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The Key Task of the Diocesan Youth Service is to support, encourage and stimulate work with young people in the parishes of the diocese, primarily by providing resources and support to those who are working with young people.
As part of Vision for Action a number of key priorities have been set for youth work. These draw on the Church of England National Youth Strategy and “Youth A Part” which has as its core vision statement:
The vision is for a Church which takes young people seriously. It is a Church where young people fully and actively participate at every level. It is a Church which is built on good relationships, where young people particularly are concerned, not only with each other, but with those inside and outside the Church. It is a Church where there is a good theological understanding of why and how it goes about its work with young people. It is a Church which recognises that work of this quality needs resources and has the faith and courage to commit significant resources to the young people in the Church.
Youth A Part, paragraph 9.1 Church House Publishing 1996
In support of the priorities encompassed in Vision for Action, A way forward for the Diocese of St Albans, the Diocesan Youth service is committed to:
- Maintaining contact with voluntary and paid youth workers and ministers in parishes where there is work with young people.
- Producing a regular mailing, which will be sent to all who request to be on our mailing list.
- Developing the use of email as a means of ensuring information is passed to leaders.
- Maintaining our website (www.voicemail.org.uk) with current and relevant information.
- Providing consultation to parishes and deaneries as requested in support of work with young people. This may involve providing telephone and email support, or face to face meetings.
- Encouraging training by making opportunities known and, where necessary providing specific training around the diocese.
- Promoting appropriate resources for work with young people.
- Encouraging use of resources such as The Chellington Centre, and where necessary run events that enable smaller churches to be involved.
- Developing and supporting ways in which the voice of young people can be more effectively heard at all levels in the diocese. This may include youth forums.
- Jointly running, with Reach Out Projects, the Enable Holiday programme for the benefit of young people with special needs as well as providing opportunities of service for young people in our parishes.
- Encouraging good practice in the areas of employment, child protection, health and safety and all aspects relating to youth work.
- Representing church based youth work in wider forums, for example at Councils for Voluntary Youth Services, Connexions Service and Local Authority structures.
The Diocesan Youth Service consists of:
Diocesan Youth Officer
Youth Secretary
We are keen each year to have a young person undertaking a gap year with us.
The Diocesan Youth Service
Holywell Lodge, 41 Holywell Hill, St Albans, Herts, AL1 1HE
Tel: 01727 818160. Fax: 01727 844469
Email: admin@voicemail.org.uk Website: www.voicemail.org.uk
May 2006
