Introduction
What is the Labyrinth?
Welcome to the Young Leader Labyrinth! This training has been developed to support and encourage young people into leadership. It has been designed by Network Youth Church, Cumbria and blends both formational and skills-based learning. We expect that you are here because you value the young people you work with and want to encourage them to flourish - just as we do. Real young people have helped us to create the Young Leader Labyrinth, and our hope is that through this programme, young leaders aged 14-18, will grow in confidence and gain the skills they need to thrive.
The Labyrinth pathway has three Tiers:
Each Tier is designed so that a young person can engage at their own pace, although it is intended to be delivered within an academic year. The Labyrinth was developed by Network Youth Church, Cumbria but can be used by anyone working with young leaders in various contexts.
Tier 2 and 3 Certificates are available. The year will conclude with a celebration and commissioning service for any young leaders who have taken part in the course, whether at Tier 2 or Tier 3 level.
The structure of the Labyrinth
An A-Z programme of Christian values, each supported by reflective wondering questions, a creative activity, a spiritual reflection, and a take-away element to explore the value further. There are also Extra and Going Deeper activities to explore the value further or in more depth. These serve as additional resources for leaders. The A-Z Cards are coloured blue for values and green for those with a leadership focus. There are also orange task cards that can be used to choose local activities to complete; these are categorised from Level 1–3 in difficulty (denoted by pizza slices)! Youth Leaders can also set their own tasks as applicable to their context. This part of the programme takes place in the young person’s local setting and is supported by local youth leaders. Certificates are awarded based on the level of participation.
The Tier system is not rigid. We understand that young people’s lives can be complex and unpredictable, and they may not all engage with the material in the same way or have the same level of commitment. As a leader, we ask that you encourage the young leaders to engage, and challenge levels of commitment where appropriate. There is flexibility to celebrate young leaders’ achievements in whatever way they participate in the programme. The Labyrinth can also be extended or condensed to suit your context and the needs of the young people you work with. For young people to complete Tiers 2 + 3 will take approximately one academic year.
Aims of the Labyrinth
The Young Leader Labyrinth is a space for young people to explore who they are as leaders and to develop their leadership skills in a safe and supportive environment. It is designed to be flexible and adaptable for those of different beliefs or none. Christian young people can work through the Labyrinth using the lens of their faith in Jesus. Young people who hold different beliefs or none, can equally benefit from the journey of formational and skills‑based learning that the Labyrinth provides.
To see a sample of the training, please click on the image below.
