Our Commissioned Pathway (to become a Commissioned Children's or Youth Worker) seek to equip, inspire and honour the work you do with children and young people in your parish. The programme is delivered by Ridley Hall in Cambridge through their Catalyst course. Whether you are a volunteer or paid employee, this pathway will give you tools to increase and develop your ability and understanding of your work with children and young people, commissioning you to do this in your parish context.
You will learn from experts in the fields of children and youth ministry; most of the course content will be delivered by lecturers from Ridley, and your monthly meetings will be facilitated by local youth and children’s leads within our diocese. The course lasts six months, with monthly gatherings either online or in person, and a short residential half-way through. As part of the course, there are tasks that you will need to complete in between our gatherings, which should take you about an hour a month. You will find your learning materials on the Catalyst platform, log in details will be sent to you when the course commences.
Adam Larkin, has led youth, children’s and community work in a variety of church settings across Birmingham for the past 25 years. He has recently worked for Church of England Birmingham as their youth development worker. Currently, he coordinates the Safe Spaces network for young people and works as a community hub leader for Oasis Hub Blakenhale.
Rachel Retallick-Cheel is Mission Support Developer CFME at the Church of England Birmingham, where she looks after the Children and Families Mission Enabler project. She has previously worked for Moorlands College as a Tutor and Lecturer, The Feast, and Youthscape as part of the Alumina self-harm team. She is in church leadership and youth work as part of her local church.
Emma Sargeant, the Growing Younger Advisor, has been working for the Church of England Birmingham for six years. She has been involved in paid youth work in parishes for over 25 years and is now a volunteer at the Friday night youth club in her home church.
Dave Gidney has been teaching Biblical Studies, Theology, and Children’s Ministry for the past thirty years, as well as having worked as a church planter, Pastor, Children’s Minister, Itinerant Children’s Evangelist, and City Missionary. He has written several books on Children’s Ministry, bible study guides, and also for Scripture Union’s Daily Bread. He is currently an itinerant Bible College Lecturer, Scripture Union worker, and Director of ‘Children Worldwide’.
Sarah Covington has been in full time children’s ministry for over 20 years, after beginning her working life as a primary school teacher. She has worked for parachurch organisations in Hertfordshire and Sussex and has been in her current role as Children’s Minister at Knowle Parish Church since 2014. Sarah is one of the Directors of Children Worldwide and has led the Whizz Kids Programme for Spring Harvest for many years.
Applications for the next cohorts will not open until 2025.
If you would like to express your interest in this Pathway, follow this link and complete the form here.
Because this is a Commissioned Pathway, it will be important to ensure you have support from your incumbent or paid youth or children’s worker.