We have now made available for download our updated Gospel Enquiry on the Season of Lent.
You can go to our “Resources” section and click the “Downloads” page and find it there (as well as many others).
Alternatively, it can downloaded here.
Trafford Park Group Meet at HQ
At the latest meeting of the Trafford Park YCW Group an Open Enquiry was held to explore a whole range of topics that the members brought up from their daily lives.
An Open Enquiry still follows the SEE-JUDGE-ACT Method, beginning with each person talking about one thing (a situation, a conversation, an event) from their daily life which made them think a little, feel bad or good, ask questions, get angry, or want help, etc.
From these contributions the Group can choose one or two of the most urgent or relevant to explore, saving the others for a future meeting. The chosen topics are then explored in more details, with questions asked to gain a greater understanding of the issue.
Once this has been established, the group discusses the rights and wrongs relevant to the situations and experiences shared.
Finally, the group starts to look at possible ways of responding to the situations described in the SEE part.
The Trafford Park Group raised issues around current work pressures, relationships and current affairs. These were each progressed through the Method and each member left with some guidance over what actions could be taken.
National President, Marc Besford, who attends the Group said: “Our Group has done a variety of Gospel and Social Enquiries over the years, as well as other aspects of Group discussion. However, we hadn’t had the chance to just sit down and have an Open one. I think each member was able to take something helpful away from the meeting.”
National Council 2020 - Save The Date
YCW President To Speak At Catholic Leadership Retreat
Please find below the poster for an event being organised by the Diocese of Westminster Youth Ministry Team. The YCW National President, Marc Besford, has been invited along as a guest speaker on the topic of leadership.
Sandbach IMPACT! Group Update
Our IMPACT! Group in Sandbach have been working on a variety of projects since they successfully completed their Parish refugee sponsorship scheme last year.
The Group had previously spent the last few years working on a long running action campaign to sponsor a refugee family through the Government’s resettlement scheme. They successfully raised the money, organised a suitable property and arranged for a range of support services to be in place for the family.
With this now in place, the Group have again gone through the SEE-JUDGE-ACT Method on a range of other potential issues. Their latest update summarises where they are up to, so please have a read and continue to keep them and all our other Groups in your prayers.
The Group update reads: “Esther who is down from University joined the group. Currently we are working on campaigns around the environment and a plastic-free town. We also had an idea to make a Sandbach version of Monopoly, only with a strong emphasis on the environment. This way we could find an inventive way of engaging young people and their families.
Esther also asked the group to write a few words about what Impact means to them also. In this way we can help share the positive impact of the work of the YCW and how it helps young people grow as leaders.”
In response to their update, National President Marc Besford said: “I was really pleased to see the work of Sandbach continue and hear that they are coming up with new ways of working on important issues like the environment. I hope to go down and visit the soon.”
Adult Companions Come To Visit Guardian Angels In Bury
On a recent visit to the Guardian Angels IMPACT! Group in Bury, National Training and Development Worker, Marc Besford, brought along some interested Adult Companions to see how the Group operates and take back some lessons for their Parish.
The Guardian Angels Group is a great example of how the YCW Method helps young people grow in confidence and as leaders. The Group has won awards for their environmental project - “Bugingham Palace” - and organised several other inspiring actions.
During the visit, the young leaders shared how they were currently working on a project with the local SVP to help support young carers. They saw what the SVP were working on the issue and decided to look into it for themselves through an enquiry. Out of this, they decided that they wanted to use their time to socialise with the young carers, whilst the SVP volunteers looked after those in need of care.
The IMPACT! Group told the visitors that finding the time for respite is an essential part of being a carer and especially so for those who are young carers. Many of them sadly miss out on the social life of a young person due to their caring responsibilities. Therefore, this opportunity to spend time with other young people will be greatly appreciated.
Marc said: “This was a great project for our Adult Companions to come and see. Our IMPACT! Group at Guardian Angels is full of enthusiastic young leaders and supported by excellent adult companions. I hope it has given the visitors some more ideas to work with as they go back to their parish.”
