JOB VACANCIES
→Pioneer Worker – Children, Youth & Families, North West & Central Newcastle URC Pastorate Newcastle
URC NORTHERN SYNOD – YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES SCHEME
Part-Time Youth Placement at Central Newcastle Churches
Community Engagement Assistant
Including in-person and online engagement, social media, and streaming audio/visual assistance
Job Description
Hours of Work: 6-10 hours per week, one-year fixed term.
Positions available: 4
Locations: Four Newcastle churches: St James’s in the city centre, West End in Fenham, St Andrew’s on the Montagu Estate in Kenton, and Jesmond in Brandling Park. Each position would specialise in an individual church, but there will be significant crossover across all four
Starting date: ASAP
Purpose
This role is for you if you’re committed to finding ways to connect people with Jesus, Justice, and Joy!
It’s a learning opportunity for people between the ages of 16-25, and is part of the Youth Opportunity Scheme of the Northern Synod of the United Reformed Church.
You will work alongside our churches to develop and expand community engagement, using in-person storytelling and relational meetings, online engagement, and social media. You will also be asked to help with live-streaming worship services, engage in regular bible studies, keep a sacred space open and welcoming for people, and support other important community events. You’ll also be asked to help us explore ways ‘bridge the gap’ between traditional church culture and online community engagement.
Significant opportunities for training will be part of your role.
We are a Living Wage employer (currently £10.90 an hour) and covenant with you to pay a fair wage for your work.
Main Responsibilities:
1. Practice ‘radical hospitality’ in person and online to connect people with Jesus, Justice, and Joy in churches that are at the heart of their communities. This could include:
a. Welcoming people into a sacred church space during the week for 1-2 hours so people can pray and spend time with God;
b. Learning how to welcome people coming from multiple ethic and socioeconomic backgrounds into a church space;
c. Engaging people online in ways that help them identify how God is present in their lives, such as responding to people on church social media sites or raising awareness of opportunities people might be interested in that are occurring within the church;
d. Work alongside the minister and any pioneer workers in the churches to engage with the wider community.
2. Support, promote, and develop church websites, social media presence, and online engagement. This could include:
a. Traditional websites, but integrating them with social media aspects;
b. Developing Facebook, Instagram, and other social media ministries.
3. To support, promote and develop opportunities for church members and the wider community to access online offerings and services. This could include:
a. Developing and maintaining a church’s weekly live-streaming worship services;
b. Interacting with people during a live-stream via Zoom, YouTube, or other platforms as appropriate;
c. Exploring ways to connect people in bible and other study and fellowship opportunities.
4. To meet fortnightly for supervision, peer support, and study.
5. To meet regularly with a mentor as agreed.
6. To attend meetings and training sessions. Training could include:
a. Regular training in engagement from the Northern Synod Youth Team;
b. Radical welcome to people as practised by the Lantern Initiative at Newcastle Cathedral;
c. Pioneering ministry as practised at Seedbeds, based in Birmingham but likely brought to Newcastle;
d. HeartEdge ministries that seek to find God on the edges of society—and identifying ways our churches can better do that in our contexts;
e. Learning the art of storytelling and holding relational meetings to build community power with Tyne and Wear Citizens.
Attributes
- A personal faith in Jesus Christ.
- A real heart for connecting with people where they are, an interest in hearing their stories, and an appropriate level of vulnerability in sharing your own stories.
- A love and demonstrated knowledge of online community culture, balanced with a respect for traditional church culture.
- A team player ready to work alongside other people in similar positions in other churches.
- Flexible with a can-do attitude
- Ability to respect matters of confidentiality and sensitivity.
- Strong organisational and time management skills.
- Knowledge of and commitment to good practice in Safeguarding.
Occupational Requirement
- There is an occupational requirement that the person is a Christian
- The job holder must be able to provide evidence of their eligibility to legally work in the UK prior to the appointment and for the entire duration of the employment
- Enhanced DBS clearance- the post holder is required to obtain and maintain appropriate DBS clearance for the entire duration of the employment
- The job holder must be between the ages of 16 and 25
- Line Manager: The Minister
For more information and an application form please contact John Stephenson, Youth Work Advisor (part-time) 07849 670210 or email john.stephenson@urc-northernsynod.org
URC NORTHERN SYNOD
Pioneer Worker – Children, Youth & Families
North West & Central Newcastle URC Pastorate
Full Time 35 hours per week, initially for a 2 year period
Salary £26,800 plus generous pension
The Northern Synod is seeking to invest in work with children and young people as it develops its 5 year plan for the future. As part of that plan it is initially seeking to employ a number of pioneer workers to develop existing and initiate new work with children and young people.
