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The first year of PASSION - some highlights!
Posted by Robin Rolls on Tuesday 25 May 2010, 11:55AM
The first year of passion As the first anniversary of the opening of Passion approaches we would like to share just some of the years highlights with those who have supported us. .. so here goes
µ Our drop-in sessions which run on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday have a regular attendance, which can be up to eighty young people signing through in an evening
µ With funding received from the National Lottery and Volunteering England we have been able to set up a youth forum, which meets monthly, has ideas on how to move Passion forward and feeds back into the schools and the local council as representatives of “the voice of young people in Shepshed”
µ Schools work continues successfully, with contracts being renewed and strong relationships being developed. Passion is used as an alternative site of learning and we are currently looking to be accredited, enabling us to support the schools with ASDAN awards. Passion also supports the schools with many pastoral needs, including a spirituality group at Hind Leys.
µ As young people take ownership of the project we have done many things like painting the downstairs together (with their choice of colours) and financing, through the grants received , a state of the art music and video studio where many young people learn and express themselves through different media. We have also been able to equip a room with TV screens and X’box’s. All of this has been done in consultation with young people.
µ Working closely with the police, social services and youth offending teams we have provided a “neutral” space for young people experiencing difficulties to meet, to listen, to talk and to move forward
µ A regular evening of prayer and worship is now being held, with young people choosing to attend
µ A small but very dedicated team of volunteers enables Passion to run smoothly with just about enough adult support for our drop in sessions
µ We have a full time volunteer (Phil Brind Surch) who has been accepted onto a degree course, starting in September and Passion will be supporting him through this, financially and providing the work experience that he needs
µ In an average week we come into contact with over 100 young people through our drop in sessions, schools work and detached work on the streets of our town
µ We continue to strive to start working with young parents, providing a drop in facility for them and their children during the day time similar to that their peer group can access over the weekends
µ In consultation with our town council and youth forum we are searching for funding to provide a youth shelter and some “teenage” outdoor play equipment
µ Our first years celebrations are being planned and run by the young people we work with
µ We are about to start a weekly session specifically for 10-13 year olds and an evening every week which will give young people the opportunity to learn more about our faith, our lives and our reason for starting this crazy project in the first place.
Without your support none of this would have been possible. The first year of Passion has been an amazing journey and we are so excited about what the future holds. We would love for you share in our celebrations on 19th June, both at Passion and at Glenmore Park.Gracie Walsh's talk to Bishop's Council
Posted by Keith Cousins on Tuesday 24 Mar 2009, 11:09AM
I’d like to talk about what life is like today for young people living in the Diocese of Leicester with a view as to how the Bishops Youth Council can try and further promote the message of God to the children and teenagers within our city.
So speaking as a young person in Britain today, I think we are born into an age of instant gratification whereby we can access almost anything we want whenever we want as we now live in a world of more advanced technology and communications meaning people can text or ring or facebook their friends whenever they like. I think that we are far more aware of what’s happening around us than previous generations- this is mostly to do with the increasing influence of the media and the growth of globalisation; This might mean that young people are exposed to a lot of stories of violence and conflict and suffering at a younger age but also means that we are maybe more tolerant of other races and religions (particularly in Leicester, as its very multicultural) and less ignorant about the world around us. I think young people today have greater purchasing power now than previous generations and are also exposed to more advertisements- this can mean that the pressure we feel to confirm to stereotypes such as gender roles can be greater and our exposure to sex and things of sexual content has increased. I think maybe young people today are more autonomous in the sense that we are bought up to have less respect for authority as the culture changes, but this is not necessarily a bad thing, although maybe a lot of people would argue that it is, as respect has to be earned more but that does not mean that it isn’t easily gained- I think a lot of young people are actually keen to connect with the adults around them. Finally I think another big characteristic of my generation is the fact that many of us are not religious and have never been to church or any form of religious service- society is becoming increasingly secularised and this is evident within young people today.
Aside from these changes in common culture however, young people are also affected by similar things to the generation before them, namely the difficulties faced as we grow up, change and discover and develop our identities. Young people are concerned by school-work, relationships, self-esteem and the increasing pressure we feel as we get older to get drunk and have sex, often because we are made to feel that that is what our peers and society expect of us. I also think its important to mention wider issues that concern young people because obviously teenagers don’t just think about going out and how they look and fancying people- a lot of young people are interested in spirituality, in injustice and poverty and why it happens and why its allowed to happen, as well as the environment and politics and prejudice. But as I say all of this, I am also aware that I’m talking from the perspective of a white, middle-class Christian girl and even though I can try, I don’t really know much about young people from different socio-economic backgrounds or religious backgrounds and the pressures, hopes and worries that concern them.
