Every now and then, we like to bring you up to date with the latest youth work training opportunities in this country. for this training edition, Youthwork’s journalist Jamie Cutteridge - and his army of youth workers - present a multi-stranded Richard-Curtis-rom-com-style tour through some of the more unusual youth work training adventures.
Reflecting on my cohort during my three years in youth work training, we were certainly a diverse bunch. There were those of us who spent most of the lecture time playing ‘Football Manager’ on our computers while others were there primarily to meet their future husband or wife. Some members of the course were passionately committed to serving young people on the fringes of society with no interest in church, while others were some of the most brilliantly skilled disciplers I’ve ever seen. A few of the group left with exemplary first class degrees, while some led Aston Villa to Champions League domination and ended up working at Youthwork magazine. Yet despite the differences within the group, the course allowed us all to flourish, to grow and to develop into the youth workers God has called us to be. Was it perfect? Not at all. Did we leave the course better youth workers? Absolutely.
The joy is that the range of organisations offering training are doing it differently, and allowing space for the youth workers they’re working with to turn out differently. In the same way that no two youth groups, and no two young people are the same, it is vital that youth work training options are not the same. With individual tutors, mentors and optional modules, the breadth of training in this country is something to be proud of, and the youth workers it produces continue to produce serve young people with passion and creativity.
My three years’ worth of training don’t tell a particularly interesting story. I turned up to lectures, got my essays done at the last minute, met some of my best friends, didn’t work as hard as I should and passed with a degree. I also got a lot better at what I do. But out there are far more interesting stories, so we figured we’d tell you a load more interesting ones. So here is a taste of the impact that youth work training has, a few stories from those that have been through it, and how their youth work - and their lives - changed.
LISA: I WAS HEALED OF DEPRESSION
I had depression from the age of 13, and still had it when I did a youth work internship and when I started my degree at Oasis. Having depression during my degree was difficult as it was often hard to find motivation to come into lectures, socialise with my peers, and ask questions in class because my confidence was so low. During lectures I couldn’t concentrate and would struggle to focus on what we were studying, which meant that trying to write assignments was tough. Long days would also take all of my energy which would affect me during the following days and could often interfere with my practice. The college staff were really supportive and encouraging to me through prayer and conversations, even if I couldn’t make it into class.
The course was really helpful in my struggle with depression. Working with young people gave me a drive and a focus, and Oasis assigned me a personal tutor which meant I was well supported. The nature of doing this degree meant that I was surrounded by a lot of Christians and I learned to be a lot more social. All of these things, over a period of time, led to my healing from depression at the end of my second year at Oasis! This was a gradual process, but being given responsibilities which took me out of my comfort zone helped to form my identity; without the opportunity to take on these responsibilities I wouldn’t have known what I was capable of.
Being healed has given me the freedom to explore my gifts and abilities as a youth worker, which has greatly influenced my practice. Not only do I feel freedom in Christ because of his healing power, but the young people and volunteers I work with have witnessed it too through my testimony. Being healed means I can give more time and energy to my practice without being worn down or sick, greater relationships with the young people are being made and more discipleship is taking place. I don’t feel the same amount of fear and anxiety when preaching and sharing the word with young people.
LISA EDGE is in her third year of studying Youth Work and Ministry (JNC, BA hons) at Oasis College.
ANGELA: STUDYING SEEMED A RIDICULOUS IDEA
Three years ago someone suggested that I did a degree in youth work. I had recently become a single mum and it wasn’t financially viable, so the suggestion of studying seemed ridiculous and I didn’t take it seriously. However, over the next year I had so many different incidents that pointed me towards doing this degree that I was left with no doubt that it was what God wanted me to do.
For four years I had muddled through youth work with my common sense and skills as a mother, but now I’m actually learning ways of doing things that have been well-researched. It’s great! Every week I’m learning something that I take back into my youth group. Studying theology has made me so much more confident to talk about real issues with my young people. One of my prayers was that I would fit in as a mature student. Most people are quite young here, but God has really come up trumps in helping me to be able to fit into this environment. Academically, it has been challenging, but Moorlands are so supportive in taking you through it.
Time-wise it’s demanding to be running a household, having teenagers and doing the course as well - there have been some meltdown points! But I have that learnt that if God tells you to do something, he will be faithful; he will provide you with the money, and he will provide you with the time. Where God calls, he equips. For me, having teenage daughters does help me to relate to young people, but at the same time, I think there needs to be a specific calling to youth work; I don’t believe that it is for every parent of teenagers, it is a gifting. It’s so exciting that someone of my age is being called to youth work.
ANGELA PITT is in her second year of studying Theology and Youth Work (JNC) at Moorlands College.
PIPPA: I FELT CALLED TO LEAD, EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T WANT TO
I would describe my journey towards becoming a youth worker as one of reluctance. I became a Christian at the age of sixteen and almost immediately got asked to take several small positions of leadership. I consider myself to be a timid person and my idea of leading others sat very uncomfortably with me, not least because I didn’t feel equipped to lead. When I left sixth form I made the choice to go to art school in Edinburgh. Even there, away from everyone who knew me, I was asked again to lead others – apparently it wasn’t something I was going to get away from! In the summer after my second year, I spent time wrestling with God. I came to the conclusion that if I was going to let him use me in this way and if I was going to continue being so uncomfortable with it, then I had to do something about it.
