Come and volunteer at YMCA Derbyshire
We are looking for 4 Volunteer Creative Young Leaders
for Derby’s first Young People’s Tensing Group.
YOUNG MINDS CREATIVE ARTS
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
YMCA Derbyshire in partnership with Derby City Church and Derby University are working to establish Derby’s first young people’s Tensing group from October 2016.
Tensing is an international youth programme within the Worldwide YMCA Network, which focuses on equipping young people with life skills by allowing them to express themselves using their own (youth) culture through Creative Performing Arts.
Tensing aims to target young people aged 11-18 and welcomes everyone irrespective of gender, beliefs, race, social background and talents. The underlying objectives of this programme are to provide a safe space where young people can experience leadership, democracy and personal and professional development of body mind and spirit. It will function as a creative work process that uses different cultural expressions in a Christian context.
We are looking to recruit 4 young (18 to 30 years) volunteer creative leaders to be part of a Tensing Project Team. This is an exciting opportunity for creative young adult leaders, who have the ability to teach/coach and encourage young people to develop their skills in music, dance and drama.
We are looking for positive young adults who have the drive and wholehearted commitment to develop young people’s creative talents.
Tensing is a creative expression of the Christian faith and all potential candidates need to respect Christian values.
Candidates should have expertise/skills in performing arts and have the ability to pass on those skills to young people.
The four leaders will be part of the Project Team led by Rebekka Mason (YMCA Change Agent); the project team will jointly plan and deliver a weekly programme of creative activity and a number (to be agreed) of external performances.
The Tensing group will meet weekly on a weekday evening for 2 hours and leaders will need to commit a regular 3 hours per week for up to 46 weeks of the year. Prospective leaders will need to demonstrate reliability and a commitment to attend the weekly sessions.
Developing plans for the Tensing group has involved visits to the Cambridge Tensing Group which has been running for over 20 years. The Project Team will have the opportunity to visit the Cambridge Project in September to support team plans.
Tensing has a worldwide network having first been established in Norway. The network organise annual gathering of tensing groups and members of the project team will get the opportunity to participate in these events.
We have successfully applied for a grant to support the establishment of the Tensing group and intend to raise funds for the group through a number of external group performances to enable your people to positively express their talents to a wider audience and recruit new members.
These volunteer posts provide a terrific opportunity for creative young adult leaders to gain valuable experience of working with young people by utilising their creative skills and be part of a positive and dynamic team and partnership.
If you feel you have the necessary skills and positive commitment to develop young people, we would encourage you to apply for a young creative leader role.
For further information please email Rebekka Mason (Project Leader) at rebekka.mason@ymcaderbyshire.org.uk or David Finn on david.finn@ymcaderbyshire.org.uk
Closing date for applications is 9th August.