We hear from two young people currently doing the three-month Sports priority placements at Viney Hill, which is part of our developing leaders and vocational pathway. They are exploring sport and leadership as well as faith.
About the Internship →
Read more about our Sports Priority →
Emily’s story
My name is Emily, am the oldest of the three at the grand old age of 26, and am originally come from South Devon. I have spent the last 5 years as a youth worker and youth minister in 2 Baptist Churches in the UK, and have also completed a theology and youth and community work degree. I’m really passionate about working with young people, and sharing my faith in fun creative ways. In the past year I have felt led to explore further how sport can be used by the church to connect with young people, help them learn and develop new skills, and also be used as a medium to share the Christian faith. In September I will be following this path as I start working with PSALMS, a Christian youth sports charity based in the Stroud district, as their new Strategic Sports Minister.
What are you doing at Viney Hill?
For the next 3 months (May-July), I will be working as a young seasonal instructor at Viney Hill, getting involved in all aspects of the centre but mostly running outdoor activities such as archery, bushcraft, camp fire and games, low ropes, geocaching, night hikes, rocket science, team building and tunnels with children and young people from schools and churches. As a previous church youth minister I’m used to taking groups away to this sort of environment, but am intrigued to see things from the other side, from the instructors’ point of view. I’m also interested to see how relationships are built in such a short space of time, when I am used to developing them over months and years. Finally I’m excited to see how the Christian faith is shared and manifested in this type of environment and how others are spiritually impacted by their time here.
What are you most looking forward to, or currently enjoying?
I’m really enjoying the challenge of learning new skills and activities, and teaching them to young people, many of whom have not done them before. It is amazing to see young people (and teachers!) taking on new challenges, regularly conquering fears, working as a team to help and encourage one another and also discovering skills they didn’t know they or others had. It is amazing how the young people and schools who visit differ, yet all gain something from being here. Local schools appear to mostly enjoy the thrills of activities such as climbing and rafting, whilst schools from cities also tend to find activities like bushcraft fascinating and love lighting fires and making dens in the forest! The atmosphere of Viney Hill is sanctuary-like, a place where God’s creation is so evident in the forest and constant bird song (although it’s less appreciated at 4am!), and where all who come are welcome and able to rest and escape from whatever situation and have some fun!
Ben’s story
My name is Ben, I’m 20 years old and I live just down the road from Viney Hill. I’m an outgoing person who loves playing a variety of sports such as rugby, basketball, tennis and hockey, but mostly I’m a football fanatic.
What are you doing at Viney Hill?
I’m spending every Wednesday for the next few months at Viney Hill, learning how to become and instructor and leading some of the activities that they do there. I have only been here for two Wednesdays so far, but am really enjoying it.
What are you most looking forward to, or currently enjoying?
I’m most looking forward to, and am already enjoying teaching young people activities they have never done before, and seeing them have a go.
About the Internship →
Read more about our Sports Priority →
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