Youth and Schools Worker

Job title

Youth and Schools Worker

Employer

Bridgnorth Youth and Schools Project

Location

Bridgnorth, with a focus on the two secondary schools in the town.

Hours

12 hours per week, term-time only.
Usually Monday and Tuesday, 9am to 3pm.

Salary

£14-£15 per hour, depending on experience

Purpose of the role

The Youth and Schools Worker will support young people in Bridgnorth through school-based mentoring, personal development courses, lunch clubs and relational youth work.

The primary focus of the role will be to build trusted relationships with young people in the two Bridgnorth secondary schools, helping them to grow in confidence, resilience, wellbeing and positive decision-making.

Over time, the worker may also help develop a new after-school group that creates a safe, welcoming and engaging space where young people can explore life, faith and the Christian gospel.

The worker will also help strengthen prayerful support for local schools by coordinating regular prayer updates and helping facilitate local church prayer for schools.

Key responsibilities

1. School-based mentoring

The worker will provide regular mentoring support for young people identified by the schools. This may include helping young people with:

• confidence and self-esteem

• friendships and relationships

• emotional wellbeing

• behaviour and choices

• attendance and motivation

• transition and change

• resilience and personal growth

Mentoring will take place within school safeguarding systems and in partnership with school pastoral staff.

2. Personal development courses

The worker will help plan and deliver personal development courses for small groups of young people. These may focus on themes such as:

• confidence

• identity

• healthy relationships

• managing emotions

• resilience

• decision-making

• purpose and hope

3. Lunch clubs and informal support

The worker will run regular lunch clubs in the Bridgnorth secondary schools, providing safe and positive spaces for young people to connect, talk, play games, ask questions and build healthy relationships.

4. Developing gospel-centred opportunities beyond the school day

As the role develops, there may be opportunities for the worker to help shape and support a new after-school group for young people in Bridgnorth.

This would be developed with the support of the manager, local churches and existing BYSP leaders. The worker would not be expected to develop this alone.

The group would be designed to:

• provide a welcoming space for young people

• build community and belonging

• introduce young people to the Christian faith

• create opportunities to explore the gospel in a relevant and accessible way

• help young people take next steps in faith, where appropriate

5. Local church prayer for schools

The worker will help coordinate local church prayer for schools in Bridgnorth.

This will include:

• gathering appropriate updates from schools work, in conjunction with the manager

• helping prepare and send regular prayer updates to local churches and supporters

• encouraging churches to pray faithfully and specifically for local schools

• helping facilitate a periodic prayer for schools meeting

• building positive relationships with church leaders and prayer supporters

• ensuring updates are shared appropriately, sensitively and in line with safeguarding and confidentiality expectations

6. Wider schools work

There may be opportunities for the worker to learn how to deliver a wider schools work programme, including:

• assemblies

• RE lessons

• prayer spaces

• transition sessions

• workshops and themed events

Experience in these areas is not essential, as support and training can be provided.

7. Partnership and team working

The worker will work closely with:

• school staff and pastoral teams

• local churches

• Catalyst Youth Trust

• existing Bridgnorth Youth and Schools Project volunteers and leaders

• parents and carers, where appropriate

The worker will help strengthen the connection between schools, churches and local youth ministry in Bridgnorth.

Person specification

Essential

The successful candidate will be someone who:

• has a mature and active Christian faith

• is passionate about supporting young people

• can build positive, appropriate and trusted relationships with teenagers

• communicates clearly and warmly with young people, school staff, churches and supporters

• is reliable, organised and able to work independently

• is able to handle sensitive information with wisdom and confidentiality

• is able to write simple, clear and appropriate updates for prayer supporters

• is willing to encourage and help facilitate prayer with local Christians

• can build positive relationships with local churches

• is willing to work within school safeguarding systems

• is able to maintain appropriate professional boundaries

• enjoys working as part of a team

• is willing to receive training, supervision and feedback

• is willing to learn and grow in schools and youth ministry

Desirable

It would be helpful, though not essential, if the candidate has experience of:

• youth work

• school-based work

• mentoring

• leading small groups

• delivering sessions or workshops

• working with churches

• coordinating prayer, church communication or ministry updates

• supporting young people with pastoral needs

• sharing the Christian faith with young people in accessible and appropriate ways

Occupational requirement

Because this role involves helping young people explore the Christian faith, supporting the development of gospel-centred youth work, and encouraging local church prayer for schools, there is an occupational requirement for the post-holder to be a practising Christian.

Safeguarding

Bridgnorth Youth and Schools Project and Catalyst Youth Trust are committed to safeguarding children and young people.

The successful candidate will be required to:

• complete an enhanced DBS check

• provide suitable references

• complete safeguarding training

• work within all relevant safeguarding policies and procedures

• follow the safeguarding arrangements of each school setting

Training and development

Training and development will be provided. This may include mentoring training, safeguarding training, support with delivering personal development courses, and opportunities to observe and learn wider schools work such as assemblies, RE lessons, prayer spaces and workshops.

The successful candidate will not be expected to arrive fully formed in every area of the role, but should be willing to learn, reflect and grow.

Working pattern

This role is expected to be term-time only, although the final working pattern will be agreed depending on funding, school needs and the availability of the successful candidate.

We envisage the initial working pattern to be Monday and Tuesday, 9am to 3pm.

If an after-school group is established, the aim would be to extend one of these working days to 5pm. There may also be occasional evening commitments connected to support, reporting, prayer gatherings or wider BYSP events.

The schools worker role also has a natural link with our Sunday night Stir Group that meets at Bridgnorth Baptist Church, as well as occasional trips, camps and events. These are not the primary focus of the role, but they offer additional opportunities to become involved in the wider life and ministry of BYSP.

The exact hours and working pattern will be agreed depending on the final shape of the role and funding available.

Accountability and support

The worker will be line-managed by John Prockter and will receive regular supervision, support and training.

They will also work closely with school staff, local church partners, Catalyst Youth Trust and existing BYSP volunteers and leaders.

In Summary

The aim of this role is to help young people in Bridgnorth feel supported, valued and hopeful, while creating new opportunities for them to encounter the Christian faith and explore the good news of Jesus in a safe, relational and accessible way.

The role will also help local churches pray more faithfully, specifically and consistently for young people, schools and the wider schools work in Bridgnorth.