Amazing Monthly Meet Training with Llandudno Youth for Christ!

Last Monday night we had a great training evening with our ‘Monthly Meet‘ training event (every 3rd Monday in the month, Llandudno Youth for Christ run a totally free training evening for youth workers, teachers, parents & pastors). We looked at how to manage difficult behaviour in our youth groups.

It was a highly informative and insightful night.We looked at what foundational issues needed to be looked at and thought through when dealing with issues of how to manage difficult behaviour.

What Biblical foundations could we see that point to us to how to manage the spaces where a youth work event or project is run. “Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’”-Matthew 20:25-28 was especially good at helping us view the young people we look after and our interaction with them.

We are to create safe spaces for the young people that come to our ministries/projects and events. Part of that safety is for them to know they are in a place where we have put things in place to help cultivate community and where there is consistency in how and why we manage difficult behaviour. A safe space where the young people know what the volunteers and leaders of the space expect from them as regards behaviour, and also what the young people can expect from the leaders in return as regards behaviour.

We also delved into some ‘Do’s‘ and ‘Don’ts‘ of managing difficult behaviour, as well as of course unpacking what difficult behaviour looked like and could mean to each group.

So of these were things like don’t engage with too much ‘shushing‘ or just try to speak louder than the group that you are trying to make yourself heard by as this can lead to them feeling challenged by you in a negative way and the noise levels only increase.

“Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.” – Proverbs 25:15. “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” – Phil 4:5

We learned and saw demonstrated just how effective speaking firmly, but softly and calmly, could be at bringing order and attention to an unruly room of people.

All in all, it was, as with all of the ‘Monthly Meets‘, a great evening that was fun, informative and a great opportunity to meet up with a network with other youth workers, teachers, parents and pastors in the North Wales area.

Our director Mr Tim Gough is an excellent communicator and his training nights are not to be missed. He also has a great youth work blog that is a brilliant resource for youth workers to dip into.

I really do encourage people to come along to our next ‘Monthly Meet’ training evening in December. 18th Dec @ 7pm in Ty Llywelyn Community Centre, Ffordd Yr Orsedd, Llandudno, LL30 1LA. It will be another great evening and there will be mountains of mince pies and other festive treats too.

Be blessed!