On The Edge...
Through ‘detached youthwork’ (that is being where the young people are right now) and by gradually building up groups and activities, we want to offer the young people opportunities for safe exploration of key issues that bother them and help to equip them with the tools needed to handle life. We want to build bridges between young people and the wider community and to enable the young people to actually enjoy life where they are now – to make the most of their surroundings – to be part of the local community and be inspired by church.
On The Edge will provide opportunities to help them form their own type of healthy community, to establish their own friendships and explore their spirituality, all in a non-threatening and supportive way. We want them to develop their future in their own way by being given direction and purpose. Ultimately it is our aim to help the young people to form a close community group that will enable trusting and safe exploration of life issues and will lead them to form a unique expression of what church might mean to them. We do not expect this will be the path that all will take, but we remain committed to provide good quality youthwork for all our young people.
On The Edge will provide opportunities to help them form their own type of healthy community, to establish their own friendships and explore their spirituality, all in a non-threatening and supportive way. We want them to develop their future in their own way by being given direction and purpose. Ultimately it is our aim to help the young people to form a close community group that will enable trusting and safe exploration of life issues and will lead them to form a unique expression of what church might mean to them. We do not expect this will be the path that all will take, but we remain committed to provide good quality youthwork for all our young people.
The Churches...
The Churches are each offering something particular to enable this project to be able to happen – whether that is meeting space, finances, office facilities or expertise. We are doing this because we genuinely care about our young people. We want to give them a positive view of community and we feel our faith should be practical. We want to do something to ensure our young people are a part of our villages – not one of the problems.
Safety...
We are very aware of the importance of protecting our young people and so we have already put in place ways of working that will ensure that they are always kept safe.
FYT & CMS...
Our project is unique: so much so that two national Christian organisations are interested in what happens here. Frontier Youth Trust is a youthwork charity established over 40 years ago. They see On The Edge as a flagship project: that is a fresh approach to a problem that they can help develop and learn from. They will go on to share what they have learnt with other interested youthworkers and organisations around the country. They will help us through their expertise and will enable us to work more efficiently. The Church Missions Society (CMS) will also be lending us their experience and in turn will also be keen to learn how local missions work happens in a rural area with young people in England. Although our project may have national significance the most important thing is that the young people in our area benefit. Frontier Youth Trust will be administering the finances of the project for us. This will mean that we can claim tax back and make our fundraising more valuable.