Flex Foundations is Church of England Birmingham’s training programme designed for youth and children’s helpers. This six-month, fully online programme provides essential foundational knowledge in youth and children’s work. Participants can choose between a youth or children’s pathway, with two cohorts each year, starting in April and October.
What you need to know
This programme is structured into four groups: Their World, The Children’s/Youth Worker, Navigating Challenges, and Unlocking Their Potential. Each consists of bitesize modules ranging from 15 to 30 minutes of learning and covers topics such as: Faith Development, Teamwork, Growing Up Digital, Listening Skills, and Including and Supporting Children and Young People with Additional Needs.
All of the content and work you need to complete will be found online on our Pathways platform.
During the sign-up process, the Flex Foundations team will speak with your church leader to discuss your suitability for the programme and explore how the church can support you. Don’t worry—this conversation ensures the training is right for you and allows your leadership to pray and support your growth in youth and children’s work.
At the end of the programme, you will have:
- Gained comprehensive foundational knowledge in youth and children’s work.
- Developed specialised understanding by choosing a pathway focused on either youth or children’s work.
- Learnt practical strategies for effective engagement with young people and children.
- Understood the needs of young people and children in various contexts.
- Be able to apply knowledge and strategies to real-world scenarios in your work with young people and children.
- This programme is for you if…
- You are new to children’s and youth work
- You haven’t had time to do any training for a while
- You are a helper within the children’s and youth work in your church context
What’s expected of me?
The programme is specifically designed to be completed at the participant’s own pace within a six month period, requiring self-motivation to progress through the modules. Participants are expected to take responsibility for their own learning, fostering personal growth and development while also creating opportunities to share their insights and experiences with their wider team.