Western Dales Mission Community Families, Children and Youth Worker

We are seeking a Full time Families, Children and Youth Worker

Are you a self-starter with the ability to:

• pioneer and lead mission and ministry to families, children, and young people
• lead collective worship in the schools, and help students to explore Christian spirituality
• manage and work well with volunteers who form the teams that offer ministry to families and young people

Salary £29,826 FTE plus 15% employers pension contribution. This role is ecumenically funded by Anglican, Methodist, and URC churches.

The Western Dales Mission Community (WDMC) is an ecumenical partnership between Anglican, Methodist, and URC churches in the area of Sedbergh and Dent, and surrounding Dales. We are in the Anglican Diocese of Carlisle, the Methodist Cumbria District, and the URC North West Synod.

There are eight Anglican churches, and four Methodist churches, one of which has offered an ecumenical welcome to a previous URC congregation in Sedbergh.

The Ministry Team currently consists of the WDMC Leader, who holds a dual role, as Vicar to the Benefice of the Western Dales, and Methodist Minister with responsibility for the local Methodist churches. We have two retired clergy, a Lay Reader, a Lay Pioneer Minister, Local Preachers, and many volunteers that contribute to ministry in this area.

Wider ministry networks include Network Youth Church leaders in Kendal and Kirkby Stephen, and the Methodist District Young Peoples Work Co-ordinator.

About the region

The Western Dales is a border place between the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District. It is home to the famous Howgill Fells. Sedbergh is its largest town with a population of around 3,000, with the village of Dent around 1,000. There is a strong farming community in the Dales. Sedbergh is a market town which is a popular tourist destination, and is supported by the presence of Sedbergh School, a key local employer. This is a beautiful part of the country, which is serviced by easy access to the M6.

The Diocese of Carlisle is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. It is a key priority that we work together towards achieving our common vision, our commitment to a positive safeguarding culture, so that all our churches and worshipping communities can be places which are safer for everybody as well as being places of welcome. All postholders and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.