The vast majority of young people's work is delivered by volunteers, so the image of volunteers and of volunteering is an important conversation to be having. There has been some discussion about men now being less willing to be involved in work with young people as there might be a negative perception of them/their motivation. There is also I sense a reluctance to work with older adolescents becuase of cultural stereotyping and fear.
What is interesting though is two recent stories regarding the image of youth-work(ers) in the paper, one conveying a negative image and one portraying a much glossier front!
Firstly the Phone company (Phones 4u) that used a negative caricature of a Scout leader as a rather boring, friendless character in order to promote it's business. Eventually, in response to complaints, removing the advert from circulation.
While a more positive image of volunteering might be found by the story that flagged up that Natalie Suliman, the 'face' of M&S is passionate about voluntary youth work, and continues to actively lead a young women's group, fab!
So, if you're looking for a figure head for a Church youth-work volunteer recruitment drive ......
Interesting...especially as I am married to the Scout Leader/GSL of our local Catholic troop (and yes he wears glasses and he is middle aged!) .......considering some of the negative images of scouts and their leaders...they are thriving!..... even if some of the volunteers do appear 'boring and old'..... young people still want to join..I guess the marketing industry is more hung up about the image/age of youth leaders than the members.The revival of scouts is happening in spite of negative imagery. I guess beavers,cubs and scouts enjoy all the camping weeks,night hikes, Wings,family camp, activity days,dry sky slopes, cycling,kayaking,rafting, badges, Duke of Edinburgh Awards etc etc I know our children have many great memories.I did not like the advert.
Pat,
On the plus side it has given a lot of media attention to the great work the Scouts do, the fact that Bear Grylls is chief scout ..... and the shortage of volunteers.
I've been using the story of the Granny Waggon a lot with parishes/deaneries lately. A lot of people think you need to be 22, guitar playing, football mad/arty and trendy to work with young people. I try to stress that God calls all ages and types to work with young people and what young people really need is leaders who are genuinely interested in working with them and the rest doesn't matter much at all!
At our diocesan day for children and youth leaders we had 35 or so volunteers of whom only 2 or 3 were male. Conversely almost all our emlpoyed youthworkers in the diocese are male.
Granny Waggon - http://www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/publications_and_resources/publications/country_way/search/datafile.asp?ID=5154&DocType=pdf
Maybe that is a plus side.....my offense to the advert was not shared by the children whom thought it was hilarious and well, maybe,just a hint of dad ...... (at which point I suggested,they did not go there!)
I like......Granny Waggon, thanks for this.
Pat, we missed you at the network meeting.
Hope you are fully recovered now!