Children’s and Youth Work Policy

A. Central to our policy to be an inclusive church, we aim to provide a safe and welcoming environment for young people at Norbury Parish Church, and we aim to give Christian families the confidence that their children may grow towards maturity in our church.

To achieve this, we shall:

1. 1. Ensure that Christian values characterise our young people’s meetings. Provide a welcome and make sure that everyone is accepted irrespective of gender, race, sexuality and disability, and ensure that each person is valued as an individual.
2. 2. Provide opportunities for young and old to meet socially and at worship, and facilitate understanding between the generations, by providing opportunities for young and old to listen to each other.
3. 3. Thoroughly prepare sessions where young people are involved – where possible including them in the preparation – and provide an environment that is comfortable, stimulating and challenging.
4. 4. Ensure that our work with young people follows the Child Protection and Good Practice policy of Norbury Church.

B. We aim to encourage Christian commitment, growth towards maturity and a desire to serve among young people associated with Norbury Church.

To achieve this, we shall:

1. 1. Provide varied and appropriate Christian teaching for young people to lay a solid foundation for their lives, taking into account current teaching methods in schools and colleges.
2. 2. Provide the opportunity for young people to let their opinions and suggestions be heard, taken seriously and responded to, by the youth leadership, and also by the whole church.
3. 3. Provide an atmosphere in which young people are encouraged to think for themselves, discuss among themselves and discover appropriate guidelines for their Christian lives.
4. 4. Develop in young people a desire to serve within Norbury church, and also in the wider Church, and the community.
5. 5. Retain a welcome for any young person who feels that attending church is not right for them at present.
6. 6. Encourage young people to join any relevant committee, such as the PCC and the Youth Leaders’ Council

C. We aim to involve a variety of volunteers in the leadership of the youth work of our Church, and we aim to ensure that all volunteers are appropriately trained.

To achieve this, we shall:

1. 1. Ensure that everyone who works with children at Norbury has an Enhanced CRB Disclosure.
2. 2. Ensure that a training programme, in conjunction with the diocese and other organisations, is available for leaders and prospective leaders.
3. 3. Encourage all church members to feel that they are involved in the work with our young people, through prayer, through taking an interest and through supporting the work in appropriate ways.

D. We aim to reach out to young people not attached to the Church, through our leaders and through our young people.

To achieve this, we shall:

1. 1. Encourage our young people to develop the confidence to share their faith with their peers and to invite them to activities at Norbury Church, and to provide our young people with the necessary support.
2. 2. Develop contacts in the local community, especially in schools and within the uniformed organisations, and to explore the possibilities for outreach in the local community away from the church building.

E. We aim to work in conjunction with those involved in youth work in other churches, and in the local community.

To achieve this, we shall:

1. Establish good working relationships with those doing youth work in neighbouring churches and the local community, and explore ways of working together.

F. We aim to ensure that the PCC is kept aware of how this policy is being implemented.

To achieve this, we shall:

1. 1. Receive regular reports about youth work, and review how the work is progressing in relation to the policy at least once a year, in June or July.

November 2006