Youth Worker

This is an exciting opportunity for a Youth Worker to play a key role in implementing “A Fruitful Future II: Strategic growth and cultural change in the large, diverse Diocese of Southwark”.  

Specific projects have been identified in places across the Diocese of Southwark where there is a clear opportunity for growth and funding has been obtained from the Church of England’s Strategic Development Funding to support these projects.  

The two neighbouring Dulwich parishes of St Barnabas with Christ’s Chapel and St Clement with St Peter are working together to bring this hopeful vision to fruition. St Barnabas with Christ’s Chapel has been designated a Hub Church, to share their expertise and support other parishes to develop a flourishing children’s and youth ministry. This will initially be at St Clement with St Peter with a view to also work with another parish in a significant way over the next few years. 

The purpose of this role is to work closely with the church leadership teams initially at St Barnabas and St Clement’s to develop and sustain a thriving youth ministry in both parishes. This is an exciting opportunity to work collaboratively using a wide variety of creative methods to encourage youth to explore faith in imaginative and exciting ways and to confidently teach children about the Christian faith, facilitating spaces for them to encounter God themselves. The postholder will then support the parish to share these successful methods with other churches in the Diocese. 

Working with children’s and families’ leads across the parish network to ensure all children, including those with additional needs, are safe and included will also be a key responsibility, in addition to recruiting, training and supporting a team of volunteers to resource and sustain the ministry. This is a unique opportunity to create and support and encourage youth to grow in their faith, knowledge and understanding of being a disciple of Jesus, grow in the gifts of the Spirit and become active members of the Church.  

Key Responsibilities 

The role covers a wide range of tasks, which fall into the areas outlined below. 

1. Leadership & Development 

• Support the growth of faith amongst teenagers in both parishes, of all faiths and none, organising and running groups with a specific faith element and providing pastoral support, ensuring that teenagers with additional needs are fully included.  

• Support sacramental programmes and support with the organisation, planning and development of various elements of the Youth church curriculum. 

• Confidently teach young people about the Christian faith, facilitating spaces for them to encounter God themselves. 

• Listen to young people and the community and suggest areas for change where necessary. 

• Identify, recruit, train and nurture new volunteers for all Youth related activities and groups. 

• Working with the Diocese of Southwark and the Vicars, actively support and work alongside another Parish to implement the new model of ministry and contribute to the sharing and learnings from the experience at St Clement’s and St Barnabas, with other parishes across the Diocese. 

2. Safeguarding 

• Commitment to safeguarding, ensuring team members and volunteers have valid DBS checks and are fully trained and equipped. 

• Ensure that safeguarding policies are followed and that robust safeguarding practice is fully embedded in all aspects of the children’s ministry. 

• Risk management, including preparing risk assessments for activities and events.  

• Plan for and integrate young people with additional needs. 

3. Staff Team 

• Participate fully as a member of the Staff Team, supporting with the development and outworking of the vision of the church, working in partnership.  

• Meet and pray regularly with the team.  

Depending on experience, the role holder will take on more responsibility over time. 

If you’re ready to create opportunities to make God’s love known to young people, and their families, here in Dulwich, we’d love to hear from you.