Mystery Box

Today my youth work class at ICC unveiled their ‘mystery boxes’. The idea came from JJ Abrams’ amazing TED talk: The task was to bring something which would intrigue the rest of the class but also enable them to learn something. Mystery Box 1 contained 2 djembe drums and some ‘instructions’. Mystery Box 2 was Read More …

Teenagers! Who needs them?

“Young People are Useless!” “Adults Now Afraid to Challenge Young People!” “Unless you have an official role, children are now ‘off limits’.” These are just some of the headlines from reports and articles in recent years that point to a growing gap in the relationships between the world of adults and the world of young Read More …

Beautiful Students

I’ve been promoted.  Have I mentioned this already?  Sorry if I have, but I’m now an official co-host of the fabulous international podcasting sensation that is the Something Beautiful Podcast along with Jonathan and Thomas. Some of the students on the Youth Work and Applied Theology course at ICC feature on this week’s Something Beautiful Read More …

Research Decission…

Right.  I’ve decided what my Masters research will focus on. I’m going to explore youth workers in church settings’ attitudes to social media.  I had a couple of chats over the last few days with Chris and Tim and they have helped me to focus. So, my initial plan is: To investigate youth workers in Read More …

It Takes A Village

Think that’s shocking? Barnardo’s released a report called Break The Cycle today.  The research conducted by YouGov shows that: just under half (49%) of people believe that children are increasingly a danger to each other and adults 43% agree something has to be done to protect us from children 45% think that children are feral Read More …

Research Choices

I’m almost done with my Masters in Research.  I have two modules to complete then a dissertation.  The dissertation takes the form of a small research project.  I want to get started soon and have it completed so I can graduate next November at the latest.  If I’m super organised I could graduate in July. Read More …

Does youth work work?

The other day my colleague emailed to say that he was working with a church who were considering employing a youth worker but they had asked a question that had stumped him. ‘Will employing a youth worker make a difference?’ It stumped him because they were asking for hard proof.  Not a series of anecdotes.  Read More …