The Quality in Youth Work Initiative

There are many changes happening within the context of youth work in order to ultimately improve the services to young people.  Within this context there is an increasing expectation for the voluntary youth sector, of which the church is a part, to show that the services it offers to the public are of a high standard. 

At the same time youth work undertaken by the church has grown and developed and has much to offer to the local community and the county.  However in order for the church to be seen as offering a quality service and able to access potential resources for that service, it needs to have a way of showing young people, parents, funders and potential working partners that such a service meets a required minimum standard.

In June 06 Bishop’s council took the decision that the Diocese should link into a localise quality standards scheme which was being developed by various voluntary youth agencies (including the diocesan youth office) and encourage all churches engaged in youth activities to strive for at least a bronze award in the quality kite mark award scheme.

Definitions

This scheme is proposed for those churches who undertake any youth activities with young people.

Youth activities may include: choirs, youth clubs, Bible study groups, worship groups, discipleship groups, residential activities or special one off events to name just a few. Basically any activity which young people from 11-17 are involved. 

Registering

In order to participate in the scheme you will have had to register your details with the Diocesan Youth Office.  You will then be supported through the process either by the Diocesan Youth Office or by a local youth worker/minister. 

The Process

In order to work through the materials effectively a quality champion needs to be found who can work through the materials with the PCC and youth leaders.

The manual with the materials contains the first section of this bronze award because we wanted parishes to complete it, in manageable sized chunks.  Once the first section has been completed, please touch base with your ‘mentor’ so that they can assess your progress and so that you can receive the next section to work on.

All resulting policies and required work are then placed in the portfolio file, ready for assessment. 

Feel free to enclose your existing policies in the portfolio file, but please review them beforehand to ensure that they cover all aspects of those detailed in this manual.

Once all the objectives are complete, please send the completed portfolio file to:   

The Diocesan Youth Office

4 College Green

Gloucester

GL1 2LR

Once the portfolio has been received this will be assessed by a group of independent assessors.  If there are any things, which need to be rectified, you will be notified, otherwise the folder and your certificate will be returned to you in due course.

Such a process may be quite perturbing for an individual or church however there is support available by just contacting the diocesan youth office, in the first instance.

Note this process is not meant to be a paper pushing exercise, the expectation is that all resulting policies and practices will be understood and owned by the youth leaders and PCC thus providing a secure framework under which to operate within. 

Any resulting certificate will be reviewed every 3 years.

For the silver/gold award manual also contact the Diocesan Youth Office.

(Updated Aug 24th 09)