Turn the Tide is the Synod's Strategy for the support and development of youth and children's work in local churches.
The vision is for churches to engage with children and young people in their localities, offering opportunities for an exploration of the world they live in so that they can develop socially, spiritually, physically and emotionally.
The employment of youth or children's workers in local situations has a significant impact on the ability of churches to achieve this vision. This is encouraged by offering churches up to £10,000 (up to a maximum of 50% of the total costs) per application per year to employ a worker. Grants are made for up to 3 years, after which churches may reapply for further 3 year grants. The CYDO is available to advise churches about employing a worker and to support employed workers.
Click
here to find out about the difference an employed worker can make in a local church.
Workers employed with the support of Turn the Tide also give a proportion of their time to benefit other United Reformed Churches in a variety of ways:
- Supporting a local church with an aspect of their youth & children's work
- Contributing to the planning and leading of Synod youth & children’s events or contributing to an ecumenical event on behalf of the URC.
- Helping to staff camps e.g. the Girls & Boys Brigade camp run by Temple URC on the Isle of Wight; the annual Synod Youth Camp; the Canterbury District camp.
- Being an advocate for youth & children's work within an Area Coordination Team within the Synod or taking on Synod roles related to youth & children’s work.
- Helping to deliver training in their area for volunteer leaders.
- Advising churches who are working through the Child Friendly Church Award scheme.
The Synod has a 'Turn the Tide' group which meets three times a year to receive applications and to monitor the progress of churches receiving funds. The Turn the Tide terms of reference are:
- To support, advocate and resource ministry with children and young people
- To consider applications and make awards for funding of children's and youth worker posts
- To monitor the work undertaken by churches receiving Turn the Tide grants.
Applications are made to this group in writing, following the instructions on the Turn the Tide leaflet.
Click
here
to download the 'Turn the Tide' leaflet for more details and contact the Synod CYDO if your church is interested in
applying. If your church is making a reapplication to Turn the Tide to continue funding for a further 3 year period,
please contact the Synod CYDO for guidance.
The Turn the Tide meeting dates for 2008 are 19th March, 17th July and 13th November. Completed applications should be sent to the CYDO 4 weeks before the meeting date, to allow the paperwork to be printed and circulated to the members of the committee before the meeting.
