The JUMP Programme, a year out opportunity organised by the Church of Ireland Youth Department CIYD, is working with six young adults from across Ireland in 2009/2010. These young adults are working alongside clergy, youth workers, youth leaders and other volunteers in six different parishes across the island of Ireland. The interns are now almost half way through their time with the JUMP Programme, now is a perfect time to share their stories, the challenges and highlights they have faced and to also inspire some more young adults and parishes to get involved in September 2010.

This week we bring the stories of three of the interns, the remaining interns will share their news next week.

The JUMP Programme is an exciting way to help develop and enhance the skills of young adults who are keen to explore what it is like to work in the Church. Each Parish has benefited by having more support for their youth and children's work in the shape of a young enthusiastic and energetic JUMP Programme Intern.

Athy Union, Co. Kildare, Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough

Richard Johnston is working with Rev Cliff Jeffers and the many volunteer leaders in the parish of Athy. Richard is 19 and is from Moira. Richard completed A-Levels last June and plans to go to university in September after his year with the JUMP Programme.

Richard starting his time in Athy with the National Ploughing Championships which were hosted by Athy in September, whilst this felt like being thrown in at the deep end Richard enjoyed the busy atmosphere and made lots of new contacts in the area.

Richard is involved in a variety of activities in the Parish. He regularly takes assemblies in the local National School and has really enjoyed getting to know the children there and also getting to exercise his drama skills. Richard is also developing his amateur dramatics with the Puppet Group in the Parish; he attended a Puppet conference in England on behalf of the Parish recently also. Richard is also involved in the BB and the Youth Group.

As well as work in the Parish Richard has been involved in working with 3Rock Youth (Dublin and Glendalough Diocese Youth Project) at their Retreat Days for Schools and also with the 3Rock team at the Youth Festival in Enniskerry. These experiences with 3Rock have given Richard some valuable experience in relation to youth work across the diocese of Dublin and Glendalough.

Richard recently attended the Global Leadership Conference in Dublin with Rev Cliff. Richard has also been involved with the Youth Café in Athy, this is a joint project with other churches in the community and is a great opportunity to meet new people and young people from outside the parish.
Outside of youth and children's work in the Parish Richard has started playing Badminton with both the Parish and the town team and is proving to be an important asset to the team. Richard has also been using his musical skills by taking some guitar lessons for young people in the parish.

Richard's involvement in Athy Union has proved to be really encouraging for both Rev Cliff and the volunteer leaders in the parish.

 

Glenavy Parish, Diocese of Connor

Glenavy Parish is hosting Neil Dawson and is the second of our highlighted parishes this week.

Neil is 18 and from Banbridge, Neil completed his A-Level studies last June and plans to go to university in September. Neil was very involved in his home parish of Seapatrick Church of Ireland in Banbridge, helping with holiday clubs, Sunday School and the music group.

Neil is working alongside Rev John Rutter and the youth worker in the parish Stuart Moles. This provides a tight support for Neil. The Parish of Glenavy covers the villages of Glenavy and Crumlin. Neil is based mostly in Crumlin and is getting used to living in a new area and making new friends and contacts in the parish.

Stuart and Neil spend time each week in Crumlin Integrated School taking both RE classes and also the Scripture Union. Neil has enjoyed preparing material for both and getting to know the young people in the school. Neil is also heavily involved in the Youth Fellowship in the Parish; this has proved to be a real highlight in the week for Neil. He has enjoyed getting to know the young people, building relationships, having an opportunity to pray with them and be part of their faith development.

Neil is also supporting Stuart in the development and growth of the parish drop-in in Crumlin - ‘Ignite'. Neil also is involved in the after schools club in Crumlin. At both of these groups Neil is building relationships with young people who are more detached from the Parish and who perhaps have no links with the parish apart from the drop-in or after schools club.

Neil works with some of the children in the parish at Sunday school each week. Neil enjoys the challenge of developing material for this each week and working alongside the other Sunday School teachers.

Both Rev John and Stuart have really enjoyed having Neil as part of their team and are seeing the benefits that he is bringing to the youth and children's work in the parish.

Magheraculmoney Parish, Kesh, Co. Fermanagh, Diocese of Clogher

Magheraculmoney Parish is hosting Lynda McCann this year as part of the JUMP Programme. Lynda is working alongside the curate Rev Henry Blair during her time in the parish.

Lynda is originally from Athy in Co Kildare and grew up in the Parish which Richard is working in. This proved to be a useful contact for Richard to set the scene in the first few weeks of training before he travelled down to Athy. Lynda is a qualified teacher and after several years of part time work decided to explore youth work as a career option. Lynda was very involved in her home parish and hopes to find a youth work position after her time with the JUMP Programme.

Magheraculmoney is large and busy parish in North Fermanagh, Lynda is working alongside both the curate and other key volunteers and leaders in the parish. During the average week Lynda works with both young people and children in the parish. With the experience of being a teacher Lynda enjoys preparing and delivering sessions with each of the groups. Waterworks is one of the groups for the primary aged children which meets after school and has allowed Lynda the chance to get to know some of the children she works with in Sunday School in a slightly different setting. Lynda also works with the various uniformed organisations that meet in the Parish - Guides and Scouts.

Lynda works with the older young people at the youth cell which meets on a Sunday evening and has been involved in developing a new stream called ‘Youth Factor'. Lynda has been involved in preparing the resources and working with the other volunteers to make this happen. With a large confirmation class in the parish Lynda has been involved in leading and taking classes.

Lynda hasn't left the school environment entirely as she is involved in assemblies in Kesh Primary School and also in Devenish College in Enniskillen.

Getting involved in the JUMP Programme has been a significant step for Lynda, however she is really enjoying the experience and how it is stretching and teaching her. Rev Henry is also seeing the commitment and dedication that Lynda brings to her work in the parish.

The JUMP Programme is an opportunity for young adults to get involved and see what it is like to work in a church for a year whilst being involved in youth and children's ministry. We are now recruiting Interns and Parishes for the JUMP Programme 2010/2011, if you would like more information on the JUMP Programme or an application pack please contact Catherine (+44 28 9066 0052); email: catherine@ciyd.org or visit www.ciyd.org