Future Generations Training

Programme Info

• Introduction

Study Theology, Ministry & Mission with a children’s or youth ministry focus to deepen your theological foundations, develop practical skills, and grow your heart for children and young people.

St Mellitus College has a proven track record in training Christians to work with children and young people through engagement with deep theology and rich reflection on practice, as leaders are released to work with young people in churches, charities, schools, local authorities and other settings.

The children and youth ministry options are designed for those who are interested in exploring a wide range of issues in Christian children’s or youth work, alongside deep theological study. This focussed study route is designed for those who expect to continue working with children and / or young people in some capacity on completion of the programme. In each year of study you will undertake core theology modules that are shared with all undergraduate students alongside specific children’s or youth ministry modules exploring practical issues as well as topics such as theology of human development and faith formation. You will be taught by specialist lecturers and experts in the field.

Because of the nature and assessment requirements of the specific children and youth ministry focussed modules it is expected that alongside your academic study you will be engaged regularly in a local context working with children or young people. This could be either as a volunteer or employed position but this context will operate as a placement for the duration of your studies.

For more detailed programme information please visit the youth and children’s ministry programme page.

The children and youth focussed options are only available for independent students, full-time at our London Monday Centre.

• Children’s Ministry Focus

This route has a focus on ministry with under 11s, through modules including play and children’s work skills, and human development in childhood & adolescence. Alongside these subject-specific modules (which make up a third of the credits in year one) you will benefit from being in a Formation Group with a specialist Tutor. The remaining modules making up two thirds of the credits each year will be studied alongside other students and those training for ordination to giving a rich learning community and context.

Alongside your study you will need to be in a local training placement that involves in at least 12 hours of work with an under 11s focus each week. This allows for interaction between learning and practice, providing a context for reflective practice that feeds into some of the assessments.

• Youth Ministry Focus

This route has a specific focus on ministry with 11 – 20yr olds. This happens through modules exploring foundational youth work skills and practice, and human development in childhood & adolescence. Alongside these subject-specific modules (which make up a third of the credits in year one) you will benefit from being in a Formation Group with a specialist Tutor. The remaining modules making up two thirds of the credits each year will be studied alongside other students and those training for ordination giving a rich learning community and context.

Alongside this focussed study you will need to be in a local training placement that involves in at least 12 hours of work with a focus on 11 – 20 year olds each week. This allows for interaction between learning and practice, also providing a context for reflective practice that feeds into some of the assessments.

• Future Generations’ bursary

St Mellitus College is excited to offer a ‘Future Generations’ bursary enabling students to study for free. This bursary offers full remission of course fees for students undertaking either the children’s or youth ministry focused two-year diploma programme.

To be eligible for a Future Generations bursary students will need to meet our usual admissions criteria for a diploma and have a training placement in a Church of England context (i.e. Parish Church, Fresh Expression, CofE school etc). For more information on requirements for a training placement please click on the ‘Placement Guidance’ information below.

The Future Generation Bursary covers course fees only. Students will remain responsible for covering any additional costs during their course of study, including travel expenses and accommodation arrangements during teaching weeks (as required).

We have a limited number of bursaries available which are allocated to eligible students on a first-come, first-served basis.

To be considered for a Future Generations Bursary you must apply to study at St Mellitus in the normal way via the ‘Apply’ button shown at the top of this page. When completing the application form please select the option to indicate you are interested in Children’s or Youth Ministry and a ‘Future Generations’ bursary. On being offered a place you will receive a form to complete to apply for the bursary funding.

For more information, please email Lead Tutor, Mark Scanlan, at Mark.Scanlan@stmellitus.ac.uk.

• Placement Guidance

Because of the specific focus of the children and youth ministry routes it is necessary that students are regularly involved in a context working with children or young people. St Mellitus College works collaboratively with students and local contexts to identify suitable opportunities to enhance student learning, develop practitioner skills and offer a wide range of opportunities for students to reflect on the interplay of their academic studies and regular ministry and mission among young people.

There is space for flexibility and variety in how this works and what it looks like, with conversations beginning at application stage to ensure the right opportunities are in place. A few examples might be:

• Employed as a local church children’s or youth worker / minister.
• Employed as a Christian working with children or young people in a school, charitable or other context.
• On placement at and supported by a local church or similar context as a student children’s or youth worker / minister
• A volunteer children or youth leader who is involved weekly in face-to-face work with young people in a church, school, charitable or similar context.

Many students will study while continuing their work with children and / or young people in the context in which they are already based. Some however may require support in finding a context in which to be based while training. In these situations, St Mellitus College will seek to match youth ministry students with suitable, vetted and checked placements from our database of providers.

The practicalities of staying in a current context or needing support to find a placement context will look a little differently though with a number of shared parameters as follows:

• Students will be able to attend all term-time Monday teaching days and required Teaching Weeks, whilst also ensuring the equivalent of at least one day per week for private study and a clear day off.
• That they are involved in weekly work with young people, aiming for these hours:
  • Volunteer youth leaders: Approximately 6 hours (i.e. two sessions) per week.
  • Employed or financially supported in a local context: At least 12 hours per week but no more than 28 hours.
• A supervisor will be identified in the local context. This will likely be a line manager for those who are employed, for volunteers this might be a senior youth leader, church leader or someone else with oversight of the work being carried out with young people.

For more information and a Placement Handbook please contact our Lead Tutor, Dr Mark Scanlan at Mark.scanlan@stmellitus.ac.uk.