The Charter

The National Charter for church youth workers is a set of seven promises churches make about the about the practices and principles they will use in employing a youth worker.

Click on each promise to see more.

We will pray and support

We believe that our youth worker needs spiritual support in their work with young people.

We promise to pray for our youth worker and keep their needs a high priority in the church’s prayer life.

We will give space for retreat and reflection

We believe that taking time to think and pray is just as essential for our youth worker as organising events and meeting young people.

We promise to encourage our youth worker to use part of their schedule to give space for retreat, reflection and personal development.

We will provide ongoing training and development

We believe that learning the skills of youth work is an ongoing process and that it’s important to continually invest in professional development.

We promise to set aside time and money to provide this for our youth worker.

We will give a full day of rest each week

We believe that taking regular time off helps maintain our youth worker’s passion and energy for their work with young people.

We promise to actively encourage our youth worker to take a day away from their role each week to do something different.

We will share responsibility

We believe that having a youth worker does not release the rest of the church from our responsibilities towards young people.

We promise to encourage everyone to play a part in volunteering, praying for or supporting young people.

We will strive to be an excellent employer

We believe that it’s important to have clear structures and procedures for recruiting and employing a youth worker, and to provide supportive management structures.

We promise to follow good practice guidelines in the way we employ our youth worker.

We will celebrate and appreciate

We believe it’s vital to acknowledge what our youth worker is doing and the commitment they have made to work with young people in our church.

We promise to make sure our youth worker knows they are appreciated and we will celebrate their achievements.

We love our youthworker

"The Baptist Union’s Mission Department welcomes this initiative. I believe that this Charter is timely, prophetic, and if taken seriously would change the culture and practice of employment of youth workers."

Ian Bunce, Head of Mission Department, Baptist Union of Great Britain

"I am convinced if every church employing a youth worker was diligently outworking this Charter, it would have a dramatic effect, not only our youth workers but also on the young people they serve."

Steve Clifford, General Director of the EA

"Over the last twenty years the church has done a fantastic job of recognising the need for youth workers. Now it’s time the church took a serious look at the needs of youth workers."

Martin Saunders, Editor, Youthwork Magazine

"This Charter is a clear, strategic and timely reminder that as youth workers express and demonstrate worth and value to those they serve, as the church we should be doing exactly the same for them."

Susie Mapldoram, Diocesan Youth Officer, Manchester Diocese

"This Charter helps the church articulate its desire to value and develop its youth workers. I believe it will add richness to those who are among our churches greatest assets!"

Mark Pugh, National Director, Serious4God

"I commend this National Charter to every church who wants a fulfilled youth worker and the resulting growth in their youth work!"

Rev Stephen Gaukroger, Clarion Trust International

“My prayer is that the Charter will, indeed, be a great encouragement to all churches that employ a youth worker to show in even more tangible ways that they really do value, love, and cherish them.”

Peter Ball, National Youth Adviser, Church of Engalnd

“Every church should commit to The National Charter for Church Youth Workers. It reminds us all that we have a responsibility to care for those who are at the forefront of so much incredible work with young people here in the UK.”

Steve Chalke, MBE Founder, Oasis Global, Faithworks & Stop The Traffik