JOB VACANCIES
URC WEST MIDLANDS SYNOD
CHILDREN & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
The West Midlands Synod of the United Reformed Church is seeking to appoint a
Children and Youth Development Officer (Ref CYDO)
This is a full-time post for 35 hours per week including evening and weekends on an open-ended contract.
This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS Disclosure.
Salary: £40,000 depending on experience and qualifications
This post offers a challenging opportunity for an experienced and professionally qualified Children’s and Youth Worker with training (or development) skills. We are looking for an enterprising Christian to serve the churches of the Synod in offering advice and support to those working with children and young people and to build up a Synod Youth Executive.
The Officer appointed will be a member of a professional Assembly team and a large lay Synod team; good team working skills are essential.
If you share our passion for children and young people playing their part in the mission of God, please download the job description, person specification and application form.
Click to download the Job Description
Click to download the Person Specification
Click to download the Application Form
Closing date for applications: noon on Thursday 15 August 2024
Shortlisting: Monday 19 August 2024
Interview date: Monday 2 September 2024
In accordance with the Equality Act 2010: Part 1, Schedule 9, there is an occupational requirement for the post holder to be a practising Christian.
We are committed to diversity and equality of opportunity. We especially welcome applications from women and Black and Minority Ethnic Groups who are currently under-represented in this area of work in the Church.
URC NORTHERN SYNOD
Pioneer Children, Youth & Families Worker Posts (4)
Growing Capacity & Connections
Do you have a passion for helping children, young people and families hearing the good news of Jesus and grow as disciples?
Do you have a commitment to enabling others to take the first steps in making connections with children, young people and families in their local community?
Do you want to work with others to collaborate to help children, young people and families to flourish?
Salary up to £28,140 for suitably qualified candidates+ a generous pension scheme
Initial 2 year contract with the possibility of extending funding for 5 years.
Closing dates for all posts Monday 18 March 5pm.
The URC Northern Synod is seeking to grow their staff team working with children, young people and families as part of their commitment to supporting local churches and communities. This is a significant investment of resource to pioneer new work across the Synod.
A major part of this strategy is to work with churches to employ pioneer workers who will develop work that is appropriate to the different local contexts. During Spring 2024 we are advertising 4 pioneer worker posts across the Synod based in
- North West & Central Newcastle – working with 3 congregations. Focused on under 14’s with a strong schools work emphasis.
- North Tyneside Coast – working with 2 congregations. Focused on under 12’s.
- Central Newcastle – working with one congregation and ecumenically across the city centre and focused on 16-25 year olds
- Darlington – partnering with St Cuthbert’s Church in mission work with emerging generations (aged 13-25).
The United Reformed Church is committed to working ecumenically and the pioneer workers will be working in a local context but will also be part of the Synod children, youth & families team.
To express an interest or to find out more please contact John Stephenson 07849 670210 or emailing john.stephenson@urc-northernsynod.org
Application forms and full details can be obtained by emailing Isabelle Milburn isabelle@imhr.biz
URC NORTHERN SYNOD – YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES SCHEME
Part-Time Youth Placement at Central Newcastle Churches
Community Engagement Assistant
Including in-person and online engagement, social media, and streaming audio/visual assistance
Job Description
Hours of Work: 6-10 hours per week, one-year fixed term.
Positions available: 4
Locations: Four Newcastle churches: St James’s in the city centre, West End in Fenham, St Andrew’s on the Montagu Estate in Kenton, and Jesmond in Brandling Park. Each position would specialise in an individual church, but there will be significant crossover across all four
Starting date: ASAP
Purpose
This role is for you if you’re committed to finding ways to connect people with Jesus, Justice, and Joy!
It’s a learning opportunity for people between the ages of 16-25, and is part of the Youth Opportunity Scheme of the Northern Synod of the United Reformed Church.
You will work alongside our churches to develop and expand community engagement, using in-person storytelling and relational meetings, online engagement, and social media. You will also be asked to help with live-streaming worship services, engage in regular bible studies, keep a sacred space open and welcoming for people, and support other important community events. You’ll also be asked to help us explore ways ‘bridge the gap’ between traditional church culture and online community engagement.
Significant opportunities for training will be part of your role.
We are a Living Wage employer (currently £10.90 an hour) and covenant with you to pay a fair wage for your work.
Main Responsibilities:
1. Practice ‘radical hospitality’ in person and online to connect people with Jesus, Justice, and Joy in churches that are at the heart of their communities. This could include:
a. Welcoming people into a sacred church space during the week for 1-2 hours so people can pray and spend time with God;
b. Learning how to welcome people coming from multiple ethic and socioeconomic backgrounds into a church space;
c. Engaging people online in ways that help them identify how God is present in their lives, such as responding to people on church social media sites or raising awareness of opportunities people might be interested in that are occurring within the church;
d. Work alongside the minister and any pioneer workers in the churches to engage with the wider community.
2. Support, promote, and develop church websites, social media presence, and online engagement. This could include:
a. Traditional websites, but integrating them with social media aspects;
b. Developing Facebook, Instagram, and other social media ministries.
3. To support, promote and develop opportunities for church members and the wider community to access online offerings and services. This could include:
a. Developing and maintaining a church’s weekly live-streaming worship services;
b. Interacting with people during a live-stream via Zoom, YouTube, or other platforms as appropriate;
c. Exploring ways to connect people in bible and other study and fellowship opportunities.
4. To meet fortnightly for supervision, peer support, and study.
5. To meet regularly with a mentor as agreed.
6. To attend meetings and training sessions. Training could include:
a. Regular training in engagement from the Northern Synod Youth Team;
b. Radical welcome to people as practised by the Lantern Initiative at Newcastle Cathedral;
c. Pioneering ministry as practised at Seedbeds, based in Birmingham but likely brought to Newcastle;
d. HeartEdge ministries that seek to find God on the edges of society—and identifying ways our churches can better do that in our contexts;
e. Learning the art of storytelling and holding relational meetings to build community power with Tyne and Wear Citizens.
Attributes
- A personal faith in Jesus Christ.
- A real heart for connecting with people where they are, an interest in hearing their stories, and an appropriate level of vulnerability in sharing your own stories.
- A love and demonstrated knowledge of online community culture, balanced with a respect for traditional church culture.
- A team player ready to work alongside other people in similar positions in other churches.
- Flexible with a can-do attitude
- Ability to respect matters of confidentiality and sensitivity.
- Strong organisational and time management skills.
- Knowledge of and commitment to good practice in Safeguarding.
Occupational Requirement
- There is an occupational requirement that the person is a Christian
- The job holder must be able to provide evidence of their eligibility to legally work in the UK prior to the appointment and for the entire duration of the employment
- Enhanced DBS clearance- the post holder is required to obtain and maintain appropriate DBS clearance for the entire duration of the employment
- The job holder must be between the ages of 16 and 25
- Line Manager: The Minister
For more information and an application form please contact John Stephenson, Youth Work Advisor (part-time) 07849 670210 or email john.stephenson@urc-northernsynod.org
