Sophia Network

Shalom: a gathering for Christians working with at-risk young people

The first ever Shalom Conference for Christians working with young people at risk will bring together employed and volunteer practitioners, project pioneers, thinkers and leaders in the field for a gathering and networking event designed to explore this important area of youth work.

Where: St Paul’s Centre, Bordesley Green, Birmingham
When: on September 2 and 3, 2009.
What: This conference is designed to be a meeting of hearts and minds to consider how shalom, a Hebrew word for peace that implies justice and wholeness, might be developed in work with young people in socially excluded situations. In these challenging economic times, the timing of the conference is designed to offer support and cohesion across the Christian faith-based sector. The conference will cover topics relevant to the development of shalom in challenging youth work situations. Workshops, key note inputs and space for spiritual reflection will be on offer. There will also be opportunities to share good practice and innovation with delegates expected from across the country.
Who: organised jointly by: Church Urban Fund, East to West, Frontier Youth Trust, The Living Well Trust and Worth Unlimited.
Cost: The conference fee of £55 includes main meals and refreshments. A non-residential approach has been taken to keep costs as low as possible. Information about local accommodation can be provided on request.
How: A booking form and further information can be downloaded from the FYT site.

Also, don't forget other events coming up:
Sophia Network Essex regional event on 27 June at Benfleet, Essex
East to West Christian Schoolswork Conference on 23 June in Guildford and
FYT Live! on 4 July in Birmingham with a rich choice of workshops for all types of youth workers.

Regional gatherings - Durham, Benfleet in Essex and London

Three regional gatherings coming up in the next few weeks. These are a great opportunity to connect with other local women in ministry and youth work. If you're not yet a member, you're very welcome to come and check us out! For all three gatherings, please reply to the host to let them know you are coming as that helps with planning. Just click on the links below to send an email:

DURHAM: Saturday 6 June at Carter House Resource Centre, Pelaw Leazes Lane DH1 1TB. To include a presentation of resources available to youth workers, followed by business items and updates regarding local and national Sophia Network. If you have any event information you wish to tell others about, do be sure to bring the information with you on the day. From 11am to 1pm. Hosted by Ruth Corless

BENFLEET, ESSEX: Alice Smith and Anna Moorhouse are hosting a regional away day on Saturday 27th June 11am - 3pm at Legacy Skate Park in Benfleet.  'We're planning a day to include female youth workers, leaders and volunteers (YOU!!) and those whom you are mentoring and who are 'up and coming' in leadership to give you some space to think together, receive input and invest in them on the journey. So, stick that in your diary and we'll get you more info as we plan it - if you'd like to be part of the planning team for that day, do be in touch!' Please reply to Alice Smith

LONDON: Wednesday 8 July from 6pm to 8pm, at Regent Hall, Oxford Street. Daphne Clifton will lead a session on Building Confidence, plus there'll be drinks, nibbles and a chance to connect with others. Hosted by Jenny Baker.

Hope to see you at one of these!

Liberti magazine

Thanks to Alice Smith for hosting the Eastern region Sophia Network meeting in Walthamstow today. That makes it sound like we're hyper organised with the whole country strategically split into regions with hosts appointed - when that's not at all true! Regional Sophia meetings happen when someone local volunteers to run something, so huge thanks to Alice for a great morning of conversation, Bible study, prayer and fabulous food! The next event for the region is on Saturday 27th June, 11-3pm at Legacy Skate Park in Benfleet. Alice says: 'We're planning a day to include female youth workers, leaders and volunteers (YOU!!) and those whom you are mentoring and who are 'up and coming' in leadership to give you some space to think together, receive input and invest in them on the journey. So, stick that in your diary and we'll get you more info as we plan it - if you'd like to be part of the planning team for that day, do be in touch!' You can find Alice's email address on the Events page.

I met Kathleen Pickering, the editor of Liberti magazine which has just had a redesign. It's a magazine for women that aims to cover spirit, body and soul and has the kind of articles you'd expect - on relationships, sex, beauty and chocolate - but with faith fully intertwined. If you have older female teenagers in your group, they may really enjoy this as an alternative to other women's magazines. It's similar enough in terms of the areas it covers to feel familiar but gives a Christian perspective that hopefully will help them to critique the messages they get from other sources. Their website is going through a redesign to match the magazine, but you can find out more here and request a free sample copy. Well worth a look.

Regional meets

There are a couple more regional meetings being planned, so do add these to your diary:

March - Ruth Wells is hosting a meeting in the Bournemouth area for women working with girls, with the aim of mapping what's going on locally, increasing awareness of local provision and sharing best practice. If you live in the area and work with girls, do get in touch with her for more details of the day: princessrufio@yahoo.co.uk

Then Alice Smith is planning a couple of events for the Chelmsford area:

Sophia Regional gathering Monday 27th April 11-1pm in Chelmsford

Regional retreat/away day Saturday 27th June probably in Saffron Walden.

Plus, don't forget the meetings in Warwick and Birmingham on Thursday 5 March run by Jo Fitzsimmons and Ruth Hassall. More details on our events page.