Ready-to-use Meeting Plan 6.

Aim of this session
To not really do anything.

Preparation
There's not really a lot to do for this session, though you will need to choose somewhere not to do it. It doesn't matter whether there is anything to do at the chosen venue, as you won't be doing it.

Warming up
The important thing to remember when not really doing anything is not to force it. Just let it happen.

Time for action
Sit around without really doing anything. Standing would be another option. You could chat if you like. If you get bored wander around a bit. Then carry on not really doing anything a bit longer.

Reflecting
Try to imagine actually doing something useful. How does it feel? What would it be like?

To Finish
When you haven't really been doing anything for a while, stop.

Ready-to-use Meeting Plan 5.

Aim of this session
To listen to some music.

Preparation
You'll need some sort of a stereo system and some compact discs. Warning: old fashioned style vinyl records may not be compatible with a compact disc player.

Warming up
Plug the stereo unit into the mains electric supply and put on a disc of your choice so that the young people will have something to laugh at when they arrive.

Time for action
Play music on the stereo and listen to it. If going to the next room turn up the music so that you can hear it. If leaving the building or going to an entirely different building altogether just turn it up even louder.

Reflecting
WHAT????

To Finish
Pull out the plug.

Ready-to-use Meeting Plan 4.

Aim of this session
To get into a little bit of trouble.

Preparation
You''ll need just a normal day for that activity. probably one without much to do is best.

Warming up
Start off by hanging around with some mates. In the park, outside the station, in town.

Time for action
When you get bored of just hanging around why not do something else - just for a laugh. Stealing something, vandalising something or quite simply causing a nuisance would all be possibilities.

Reflecting
That was fun wasn't it?

To Finish
Did anyone catch you? If so you may have to face the consequences. If not - you've got away with it!

Ready-to-use Meeting Plan 3.

Aim of this session
To play a bit of table tennis.

Preparation
You'll need to put up the table tennis table if you're to get anywhere with this session. Unfortunately 68% of youth club table tennis tables have dodgy mechanisms. Do your best to put the table up - but for future reference make a mental note to ask your employer whether he/she is willing to send you on a table-tennis table mechanism training course. The resulting certificate will help you find your next job if nothing else.

Warming up
Hit the ball back and forth across the net. Back and forth, back and forth. When you've done this for a while ask someone else to join in or ask the young people whether they'd like a go.

Time for action
Continue to hit the ball, remembering that it has to bounce on the other persons side, except when you're serving when it should really bounce on both sides. If that becomes to difficult to sustain just hit the ball as hard as you can so that your opponent has to scrabble behind some stacking chairs to get it out. Repeat as necessary. You may find that the ball gets stepped on and the rubber bits get stipped off the racquets. That's entirely normal and happens in the Professional arena too.

Reflecting
Some people call table tennis 'ping pong'. Why do you think that is?

To Finish
Well, that's it. Everyone's gone home and it's just you. Alone. With your thoughts.

Ready-to-use Meeting Plan 2.

Aim of this session
To hang around and to do so by a bus stop.

Preparation
The first thing to do is to choose the bus stop you're going to hang around. Obviously one with a shelter has advantages if it's raining or you want something to swing on. One with a sign on a post may be less interesting, but if that's all you can find you may need to make do.

Warming up
You'll probably need to put your hood up if you're hanging around in the winter. In the summer the cold is less of a problem.

Time for action
Wait until everyone has arrived. Then just hang around. You could use the time to talk about various subjects or just watch the traffic go by. If you wait long enough a bus may pull up, people may get on or off (sometimes both), then the bus will continue on it's way.

Reflecting
How does it feel to hang around at a bus stop?

To Finish
When you've been at the bus stop a while you might want to wander off somewhere. If there's a shop nearby you could go there, then come back again.

Ready-to-use Meeting Plan 1.

Aim of this session
To play some pool.

Preparation
Setting up the snooker table is a job best done alone by the youthworker in advance of the session. It's best not to ask any of your volunteers to help set up as it might put them off. If the table has got folding legs they may well be broken. If you wanted you could mend them - or not - it's your choice really.

Warming up
Check the heating is on. Failing that wear a baseball cap - back to front so as to cover the neck area.

Time for action
Put the balls on the table. Use the great big long stick thing to hit them into the netty bits at the sides and corners. Do this for a while, then when you get bored of it try throwing the balls along the table, off the table or around the room.

Reflecting
You've probably lost some of the pool balls under the furniture. How do you think it feels to be a pool ball who has been lost under the furniture?

To Finish
Wait for the young people to go home, then start clearing up. If any of the volunteers want to help decline their offer politely and tell them to go home. There's no point risking upsetting them.

Welcome Home!

Durring the Clean up of my mac i have come accross some of my planning and tips for youthworkers so here i bring them to you;

Jon's Top 10 Money Saving Tips for Youthworkers

1. Save on the rent. Just sleep at the church building. You spend most of your time there anyway.

2. Save on petrol money. Just sleep at the church building. You spend most of your time there anyway.

3. Save on food bills. Only eat the communion bread/wafers* and communion wine/ribena*

4. Don't make any friends - and if you already have some, give them to other people as you won't have time to see them anyway. That way you can save money on your social life.**

5. Avoid material possessions. If your young people come within a mile radius of your belongings, you will most likely have to replace them all anyway.

6. Do not give your young people your e-mail address/phone number/MSN name. In terms of lost sleep and lost work hours alone, this could cause financial and emotional bankruptcy.

7. Avoid attachments (more commonly known as "boyfriends" and "girlfriends"). They can get expensive. Besides, Youthwork is your significant other.

8. Do not go away for the holidays. After all - as soon as they realise the church mini van's keys are missing they'll hunt you down at your hotel/parent's/caravan park/Spain anyway.

9. Avoid traditional holidays/celebrations where presents are expected. Remember, a family is for life (just not for Christmas).

10. Make your own presents. If you are unable to avoid such occasions this can be cost effective and enjoyable. Knitted woolly hats (for football fans in the winter), a mix tape of all your favourite Christian Classics ("Shine, Jesus, Shine", "Kumbaya My Lord" and "Jesus Loves Me, This I know" could be just the thing for a nice family singalong) or Bible bookmarks (with verses from Leviticus warning against over-indulgence at Christmas time) are just some of the many ideas that will warm the festive hearts of your relatives.


* Delete as applicable according to your denominational preference.

** You may need to ask someone to explain what this is.