Youthblog

Youthblog en Francais

2010-03-12T10:05:29Z

My 20 year battle to become fluent in German is well documented within the blog, a battle that continues to both stretch me ... and create a lot of fun. However in a case of, in for a penny in for a Euro; myself and my family are having a bash at learning French.

This definitely has me on the back foot given that I was not allowed to continue with French at school, "not clever enough!" I was told, but to be fair even when I was doing it, my text book, "De Jour en Jour," remained literally and figuratively, very much a closed book. However working on Alex Dumas's assertion that English is basically French but wrongly pronounced, I'm having a bash, so ..... Regardez vous le espace*

Ok, any attempt to translate "watch this space" is going to be difficult, can anyone help?

Where have all the young people gone?

2010-03-09T17:47:00Z

I had a great day yesterday at Waverley Abbey on a one day conference entitled "Where have all the young people gone?"
As this is firmly within my exploration ahead of writing the Diocesan Strategy for youth engagement, I thought I'd go along! It was useful to spend a day with Church leaders and Youth Workers who were also exploring this, and to hear what Andy Peck and Martin Saunders were bringing to the discussion.

The day was basically a theological exploration, a cultural and statistical look at the present, then exploring responses, ideas and opportunities. All good stuff and especially helpful to be reflecting with people from a variety of denominations.

As per conversations with a couple of people, I said I'd upload my piece on 'How to recruit Volunteers' so here it is. I also said I'd link to the National Council for voluntary youth services through which you can find if you have a local County CVYS.

Mention was made during the day of the Methodist resources around volunteering, and I mentioned the Oxford Diocesan handbook. Martin mentioned the Jan/Feb edition of EA that has an article on "The Missing Generation!" Oh and if you want to explore a bit further the idea of working with a digital generation, this is an excellent article from Tim Davies.

If there is anything else people wanted, please shout.

The Fear Factory

2010-03-09T08:48:24Z

This article by Helen McNutt acts as an excellent foil to the vitriolic lynch (media) mob that re-grouped to to preach hatred, judgment and demonisation, given that the Bulger case is back in the spotlight.

I'm grateful to Chris for the pointer to this article which also put me in contact with a film called The Fear Factory, a film which aims to raise the debate about crime and young people out of the realms of rabble-rousing ill informed soundbites.

"The self-fulfilling prophesy that's doubled our prison population,
demonised our young and costs us billions...
Welcome to the Fear Factory"

The coalition behind the film have a blog here.
More info when I have found an opportunity to watch the film

Fight the Stereotype

2010-03-08T08:41:57Z

This cracked me up, the five key rules for Youth Pastors. I reckon I'm including this in the induction of any new Youth Ministers!!
Watch, laugh ..... and grimace where it's YOU :-)

Feel free to add any other 'fight the stereotype' rules for the UK context
ht to mgpcpastor's blog

Ok Go, again

2010-03-04T11:32:01Z

I spotted this video on Cartoon Church and it made me laugh! A previous 'Ok Go' outing was a delight but this certainly ups the ante. I love the fact that the outfits don't make sense to the end and that there is a kind of homage to the old vid' in the middle of the piece.

Gloriously Chucklesome, enjoy!

Call

2010-03-03T16:23:48Z

"Do not try to call them back to where they were, and do not try to call them to where you are, beautiful as that place may seem to you. You must have the courage to go with them to a place that neither you nor they have been before"

Vincent Donavan, I think

Short Break and Respite care

2010-03-03T12:31:14Z

Someone asked me a question about what the term 'short break' meant and how it differed from 'respite care!' I like questions I understand and can answer, even better I could talk from personal experience as the parent of a disabled child:

Under the old system, I explained, 'respite care' was the name of the support for carer families that we didn't get. There has now been a whole new initiative, funding set, priorities and importantly, a name change .... whereby instead, we now don't get any 'short breaks!'

Not moaning (and was written with a grin on my face) but I hope that services do grow and develop for so many families who (for whatever reasons) wouldn't cope without this vital support and help.

