CIYD Resources
CIYD Resources
I Believe
‘I Believe’ is a Confirmation Preparation Resource for teenagers. The resource has been written with the content of the Church of Ireland Confirmation Service in mind and refers to elements of the Apostles’ Creed, The 10 Commandments and the Church Catechism. It is a 12-week course examining essentials of our faith and offers interactive activities to enhance the learning experience for young people preparing for Confirmation.
Live to Give
An interactive 4-week bible study for youth groups looking at generosity, money and giving. The resource has been written in partnership with Nicola Brown from the Church of Ireland’s Generous Giving Programme, and Jonny Farrell from Stand By Me – a charity working with children in the developing world. Its four sessions cover:
Where the heart is – to explore what brings us joy and happiness, the importance of gratitude, and the challenge of putting God first;
A God of plenty – the nature of our generous God who gave everything for us, and what it means to be stewards of what we have been given;
More than enough – to look at the ways in which God has equipped young people to make a practical impact for His Kingdom in the world around them;
Money talks – covering what we have to give, what happens when we give, and practical tools, advice and biblical principles for handling money.
The ready to run sessions are very accessible with a lot of interactive activities, Bible study, prayer challenges and games.
Shaken
SHAKEN is a unique resource for young people, written by Connor Diocesan Youth Council in partnership with The Big House Ireland. The resource guides young people to consider how they can respond to difficulties they face in life from a Christian perspective. While providing practical advice, Shaken is founded in Biblical truths and demonstrates how faith is integral in discussions with young people around coping with difficulty. The resource has sections on the value of talking to others, listening, and spotting feelings. It then provides 20 different healthy coping mechanisms for young people to try together or in their youth group. Within the resource, it encourages young people to review each coping mechanisms knowing that each young person is unique and will have their own ways of coping well.
Fuel
Fuel seeks to help young people to read the Bible regularly over Lent – or anytime of the year. The booklet includes a reading plan for John’s Gospel and a 50–page journal. Fuel contains questions to help young people engage with what they are reading, and to think about what the Bible is saying and teaching. Space is also provided for writing down notes, prayers and thoughts. The journal runs to 50 days to encourage readers to continue with the habits which they have started over Lent.
Care for Creation
CIYD partnered with Tearfund Ireland & Christian Aid Ireland to produce this resource that will help Christian youth leaders and groups to understand the climate and biodiversity emergencies and how we can rise to the challenge to ‘Care for Creation’.
The pack is a 2-year programme that gathers resources to inform and inspire young people to take action on the environment – to extend God’s Kingdom on earth. It provides activities for worship, Bible study, prayer, activities and action.
A Welcoming Church
Resonance
The Jesus Sessions
The Exalt App
Climate Justice Toolkit
The aim of this toolkit is to build the knowledge, skills and attitudes of young people as they explore the impact of climate change on our planet, the inequality of its consequences on people, and why this is unjust. This toolkit uses a Development Education approach. Development Education is an interactive and creative learning process that seeks to increase awareness and understanding of the world we live in. It challenges perceptions and stereotypes by encouraging optimism, participation and action for a just world. Through a process of exploration, reflection and action young people are encouraged to look at their own lives and
Pancakes & Prayer
Bishops’ Appeal and the Church of Ireland Youth Department (CIYD) have teamed up for this Lent resource, focussing on several schools in South Sudan within the Dioceses of Ibba and Maridi. The schools are all part of the Fields of Life Thrive Programme which helps every child to say: “I am educated, I am fed, I am safe and I am loved.”
We encourage young people and leaders throughout the Church of Ireland to pray throughout Lent for the students, teachers, and the wider communities of schools in South Sudan who are part of the Fields of Life Thrive programme. But also encouraging each group to run a special fundraising initiative at some point during Lent – it could be a pancake party on or around Shrove Tuesday or treats after church on Mothering Sunday, or simply to provide an opportunity for the young people to make a donation each time the group meets, in lieu of money they would normally spend on drinks or snacks.
Funds raised during Lent will go towards running school gardens, growing food to feed children during the school day. Training in growing and protecting crops, equipment and seedlings are all part of what will be provided through the generosity of young people within the Church of Ireland.
Many of us choose to give up something for Lent – be it sweets, fizzy drinks or crisps and snacks. The money we save, donated through Bishops’ Appeal to the schools in South Sudan, will enable children in South Sudan to be fed day after day, week after week and month after month. Long after Lent ends the legacy will live on through the impact of our prayers and through our giving.
It costs a little over £8,000 per year (€10,000) to set up and maintain a school garden in a group of schools, feeding up to 3,500 children for a year at a cost of less than €3 per child or £2.50. That’s not per child per day, but per year! This is a project where a small amount of money can make a big difference – and where our prayers for safety, welfare and the protection and presence of our loving God can and will transform lives. To donate, click here
Youth Work Survey 2024
In late 2023, CIYD commissioned an audit of youth work occurring under the auspices of the Church of Ireland, across the entire island of Ireland. This was the first survey of its kind since 2008, and had the aims of enabling CIYD to:
- have an accurate picture (post-Covid) of the number of young people in activities in parishes within dioceses;
- utilise this information to report to funders; and
- utilise this information to provide support to youth work happening in parishes around the country.
The survey was undertaken between March and July 2024 with parishes invited to complete an online survey, which was accompanied by an additional short survey with Diocesan Youth Officers and Youth Councils. We hope and pray that the results of the survey will inform and challenge Dioceses in their youth ministry provision and for CIYD to support and enable youth ministry to flourish and grow across Ireland working alongside colleagues and key stakeholders, as well as informing our future Strategic Plans.
Before you finish Breakfast
- Bible studies and faith-based content
- Social justice themes such as immigration and climate change
- Designed for Secondary Schools, but also suitable for older primary pupils.
