Children, Young People & Families Worker (FTC to Aug 2030)

Description

Aim

We want every child and young person in Earl Shilton to be able to explore and discover their spirituality through the Christian faith by developing projects that thrive at the intersection between church, school and household.

About Us

We are a parish in a small, post-industrial town in rural Leicestershire with a medium-sized and growing intergenerational church community. Everyone is welcome. Our worshipping community is made up of a rich mix of people from a variety of church backgrounds.

We are an ordinary church of ordinary people - outward-looking, hopeful and prayerful - who, for the past decade and more, have been intentionally working with children, young people and families (CYPF), seeking to meet both practical and spiritual needs.

Please see our accompanying ‘parish profile’ which summarises some recent self-reflection work we did as a congregation.

Where you come in…

We do not believe we have all the answers. Part of your role will be to journey with us - to discover more about who we are and who God is calling us to become - and to support us as we grow.

The Possibilities

The soil here is fertile. New people of all ages are arriving and becoming part of our church family.
Within the church, we are looking for someone who can lead our CYPF in exploring their faith, develop a greater sense of belonging and grow in their discipleship. We currently have a monthly All-Age Worship service, led by our CYPF and a monthly ‘Sunday Club’ based in the parish hall. It is a “messy church” style Sunday club - craft, songs and games around a bible story - run for primary school children with young people in secondary school helping as leaders. We have previously run ecumenical CYPF activities in the school holidays. There is strong potential for more.

Many in our congregation, who are more senior in years are very encouraging of the next generations and we see huge opportunity for vibrant intergenerational growth and learning. As part of this, you will be confident in leading public worship and in helping CYPF take ownership of their part in the worshipping life of the church.

Beyond our church walls, there is energy and support to deepen and extend the relationships we have with three local schools - two Church of England primary schools and one secondary school (Years 7–11). We are already well-established partners in the primary schools, supporting collective worship, hosting services and helping with reading, sports days, coffee mornings etc. The relationship with the secondary school is more recently established but full of potential and promise.

In considering this role, we have consulted with each school to map out opportunities. These are not prescriptive. Whoever steps into this role will have the freedom to bring their unique gifts, passions and skills to shape the work.

School One (Primary)

• This school has an overgrown garden and a sunlit atrium, both of which could be transformed into vibrant spaces for peaceful spiritual reflection – the garden could be transformed into a forest church for outdoor worship.
• Working alongside pupils, staff, parents and the congregation, these spaces could be developed into places of creativity, belonging and wonder.

School Two (Primary)

• This school serves a community where 50% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. There is a high proportion of children with special educational needs and vulnerable families.
• There is real scope to establish a volunteer-led reading programme to support pupils' literacy and build positive relationships, including potential to include parents and carers for informal adult learning.
• We also envisage opportunities for congregation members to share meals with pupils in the school hub, creating meaningful intergenerational connections and offering pupils opportunities for conversation and building relationships with caring adult role models.

School Three (Secondary)

• In the secondary school, we are invited to work with students to foster aspiration, belonging and purpose. Students who experience these foundations thrive; those who lack them are more vulnerable to social media harms and lower ambition.
• We see vast potential for projects - whether arts-based, sports, outdoors, or creative leadership - that can be shaped around your passions and skills, co-created with students, staff and the church community.

The Role

Our congregation and PCC have committed to appoint a high-calibre, passionate practitioner with experience, creativity and tenacity. Together, we want to make a meaningful and lasting impact in the lives of children, young people and their families - implementing discipleship pathways for CYPF at the intersection of church, home and school.

We are seeking someone with:

• Living faith and a rooted Christ-centred spirituality.
• A shared vision for growth and hope.
• A passion for seeing CYPF thrive.
• Tangible skills in leadership, organisation and volunteer development.

You will not be doing this work in isolation. Alongside your day-to-day work with volunteers to deliver the vision, you will be supported by:

• The priest-in-charge as your line manager.
• A diocesan mentor for reflective professional development.
• A spiritual director for your ongoing spiritual growth.
• The prayerful, practical support of a welcoming, vibrant and growing congregation.

Key Responsibilities

• To develop CYPF ministry in our church community
• To work with and develop ministry in our three schools
• To inspire, recruit, manage and co-ordinate volunteers
• To work alongside our All Age Worship and Sunday Club teams

Together, we believe we can make a real difference - and we are excited to meet the person God is calling to be part of this adventure.