Gap Year with the Kenelm Youth Trust

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham is inviting young adults to consider spending a gap year with the Kenelm Youth Trust. Applications are now being taken for the Mission Team for the new academic year, starting in September 2021. This great opportunity is aimed at young adults aged 18 – 25 who are about to finish their studies at Sixth Form, College or University.

The new team will be following in the footsteps of the eight members of last year’s Mission Team, who scooped awards from a national charity for their work whilst on placement. KYT is looking for young adults who are down-to-earth, ready to grow in their faith and enthusiastic about working with other young people. Accommodation is in the Staffordshire Moorlands village of Alton, where volunteers live in community with other young Christians. Applicants, therefore, need to be able to work well within a team context.

Mission Team members gain superb work experience running programmes at the KYT retreat centres and helping to lead various events in schools and parishes around the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Full training is given and volunteers have opportunities to develop varied skills, to become leaders in outdoor educational activities (obtaining nationally recognised qualifications), to network with others in youth ministry, and to volunteer abroad.

Alongside service in the retreat centres, some volunteers also take the opportunity to engage in study, and being part of the Mission Team is a recognised and sought-after placement for the Foundation Degree in Youth Ministry and Chaplaincy.

Clare Ford, Alton Castle’s programme director, says, ‘We particularly want to reach those whose plans for next year may be in question because the impact of the pandemic is continuing even longer than might have been expected. This is an ideal chance to take a gap year and get involved. While there is so much uncertainty about starting university in September, or lack of opportunity for young people in the current job market, this could be a positive opportunity to spend a year like no other. All in all, it’s an experience not to be missed!’

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