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What do we do?

Our objective is to take the good news of the gospel to every young person in Ivybridge and the South Hams area. This means meeting young people in schools, youth centres, churches and parks, and on streets and South Hams beautiful beaches! In fact, anywhere where there are young people. This is being done through supporters in Ivybridge and the surrounding areas including a Village Partnership which involves a group of churches in the villages of Holbeton, Brixton, Wembury, Noss Mayo, Newton Ferrers and Yealmpton. Key areas of our work are:

Primary Schools

Here we support schools via assemblies, lessons and Christian clubs, and SHINE in Newton Ferrers. We also help to run Arrows in Yealmpton Primary School together with a team of local church members.

Secondary Schools

Currently our major work here is at Ivybridge Community College. This involves two lunchtime groups [Rock Solid (Yrs 7-9) and Mettle (Yrs 10-13)] and occasional blocks of R.E. teaching and support. We also offer support for young people on a one-to-one basis in partnership with the Student Welfare Department, and we are exploring a lunchtime Relationship Skills Course. Elis has been 'grilled' by Year 7's on difficult topics, such as "Why could a God of love allow suffering?".

Mentoring Young People

This involves youth leader training and prophetic encouragement, and help for those wishing to develop skills within Christian ministry. We have Ash, age 17, who volunteers with a view to working long-term in christian ministry. We will also be offering work experience for young people in year 10. We are developing a social network for the age group 18+ that includes the young people being mentored. There are sometimes early morning prayer meetings for this group of enthusiastic young people.

Social Justice Issues

Once every half-term we meet with young people in the Ivybridge Leisure Centre to discuss such topics as:

• H.I.V. and A.I.D.S.
• Fairtrade
• Global Trafficking of People (Stop the Traffik)
• Dalits - Discrimination in the Indian Caste System

Future topics could include Street Children, Human Rights in China and Climate-related Poverty.

Youth Alpha

We ran a Youth Alpha in September 2008 as part of the Youth Alpha Hope 2008 initiative. It was a great success - see Events.

Church Support

An obvious one is that we help local church youth groups! But there is more. We also hold youth worship events which all church youth groups are welcome at at the Ivybridge Youth Venue. We support churches as they get involved with school religious education departments e.g. in Totnes K.E.VI.C.C.

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Meet the team

Elis Norton - Ivybridge YFC Director

Elis has a heart for youth work and in faith launched Ivybridge YFC in 2006. Since then God has blessed the work as it reaches out in various forms from Ivybridge to the youth of the South Hams. Elis has a diploma in Children's Evangelism & Nurture from Cliff College and is also a Business Graduate from the University of Plymouth. He worships at Plymouth Vineyard Church.

Helen Norton - Administrator (part-time)

Helen trained as a bilingual secretary and worships at Plymouth Vineyard Church. She loves using her administrative skills to support Ivybridge YFC. You can email Helen at the YFC Office:
ivybridge@yfc.co.uk.

Meet the Trustees

Gill Cowsill - Chair

Gill is Chair of the Trustees and has always been committed to youth work. She also manages the RNIB Transcription Centre in Ivybridge providing audio, braille and large print for blind and partially sighted people in the SW. Gill worships at Ivybridge Methodist Church.

John Reynolds - Treasurer

John is the Ivybridge YFC Treasurer and also a volunteer money advice worker at a Christian centre in Plymouth. He lives with his wife Pat near their beloved Dartmoor and they are both members of Ivybridge Salvation Army Church.

Rachel French - Secretary

Rachel is secretary for the Trustees. She trained as an accountant but has also worked with different charities. Currently she works for a charity befriending and helping older people. Rachel is part of the worship group at Ivybridge Methodist Church.

Pat Reynolds - Prayer Co-ordinator

Pat has a heart for prayer and is the prayer co-ordinator for Ivybridge YFC; "When we come together to pray we become a strong voice crying out to our God in unity". She would love to hear from you at:
johnpatr@tiscali.co.uk

Bill Weldon

Bill worked in the Anglican ministry and in the Forces, and recently joined our leadership team as a Trustee. He has a vision for the young people of the local villages: "Wouldn't it be thrilling if each one was to see Jesus!"