Where has the time gone!?!?!  I’ve known about NYA2008 for ages and been working on it for months and I’m still not done!  How come?

I got the programme information today and it looks amazing!  Some really good stuff happening about mental health and the human library sounds fascinating.

My sessions?  Well, Authenticity, Information, Privacy and Participation are our headings for an adventure in Social Media.  Sound interesting?  I hope so.

I’ll be blogging as we go along and posting on the wiki.  If you’re not coming you can follow the back-channel chat (or just backchat) on twitter.  Follow us over the weekend, or say hi!, using NYA2008 in your tweet.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about last night’s thoughts and I think my obsession with this event is about making a difference and seeing the value it has.  If not then it really is an obsession and I need help!

Now, no more of this procrastination.  Back to work!!!

DK at Media Snackers has been on a bit of a campaign to get Youth Workers in the statutory sector to blog.  It would seem that there are very few who do (he’s found one!), which perhaps is a consequence of Local Authorities attitudes to their staff having any kind of online profile (it’s BAD).

The same is true of the church.  Rumour has it that the powers that be added Facebook to the list of blocked websites in the Church of Scotland’s offices the day before Gordon Brown (yes the Prime Minister) gave social networking a big thumbs up at the General Assembly.  Facebook was unblocked shortly after.

This seems broadly representative of local churches and even denomination’s approach to the Internet.  ‘I don’t understand it so it must be bad.’  I’ve had youth workers tell me they are not allowed to have BEBO or Facebook sites, they can’t have forums on their websites and all kinds of stuff about not being online.  The reason most given is ‘Child Protection’.  What a load of nonsense.

The online world is just as safe (or unsafe) as real life.  What we should be doing is having sensible conversations about APPROPRATE online interaction with young people.  There are lost of ways to have open and transparent contact online with young people.

It’s probably a good idea for you not to IM your youth group.  But there’s no reason you can’t have a Twitter account telling them what’s coming up this week, or reminding them what to bring.

Having a group blog also let’s young people be creative in collecting content, writing and presenting what they have been up to.  A blog would give your group a higher profile in the community.  It would allow parents and supporters to see the value of your group.  You might even get new members or more funding.

So, here’s a plea.  Just because you don’t ‘get it’ don’t think it’s bad.  There are loads of tools and opportunities around to make your youth work better.  Don’t miss out because you don’t know where to start.

If you blog about your youth work, let me know.

If you would like to know more about getting online then in the next session I’ll be doing some training to get you started.  Keep an eye out on the blog and the dates pages or get in touch from the contact page.

In the meantime check YoMo’s guide to youth work blogging HERE.

It’s not often that Social Workers get immortalised in song but Glasvegas have in their new single ‘Geraldine’.

When your sparkle evades your soul
I’ll be at your side to console
When your standing on the window ledge
I’ll talk you back from the edge
I will turn your tide
Be your shepard and your guide
When your lost in the deep and darkest place around
May my words walk you home safe and sound

When you say that I’m no good and you feel like walking
I need to make sure you know thats just the Prescription talking
When your feet decide to walk you on the wayward side
Up upon the stairs and down the downward slide
I will, I will turn your tide
Do all that I can to heal you inside
I’ll be the angel on your shoulder
My name is Geraldine, I’m your social worker

I see you need me
I know you do

It’s a great song and you can see it here:

You might have noticed the little ad on the right for ‘bloggers unite for human rights’.  Today is the day when bloggers all over the world will share their thoughts and highlight situations where human rights are violated.

I had hoped to write something well researched but just haven’t had the time.  And I guess that’s what I wanted to say.  There is never time or we are all too busy.  It reminded me of these words attributed to Niemöller:

In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;

And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;

And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;

And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up.

Our civil liberties are the most precious things we have, and yet we take them for granted.

I’m responsible for developing work with children and young people so I though I’d use my post today to remind us all (in accordance with Article 42: All adults and children should know about this convention) of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child:

Article 1  Everyone under 18 has these rights

Article 2  You have the right to protection against discrimination

Article 3 Adults should do what’s best for you

Article 4 You have the right to have your rights made a reality by government

Article 5 You have the right to be given guidance by your parents and family

Article 6 You have the right to life

Article 7 You have the right to have a name and a nationality

Article 8 You have the right to have an identity

Article 9 You have the right to live with your parents unless it is bad for you

Article 10 If you and your parents are living in different countries, you have the right to get back together and live in the same place

Article 11 You should not be kidnapped

Article 12 You have the right to an opinion and for it to be listened to and taken seriously

Article 13 You have the right to find out things and say what you think, through making art, speaking and writing unless it breaks the rights of others

Article 14 You have the right to think what you like and be whatever religion you want to be with your parents guidance

Article 15 You have the right to be with friends and join or set up clubs, unless this breaks the rights of others

Article 16 You have the right to a private life, ie you can keep a diary that other people are not allowed to see

Article 17  You have the right to collect information from the media

Article 18 You have the right to be brought up by your parents if possible

Article 19 You have the right to be protected from being hurt or badly treated

Article 20 You have the right to special protection and help if you can’t live with your parents

Article 21 You have the right to have the best care for you if you are adopted or living in foster care

Article 22 You have the right to special protection and help if you are a refugee

Article 23 If you are disabled, either mentally or physically, you have the right to special care and education