As the Bishops Youth Council, we thought that one of the most important things we should say to council is that we do believe that the church has such a powerful message for young people today who are surrounded by violence and sex and media enhanced images of what society thinks we should be. God offers peace and love, the two most important things in the world and can give people direction, security, hope and a promise of acceptance which lasts forever. Obviously though, for young people who have never thought about God before or who are certain they don’t believe in him, this could be met with cynicism and more importantly, for those young people who have grown up in poverty or have been failed by education systems and have very low aspirations, it may seem as though God can offer very little and almost rude and patronising that the church should think he has the power to change lives. This is why we firmly believe that if we as a youth council, with the help and support of the bishop the rest of those in the Bishops Council, are to make a real difference, it must be though actions and not through words.
In terms of mission and evangelism, therefore, we feel it is important to note that many of the youth workers employed though YP4L, such as those based within in Shepshed, Lutterworth and the Southern Edge Mission Partnership are entirely mission focused, with a view to helping young people who are vulnerable or struggling with problems at school and at home.
We feel that it is definitely time to admit that more young people do drink, more young people do take drugs and more young people have sex- children and teenagers are growing up quicker and this is not something the church should be afraid of or threatened by, rather it needs to be looked upon as a situation where God is really, really needed, more than ever before. Young people in Leicester need God and the church has to offer young people a chance to talk about everything that concerns them without a fear of being judged. Churches need to be a place where young people feel they can ask about life’s big questions or for help with relationships, or advice about any other issues that concern them. We think a lot of this can maybe be achieved through the new youth church in Shepshed but we think the most important thing is to utilise the resources around us and involve every church in creating a better environment for young people.
So this is how we as the youth council plan to move our ideas forward and create changes across the diocese. We have developed a strategy which firstly, does not further burden central resources, secondly, works in line with YP4L and Shaped by God, thirdly, is about growth and fourthly, and most importantly, is achievable
We would like the Bishops Council to agree to our proposal that as part of the development of YP4L and Shaped By God, an expression of church for young people is formed or further developed in every mission partnership across the diocese of Leicester in order that the message of Christianity is made accessible to every young person in ever area of our city
Gracie Walsh
SNowy days
Posted by Robin Rolls on Friday 06 Feb 2009, 12:02PM
Isn't the snow just the best thing ever? I mean I don't really have a lot to say but it's cool and exciting, I've managed to go sledging a little bit between doing shed loads of work and it's brill! Just thought i'd let you know :)
Bobz
THE LEADERSHIP FILES
Posted by Robin Rolls on Tuesday 02 Dec 2008, 11:25AM
I was in London yesterday and happened to be approached by Premier Christian radio to do some work for them on a programme called 'The Leadership files', quite funny really as I don't consider myself to be a leader of any great note, but that's another story!
Anyway, if you're visiting this website as a result of listening to Andy's programme, then welcome aboard! This is the website that hosts some of the information about the Diocese of Leicester's work with young people, under the strategy of Young People for Life. About 2 years ago, the Diocese embarked on an exciting journey to bring youth work to the top of it's agenda. A huge strategy was written which you can download for free here and a director of youth ministry was employed.
Two years in, and youth workers seem to be appearing everywhere, there's a thriving and dynamic Bishop's Youth Council, and we're seeing real, concreate change.
So happy browsing, and do be in touch with us if you want to know more!
Latest Blog from Bobz
Posted by Robin Rolls on Thursday 27 Nov 2008, 09:23AM
A few weeks ago I went to visit two friends and three strangers in a house in the middle of nowhere. They were wanting to think about youth work, and how it could work where they were - a small village, only about 100 houses or so, not a lot happening....so we ate food and talked.
Though I've been involved in youth work for nearly half my life, I didn't really know where this could go. I sometimes find myself in these situations, where there's a long pre-amble, and then all faces head in my direction with a 'so we are now waiting for you to provide the answers' sort of expression on them.
Well needless to say I didn't have the answers at all, and I rarely have - for anyone :) But I did enjoy the dinner, and our conversations, and the friendships. But most of all, I enjoyed the fact that right in the heart of nowhere in particular, there are amazing people doing amazing things. Genuine committed, normal folks, doing honest passionate youth worky things.
It's for people like this I guess that our new sparkly youth work course is being written. We're going for a launch sometime after Easter, and it will be 6 modules long. Modules will consist of about 8 hours teaching time. The course is suitable for the follwing types of pppppeeeeeepul
- Volunteers and helpers at local churches
- Part time youth workers
- Mums and Dads who help out now and again
- Clergy and managers of youth work
- Student /trainee youth workers
- Men
- Women
- Young people
- Some animals*
So there's not really anyone that can't come on the course, and more details can be found out by
e-mailing me through this website. Thanks for reading...:)
* Probably not Guinea Pigs, as their learning style is complex and they can't understand powerpoint.
Breathe in....
