Sandhurst Youth - Community and Church Youth Work
Update December 2018
These are exciting times in Sandhurst Youth! First of all, from the beginning of December, we are launching a new youth club, ‘Dream Big’, open to all 11 - 18 year olds in Sandhurst. It will offer a wide variety of activities and opportunities to build friendships, and will run for 6.00 - 8.00 pm each Sunday evening in the Pastoral Centre.
In the new year we will also be starting a mentoring scheme for young people aimed at helping them develop their confidence, character and skills to achieve their dreams for life.
Both these need your support and involvement, whether it be in the simple tasks of setting up on a Sunday, through to coming alongside some of our fantastic young people to share your life experience and learning, and encouraging them on their journey - please chat with Mike Gower about all these opportunities.
And corporately there is change too. We have an application in to the Charities Commission to make Sandhurst Youth an independent charity serving the young people community and the churches - we expect to complete the process before Christmas, and the PCC has already set up all the resolutions to enable the transfers etc to take place. We plan that over the coming years Sandhurst Youth will be a strategic resource supporting church and community youth work. It’s a key example of how, as a church, we can become ‘mission shaped’ and facilitate real engagement outside the church. Your continued active support, prayer, and, of course, financial support, will be much appreciated!
These are exciting times in Sandhurst Youth! First of all, from the beginning of December, we are launching a new youth club, ‘Dream Big’, open to all 11 - 18 year olds in Sandhurst. It will offer a wide variety of activities and opportunities to build friendships, and will run for 6.00 - 8.00 pm each Sunday evening in the Pastoral Centre.
In the new year we will also be starting a mentoring scheme for young people aimed at helping them develop their confidence, character and skills to achieve their dreams for life.
Both these need your support and involvement, whether it be in the simple tasks of setting up on a Sunday, through to coming alongside some of our fantastic young people to share your life experience and learning, and encouraging them on their journey - please chat with Mike Gower about all these opportunities.
And corporately there is change too. We have an application in to the Charities Commission to make Sandhurst Youth an independent charity serving the young people community and the churches - we expect to complete the process before Christmas, and the PCC has already set up all the resolutions to enable the transfers etc to take place. We plan that over the coming years Sandhurst Youth will be a strategic resource supporting church and community youth work. It’s a key example of how, as a church, we can become ‘mission shaped’ and facilitate real engagement outside the church. Your continued active support, prayer, and, of course, financial support, will be much appreciated!
Our Youth Worker
Our Youth Worker Mike Gower started in March 2018.
So, in his own words, who is Mike Gower?
‘Well what can I tell you about myself? To start with I have about 26 years of experience working with young people. This has ranged from youth clubs, schools, young offenders’ institutes, YMCA hostel, and street work. I have worked with local authorities, YMCA, prison chaplaincy, and Salvation Army. I have experienced working with young people who have had issues from homelessness, drugs, antisocial behaviour, gangs. I am a south Londoner and have moved from north to west London. I have lived on a narrow-boat. I have two older brothers. My dad passed away with leukaemia and my mum is in a care home in Maidenhead with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
‘So, with my experience and passion to see young people get the best provision. I am moving from Ashford in Kent to be your youth worker. I am game for a laugh and have done things such as dressing in drag and attempting to run around Windsor for charity. I am a Chelsea FC supporter as well as following cricket and rugby. I also enjoy fishing and a good curry. So, I look forward to the next adventure, being part of your community and congregation.’
‘Well what can I tell you about myself? To start with I have about 26 years of experience working with young people. This has ranged from youth clubs, schools, young offenders’ institutes, YMCA hostel, and street work. I have worked with local authorities, YMCA, prison chaplaincy, and Salvation Army. I have experienced working with young people who have had issues from homelessness, drugs, antisocial behaviour, gangs. I am a south Londoner and have moved from north to west London. I have lived on a narrow-boat. I have two older brothers. My dad passed away with leukaemia and my mum is in a care home in Maidenhead with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
‘So, with my experience and passion to see young people get the best provision. I am moving from Ashford in Kent to be your youth worker. I am game for a laugh and have done things such as dressing in drag and attempting to run around Windsor for charity. I am a Chelsea FC supporter as well as following cricket and rugby. I also enjoy fishing and a good curry. So, I look forward to the next adventure, being part of your community and congregation.’
Our Aspiration
It is not uncommon to view young people as problems to be solved or victims in need of charity – this is not our view! Sandhurst Youth sees young people as valuable members of society deserving our appreciation and encouragement. Some of its aspirations include:-
- Wanting young people to be at the heart of all we do, harnessing the experiences they have had and using them to shape services that really work for them;
- Wanting to focus on the young person rather than their problems, and challenge all young people to be the best that they possibly can be;
- Wanting to create a different kind of language when talking about and to young people leaving negative, stereotyping behind, and letting young people become the central characters in their own stories;
- Wanting to gather and disseminate the right kind of information about young people - data that focuses less on their ‘needs’ and more on their abilities, goals and potential;
- Wanting to create fundraising and marketing techniques that present young people and their aspirations in a positive light that attracts support;
- Wanting to promote intelligent investments in services that enable young people to build thriving lives rather than moving them on when the immediate crisis is stabilised and leaving them to ‘cope’ with any disadvantage;
- Wanting anyone working with young people to have the skills to identify, nurture and promote young people’s talents and aspirations;
- Wanting to challenge ourselves and others by joining together to create a new future with and for young people in Sandhurst.
Come And Talk To Us
For more information please see our website sandhurstyouth.org.uk or talk to:
David Percival - Project Leader for Sandhurst Youth
Mike Gower - our Youth Worker
Liz Percival - who leads the volunteer team in the church.
David Percival - Project Leader for Sandhurst Youth
Mike Gower - our Youth Worker
Liz Percival - who leads the volunteer team in the church.