Article 24 You have the right to the best health possible and to medical care and information

Article 25 You have the right to have your living arrangements checked regularly if you are living away from home

Article 26 You have the right to help from the government if you are poor or in need

Article 27 You have the right to have a good enough standard of living

Article 28 You have the right to education

Article 29 You have the right to education which develops your personality, respect for other’s rights and the environment

Article 30 If you come from a minority group you have the right to enjoy your own culture, practice your own religion and use your own language

Article 31 You have the right to play and relax by doing things like sport, music and drama

Article 32 You have the right to protection from work which is bad for your health or education

Article 33  You have the right to be protected from dangerous drugs

Article 34 You have the right to be protected from sexual abuse

Article 35 No one is allowed to kidnap you or sell you

Article 36 You have the right to protection from any other kind of exploitation

Article 37 You have the right not to be punished in a cruel or hurtful way

Article 38 You have the right to protection in times of war. If under 15 you should never have to be in the army or a battle

Article 39 You have the right to help if you have been hurt, neglected or badly treated

Article 40 You have the right to help in defending yourself if you are accused of breaking the law

Article 41 You have the right to any rights in laws in your country or internationally that give you better rights than these

Article 42 All adults and children should know about this convention

We in Scotland often look around the world and shake our heads at what goes on in other countries but I read a statistic which shocked me last night.   Nearly 20% of children attending the  Sick Children’s Hospital in Glasgow show signs of malnutrition.  It’s time we all made some time to look around and take seriously the rights of children in the world.

cww-2008-flyer-a5-web

The National Gathering is on 3-4 May 2008 at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston near Edinburgh is in less than 3 weeks from now!

The National Gathering will be one of the most encouraging, stimulating and memorable events for the whole church in Scotland in a generation or more. There will be huge celebrations of worship, keynote preachers, kids & youth programmes (check out the BEBO Page, an area for reflective prayer, art exhibitions and outdoor theatre. Speakers include Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, Michele Guinness, Alister McGrath, Andrea Wigglesworth and John Bell. Modern singer/songwriter, Stuart Townend, is coming too.
Although Church without Walls is a movement within the Church of Scotland, all Christian denominations in Scotland are invited to participate in the National Gathering.

Have you booked your tickets yet?

We hope lots of people from your church will come along to this exciting event. Click on this link to visit the National Gathering website. There you’ll find detailed information about the Saturday and Sunday programmes and you can book your tickets online. The excellent value for money prices start at £10 - or less with group discounts. There are even more generous discounts for youth groups. Perhaps your church would like to buy a story-telling tent! There’s still time. See the website for details.

… just wait for a few minutes.

The view from the window last night

The view from the window this morning

Nice eh!  It snowed today.  Lots.  I was preaching at Black Mount church for my dad and the drive was terrible.  Snow all the way.  It looked like this when I was leaving:

And now it’s all gone.  Scotland’s weather.  Brilliant.

I’m off to URC Scotland Youth Forum.  It’s the first one ever and we’re looking at climate change.

You can follow our adventures at our Youth Forum Blog.

We have just spent a weekend in Skye.  Words cannot describe the rugged beauty of the Island, photos don’t come close to capturing the magnificent landscape but I’ll try.

We set off, Avril and I never having been to Skye, with our companion for the trip Harry, Avril’s father.  He’s been a few times but was keen to go back.  Now I know why.

The journey from home takes us past Stirling, through the Trossachs, Glen Coe where the Campbells murdered the MacDonalds as they slept, past Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest peak (still with snow on it) and on through Lochcarron to Skye.  It is simply one of the most amazing journeys in the world.

We drove through Skye and arrived at the Darnbrook Guest House on the Waternish Peninsula to find this view…

We could see all the way out to North Uist!  It is stunning.  We sat at our window and just looked and looked.  Such an awesome view.

Our hosts Caryl and Duncan recommended the Stein Inn for a meal and Skye’s oldest inn didn’t disappoint!  Full and happy, Harry went off to bed while Avril and I ventured along to the end of the peninsula to watch the sunset over Harris.  We joined the other people, all huddled in ourcars as we watched the sun go down over the Hebrides.  It was glorious.

Next morning breakfast was superb (try the haggis!!!) and full to bursting we set off to drive round the Trotternish Peninsula in the North East of Skye.  We passed through Uig and on to Kilmuir Cemetery where Flora MacDonald, the woman who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape after the failed Jacobite Rebellion in 1745, is buried.

Just along the coast is Duntlum Castle, once the home of the Lord of the Isles. Next door is the only place we recommend you don’t visit (Duntlum Castle Hotel - YUCK!!!). The rest of the Peninsula is a geological marvel with sheer volcanic cliffs towering over the landscape and waterfalls cascading into the sea.  The Old Man of Storr is stunning.  A quick stop for afternoon tea in Portree and on to our final stop was Dunvegan Castle, home of the Chiefs of the Clan McLeod, before returning to the Stein Inn for another great meal.

Unfortunately we had to come home today but the journey, though long, was breathtaking.  We took the west coast road round Skye passing some serious mountains, the Cuillin Ridge (WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and Balven (WOW!!!!!!!!!!!), and back the way we came.

You must go to Skye at least once in your life, and when you do make sure you drive around and see it, don’t just stay in Portree or Broadford.  Lots of photos at Flickr in the Skye set.