Darlington Area Churches Youth Ministry

Darlington Area Churches Youth Ministry (DACYM) is a youth-focused outreach initiative, and seeks to be both ‘salt and light’ to the young people of Darlington Borough. It is hoped, through this work, the lives of young people will be transformed spiritually, educationally and socially thus empowering them to achieve their full potential.

DACYM was established in 2007, in conjunction with Tees Valley Youth for Christ, and Martin & Melanie Stand were employed in October 2007 to pioneer the work of the ministry amongst the young people of the Borough of Darlington.

The majority of our face to face youth work takes place in the school environment. Working in over half of the secondary schools in Darlington DACYM helps by providing assemblies, RE Lessons, lunchtime activities and support for pupils with behaviour problems and at possible risk of exclusion. In the wider community we co-lead a drop-in for 6th Form Students from Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College on Monday & Tuesday lunchtimes as well as supporting churches and youth-leaders in the Darlington area with the development of their youth work programmes. More information can be found out about the work of DACYM by downloading the newsletters from this page.

News as at March 2010

THE NEW LEGAL STATUS

Obtaining the new legal status has proved problematic with forms being returned from Companies House for no apparent reason. We are hopeful that the Charitable Company Status will be with us in a matter of days, we will then submit forms to the charity commission for our registered charity status. For your information the new trustees for DACYM are:-

Dr Revd David Bryan (Chair) - St Andrew's - Haughton
Mrs Helen Dalton (Treasurer) - St Laurence's Church, MSG
Revd Phil Hilsdon - Kings Church
Mr Pat Howarth - All Saints & Salutation, Blackwell
Cllr Cyndi Hughes - St Augustine's
Mrs Hazel Neasham (Secretary) - Hurworth Methodist Church
Revd Paul Neville - St Laurence's, MSG & St Andrew's, Sadberge
Mrs Helen White - Cockerton Methodist Church
Revd Sheilagh Williamson - St Columba's

CHURCH VISITS

I would welcome the opportunity to visit your church service to speak about and promote the work of DACYM. We have also run some very successful youth work sessions at various churches and if you would like to invite us to come and speak or run a session you only have to ask.

FINANCIAL UPDATE

We are somehow managing to hold our own in these difficult times, donations from individuals, churches, and our personal support (i.e our personal friends, family and sending church) are managing to keep the project afloat but we are literately surviving on a hand to mouth basis, any drastic reduction in our income and we would really be up against it.

I would encourage churches and individuals to join those who already support the project in helping us to continue the work we do as a missional arm of the church in Darlington. When we stand in a school in front of a hundred pupils taking a service or an assembly we do so as your arms and legs. When we support a young person in need at 11 o'clock at night we do so as representatives of you and your church. But we need your on-going support to enable us to continue to this. If you or your church would like to support DACYM please do contact me.

Support of Young People

A lot of time recently has been spent by Mel supporting individual young people from different churches across the town. Making herself available to walk with them through tough times. A vital work that is mostly unseen but of great importance for the young people concerned.

The Promise

Next term DACYM will be facilitating two performances of 'The Promise' at Hummersknott Secondary School on Tuesday, 13th and Wednesday, 14th July. The Promise is a musical written by The Malachi Community Trust and is set around the transition process from primary to secondary school, it helps young people explore issues relating to friendship, family, forgiveness, justice, happiness and much more. Four local primary schools have expressed an interest in taking part. Year Six pupils from Abbey Junior, High Coniscliffe Primary, Mowden Junior and Skerne Park will form a choir to support the cast which will be made up by pupils from Hummersknott Secondary. Please put these dates in your diary as it would be great to see you there. Those of you who may have seen the DACYM powerpoint over the past year or so, the accompanying song 'Eagles Wings' is from 'The Promise'.

6th Form Drop-in

The 6th Form Drop-In at Bondgate continues to go from strength to strength. We have double the number of 6th Form students using the drop-in as at the same time last year. What has been exciting for us as a project is that the primary core group this year has come from students/young people DACYM have worked with in other settings previously (e.g. lunchtime club at Hummersknott and Friday Night Drop-In in Hurworth).

