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If you’re wanting to grow your confidence and skills working with young people in churches and community projects then this programme is just what you’re looking for. Youthscape Essentials offers the opportunity to spend time in community with other workers and volunteers, exploring together insights into the lives of young people, relevant skills and character development. It’s a perfect course for anyone involved in or interested in developing ministry with young people (aged 11-18).
Each session is divided into three sections: Insights, Skills and Character.
Download a PDF course summary here.
The material has been developed and piloted in a Methodist Circuit in partnership with Youthscape. If you have any questions about Youthscape Essentials training, please contact Lynne Norman.
THREE WAYS TO ACCESS THE YOUTHSCAPE ESSENTIALS TRAINING!
Option 1: Attend all or some of the abridged course running online
The Children, Youth and Family Team, in partnership with the Learning Network and others, will be running the course online over eight weeks in 2025. This will be every Thursday evening from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, starting Thursday 8 June.
This time around, we're offering you the chance to either book in for the full course or to just book for a session that you would like to attend! Here are your options...
Thursday 5 June, Session 1: Insight - Why youth ministry? // Skill - Building rapport with young people // Character - Loving. Book here.
Thursday 12 June, Session 2: Insight - Adolescent development // Skill - Engaging young people with the Bible // Character - Open. Book here.
Thursday 19 June, Session 3: Insight - Growing up digital // Skill - Enabling young people to participate // Character - Disciplined. Book here.
Thursday 26 June, Session 4: Insight - Growing up Gen-Z // Skill - Working with others as a team // Character - Authentic. Book here.
Thursday 3 July, Session 5: Insight - Family life // Skills - Facilitating a session with young people // Character - Committed. Book here.
Thursday 10 July, Session 6: Insight - Christian discipleship // Skills - Accommodating young people's different needs // Character - Faith-filled. Book here.
Thursday 17 July, Session 7: Insight - School life // Skill - Managing behaviour // Character - Hopeful. Book here.
Thursday 24 July, Session 8: Insights - Knowing you're making a difference // Skill - Mission and exploring faith // Character - Courageous. Book here.
To take part in the whole course and benefit from working through all eight sessions with a cohort of others involved in ministry with young people, book here.
Option 2: Find a course running locally
There are regular courses being offered locally, and more and more Methodist licensed trainers around the Connexion. Details of local courses will be published here as we have them, or you can contact your local Learning Network representative to find out if it's possible to set-up a local course.
North West Methodist District (open to all)
- Sessions one to three: St. John's Methodist Church, Horwich, Bolton on Saturday 7 June, 10am - 4pm
- Sessions four to eight: Followed by five online Wednesday evening (7pm - 9pm) sessions on 11th, 18th, 25th June and 2nd, 9th July
- Sessions nine and ten: Tebay Methodist Church, Penrith on Saturday 10th July, 10am - 4pm
To find out more and book on to the above course, contact Simon Skidmore.
Gloucestershire Methodist Circuit
- Session one - Why youth ministry?: Monday 4 August 2025
- Session two - Adolescent development: Monday 8 September 2025
- Session three - Growing up digital: Monday 13 October 2025
- Session four - Growing up Gen Z: Monday 10 November 2025
- Session five - Family life: Monday 8 December 2025
- Session six - Christian discipleship: Monday 12 January 2026
- Session seven - Sexuality and gender: Monday 9 February 2026
- Session eight - School life: Monday 9 March 2026
- Session nine - Emotional and physical health: Monday 13 April 2026
- Session ten - Mission and exploring faith: Monday 8 May 2026
To find out more and book on to the above course, contact Sean Marsh.
Option 3: Become a licensed trainer and run the course with your team!
It's really easy (and FREE) to become a licensed Youthscape Essentials trainer.
- Email Lynne Norman to express your interest.
- Sign-up to a Youthscape Essentials hosting workshop (online) on a date to suit you.
- Be given access to all the training materials, and also join with other Methodist trainers for ongoing support and ideas sharing.
This is a great option if you want to run the course with your own volunteers as a means of upskilling and building team together. You can do this as flexibly as you like!
Coming soon - Children's Ministry Essentials and Family & Intergenerational Ministry Essentials
We are currently working ecumenically to create similar courses to inspire and equip people for children's and family work in the Church. If you'd like to be kept in the loop about this work as it progresses, and be alerted when the training becomes available, please complete this expression of interest form.