The Christian Youth Work Consortium brings together denominations, Christian youth agencies and training providers. It gives a voice to Christian youth work on regional and national bodies and provides information about youth work training in the UK.
Its aims are to:
- affirm, encourage and equip the Christian sector in its work with young people
- provide an opportunity to debate and discuss key issues in youth work, youth policy and youth ministry
- be an inclusive network for leaders in Christian youth work/youth ministry agencies, training providers and denominational youth departments
- represent the Christian youth work constituency on various national and UK bodies and at key events, disseminate information, consult widely to agree common ground, and advocate on behalf of the sector.
- The consortium hosts a research community – a recent piece of work The ‘secular culture’ of youth work training was undertaken by Youth Scape. Other work from the research community will be highlighted in time. Youth Scape also publish The Story: Statistics, Trends and Research in Youth work on a regular basis.
A monthly news round up is provided by David Howell who leads the initiative. For more information, please contact David Howell or sign up to be a subscriber to the news here
Keeping Young People Safe in Private Dwellings
A number of senior leaders of Christian youth work/ministry across the UK have been working together over the last year in order to prepare a document for the constituency which provides a robust counter to the National Youth Agency’s position (https://www.nya.org.uk/youth-work-in-private-dwellings/ ) on youth work in private dwellings. The paper examines the theology and policy required and contains good practice guidance for all those meeting young people in homes.
A paper (which can be found here) was presented at the 4th Commonwealth Youth Work Conference, held in Reading in July this year: Safer Systems and Safer Practice for Youth Work in Private Dwellings. The final publication is now available as a download Keeping Young People Safe in Private Dwellings
Longitudinal research into student numbers on higher education programmes in Christian youth work. The most recent report, for the academic year 2023-24 is available here
David’s article for Premier NexGenPro Underpaid, undervalued, overstretched and fewer: the state of the nation with respect to youth and children’s workers in 2023 highlighted the results of last year’s research.