Posted by Robin Rolls on Monday 17 Nov 2008, 05:13PM
One of those days today - you wake up full of the joys and all that, and then life nibbles away at you and some of the joys turn into sorrows....travelling around the Diocese was inspiring today. Perhaps one of the best bits was having a few minutes to walk around the BREATHE installation that the Cathedral have recently brought. It's an amazing, huge and very cool Labyrinth type thing, complete with ipod music, and some excellent installations - Mr. Potato head I mean one of those real actual ones yes, it's brill, and the brainwave of some friends of mine so even better!
Get in touch with me through the website, and start breathing - it's IDEAL for young people who are exploring, searching or committed, it really is very very good!
Rob
Sometimes..
Posted by Natalie Stanley on Friday 26 Sep 2008, 09:26PM
Sometimes you do things you don't mean to do, and afterwards you say to yourself 'why did i do that?' also sometimes you say things you don't mean to say. like, the other day, me and some friends were walking back to school from asda at lunch, i said something, and then realised how silly it sounded and asked, 'did i just say that?' but back to my original topic, after doing something i didn't mean to do, it made me think, how would i react if that had happened to me? Now i ask that question every time i think i'm going to do something silly :]
Yay for random blogage
Blogs on the "Emerging church."
Posted by Robin Rolls on Thursday 25 Sep 2008, 11:19AM
It's quite possible that this might become a place for a blog on the 'emerging church' - not entirely youth friendly, but it's a kind of school of thought that reckons that we're not doing this very well as 'normal church', so this is a way we do church but differently - church meeting in pubs, that sort of thing! Anway I'm doing a bit of study on this, so this might be the place where the blogs appear - erm or it might not :) Bobz
Betrayl....
Posted by Sarah Limmer on Tuesday 23 Sep 2008, 08:26AM
Blah, so why is it that the people you think you know best in the world, can be so hurtful yet care so little.
Answers on a postcard please, cos its gonna take a while for me to really know this person ever again
A Final Blog
Posted by Robin Rolls on Monday 14 Jul 2008, 08:23PM
Well, goodness I'm tired! I reckon this last week I've travelled about 500 miles, met people from 17 different nations, shaken hands with 38 Bishops or Archbishops, done 9 live radio interviews, one newspaper interview, and a pre record - all in all, Im a bit pooped!
The event today was amazing, and we'd like to hear your thoughts on it - you can click the link on the homepage if you were at TLT today and join the group - we'll then be in touch with you to let you know how things progress at Lambeth itself next week.
For now, thanks to Jacko and RRRRRRusky (who have both changed my life), to Gracie, Sazzle, Jimbob Squarepants, Callahassica, and all those on the BYC and those who joined us from overseas. Thanks to you all, it's been amazing - and now all we have to do is change the world - easy !
Bloggidge from Lamboid
Posted by Robin Rolls on Friday 11 Jul 2008, 06:19PM
..it's been an amazing two days, really really amazing. The fact that we're altogether is good, the fact that we're working to change the Anglican church is incredible! Everyone seems so at ease with the process for the weekend, and it's great to see people designing worship, working through things together, praying together, laughing together..........lots!
These blogs aren't going to be deep and they aren't going to be long but I was just wondering.........can we do this again sooon....?
Live from Lambeth Talk
Posted by Robin Rolls on Thursday 10 Jul 2008, 11:51AM
We've made it, and i'm now blogging live from The Lambeth Talk at the Peepul Centre, and it's outrageous! Young people from all over the world are with us, and there are flags here representing Tanzania, Bangladesh, Australia, Jamaica, and more.
It's a truly amazing day so far, and these young people here are passionate about life church and faith! They'll be on line later to blog for themselves!
Bobz
Maybe God uses polyjuice potion?
Posted by Sarah-Jayne Armour on Friday 04 Jul 2008, 04:30PM
I heard a sermon recently and it reminded me of Bobzy’s blog about how we can feel God is hiding from us.
There were 2 bits that really struck me, one was about how God might be into using polyjuice potion, maybe God is all around us disguised in the people we meet but we don't always realise. The other was an extract from C.S Lewis’s Horse and His boy. It’s about a boy (Shasta) and a girl (Aravis) who are on a long journey escaping from captivity into the free world of Narnia. Shasta is so exhausted, stressed and tired from their journey that he lies down and weeps. But then Shasta senses someone or something with him:
‘Once more he felt the warm breath of the Thing on his hand and face. “There,” it said,”that is not the breath of a ghost. Tell me your sorrows.”
Shasta was a little reassured by the breath: so he told how he had never known his real father or mother and had been brought up sternly by the fisherman. And then he told the story of his escape and how they were chased by lions and forced to swim for their lives; and of all their dangers in Tashbaan and about his night among the tombs and how the beasts howled at him out of the desert. And he told about the heat and thirst of their desert journey and how they were almost at their goal when another lion chased them and wounded Aravis. And also, how very long it was since he had had anything to eat.
