DOPCANDY

The National Charter for church youth workers is a set of seven promises churches make about the about the practices and principles they will use in employing a youth worker. In the Diocese of Portsmouth we believe that the charter is an excellent starting point for churches who employ or are seeking to employ a youth, children’s and family specialist for ministry.

Here’s an outline of the promises:

We will pray and support

• We believe that our youth worker needs spiritual support in their work with young people.
• We promise to pray for our youth worker and keep their needs a high priority in the church’s prayer life.

We will give space for retreat and reflection

• We believe that taking time to think and pray is just as essential for our youth worker as organising events and meeting young people.
• We promise to encourage our youth worker to use part of their schedule to give space for retreat, reflection and personal development.

We will provide ongoing training and development

• We believe that learning the skills of youth work is an ongoing process and that it’s important to continually invest in professional development.
• We promise to set aside time and money to provide this for our youth worker.

We will give a full day of rest each week

• We believe that taking regular time off helps maintain our youth worker’s passion and energy for their work with young people.
• We promise to actively encourage our youth worker to take a day away from their role each week to do something different.

We will share responsibility

• We believe that having a youth worker does not release the rest of the church from our responsibilities towards young people.
• We promise to encourage everyone to play a part in volunteering, praying for or supporting young people.

We will strive to be an excellent employer

• We believe that it’s important to have clear structures and procedures for recruiting and employing a youth worker, and to provide supportive management structures.
• We promise to follow good practice guidelines in the way we employ our youth worker.

We will celebrate and appreciate

• We believe it’s vital to acknowledge what our youth worker is doing and the commitment they have made to work with young people in our church.
• We promise to make sure our youth worker knows they are appreciated and we will celebrate their achievements.

If you would to know more about National Charter for church youth workers and how your church can engage with them then please visit the excellent website here