on sunday the freshers start pouring into Chester to start their university degrees and diplomas. for many it will be a fantastic learning opportunity while for others they will see it as way to get away from home and live the student life....
my youngest starts at Chester on sunday too, but she is living at home, so no worries there then!!
seriously though, I guess after lecturing for four years my prayer for all the students in the youth work course is that they find the right way for their futures, and that it is done without too much alcohol, tobacco etc. The course is getting better every year and we want the students to gain the most out of it that they can.... to become excellent youth work practitioners is the aim for most of them I hope, but it can only be done by them not us.....
Thursday, September 21, 2006
cohesion?
the thesaurus says the definition for cohesion is unity and pulling together... I have been thinking about this since last friday when I was at a meeting of DYO's discussing the core competencies for those working with young people on behalf of the C of E. Here were a group of folk working together to discuss how they could use 'equipping' in their dioceses. and it was good. I then went to another meeting where they were discussing a different course and it felt different, almost as if there was a lack of direction.
At the moment there are a lot of people putting on training for volunteers and youth workers, all trying to equip these people and all working in different groups. Some are pro qualifications and others are anti qualifications. I think everyone deserves some piece of paper if they have done training but whether it is an actual vocational certificate or a certificate to say they are competent at a certain level is up to the person who is doing the training.
What I think is needed is some cohesion, some working together to enable and empower the volunteers to do the best they can, with the limited resources they will have. Most of the volunteers will not be thinking of going into youth work as a career, but they want help at a basic level with the youth group they either volunteer or in some instances run.
I know I am biased as I have been working on the core competencies with one of the National Youth Advisers, Yvonne Criddle and some of the Diocesan Youth Officers but I think it will prove useful across the denominations, if folk give it a try and don't dismiss it before they have had a proper look at it. I'm not saying it is perfect, but it is a document that says here are the things we think are important for people working with young people.... if you want to do more training afterwards great, if not, great!!
At the moment there are a lot of people putting on training for volunteers and youth workers, all trying to equip these people and all working in different groups. Some are pro qualifications and others are anti qualifications. I think everyone deserves some piece of paper if they have done training but whether it is an actual vocational certificate or a certificate to say they are competent at a certain level is up to the person who is doing the training.
What I think is needed is some cohesion, some working together to enable and empower the volunteers to do the best they can, with the limited resources they will have. Most of the volunteers will not be thinking of going into youth work as a career, but they want help at a basic level with the youth group they either volunteer or in some instances run.
I know I am biased as I have been working on the core competencies with one of the National Youth Advisers, Yvonne Criddle and some of the Diocesan Youth Officers but I think it will prove useful across the denominations, if folk give it a try and don't dismiss it before they have had a proper look at it. I'm not saying it is perfect, but it is a document that says here are the things we think are important for people working with young people.... if you want to do more training afterwards great, if not, great!!
Monday, September 04, 2006
post greenbelt
so..... greenbelt an oasis? this year it was very different for me, as I didn't even get to the tiny tea tent....I did meet up with friends but not for as long as I would have liked and certainly didn't get to see some folk I would have liked to...
The sunday morning communion service, for me, was excellent apart from a rap!! the taize service on the sat seemed to go well, even though I suddenly had to get up and start conducting the final chant!! there are things I would have done differently but that is always the way.
the big sing as always was fantastic and it was back in the grandstand which works so well....
camping was OK, and the food seemed to go down well, the only down side was that not everyone could get to eat with us.
been mulling over the weekend and trying to work out how I didn't see as much or do as much and I can only think that it was because of spending too much time shopping, cooking and organising stuff....
I am wondering next year of just being a punter instead of working, but knowing me I will end up doing something, but if I do work it will be on a limited basis, so I can get to seminars and gigs.
The sunday morning communion service, for me, was excellent apart from a rap!! the taize service on the sat seemed to go well, even though I suddenly had to get up and start conducting the final chant!! there are things I would have done differently but that is always the way.
the big sing as always was fantastic and it was back in the grandstand which works so well....
camping was OK, and the food seemed to go down well, the only down side was that not everyone could get to eat with us.
been mulling over the weekend and trying to work out how I didn't see as much or do as much and I can only think that it was because of spending too much time shopping, cooking and organising stuff....
I am wondering next year of just being a punter instead of working, but knowing me I will end up doing something, but if I do work it will be on a limited basis, so I can get to seminars and gigs.
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