Disqus - Latest Comments for bobweasel

Re: b2boutique.co.uk

bobweasel — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:25:51 -0000

Thanks Chris, I saw an order had come through with your name on it!
The wrap should be with you on Wednesday (barring any postal issues).
Let us know how you get on with it.
Thanks for the support,
Jon

Re: 3 Strikes: Discipline in Youth Groups

bobweasel — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:38:03 -0000

Hi Chris, it would be great to have your rules online when you've finalised them. It seems people are finding this discussion quite useful!

Re: 3 Strikes: Discipline in Youth Groups

bobweasel — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:37:05 -0000

Hi Ralf, I think it is important to show respect to 'things' as well as people. If young people feel an ownership of the club and the equipment, they will look after it better.

Re: 3 Strikes: Discipline in Youth Groups

bobweasel — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:33:09 -0000

Hi Brian, thanks for the comment. It's good to know you're still reading!

Re: 3 Strikes: Discipline in Youth Groups

bobweasel — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:46:57 -0000

Hi Mike, I take the point that people should be involved in designing their own rules and boundaries. It really helps them understand the rationale behind it and they tend to 'own' them better.

In my situation though with an open youth club of around sixty, and many new people every week, it becomes difficult. I suppose this is where a smaller member's committee would be useful to devise the rules.

Re: Farmer McCocky – The Parable of the Sower

bobweasel — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:00:30 -0000

Hi Ralf, I think we use the technology because it is something I am interested in, and comfortable using! If you have a youth leader that is not into video or websites, then it is probably not best to pursue using it too much (although it might be a good activity anyway). I imagine a rock climbing instructor would use the outdoors with a youth group more than I do. It is good to play to your own strengths!

Re: The Future of Statutory Youth Work

bobweasel — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:48:34 -0000

Hi Roger,

I'm glad you posted the abbreviated version! ;)

As with many of these debates, I can see that it is not a simple 'either, or' scenario...

1) Yes, youth work is in transit (although I don't like the general direction).

2) I like the push towards training that professionalisation brings, but like I said above, qualifications don't make someone professional (or any good at the work)!

4) I'm not so sure the voluntary sector can easily be divided into those two categories (although they are both valid)! I see a far greater creative scope in the sector.

5) Good question about the critical counter-culture nature of our work. It has and is changing. Is there a new field of work appearing or do we simply need to return to the roots of our work?

Re: YWN Article: It can be better to text than to talk

bobweasel — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:47:43 -0000

Wow, thanks Michael. Any tips to a newbie like myself? By the way, good luck on your new appointment!

Re: YWN Article: It can be better to text than to talk

bobweasel — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:30:49 -0000

Hi Alistair, I found it in quoted in Children & Young People Now Magazine (28th August). They have a page on the site that links directly to documents quoted here: http://www.cypnow.co.uk/Resources/Documents/.

The direct link to the DSCF Document is here: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfile...

Re: YWN Article: It can be better to text than to talk

bobweasel — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:24:50 -0000

Thanks Tim, I appreciate the compliment!

With the Last Word column I have a bit more freedom regarding the topics I cover, but have the brief to be slightly more provocative! I might start airing some opinions soon...

Regarding promoting activities, I think most of us have a loooong way to go! I love the plings stuff, but most local authority websites for young people are simply embarrassing and don't have relevant information available! We need to find ways to put the info directly where young people need it.

Keep up the good work.

Re: Recommended Resources for New Youth Ministers

bobweasel — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:06:47 -0000

Thanks Ralf,

I hope you're well. GBU!

Re: The Future of Statutory Youth Work

bobweasel — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:02:53 -0000

There's much to draw out in these responses, but I will try to be concise! It seems that we all agree on quite a lot.

With regard to practice, I do believe that there are many untrained (read: "unprofessional") yet excellent workers out there in their communities impacting young lives for the better. However, I would always advocate training - not for the qualification or recognition - but for the opportunities and widening of horizons that occurs through education. In contrast, there are some well trained professional workers whose attitude and practice is shocking. This is not a voluntary/statutory divide, but an attitudinal quality in the worker/agency.