The Easter Vigil

2010-03-03T09:31:55Z

One of the networks I exist in has been having a bit of a cant about Easter Vigils, specifically gleaning wisdom and ideas for said event(s). Youth work guru and all round nice guy, Nic Shepherd posted this general overview which I thought contained great wisdom (and humour), he said it was ok if I used it on the blog as an opening gambit in asking YOU to share ideas, experience and wisdom. Thank you :-)

"The period between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. is by far the longest and requires
a pretty clever programme to retain attention.

Usually include a feature film so those that need to can dose.

Plenty of refreshment breaks and continual access to drinking water.

Insist that no-one leaves the building without prior permission.

Have a quiet room with sleeping bags available where participants can
choose to retreat, or even be sent if you consider they require sleep. Make it clear that you have this power at the start of the event.

The period between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. is easy in terms of young people
being completely compliant and agreeing to virtually anything you suggest -
handle with care.

Always recruit a fresh back-up team to arrive at 7a.m to sort out breakfast and tidy-up - because you'll be past caring.

Remember to keep the whole of the following day free in your diary as
you will be fit for nothing and certainly shouldn't be operating heavy machinery"

Cartoon by Asbo Jesus

My admin policy has come unstuck

2010-03-02T13:33:04Z

This morning I managed to write a message on the wrong side of a 'post-it-note,' only discovering the error when attempting to stick it to the door and discovering it was happily adhering to my fingers. I then wondered around for a while attempting to find some 'Blue Tack' in order to affix the message in a position where the intended recipient wouldn't miss it. Having achieved this I discovered that part of the message was horribly smudged by nature of it having been written on the shiny sticky bit.

I have postulated before ... that Youth Workers are not, on the whole, gifted administrators!
I offer this an an illustrative example of my own non-giftedness.

Filed under: Doh!

March 18th

2010-03-02T12:23:49Z

Network lunch for youth workers, school chaplains and community workers. Brother Paolo will be there to talk about the work of Taize and their experience of working with young people.

Please come, it'd be great to see you. Taize lunch.pdf

Time to stop and stair

2010-03-01T19:01:56Z

I've been doing a bit of building!

I have (sadly) no immediate need for any more sheds so other projects beckon. Today I finished a set of steps made from some discarded railway sleepers that I lovingly restored to full health with lashings of creosote!!

Poignant moment though in that I would have loved my dad to have seen them, he would have approved.

Exposure to sexualised images

2010-02-26T09:38:26Z

The media today have been responding to a Home Office report which rightly raises concern about young people's exposure to sexual images from an early age.

The BBC pick up on this with a piece entitled "Why can't I look like that?"

This is the press briefing and you'll find more discussion here from the Guardian.

This would be a great topic to be exploring with young people in a piece of group work.

Diocesan Youth Work Update

2010-02-24T15:12:40Z

If you are in the Diocese and the Parish mailing hasn't been punted on to your good self with the youth work and ministry news, you can find it here: Update Feb 2010finalpress.pdf

Talking Stick

2010-02-24T09:00:40Z

You have probably come across the idea of 'talking sticks' or the equivalent before (an item that is held by the speaker, identifying them as the person to be speaking at that time, and calling on everyone else to really listen; which is then passed to the next person who wishes to speak and be heard).

I was at a families fun-day drumming workshop last week and we made talking sticks, based on a native american tradition, in a way that I think would work brilliantly for a small youth group (and especially on a residential)

There was a pile of wool of various colours and textures. Each family had a stick and members of the family were encouraged to pick out bits of wool that they (for whatever reason) linked to something important about their family ... or an important memory or event. They then told the story whilst wrapping the wool around the stick. Eventually there was a vibrantly coloured stick to be used in future as the family 'talking stick' whereby everyone could be assured of being listened to.

For a small youth group this could be a great activity; making the stick and telling stories about the group and its key memories and values. It could then serve really well in discussions and debates, creating greater listening and participation.

Transformational Youth Ministry

2010-02-24T08:33:33Z

"Youth ministry doesn't have to spend a fortune or put on a rock concert to be effective in reaching junior high and high schoolers for Christ. Personal relationships, adult mentors, honest conversation, and opportunities to help others create an atmosphere where students feel they belong, and eventually are able to believe"

Trawling the web this morning I came across this article about transformational youth ministry It usefully reduces and demystifies faith based work with teens to five key points. Article is here, thanks to Chuck Warnock.