THE 'YOUTH-FRIENDLY' TEST

How many of the sixty ideas below does your parish church employ?

What could your church do to make itself more 'youth-friendly' ?

  DOES IT ENCOURAGE?

•  Do you offer the use of church buildings to local schools?

•  Do you bring young people to Rave in the Nave and/or other events and / or consider paying for tickets?

•  Do you offer to provide transport for young people to and from church?

•  Do you encourage young people to help with holiday clubs?

•  Do you encourage young people to support and take part in and all your village events?

•  Do you support young people in initiatives close to their hearts?

•  Do you put work with young people as an agenda item on the Annual Parochial Church Meeting?

•  Do you Use your church as a drop in centre for after school?

•  Do you encourage young people away at college to hook up with a local church or chaplaincy?

•  Do you visit and/or volunteer to help at local youth club?

•  Do youncourage your young people to lend themselves out to churches where are only a few youngsters?

•  Do you  know the uniformed organisations in your area very well?

•  Do you allow young people to shadow key roles in the life of the church ?

•  Do you  encourage young people to pursue particular ministries in the church?

•  Do you organise extra activities for your younger choir members?

•  Do you leave a space in your Church noticesheet for youth-related matters?

•  Do you encourage your confirmation group to continue meeting as a group

                     DOES IT INVITE?

•  Do you invite local youth groups to installations, collations etc.

•  Do you consult young people about appointments of clergy and about church life in general

•  Do you allow access to Parochial Church Council meetings either as members or to debate particular issues

•  Have you ever invited the DYO to visit your parish and talk about work with young people

•  Have you a spot/page for young people in your parish magazine?

•  Have a film night and invite young people. (follow the Child Protection Guidelines)

• Has your church ever invited young people to do some drama.?

• Have you ever held a parish/deanery picnic for young people?

•    Could you have a sports/quiz afternoon followed by relevant worship?

 

• Have you ever held a special party for children becoming too old for Sunday School or Junior Church, and get them to invite a friend. Then, see if there is interest in beginning a church youth group?

 

DOES IT VISIT?

                     •  Do you visit local Guides and Scouts – invite them to a special service in church?

                     •  Do you visit young people away at college?

                     •  Do you write to those who have left church to go for college or university?

                     •  Do you take some young people bowling?

                     •  Do you take some young people on a CYFA Venture/Scripture Union holiday?

•  Do you visit secondary schools at lunchtimes or at any time?

•  Have you considered having a student from the Centre for Youth Ministry to work with young people?

                     DOES IT HELP?

•  Have you arranged after-school or breakfast clubs?

•  Do you organise and participate in social action projects, consider joining any national initiatives?

•  Have you ever thought about starting or joining a school prayer group?

•  Do you Support Community Action Service and activity weeks in local schools?

                    SUPPORT?

•  Have you offered to do mentoring for school children?

•  Have you a subscription to a Youthwork magazine or similar periodical?

•  Have you provided some sort of rite of passage for those leaving for higher education – go on praying for them?

•  Have you a rota for offering young people a lift to a service at another church ?

•  Have you ever purchased a youth bible for teenagers?

•  Do you, as a church, give money to youth agencies and charities working specifically with young people?

                     •  Do you offer work experience opportunities?

                     •  Do you Support young people (person) to do mission work?

                     •  Do you ask young people to pray for others?

                     •  Do you consult young people about the needs of their village or local area?

•  Do you pray for teenagers and their families in your area?

                     DOES IT RESOURCE?

•  Look up the Ely website for details of events

•  Sign up for ‘Youthwork ' magazine in your parish

•  Have some books and/or magazines at the back of church for young people

•  Do something special for young people on Education Sunday

                     •  Give young people a job or a role in church i.e. serving, singing, playing a musical instrument or ringing the bells

                     •  Buy enough ‘Its Your Move ' booklets from the Scripture Union for all those in your local Primary School leaving

                        for Secondary School

•  CAREFORCE – accommodate young people from overseas or those wishing to undertake gap-year work

•  Start to think creatively about the needs of your Sunday School/ Junior Church children before they get too old for the group they are now in.

•  Arrange special days in church to look at particular issues like AIDS awareness

•  Get into partnership with other churches in providing a different range of activities and opportunities

•  Can the church, or somewhere else, be a spiritual place for young people?

•  Is there anyone in your congregation who might like to be on the Youth Council?