All Blog articles – Page 47
-
BlogDoes God call Introverts to be youth leaders?
Eighteen months ago I would have laughed if someone had told me that I was going to set up a youth cell at my church. My previous experiences of working with teenagers had been far from positive and I am a quiet, introspective person who prefers to sit at the back and observe
-
BlogSo you want to set up a youth cafe?
For the last six years, Youth For Christ in North Wales has managed the dream project; a fully-fledged and kitted-out high street youth cafe called Reverb. Earlier this year however, we decided that something wasn't working and we made the bold decision to move out. This summer we closed our doors for the final time and made a new home in a local community centre.
-
Blog
Ready-to-use Discussion : Breaking the Habit
I don’t know about you but I watch some rubbish on TV. I get addicted to the latest series of Masterchef, watch average quiz shows that I’m barely enjoying and I don’t even want to think about how many times I’ve watched each episode of Friends. This kind of lazy approach to our viewing habits is as terrifying as it is dull and perhaps tells us something about life in the 21st century…
-
Blog
Ready-to-use Games + Icebreakers: Breakfast Games
Each month I attempt to suggest a theme for the games, or - at the very least - some kind of nominal link between them. This month’s is almost certainly more tenuous than ever. The connecting theme between them is: things you use at breakfast time. (I can only apologise.)
-
Blog
Ready-to-use Games: Ice Breakers - Food Games
As Jane Austen (might) have said: ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a youth worker in possession of a plate of food must be in want of a youth group’. Food is, and has always been, a real crowd pleaser (see the feeding of 5000 and manna and quail in the desert for proof) and the combination of food and games is, quite simply, a one-way-ticket to success-ville.
-
BlogReady-To-Use Games + Ice Breakers: Water Games
On our wonderful British Isles we are not often short of water in the summer months. Here are some ways to utilise the blessing of water with youth games! You will need water balloons, gym balls, dog bowls, bed sheets… the list goes on. What could possibly go wrong?
-
Blog
Ready-to-use Games + Ice Breakers: Christmas Games
Hark! Christmas approaches: the wonderfully quiet and easy-going period of the calendar, with plenty of space and time to organise elaborate and complicated events. Possibly. Either way, there’s very little chance that your group will be ignoring it – so why not jump on the Christmas bandwagon with this collection of Christmas games.
-
BlogReady-to-use Games + Ice Breakers: Pool Games
Ah the pool table, a youth club tradition older than the tuck shop, messy games and having to break up fights. While young people can obviously be left to their own devices, sometimes a communal game around the table can offer a bit of variety. Here are some of our favourites:
-
BlogReady-to-use Games + Ice Breakers: Dodgeball Games
Everyone knows the five Ds of dodgeball: dodge, duck, dip, dive and… dodge. What you may not know is that there are also five distinct ways to play dodgeball, and here they are...
-
Blog
Ready-to-use Games + Ice Breakers: Group Work Games
Working together is obviously the kind of thing we want to encourage as good, holistic, community-building, life-affirming, kingdom-growing, adjective-embracing youth workers. Admittedly most games have some sort of collective vibe to them, but these ones have a particular emphasis. They are essentially the antithesis of solitaire.
-
BlogReady-to-use Games + Ice Breakers: “I’m a teenager, get me out of here!”
You may presume that ‘I’m a teenager, get me out of here’ is similar to a famous TV programme. You would be absolutely right. These games can be used as a whole hour of entertainment or you could use one game a week to build up the tension. Collecting stars is the aim of each game and at any point of any game those taking part can shout: “I’m a teenager, get me out of here” to stop the game. It would be a good idea to pre-warn the young people that they should bring some clothes that they do not mind getting messy, and a plastic bag to put them in, ready to be washed by indulgent (or mildly annoyed) parents.
-
BlogReady-to-use Games + Ice Breakers: Christmas Fun
Yes, it’s happened. Somehow we are already in the run-up to Christmas. While we try to get our heads around that, here are some games to include on Sundays, Christmas parties, or even around the Christmas table.
-
Blog
Ready-to-use Games - Ice breakers: Who, what, where, why Games
At the heart of the human experience we find a host of questions: Who? What? Where? Why? As good, holistic youth workers we don’t want to ignore these primal urges of our young people. We don’t want to trivialise them with pat and trite answers - so here are some games. No, wait, that doesn’t sound right...
-
BlogReady-To-Use Games + Ice Breakers: Kids Games
Sometimes, we forget that young people are just glorified, slightly grown-up, children. In an attempt to make our groups cool and culturally relevant, there’s a danger we only play the most sensible, modern games (as unlikely as this sounds). This month’s games are the kind you’d play with kids: a bit simpler, a bit sillier, but just as fun…
-
Blog
Three things bravely learnt
A word from Premier Childrenswork journalist Lucinda van der HartNovember 2012
-
BlogRussell Brand vs Jeremy Paxman
Russell Brand divides opinion like no one else on the telly. But what kind of example does he set to young people?
-
Blog
Boundaries
For the first time ever, Youthwork opened up its doors for a one-day writers masterclass. Sixteen youth workers gathered from all corners of the country to share ideas, learn skills and to hone their craft. In the coming weeks we will be posting guest blogs from the attendees – here’s one from Jon Ashley.
-
BlogThe Youth Work Book Club: Walter Wink’s 'The Powers That Be'
Welcome to The Youth Work Book Club. In 2016 CONCRETE formed a theology and youth ministry reading group. The aim of the group is to read something thought provoking every six weeks and meet to reflect on it in light of, specifically urban, youth ministry. The group for this first edition is made up of James Fawcett from CONCRETE, Naomi Luff from XLP and Tim Broadbent from St Mary's, Islington but will be joined by members of the Premier Youthwork team. The first book we read was the Powers That Be by the theologian Walter Wink. What follows is a brief summary of the book and highlights of a conversation about the text. Next month, we’ll be reading The Spiritual City by Phillip Sheldrake. Grab a copy, and get involved.
