Thinking about starting a club for youth and children
95% of all under 18s do not attend church and the task of reaching them with the good news of Jesus is huge. Don’t be discouraged because the opportunities are also huge and this generation are open to hear about faith as it is totally new to them.
Starting a church youth group is a serious thing, therefore, make sure that you and your church leaders have discussed and prayed about the possibility of having a club. If you have done this and still feel confident to start one then you need to think about the next steps:
Find volunteers. Start by asking around the church, make a list of the volunteers you require and make job descriptions so that people are clear about what is required and time commitment. Get a team together to start planning and preparing the sessions and if you have young people in your church you may want to involve them in the planning process as they know what their age group enjoys.
All leaders, whether paid or voluntary, need to have a validated DBS, job description and two references which shows that they are suitable for work with young people. You also need a risk assessment for the building and a church validated Safeguarding Certificate.
Resources
- How to attract young people to your church - Churchdesk.com
- Engaging with Schools Regional Resources
