What's the programme?
Know & Tell Groups
Who's it for?
Where and When?
The Venue
Fees and Bookings
The Speakers

What’s the programme?

Part of each day will be spent in fellowship groups wrestling with how we apply some of the teaching we have received. There will also be a wide range of practical seminars on offer to meet specific needs for both experienced youthworkers and those who are new to children’s and youth work.

A unique feature of this conference is the time we spend each day in Know & Tell Sessions, (our new name for what used to be called Gobbet groups!), where we get down and dirty with the basics of understanding, applying and teaching God’s Word to the age groups we are working with. The feedback and insight from others that these sessions provide will be invaluable in helping us to improve our Bible-handling skills and communication techniques. This year, the Know & Tell groups will be based on the book of James.

We offer three options for these Know & Tell groups:
A. Newcomer. If you have never been in one of these groups before, then this is the one to choose – a gentle non-threatening start!
B. Group practice. You will be asked to do some preparation on one particular passage, but the group works together to produce talk programmes, outlines and presentation ideas.
C. Advanced. Participants will be asked to present a full talk for critique.

Please indicate when you book which type of group you would like to join.

Who’s it for?

We expect that most of the people attending this conference will be full-time children’s or youth workers attached to a church, but we welcome anyone involved in other aspects of youth work on a part-time or voluntary basis, particularly those who are new to youth work, or those who may be wondering about whether they are called to youth work as a ministry.

Where and When

The conference starts with tea at 4.30pm on Monday 25th January. First session at 5.00pm. The conference finishes with lunch (1.00pm) on Thursday 28th January. High Leigh Conference Centre is only 7 miles from Junction 25 of the M25. Broxbourne is the closest mainline station (There is a regular service from London Liverpool Street). Stansted Airport is 45 minutes away by road or a 35-minute train journey from Broxbourne.

We can arrange transfers from Broxbourne or Stansted for the start and end of the conference.

The Venue

High Leigh Conference Centre is set in the heart of the Hertfordshire countryside within 40 acres of lawns, parkland and woodland. Accommodation is in a mixture of twin and single rooms, with full en-suite facilities. There are also a few standard rooms available, either twin or single, with bathroom facilities close by. Standard rooms cost £29 less than en-suite, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fees and Booking

The cost of the conference is £239 (en-suite) or £210 (standard). This includes full board and all materials. You will need to pay a non-returnable deposit of £30 when you book. We can invoice your church/organisation for the remainder of the fees.

The Speakers

Steve Midgley leads our morning Bible readings from Ecclesiastes. Steve is the minister of Christ Church, Cambridge – a church plant – and leads the team course in Cambridge for 9:38 trainees. He used to work as a psychiatrist with children and families, and led CYFA youth ventures for many years.

Trevor and Thalia Blundell are specialists in children’s work, who have led TNT ministries for over 15 years. This year they are joined by Rory Bell, the new training Director for TNT ministries, who will continue the work of TNT as Trevor and Thalia retire in the spring.

Dave Fenton has led the youth work tracks at Keswick and Word Alive for many years. He is associate pastor of Christ Church Winchester.

Ian Fry ran the Youth Work course at Oak Hill Theological College in North London for eight years. He is now the pastor of Fetcham Community Church.

Jeff Hammer leads the scratch team of musicians at our conference. Jeff is a professional musician who is also an experienced youth worker.

Alison Mitchell was a youth worker and a schools worker, before moving to The Good Book Company as Children’s editor. She has a perfectly rational fear of spiders.

Trevor Pearce is an experienced youth worker who has recently joined the staff at All Souls, Langham Place. He is passionate about West Ham and his three daughters.

Tim Thornborough is the publisher at The Good Book Company and ran the youth work at a SW London church for many years. He now teaches 3-5s in sunday school.

A wide range of outside speakers will also be attending the event as seminar speakers.