Who is it for?
The Commissioned Youth and Children’s Pathway is for experienced volunteers or employed workers who want to deepen their knowledge and skills in youth and children’s work. It seeks to equip, inspire and honour the knowledge and experience they already have, growing their leadership skills alongside their strategic and theological thinking.
What will they learn?
Expert trainers will guide them through topics such as child development, team management, working in a multifaith context, discipleship of children, and creating spaces for mission. They will also be honing their skills in reflective practice and theological thinking.
What is involved?
The Commissioned Youth and Children pathways will be run once a year. Although these are two distinct pathways, most of the teaching will be combined. Participants will need to commit to three face-to-face full-day training sessions, one of which is a residential, Friday evening to Saturday afternoon. Three peer learning group meetings and three meetings with a mentor over a six-month period.
After each gathered session, participants will be asked to complete some interactive assessment tasks, all of which will be hosted on the diocesan learning platform ‘Pathways’.
They will also be expected to have up-to-date safeguarding training and a DBS check.
The commissioning
At the end of the programme, a service will be held centrally, where all participants of both the youth and children’s pathways will be invited to celebrate the completion of the programme with a commissioning by the Bishop to do youth and children’s work in their parish.
What’s the signup process?
A form will be sent out to anyone interested in taking part in the programme, and as part of the sign-up process, they will be asked to include the name and email address of their vicar or employed worker. A member of the Flex Commissioned team will then be in touch with the vicar or employed worker to discuss the participant’s suitability for this programme.
Anyone taking part in the Commissioned youth and children’s programmes will need their vicar’s support, and the PCC should be notified about their participation. This is necessary because the Bishop will formally commission participants to undertake youth and children’s work in their parish, requiring the backing of the church community.
Our prayer
In taking part in this programme, our prayer is that not only will the participants be better equipped, more inspired, and have greater confidence in their ability to do all God has called them to, but together, we will raise up and give greater honour to the hugely significant role played by those working with children and young people across our diocese daily.