Glasgow Youth Office
e-bulletin
February 2008
Welcome to February's e-bulletin, a regular, easy way for those involved and interested in youth work, youth events and youth issues to share information and ideas with one another. If you have a new youth worker or youth work student or youth leaders/organisation leaders who are not currently receiving the bulletin then can you please get their details to Duncan at duncan@gyoffice.org.uk so they can be kept abreast of all the news and opportunities.
The deadline for sending us items for the e-bulletin (news, events,
vacancies, …) is the 28th of each month for the next month’s
bulletin.
Send items to
youth.office@gyoffice.org.uk.
Monday 3rd March (session 1) from 7pm-9pm
Monday 10th March (session 2) from 7pm-9pm
Please put these dates in your diary
and contact the Youth Office to book
places.
Take some time out of your busy schedule to re-focus on young
people, meet others who are involved in youth work across the city
and receive some new ideas and resources for your ongoing work with
young people.
The course will be suitable for those already being involved in
youth work and for those who are looking to get involved with youth
work in the future. This is a great opportunity for people involved
in youth work to share experiences, learn more and pick up some new
ideas. It is also a great opportunity for young people who are on
the fringes of leadership to gain experience, confidence and ideas.
Running as 2 x 2hour sessions, the training will cover the following
themes:
Session 1:
What makes a good youth leader?
The Spirituality of young people
Working with young people
Starting the conversations
Session 2:
Using the conversations
Resources and how to use them
Worship
Both evenings will be held at Renfield St Stephen's Church Centre,
260 Bath Street, from 7pm-9pm. They are open to people of all ages
and backgrounds who are interested in learning more about youth
work, or simply looking for some new ideas.
To book places please get in touch with Duncan
at
duncan@gyoffice.org.uk,
or for more information on the course please contact Val or Petra at
valerie@gyoffice.org.uk
or
petra@gyoffice.org.uk, or
call 0141 354 0075 and leave a message with your phone number.
This three
week course is aimed at 12-18 year olds and will explore various aspects
of Christian faith. By looking at topics such as: who is Jesus?; what is
faith?; how do I pray?; and what does the Church have to offer young
Christians?, it is hoped that young people will be able to lean more
about their faith, ask questions and journey with other young
Christians.
The course
will take place at Renfield St
Stephen’s Church on 9th,
16th and 30th March from 10am – 12:30pm. The course costs £5
per person and breakfast
will be included at all of the sessions.
We have
thought long and hard about the timing of the course and while it will
obviously clash with normal Church Bible study groups, it is hoped that
this will make it more feasible for busy teenagers and busy leaders to
be able to come along as it can be worked into an existing programme,
rather than being an add on.
To book
places please contact Duncan on
duncan@gyoffice.org.uk
or phone 0141 354 0075 and leave a
message with your phone number.
IT'S BACK!
The General Assembly Youth Night returns with a splash on Saturday 17
May 2008 from 7-10 pm in the General Assembly Hall, Edinburgh. For
young people aged 12-16 and their helpers, keepers, friends and more
with special guests the London Community Gospel Choir. Themes will
include Identity – who am
I? Diversity – who are
you? Community – who are
we together? Mission –
what can we do together? Worship
– what does this all say about God?
Visit the
Bebo page
and interact before, during and after the event!
Tickets
(available from 14 February) cost £2 from
www.madstuff.biz
For more
information contact Jane McCarthy on 0131 225 5722 or
jmccarthy@cofscotland.org.uk
You may have
thought the European Championships were happening in Austria or
Switzerland, but they'll be coming to Goals in Shawlands on 7 June for
the inaugural Presbytery cup! Teams will be mixed-sex and can have as
many 13-16-year-old
players as they want (with only 5 fielded at any time). There will be
an entry fee of £10 per team. There will be worship, football and food.
This year's
Youth Assembly will take place from 5-8 September at the Apex Dundee.
Get your bookings in now to avoid disappointment. For more information
and to book, contact Jane McCarthy on 0131 225 5722 or
JMcCarthy@cofscotland.org.uk.
12 noon Sat
15th – 12 noon Sun 16th November in Glasgow. This 24-hour event is
designed so that youth leaders can recharge, attend a range of
workshops, have a look at some new resources, enjoy worship and chill
out with others. This is a national Church of Scotland training event so
places will book up quickly – to avoid disappointment please get in
touch with
Jane McCarthy
to reserve a place. The cost of this event will be £65 per person and
will include meals and accommodation.
It would be
good if Churches could send their leaders to this course – the Sir James
Robertson Trust (see below) could perhaps help Churches to meet the
costs of sending volunteer youth leaders along.
BBC Scotland has contacted us looking for contributors to a series looking at different attitudes to faith across the generations, one featuring two Christian contributors. They are looking for a young person with a parent who is also a committed Christian – but the young person and parent should have some different ideas as to their faith. It's key that both the young person and parent are willing to be interviewed. The producer is looking to record the programmes as soon as possible in early February.
Interested contributors should contact Alice Jenner, the producer, on
alice.jenner@bbc.co.uk
or 0141 422 6710 as soon as possible, mentioning 'Franchi on Faith'.
A day training course for people seeking to transform the lives of vulnerable children and young people on Sat 16th February at International Christian College, 110 St. James Road, Glasgow.
