities which provide a safe space to build friendship for youth in Chard; working with the volunteer youth team in our youth Bible studies, activities and outreach projects.

They will:
● With the current Forefront Youth Worker, initiate new projects and ways of interacting with the youth of Chard, including a project to use Forefront Centre as a venue for the youth to meet after school, to provide them with workshop activities and strengthen relationship with them.
● Seek ways to reach out to young people who do not yet know Jesus and introduce them to him, including running Youth Alpha Courses and other outreach projects.
● Encourage young people in, and connected with, Forefront Church to cultivate a personal relationship with God.
● Develop links with other youth work in the town
● Encourage young people to take an active role in the life of the church

Responsibilities
Training:
● Attend regular meetings with line manager

● Attend regular meetings with mentor
● Attend SWYM trainings and degree course.

Schools work:
● Strengthen links with Holyrood Academy and primary schools in the area, getting involved in the life of the schools as guided by the Forefront youth worker
● Support appropriate inter-church activities in Holyrood and other schools (Christian Union, Youth Alpha course)
● Develop links with other churches, organisations and charities to promote outreach

Community youth outreach:
● Initiate new projects and ways of interacting with the youth of Chard (after-school drop-in, coordinating youth volunteers at the summer Holiday Club)
● Develop projects to reach the youth of international background in Chard
● Offer one-to-one support for young people who need a safe space to talk

Rooted (11-15) - church based:
● Support the Youth Worker and the volunteer team to plan activities with the Forefront “Rooted” youth group, encouraging them to set a vision and accomplish it
● Help to lead the Rooted group in its various activities (Bible studies, youth service planning, evening games and activities)

Mentoring:
● Strengthen the programme of mentoring for youth development, as planned with the current Youth Worker, taking account of mentoring relationships which already exist
● Create relationships with youth to enable the building of appropriate environments for mental health and life support

Integration into church life:

● Encourage young people to take part in church activities
● Communicate activities of the youth work to the wider church
● Participate in all-church activities where possible

● Support the Current Youth Worker, review of policies and safeguarding protocols, ensuring they are understood and complied with by volunteers.

Personal study and enrichment:
● Participate in activities which will encourage and aid the Youth Leader’s personal spiritual growth

-To be a committed Christian with an active personal faith and devotional life.

-A genuine passion for working with children and young people and supporting their personal, spiritual, and emotional development.

-Right to work in the UK and willingness to undergo an enhanced DBS check.

- some experience of youth work, children’s work, mentoring, coaching, teaching, or community-based programmes for young people, but not essential.

Accommodation details will be provided

Sunday:

Morning: Youth group / Church service".

Afternoon: Free.

Evening: Free.

Monday

Morning: Cluster.

Afternoon: Study.

Evening: Free.

Tuesday

Morning: Pray /Preparation.

Afternoon: After school Youth Club.

Evening: Study.

Wednesday:

Morning: Local school - mentoring support.

Afternoon: School CU / Pastoral catch-ups.

Evening: Youth Alpha/ outreach project.

Thursday

Morning: Study.

Afternoon: After school Youth Club.

Evening: Free.

Friday:

Morning: Pray /Preparation.

Afternoon: Study / Kids Club.

Evening: Youth Group.

Saturday:

Day Off/

Messy church (Once a term)