I am now in the fourth season of growing chillies, I planted the current crop from seed in January, and now 25 (sorry 24, I gave one away) plants adorn my small flat, taking up window sills and the balcony. I think ive eaten 6 green fruits and I’m giving the chance for the other fruits to ripen and turn red, unless I need them … Continue reading Learning from the aphids on my Chilli plants
What is it about young people that seems to be that they’re treated as something other that human? And, before someone in the church responds to say that they have a healthy and positive respect for young people, it’s the church that whilst it generates and maintains a good number of youth work and ministry provision, might also be in danger of regarding young people … Continue reading What if we treated young people (in the church) as Human?
I write this on New Years eve, having just read a facebook memory from last year, which read: There are many people who know 2019 is going to be tough, they’re waiting for an operation, having treatment, they’re waiting for a DWP assessment, or are homeless, their job is ending or their relationships are tricky. A new year might bring fear and not hope. So … Continue reading 2019; this was my year….
Getting young people off the streets, that was and still is one of the old mandates for youth workers, getting young people into other institutions was another. Youthworkers effectively were tasked with policing the streets – or policing the third space in between organisations, so that young people wouldn’t fall through the gaps. There is a new place for youthworkers, to effectively police ‘in town’. … Continue reading Should Youthworkers be ‘policing’ young peoples emotions?
‘Later that Day, two of Jesus followers were walking from Jerusalem to the Village of Emmaus, seven miles away’ – this is the unassuming beginning of how the gospel writer Luke opens the account of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. ‘Later, Jesus appeared to the disciples beside the sea of Galilee, many of them were there, Peter said, ‘Im going fishing’ and … Continue reading Dealing with the difficult: ‘the day after’
Sometimes i wonder if the way in which young people are treated we think that they are some kind of alien species. Often it is because various institutions and maybe even youthworkers to justify their own existence and specialism, have created a narrative about young people that gives them special status, using terms like transition, or identity, or others to describe the age group. However, i … Continue reading The emotional reality of the exits in Youthwork and Ministry
Saturday evening in our house has been ‘family movie’ night this year, there is 4 of us, and so on a rotation basis we choose a movie to watch. It can either have been recorded from TV, one we’ve got on DVD or something new – but usually under £3 from a second hand /charity DVD shop. However, last weekend, we had a treat. We … Continue reading Youth and Childrens work learning from ‘Inside Out’
This evening i was back out on the streets with a new volunteer, you know the type, curious of detached, enthusiastic, keen, so in an attempt to burst the bubble we headed out to have a wander around the main areas of our patch this evening. As an observation session for her, and gave her time to ask questions of what its all about and … Continue reading The Emotional reality of Detached youthwork