To book places, call 0131 445 4125 or email Edinburgh@suscotland.org.uk.
£10/£5
concessions
Catalyst
is a non-denominational Christian youth event presented to you through
the passion and vision of various Sounthside churches. It has been
running for seven years, attracting between 150 and 250 people for each
event. For details, see
www.catalystglasgow.co.uk.
The 10th
Crossover
will be a weekend festival for young people (12-18) in West Linton, with
the theme of ‘X’. Crossover celebrates its 10th birthday
this year and it would be great to have you and your youth group along
to join in the celebrations. Book before the end of March to take
advantages of the early booking discount. Start making plans now to be
there! See
www.crossover.org.uk
for details.
Preserving
the world’s water resources and securing access to water for all is one
of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. In 2008, the EWN will
therefore bring together about 20 young people (aged 18-30) from all
over the world in the first
EWN Summer School on Water.
The
participants will have the opportunity to study - in a regionally and
confessionally diverse group - the local, regional, and international
manifestations and causes of the water crisis. They will examine the
situation and challenges from a perspective of faith and ethics, and
search together for possible ecumenical responses.
The Summer
School on Water will take place from
27 July to 5 August at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey,
Switzerland. Visit the link above for more information. The deadline
for applications is 24 March.
Tearfund
says: "Our treatment of the planet and its people reveals something
about our respect for the world God has given us. Join us in the
Carbon Fast
as we bring a little bit more of God's Kingdom to earth.
"A
catastrophically changed climate is not inevitable. Our actions can -
and will - make the difference. Our
Carbon Fast
will show you how."
Ruth Miskelly
is the Gap Year Student at Christian Aid in Glasgow for
2007/2008. Her aim is to raise awareness among young
people of
development issues such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, trade
justice and climate
change, and then provide them with the knowledge and
resources to take
action. She has recently spent two weeks visiting CA
partner
organisations in Kenya, and would be very happy to visit
any youth groups to share her experiences and tell them
more about the issues
facing Kenya - just contact her on
rmiskelly@christian-aid.org
or 0141
241 6135.
Think of the
young people who inspire you. Why do they make you proud?
It's because
of what they give to other people.
Diana Award
Holders (aged 12-18) do just that. They raise money for charity and get
involved in campaigns. They care for family members and those who are
less able to fend for themselves. They overcome their own, often grave,
personal difficulties and still find the strength and enthusiasm to give
that little bit extra to their schools and communities.
For more
information on the Diana Award, including how to nominate a young
person, visit
www.diana-award.org.uk.
Christian Aid,
Islamic Relief
and
Bunac
have come together in
an initiative to provide opportunities for young people 18-25, who would
not normally get the chance to experience an overseas trip, to undertake
10 week work placements with partner organisations. This project is
being funded by
DFID
and more information will be available shortly. In the meantime, if you
are interested, please get in touch with Diana Wright at
dwright@christian-aid.org
or 0141 221 7475.
If you or
your young people are looking for an opportunity to use or develop your
skills, meet people who share your concerns and make a difference then
volunteering with Christian Aid could be for you (or them). In addition
to youth work, volunteers can get involved with media, schools, office
work, fundraising events, giving speeches, festivals, campaigns and
legacies work – and more. They receive training for their role, support
and out-of-pocket expenses.
For more
information, visit
www.christianaid.org.uk/getinvolved,
email
dwright@christian-aid.org
or call 0141 221 7475.
Bring the authentic coffee house feeling to your local Church youth
group. This exciting resource is designed to make youth work easy and
enjoyable - set your youth group up as a café and allow discussion to
flow from the discussion starters on the coasters which have been
supplied by the likes of Christian Aid, The Scottish Bible Society, and
the various Councils of the Church.
For a taste of the joys of coffee, come along to our COSY events (see
above).
For more information and to pre-order your kit contact Jane McCarthy on
0131 225 5722.
The Sir James
Robertson Charitable Trust awards grants to Voluntary Youth
Organisations in Glasgow, which have charitable recognition and are
formed to promote the spiritual, mental and physical welfare of young
people, without attachment to any political party.
Priority
consideration is given to applications relating to the recruitment and
training of leaders, but applications for funding the general
development of the applicant organisation can also be considered.
Guidance
notes for grants along with application forms are available from Mrs Jan
Blackie, Secretary, The Sir James Robertson Charitable Trust, at
kenblackie@talktalk.net
or 141 Invergyle Drive, GLASGOW, G52 2BS.
Taizé Prayers are held every Monday at 5.30pm at the University of
Strathclyde Chaplaincy. All welcome.
Our resources
are now hosted by
Great Big Resources
(GBR) at 45 Mid Wharf Street, Port Dundas, Glasgow G4 0LD. Contact GBR
for details on 0845 230 6160 and mention that you have been referred by
the Glasgow Youth Office for a discount.
Our office is normally staffed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays,
but please call in advance if possible, and leave a message if you
'phone when nobody's in. We can come to your area to meet you, or
arrange meetings at other times - please get in touch. Please feel free
to call or email us at any time with questions, comments, suggestions,
and to tell us what's going well and what isn't!
Glasgow
Youth Office - Presbytery of Glasgow - 260 Bath Street - GLASGOW - G2
4JP
Telephone 0141 354 0075 - Fax 0141 332 6606 - email youth.office@gyoffice.org.uk