This post is based in the North West and Central Newcastle group of URC churches working specifically with Jesmond URC, St Andrews Kenton URC & West End URC. The detailed foci of the work is outlined in the job description but includes developing work with local schools.
Background
These new positions provide an opportunity to work with a group of churches to help them pioneer new and develop existing work with children & families and with young people. The posts involve working as a member of the Northern Synod Field team and contributing to Synod strategy for working with children & families and young people. It will be essential that the worker develops good relationships with volunteers in local churches as well as effectively networking with others who work with children and young people. All of the work takes account of the importance of the family context of children and young people. The URC northern Synod covers the area from North Northumberland to Northallerton
The pioneer workers will be employed by the Synod and a member of the Synod Field team and will be accountable to the Synod Children’s Work and Youth Work Advisors. Local support will be through a locally based steering group. Around 20% of time will be allocated to activities beyond the local area as part of the Synod Children and Youth Work Team. Since the work involves travel, a full driving licence and access to a car are necessary requirements.
This appointment is subject to a satisfactory enhanced clearance by the Disclosure and Barring Service.
In accordance with the Equality Act 2010: Part 1, Schedule 9, there is a an genuine occupational requirement for the post holder to be a practising Christian
All applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK and must hold a current NI number, UK bank account and valid proof of ID (passport or British birth certificate, please go to www.gov.uk/check-an-employees-right-to-work-documents for more information). Due to the nature of the job a full driving licence and use of car is essential.
Closing Date: Wednesday 11 October 2023
Candidates selected will be required to attend in person for face to face interviews and to meet local church representatives and Synod staff for the post on Wednesday 18 October 2023 at Jesmond URC, Newcastle upon Tyne
Application forms and full details can be obtained by emailing Isabelle Milburn isabelle@imhr.biz
Any questions or for an informal conversation regarding the post please contact John Stephenson, Youth Work Advisor (part-time) 07849 670210 or email john.stephenson@urc-northernsynod.org
UNITED REFORMED CHURCH NORTHERN SYNOD
Pioneer Worker – Children & Families and Young People
Part Time 20 hours per week, initially for a 2 year period
St Columba’s URC North Shields with a town centre and ecumenical focus
Salary £26,800 FTE plus pension contribution
Do you have a heart for sharing the good news of Jesus with children, young people and families? Do you have experience of developing work with churches and local communities?
The Northern Synod is investing in work with children and young people as it develops its 5 year plan for the future. As part of that plan it is employing a number of pioneer workers to further develop existing and initiate new work with children and young people. All of the work takes account of the importance of the family context of children and young people. The URC Northern Synod covers the area from North Northumberland to Northallerton.
These positions provide an opportunity to work with churches to help them pioneer new and develop existing work with children & families and with young people. Post holders work as members of the Northern Synod Field Team, contributing to Synod strategy for working with children & families and young people. It is essential that the worker develops good relationships with volunteers in local churches as well as effectively networking with others who work with children and young people.
This post is based at St Columba’s URC, North Shields with a strong town centre and ecumenical focus. The details of the work is outlined in the job description and further information about St Columba’s URC is in the separate profile.
The pioneer workers will be employed by the Synod and a member of the Synod Field Team and will be accountable to the Synod Children’s Work and Youth Work Advisors. Local support will be through a locally based steering group. Although North Shields has excellent transport links a full driving licence and access to a car may be beneficial.
This appointment is subject to a satisfactory enhanced clearance by the Disclosure and Barring Service.
All applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK and must hold a current NI number, UK bank account and valid proof of ID (passport or British birth certificate, please go to www.gov.uk/check-an-employees-right-to-work-documents for more information).
Closing Date: Thursday 12 October
Candidates selected will be required to attend in person for face to face interviews and to meet local church representatives for the post on Thursday 19 October at St Columba’s URC, North Shields.
Application forms and full details can be obtained by emailing Isabelle Milburn isabelle@imhr.biz
Any questions or for an informal conversation regarding the post please contact John Stephenson, Youth Work Advisor (part-time) 07849 670210 or email john.stephenson@urc-northernsynod.org
