Brixham URC has at its heart a desire to work with children and young people within the church and on the streets and enable them to share in the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ by:

giving them an opportunity to respond to God helping their self-discovery in a secure, fun setting

learning about the Church world-wide responding to the needs of others and working for a fairer world

respecting the earth

Brixham URC is part of the United Reformed Church in England and Wales and, as such, follows the regulations and practices laid down by General Assembly. Locally we are answerable to the URC South Western Synod under the Synod Moderator.

Brixham URC has its own Youth and Children’s Work Department whose adult staff are Church Members, all of whom have promised to agree to the church’s policies regarding children. The church has a laid down Child Protection Policy, which is regularly updated and amended in line with national recommendations. This is displayed prominently in the church building for all users of the building to read and adhere to.

All staff are required to submit a Disclosure Application Form to the Criminal Records Bureau. Those wanting to work in the Children’s and Youth Department are required to submit to a nationally endorsed training programme. The Youth and Children’s Department, as with all other departments of Brixham URC, has oversight from the elders meeting, presided over by the minister. The elders are elected every two years by the membership and must be members of the church in good standing.

The church elders are the local trustees of the church, and work with the synod trustees to maintain proper management of the different departments and care of the church property. The finances of the Youth and Children’s Department are supported by Brixham URC via the annual budget. Projected youth in community work is funded through personal giving by church members in association with the Brixham Youth Worker Management Group, chaired by the minister.

Leaders within the Youth and Children’s Department, and the personnel on the Brixham Youth Worker Management Group are determined by the minister and elders, with the approval of Church Meeting. Numbers of personnel and the composition of the Group may vary, but both are reviewed annually at the Annual General Meeting of Brixham URC in November.

Minutes of the Youth and Children’s Leaders Meeting, and the Brixham Youth Worker Management Group are required at each meeting, and are available for perusal by appropriate bodies. Financial reports are to be made available to the Church Treasurer annually. A leader from the Youth and Children’s Department, and a representative from the Youth Worker Management Group must attend elders meetings as required at the discretion of the minister and elders, to report on the work being carried out and to make requests for practical or financial support.

The aims and objectives of the Children’s Work Department and the Brixham Youth Worker Management Group, are to offer compassion, friendship, support and guidance to all young people in Brixham. The aim is to bring a caring Christian ethos to all relationships, regardless of colour, class or creed. Leaders and workers are expected to conform to URC national guideline on inclusivity.

Compiled by the Brixham Youth Worker Management Group.

December 2006.