“I do not call you unfortunate,” said the Large Voice.
“Don’t you think it was bad luck to meet so many lions?” said Shasta.
“There was only one lion,” said the Voice.
“What on earth do you mean? I’ve just told you there were at least two the first night, and--”
“There was only one: but he was swift of foot.”
“How do you know?”
“I was the lion.” And as Shasta gaped with open mouth and said nothing, the Voice continued.
“I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses new strength of fear so that the last mile so that you should reach your destination in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you.”
So I was thinking, maybe when we’re playing hide and seek, it’s ok to ask ‘hot or cold’? because God wants us to find Him and sometimes, maybe because of ‘polyjuice potion’ we can walk right past Him in His hiding places but He still sees us and hears our footsteps and maybe if we listen out we can hear him shout ‘hot!’ or ‘cold!’ Just a thought.....
Lambeth Talk Launched!
Posted by natalie hames on Thursday 26 Jun 2008, 03:29PM
“For God’s sake listen to us!”
Young people from around the world challenge Bishops to listen at the Lambeth Talk.
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, and the Bishop of Leicester, Tim Stevens, will head a delegation of archbishops and bishops from all over the world coming to Leicester ahead of the Lambeth Conference. They will hear the hopes and aspirations of a group of over 40 young people drawn from across the worldwide Anglican Communion. This is part of the Diocese of Leicester’s programme before the Lambeth Conference.
The consultation event, organised by the Diocese of Leicester’s Department of Youth Ministry with help from The Children’s Society, will give the invited young people a chance to air their views on issues of Faith, Life and Power, and influence the bishops of the Anglican Communion’s discussions. Topics to be discussed include family and relationships, education and employment, poverty and wealth, and the environment and economy, and why the Church won’t take young people seriously.
The Lambeth Talk will take place from Thursday 10th – Monday 14th July, at the Peepul Centre in Leicester. The first two days are for the young people to meet, talk and plan, and the final day with see the results delivered to 3 Archbishops and more than 40 bishops from all over the world. This will be followed by a meeting open to all at the Lambeth Conference itself.
Other bishops attending sessions during the event include Simon Makundi from Tanzania, Francis Mori from Japan, Carolyn Irish from the USA and Michael Baroi from Bangladesh.
The event’s themes have been specially designed to echo those of the Lambeth Conference, to enable the bishops to amplify the voices of the representative young people within the main conference programme, which begins a few days after the Lambeth Talk weekend. The key findings of the consultation will also be fed in to the conference through a dedicated session on the afternoon of Tuesday 22nd July, where the 600 bishops attending the Lambeth Conference will get the opportunity to hear directly from some of the young people who attended the earlier event.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has written in support of the event, commenting: “I’m delighted to commend The Lambeth Talk. It will be a welcome opportunity to bring youth perspectives to topics for discussion at the Lambeth Conference”.
Robin Rolls, Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Leicester, comments: “The Lambeth Talk presents an amazing opportunity for us to hear young people’s views on a range of issues. We’re hoping it will act as a megaphone for young people’s concerns and dreams about the future of our communities, our churches and our world, that the bishops will ignore at their peril. We’ve had terrific backing from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and many other bishops, and we’re confident that this gathering will make a real impact on the wider Lambeth Conference at a key time for the Anglican Communion.”
The young people’s travel fares will be covered by the conference organisers, and hospitality will be provided through the families of Leicester’s Bishop’s Youth Council. Gracie Walsh, 17, a member of the Bishop’s Youth Council in Leicester is delighted. “I’m so looking forward to the Lambeth Talk. Knowing so many young people are travelling so far to meet and talk with us is mind blowing! Often we feel as though we can’t do or change anything, but now perhaps we can”.
The Diocese of Leicester is pleased to be supported by The Children’s Society throughout this event.
end
Robin Rolls, Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Leicester, is available for interview. Telephone 0116 247 7442, or 07908 508882 robin.rolls@leccofe.org
For interview requests or further information, please contact Ben Wilson at the Church of England Communications Office, telephone 020 7898 1326; or Liz Jepson, Communications Officer for the Diocese of Leicester, telephone 0116 248 7402, liz.jepson@leccofe.org
Notes to editors
The Lambeth Conference is one of the global Anglican Communion's ‘Instruments of Communion’ and takes place every ten years at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is an occasion when bishops can meet for worship, study and conversation. For more information, see: www.lambethconference.org.
A press conference will be held at 1330hrs on Monday 14th July at The Peepul Centre, Leicester, where the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Leicester will introduce some of the findings of the conference.
The Children's Society is a leading children's charity committed to making childhood better for all children in the UK.
Further details and a full operational note will follow shortly before the event. If you would like to be kept in touch, please let us know.
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