Connected Youth - Andy’s Reflections
My background of the past few years has been solely working with young people in a church ministry setting, and so to have the opportunity to engage with young people across school sessions, youth club, and community events has been invaluable experience. I’m very grateful to have been able to glean off the YMCA’s long-standing relationship with local schools and see the work of their partner organisations, revealing the importance of reputation and integrity in this line of work.
My greatest goal for this year was to learn how to serve young people in contexts different to my own. With Belfast YMCA that meant working with pupils across Belfast in all the diverse contexts available, and with CFC that meant building rapport and trust with the collection of teenagers that assembled weekly as our Youth Church. Belfast holds a different culture than I’m used to, a different pace, and unique challenges, so the question I returned to in any room or environment was “What does service look like here?”.
Whether in a classroom unpacking topics like migration and racism, or in our youth church learning to pray and hear from God, the approach is the same: asking good questions and giving good listening. The team in both Belfast YMCA and CFC have modelled this and reinforced this lesson time and time again. I was told early on in my apprenticeship that content is not the priority, connection is. Therefore, becoming the youth worker that impressed warmth, safety, and value on a young person became the measure of success, not performance or perfection.
Belfast YMCA and CFC created safe environments to fail, opportunities to grow, with times of stretch and challenge, yet continuous support and encouragement! The workplace culture is one of casting large visions for young people to thrive and celebrating every small win along the way.
Beginning this year I was somewhat aware of my weaknesses and the areas I wanted to see improvement in. Mainly areas of organisation, administration, and planning. A huge help to this was my line manager's encouragement to take personality tests, learning type questionnaires, and spiritual gift quizzes in an effort to help me understand how I’m wired. Learning more about myself proved immensely helpful as it gave me language to help articulate why I find some tasks more difficult than others. This broke off any pressure and gave me understanding and permission to ask for help.
The Scripture that I felt God spoke over this year was John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”. This personally set a missional tone for me as I approached the opportunities of this year as I knew my role here was not simply to learn and grow myself, but to actively partner in God’s work making “all things new”. Maintaining an intentional perspective of being salt and light was something I was regularly challenged in by mentors, peers, and relationship with Jesus. The task of reaching the next generation with the Gospel is simply too important to hit snooze on.
Of all the many benefits of this apprenticeship, a major one for me has been the opportunity to network, getting to meet the names and faces of those already paving the way. Across the year at events, training days, and conferences I have been privileged to meet the incredible leaders and youth workers who are already making a difference and impacting the lives of many.
One of my key highlights was our TBUC residential in October. We had a brilliant group that bonded so well and had an incredible time at Greenhill YMCA team-building and enjoying outdoor activities together. It’s those moments of forming relationships as a group, journeying a course of time with the purpose of understanding each other, and enjoying games in nature that really carry me through the highs and lows of youth work.
I cannot recommend this apprenticeship enough to someone looking for a deep dive experience in working with young people. I have had an incredible time learning and growing, and have felt so genuinely supported along the way. There is a deep well of knowledge and expertise in the team and staff here, and yet such a heart posture to give it away and train up tomorrow’s leaders. My time with the Belfast YMCA and CFC South has been one of the most rewarding and formative experiences for my professional and personal growth. This year has been such a blessing and I am forever grateful!
Click here to find out about Connected Youth Apprenticeship 25/26
