Principal Responsibilities
- Run the existing children’s group at Kirdford, The Good News Club for children of Junior School age.
- Develop the youth work, to possibly include other groups, to reduce the large age range currently covered by Good News and reach older young people.
- Develop the existing relationships with the parents of the young people and the village communities.
- Devise and implement a strategy for using social media, streaming events and on-line communication to reach children and young people including those who are contacted e.g. through schools work, but do not live in either Kirdford or Rudgwick.
- Support and encourage families that have some contact with the churches and seek ways of engaging with other families in the villages – especially in the new housing developments.
- Develop links with local schools, which may include taking assemblies from time to time. Rudgwick has a primary school and an independent day school. The Junior school for Kirdford children is in the next village, Plaistow, and the main Senior School for both villages is in Billingshurst.
- Help with and facilitate Family Services and special events for children, including the reinstatement of an all-age service at Rudgwick, using creative ideas.
- Understand and implement best practice in children’s work, including Health and Safety and Safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Take an active part in the life of both churches.
- Take responsibility for the communication and advertising of church activities for young people and families in a contemporary and effective way.
- Look for creative ways of developing the role, giving consideration to possible further activities for families and young people.
Required Skills
- It is an occupational requirement that the post-holder is a Christian and accepts the FIEC basis of faith.
- A person who wants to grow in Christ, whose life and character are consistent with their Christian faith, who is willing to learn and develop their God-given skills and gifts. Committed to sharing their relationship with Jesus and longing that younger generations should know him.
- Experience of working with young people and families in a church context, whether paid or voluntary.
- Although focusing on young people and families, we would want the post-holder to be committed to both fellowships, working as part of the overall team and willing to be ‘hands-on’ with the practicalities of running activities.
- Ability to think creatively, communicate and get alongside families and young people of all ages including the use of social media and the possible development of on-line events and materials.
- Ability to think creatively, communicate and get alongside families and young people of all ages including the use of social media and the possible development of on-line events and materials.
- Confident, motivated and reliable, with a good sense of humour and good organisational, time management and administrative skills.
- Kirdford Chapel and Rudgwick Chapel are small fellowships in village environments, so the postholder will need to be sensitive to working in this culture and the challenges it brings.
- A full driving licence essential.
- It would be desirable but not essential, for the post-holder to have some musical ability.
- This position will be subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure check and satisfactory references.