With regard to political direction, I must agree with David that we all have our own bias or agenda. I don't have issue with this as long as we recognise what those bias are.

Re: The Future of Statutory Youth Work

bobweasel — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:48:46 -0000

Thanks for clarifying David. I didn't think you were being particularly negative about the voluntary sector, but I do often hear people who assume we are not professional in our work. You are totally right of course - just because someone has children or been around them, does not mean that they can do youth work effectively. Personally I think it is more about the character of the worker than any qualification.

Re: The Future of Statutory Youth Work

bobweasel — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:25:28 -0000

A great point 'anonymous', and far more articulate than my attempt! ;)

Training and professional development are vitally important, but do not in themselves make youth work 'professional'.

Re: The Future of Statutory Youth Work

bobweasel — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:20:54 -0000

Hi David, thanks for taking time to comment. I agree with you that the argument about the demise of the statutory youth sector is nothing new! I also totally agree that local communities have a strong impact on the provision of youth services in their areas and love the example that you gave where a young person managed to stop the reduction of youth provision.

I also can't argue about the professional approach to youth work. I do not want to imply that anyone can do it, nor that youth work is not real or relevant, but I don't see that supporting or endorsing local voluntary organisations imply either of those things. As an example, I have recently graduated with a 'professional' youth work qualification and am a big advocate of training and education in the work. I happen to work for a voluntary org.

I suppose my question in response is, if spending cuts do cripple local services so that the statutory sector can't provide them anymore, what is stopping the voluntary sector running a professional service to stand in the gap?

Re: The Future of Statutory Youth Work

bobweasel — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:20:06 -0000

Thanks anonymous! I also have a tendency to agree with Tony's summary, although I do hope that certain aspects of the statutory sector can survive.

Re: Recommended Resources for New Youth Ministers

bobweasel — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:15:25 -0000

Cheers Roy, I've not heard of that one so will have to go and add it to my reading list.

Re: Recommended Resources for New Youth Ministers

bobweasel — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:14:43 -0000

Hi Dan, thanks for the comment and for pointing us in the direction of Relationships Unfiltered. I wasn't aware there was a more condensed version! While I've heard lots of good stuff about all the others you recommend, I haven't actually read them!

Re: Spring Harvest

bobweasel — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:45:40 -0000

Hi Mandy, thanks for the comment. Spring Harvest has made many memories for people and I've enjoyed being on the team.
However, it is Soul Survivor NOT Spring Harvest that is happening at Stafford Showground on 24th July. You can find out more about the event here.

Re: The Big Church Day Out

bobweasel — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:09:23 -0000

Hi Tracey, thanks for the message. I'm afraid I'm not really involved
in TBCDO. I do know they are limited in capacity and have sold out
much quicker than expected which is why they will no longer sell
tickets on the day.
I'm aware there are many other people who missed out on tickets too.
Even our church allocation has gone. I think your only hope is to find
people who can no longer use their tickets.

I hope you are successful!

Re: Limited access to youth clubs

bobweasel — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:11:45 -0000

Hi mas, sorry for the slow response!

I totally agree that not all youth work happens in youth clubs etc. I think my point above is really that there is a lack of understanding about what youth work is. I'm not against entertainment per se, I think it is PART of what youth work does. I suppose I get a bit frustrated that people think entertainment is the aim rather than the method.

I also agree that the distance between statutory and voluntary youth provision has widened quite a bit. This is really due to direction the government agenda has taken.

Re: Acts Chapter 4: Arrested

bobweasel — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:49:53 -0000

Apologies to Dave. He did in fact co-write some of the content in this post and so I have adapted the original post to give credit.

Re: YWN Article: There is a balance to effective youth work

bobweasel — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:06:18 -0000

Thanks Chris!

Re: Assembly: Truth

bobweasel — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 06:57:42 -0000

Thanks Medela,

I hope to post more resources soon.

Re: Mobiles at school don’t harm kids

bobweasel — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:25:24 -0000

LOL! Thanks Charlotte, that brings back memories!

I remember having a BBC Acorn in our classroom with the huge floppy
disks. We had to take turns to use it too!

I think educational ICT has got a lot better since then.