children || schools
|| youth
f.e & h.e || lifelong learning
Continuing emphasis in the Church of England is placed on promoting the educational, spiritual and social development of young people between the ages of 11 and 25. This work is for those outside the Church as well as those within.
The National Youth Officers advise on appropriate training and resourcing of both voluntary and paid youth workers, and provide a Continuing Professional Development Scheme for Diocesan Youth Officers. This has included the provision of the Spectrum training programme for voluntary youth workers and courses for prospective Diocesan Youth Officers. At a local level the youth officers work collaboratively with their local education authorities.
Action is being taken to enable young people to participate more fully in Church life through the continuing development of a Young Adult Network, which includes an observer group at General Synod. The National Youth Officers also consult regularly with the Diocesan Youth Officer Network in responding to local, regional and national needs and organizing initiatives to develop youth work in rural areas and among ethnic minorities.
The Church's youth work involves collaboration and partnership with a number of Anglican voluntary societies, as well as with a variety of other Christian and secular agencies, including the Department for Education and Employment, the National Youth Agency, the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services, Churches Together in England, and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.
The National Youth Officers manage a grant from the DfEE under their scheme for National Voluntary Youth Organizations. This has enabled youth work initiatives to be taken at local, diocesan and national level.
Youth a Part is a major report on the Churches' work with young people and continues to be a great stimulus to discussion and action in youth work at every level. Other recent publications include Accompanying Young People on their Spiritual Quest and Taking a Part.
The Young Adult Network encourages the participation of as many young adults (16-25) as possible, at all levels of decision-making within the Church of England. The Network also supports and equips those who are involved by networking on their behalf, developing training and resources, and providing information. It also highlights the need for young adult participation in the Church decision-making process and supports the Young Adult Observer Group at General Synod. The Network is managed by a group of young adults supported by General Synod's Board of Education, the National Youth Officers, the Diocesan Youth Officer Network and the DfEE.
The National Youth Office and Diocesan Youth Officer Networks work collaboratively within Churches Together in England and are members of Churches Together in England's coordinating group for youth work, the English Churches Youth Service. They have also been working with officers from other denominations as part of the Joint Churches Youth Service Initiative.
Many dioceses have links with partner dioceses throughout the Anglican communion and offer opportunities for young people to participate in visits and exchanges. The National Youth Office is an active partner in the International Anglican Youth Network, supported by ACC.