Aims and Objectives

Mission Statement

Youth Link’s mission is to work together:

providing excellence in all aspects of youth work and leadership training;
encouraging and equipping young people to participate in Church and society and in the building of a shared future;
in partnership with Church bodies, youth organizations and all sectors with responsibility for young people;
facilitating strategies for the development of youth ministry within the Churches;
integrating equity, diversity and interdependence into all aspects of policy and practice in youth work and ministry.

Value Base

Central to Youth Link is the Christian faith which commits us to:

· the personal, social and spiritual development of young people;

· encourage and support leaders in their personal and professional development;

· developing effective and strategic partnerships;

· building relationships that enable healing in the lives of individuals and communities;

· promote respect and trust within a culturally diverse society;

· fairness in provision of service;

· integrity and accountability in all aspects of our work.

Core Aims:

· Meeting Churches’ Needs Youth Link, through dialogue, will be constantly aware of the changing needs of the Churches with regard to youth work and ministry and will respond effectively.

· Training Youth Link will make available to those involved in work with young people training in youth work and ministry, peace building and reconciliation, informed by the latest theory and practice.

· Active Citizenship, Peace Building & Reconciliation Strategies For Young People Youth Link will work with others to provide opportunities for young people of different traditions and cultural backgrounds to develop mutual understanding, tolerance, acceptance and respect, and to be agents of transformation in a divided society.

· Prophetic Voice Youth Link, through dialogue, will raise awareness of critical and emerging issues in youth work and ministry, peace building and reconciliation, providing a prophetic voice to the Churches and the wider community.

· Networking Youth Link will network strategically with agencies, Churches and youth workers at local, national and international level to enhance best practice in youth work and ministry, peace building and reconciliation.

Supporting Aims:

· Communication Youth Link will communicate effectively internally and with its stakeholders.

· Governance & Management The governance and management of Youth Link will continue to be effective and efficient, reflecting integrity and accountability.

· Staffing Youth Link’s staffing structure will enable the aims and objectives of the organisation to be met. Staff will be supported, valued, appraised and developed.

· Physical Resources Youth Link will have the physical resources (buildings, equipment, training and resource materials etc) it needs to achieve its aims and objectives.

· Finance & Funding Youth Link will generate sufficient income to achieve its aims and objectives and will ensure that financial resources are managed efficiently and with accountability.

Projects and Activities

OCN NI Training for Youth Work

Level 1: Leadership in Youth Work Programme
Level 2: Introduction to Youth Work
Level 3: Working with Others in a Youth Work Context and Programme Development

Peace Building and Reconciliation Training

Conflict Transformation Programme including OCN NI Level 2 ‘Handling Life’s Conflicts’.
Kairos Project – “A Journey in Understanding and Building Community” - A Peer Education Programme (15-17 year olds)
Education for Peace includes OCN NI Level 1 Good Relations & Cultural Diversity (15*-17 year olds)
OCN NI Community Relations Work – An Equity, Diversity & Interdependence Training Programme - Level 2
OCN NI Level 3 Programme Development for CR/EDI Work with Young People
OCN Level 3 CR/EDI for Experienced Practitioners working with young people – in-depth training
OCN NI Level 2 Understanding Diversity in Society (16-18 year olds)
Reframe, includes OCN NI Level 3 Cultural Diversity (accreditation pending)

BA Honours Degree in Youth & Community Work and Practical Theology (JNC validated)

Community Relations Council

Youth Link: NI

Aims and Objectives

· Meeting Churches’ Needs Youth Link, through dialogue, will be constantly aware of the changing needs of the Churches with regard to youth work and ministry and will respond effectively.

· Networking Youth Link will network strategically with agencies, Churches and youth workers at local, national and international level to enhance best practice in youth work and ministry, peace building and reconciliation.

Projects and Activities