Youth Ministry Assistant

Purpose of role:

To assist and support our inspiring youth ministry for young people aged 11-18 years at Christ Church by modelling honest, passionate discipleship and encouraging young people to grow in a lively, committed, and radical faith in Jesus Christ.

Report to: Youth Lead

Location: A workspace will be provided at Christ Church with computer and phone.

Hours of work: Part time – 18.75 hours per week including: Sunday: 8.30-9.15am, 10.45-1pm and 4-7pm (6 hours) Monday: 9am-1pm (4 hours), Thursday 9 am-1pm (4 hours), Friday 6pm-9pm (3 hours) Remaining hours 1.75. A degree of flexibility in the timing of work hours will be needed including some evening work (e.g. termly evening team meetings). We run at least three residential weekends / weeks per year and attendance will be expected at all of these.

Salary: £24,785-26,785 (pro rata’d) depending on experience.

Context: Christ Church is a growing Anglican church in the town centre of Tunbridge Wells. Our aim is to “Play our part in the spiritual and social transformation of Tunbridge Wells and beyond”. Our worship style is informal, and we value the ministry of both Word and Spirit. You will get a good flavour of our church’s style and ministry by looking at our website. Our youthwork currently consists primarily of 2 age groups of approximately 30 young people meeting on Friday nights and Sunday mornings/afternoons.

Areas of Responsibility:

• To be a full member of the staff team and to attend staff meetings and prayer times
• To support the leadership of our ministry to youth within the church on Sundays and at other times during the week.
• Prepare and deliver youth ministry sessions.
• To oversee and facilitate a youth social programme.
• To work collaboratively with our Director of Children’s Work and Youth Lead
• Help recruit, train and organise volunteer teams for youth ministry.
• Help organise and administrate youth trips including a summer residential camp and weekends away.
• Help with the administrative side of the ministry – e.g. Creating newsletters on Canva, writing risk assessments, managing our registration system.
• To build relationships with families of young people, working in partnership with them to encourage young people to be actively involved in the wider life of our church.
• Be a core member of the Youth Team and able to attend evening team meetings.
• Prepare volunteer rotas and purchase resources for Sundays and Fridays.
• First Aid training and Safeguarding training will be provided.

Wider church ministry
At Christ Church we enjoy working as a team and there is plenty of opportunity for the Youth Assistant to develop other areas of interest and ministry (such as prayer, leading and speaking in services, training in different areas of ministry etc).

Person Specification:

• You will have a strong personal faith and be committed to becoming a regular member of Christ Church, committed to our vision. This is essential.
• You will have a desire to reach out to young people and to share with them your passion for Jesus.
• You will be an advocate for youth ministry with the wider church.
• You will be able to engage with youth beyond the church fringe
• You will be a good communicator with the ability to relate well to young people, volunteers and their parents.
• You will promote the church’s policy for young people and work with our Church’s Safeguarding Officer in maintaining and implementing appropriate child protection procedures.

Essential skills required:

• Good IT skills, proficient use of Microsoft Office and a range of Social Media platforms.
• A self-starter and able to do administration such as creating rotas of volunteers and sending regular emails to parents.
• Team player within the Youth volunteer teams and the wider staff team
• Time management skills, ability to work under pressure to achieve deadlines.
• Working knowledge of youth culture.
• Previous experience of working with youth in the church context.

Subject to an Enhanced DBS check and references. This post has a Genuine Occupational Requirement that the postholder is a Christian (Equality Act 2010)

Your application should comprise:

1. A covering note of no more than 1 page, naming the role title for which you are applying, outlining your motivation for applying for this job and your relevant experience.
2. A completed application form.
3. Two character referees and their contact details, one must be your church pastor, and neither can be a family member.