Sunday, 25th July - Saturday, 31st July 2010 - 'BREATHE: a contemporary Youth Retreat'

So what is a ‘contemporary youth retreat’? A retreat is an opportunity to remove yourself from your usual environment for a time of spiritual refreshment, with the opportunity to rest, unwind and pray. A retreat offers the chance to reflect in an unhurried way on your life, your relationships, and your experience of God.

We live life fast in today’s society and sometimes you just have to stop and get your bearings before your carry on. Now some retreats are held in silence, and yes there will be times of reflection and stillness, however ‘Breathe’ will be a community experience and there will be the usual blend of residential activities. We are still finalising the programme for this year but they should include Go-Ape or similar (High Ropes Course), Mountain Biking, Archery, Dovedale, Ilam Hall and Fencing – but these will of course be confirmed in due course.

Who: Young people and students 13 + Where: Dovedale House, Ilam, Derbyshire When: Sunday, 25th July to Saturday, 31st July 2010 Cost: Basic cost £220 for young people & £160 leaders including food and activities (YFC bursaries available for eligible families. Run by: Darlington Area Churches Youth Ministry on behalf of National Youth for Christ. Activities: last year included Go-Karting, Fencing, Mountain Biking, Roadshows, Dovedale, Ilam Hall and lots more - programme for Breathe currently under review. Further Info and booking forms: Contact me on 07717336183 or martindavidstand@googlemail.com

HER EVENTS BEING HELD IN THE REGION....

NINTH HOUR - Sunday 28th March at Hexham Community Church - 7pm with Cris Rogers

UNITE - 5th June - with Gavin Calver @ New Life, Northallerton

Look out for the new DACYM newsletter which will be coming to a church near you soon.

PRAYER MEETINGS

Darlington Area Churches Youth Ministry hold regular prayer meetings for the work of DACYM and youth work in Darlington.

TEAM 100

‘Why not join Darlington Area Churches Youth Ministry ‘TEAM 100’ ?

A team of 100 or more dedicated individuals who are willing to pray and give to the work of Darlington Area Churches Youth Ministry.

As a Christian organisation we are solely reliant upon donations for our work. Without the continuing support of churches and individuals our crucial work, undertaken from a Christian ethos, with the young people of our community would simply not be possible.

If you would like to become a member of 'Team 100' contact Martin or Mel, or download a standing order form from the panel at top right

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Endorsements for Darlington Area Churches Youth Ministry

"During the past academic year, Melanie Stand (Co-Director of DACYM) has been into school on several occasions to lead assemblies for our Year 7 pupils. These excellent assemblies have shown what living the true Christian life means and have been enthusiastically received by both pupils and staff.

Mel's work has also helped maintain the important link between the school and the local church. I am delighted that Mel will be coming into school again this year to lead more assemblies and run circle time sessions with year 7 pupils.

I believe that through this contact the emotional and spiritual well being of the pupils is being nurtured by the work of DACYM." Charlotte Taylor, Progress Leader Year 7 / Assistant Headteacher The Education Village, Darlington

"I am very keen to endorse the work of Darlington Area Churches Youth Ministry. This is exactly the kind of dedicated work with young people that is needed. It deserves every possible support, and I hope it will be possible for you to give generously towards it." Rt Rev'd Tom Wright, Anglican Bishop of Durham.

"Darlington Area Churches Youth Ministry has made an extremely valuable contribution to our work with young people. In particular the help, support and encouragement they have given towards the setting up of the 6th Form Drop-In at Bondgate Methodist Church has been vital to its creation and success. Last Tuesday we had over 25 students from the QE College use the drop-in facility. I have appreciated their approach and their dedication to working with the young people of Darlington." Revd Isobel Akers - Minister of Bondgate Methodist & Eastbourne Methodist Churches.

"Altitude (the residential run by DACYM) has helped me to believe in God more than I did before - it was the best residential I have ever been to!!!" A young person - Altitude 2008.

"God really met with me during Altitude after a pretty lengthy dry period. For quite some time I'd been simply praying that God would put me in a place where I seek him more and he did that during Altitude. I know this feeling won't last forever, but I do hope I will put some changes and good habits in my life as a result of it." A leader - Altitude 2008.

"Being at Altitude has helped me learn how to pray simply without the worries I had before. God told me that I need to feel the contentment of being his child." A young person - Altitude 2008.