I left Edinburgh and started studying their BA course in Christian Youth Work at the University of Chester (which also gave you a JNC qualification). When I started the course, I didn’t know that I wanted to be a professional youth worker. I started it because for me, at that time, it was right. It gave me the resources to understand the professional and practical aspects of youth work and theology that I had been missing. Placements enabled me to test what I had learnt and being in a group of other aspiring youth workers was a great place to be challenged and learn too. I am now working as a youth worker and most days I come up against something new. I don’t think any course or training can get you ready for everything, but I was sent out equipped with a toolbox of knowledge, resources and networks that I could use as I encountered those challenges.
PIPPA DOUGLAS studied Christian Youth Work (JNC, BA) at the University of Chester and is now a youth worker at St George’s Church, Poynton.
CHRIS: I ENDED UP IN A WHEELCHAIR AND GOD IS STILL USING ME
I was a very sporty person when I started the course and was training to run the marathon during my first year. Half way through the first year I had an operation to restore my hearing because I was practically deaf. After the operation my health spiralled and I ended up as a full-time wheelchair user.
I spent my second two years in Moorlands wrestling with what being in a wheelchair meant for my future, wondering whether I could even still do youth work and what the purpose of me being on my degree course was. It was a real challenge, but in terms of the support I was offered I don’t think that I could have been in a better place for those two years. Moorlands were phenomenal and they have a really good pastoral set-up. To be honest, I still don’t think I’ve fully come to terms with my condition; the nature of the illness means my health continues to spiral and there were a lot of times I thought about dropping out of the course. This wasn’t because of how challenging I was finding it, but because I questioned my own value as a youth worker. A lot of what I did was up tempo youth work and kids clubs, where you have to do things like dance around on a stage and try to get people excited. I felt like a lot of my charisma was associated with that.
I had to go back and really evaluate why I went to Moorlands in the first place. I’ve always felt that my calling was to work with boys who don’t have any other male role models in their lives, boys who are living with their mums and don’t have a positive male influence. When I came back to that I began to see that there were other options, and so I continued with my course with the support of my tutor and with the strength and grace of God, because I know I couldn’t have gone through those two years without him. I may be healed in the future, I don’t know, but what I do know is that God’s still with me in all of this and I just have to trust in him.
I’m now working as a TA in a primary school, and I work with boys from single parent families! I’ve never really mentioned my calling to the other staff, but last Christmas I received a card from my head teacher saying that I was making a real difference to the lives of the boys that other people weren’t getting through to. This was an amazing confirmation of what I was called to be doing. It wasn’t what I saw myself doing when I came to Moorlands, but I genuinely couldn’t see myself doing anything else now.
CHRIS NASH studied Applied Theology with Youth and Community Work (BA hons) at Moorlands College, and now works as a teaching assistant and volunteers at Christ Church Baptist Church doing youth and children’s work. .
TOM: I GAVE UP ON A 'REAL’ DEGREE TO FOLLOW MY CALLING
I did a gap year at St Michael le Belfry in York, and deferred a place to study media at University. I had planned to do a gap year, and then do a ‘real’ degree before doing some theological training. But continuing to do youth work while getting trained was an opportunity to do what I had wanted to do from the start. I felt like I shouldn’t wait for three years just for the sake of it.
The times away studying are the most intense but also provide the chance to retreat, which sounds like an oxymoron. You learn constantly from morning to evening, you’re in discussion about youth ministry, practice and theology, but you do it in the most beautiful of settings, and can go for a walk along the cliffs.
What fascinated me was the way you’d somehow start to spot the impact of what you’d learnt. I now feel a lot more equipped to deal with things in youth ministry. I’ve grown significantly both as a youth worker and as a reflective practitioner, to look at what I’m doing and think through what I’m doing, both in light of the Bible, and theory. The community of knowing 30+ youth workers across the country who I wouldn’t have otherwise known is also invaluable. Studying youth work means I now feel more secure in my calling.
TOM AND HIS WIFE CHARLOTTE recently moved from York to London where he now works for Youth Alpha.
BEN & LAURA: OUR TRAINING BROUGHT US TOGETHER
Ben: I was already doing youth work before the course. I wanted to become better at what I was doing and to broaden my knowledge and skill-set. But mostly I found it interesting; I wanted to become a better youth worker, but also wanted to expand my theology.
Laura: Laura: I started the course because youth work was something I wanted to do professionally and I wanted to put some framework around my existing thinking. Not to meet hot guys. The theology aspect appealed to me, especially the fact it was applied and not just something abstract.
B: Even though I’m no longer a youth worker, the course has helped me with my professionalism, to manage and lead people.
L: It’s helped me identify specifically where God was calling me to. The reflection at the end of the course shaped who I was called to be as a person, not just as a youth worker which changed my perspective on things, as I’d previously seen my calling as a youth worker, not as a person.
B: We were part of the same friendship group which hung out most weeks. We never saw each other in any kind of romantic way until near the end of the course to be honest.
L: I’m still not sure how that happened. I had no plans for this kind of thing at all! I remember thinking just before we got together that the calling God had for me was either going to be as part of a married couple, or as a single person, and I had no plans or desire to get married quickly. So I assumed that God was calling me to be single for a while.
B: A few of our friends told us that we’d work together, but it had just seemed natural up to that point. It was obvious to everyone else apart from us that we’d be happy together.
L: The clincher was realising that our dreams and our passions tied up as much as our personalities. The course gave us the space to explore together what our dreams and our hopes were in terms of mission as well as personally. It all came together.
BEN WHITMARSH works with individuals with severe learning difficulties. LAURA works for Christ Church, Bayston Hill as their Pioneer Youth Minister. Together they are keen gardeners, knitters and bakers.
