Benefact Trust grant of £60,000 to support new Diocesan Ministry Apprentice Scheme
The diocese is delighted to have been awarded a very generous grant from the Benefact Trust to support, FORGE, our exciting new Diocesan Ministry Apprentice Scheme. FORGE will enable young Christians to develop a strong and enduring faith through training and service in the church.
The aims of this new programme for Christians between the ages of 18–25 are to:
Equip young Christians with skills and experience in church–based ministry
Support young Christians to grow in faith and explore a call to Christian ministry
Enable churches to extend the reach of their ministries
Assist the diocese to identify and raise up a new generation of ministry leaders
The diocese will work in partnership with our churches and church plants to place apprentices in pairs to learn new skills and gain practical experience through hands–on supervised participation in ministry in host churches.
Apprentices will be fully involved in the life and witness of their host church and are likely to be involved mainly in parish children’s and youth ministries. Where available, they will have the opportunity to participate in schools’, outreach and compassion ministries. They will also contribute to diocese–wide ministry programmes e.g., Saturday Night Live and our Kilbroney Camps programme.
There will be a strong focus on training in–house within the churches and by the diocese.
Andrew Bass, Grants Officer for Benefact Trust, said:
“We’re delighted to be able to support the new Diocesan Ministry Apprentice Scheme, which will help to develop young Christians, giving them the confidence and leadership skills they need to explore Christian Ministry. Not only is this a great opportunity for the apprentices, but their work over the next year will help many young people across the diocese through outreach and youth ministry.”
FORGE will start with an induction in October, and include monthly training days, insight visits to Christian ministries, support to undertake accredited training in children’s or youth ministry and an end of year celebration event.
This initiative supports each of the 3 priorities of Bishop David McClay’s 10–year vision for the diocese: discipleship (facilitating young adults to grow in faith), leadership (raising up new leaders), and apostleship (supporting churches in their outreach).
Applications to FORGE will open in July and close on Thursday 25 August 2022. Interviews will be held on Tuesday 30 August 2022. Apprenticeships will start on Sunday 2 October 2022.
Benefact Trust exists to make a positive difference to people’s lives by funding, guiding and celebrating the work of churches and Christian charities; empowering the most vulnerable and giving people, communities and places a renewed opportunity to flourish. (benefacttrust.co.uk)