Youth Work @ Riverside

 

It is a priority for us at Riverside to disciple our own young people and reach out to the youth of our local community. In the process we hope to encourage young people to be witnesses to their own generation. We endeavour to provide varied opportunities for Christian development including activities that un-churched friends can enjoy participating in.

 

YF! Twice a month the Riverside Youth (P7-S6) meet in the Church Centre during the Sunday Evening service for teaching & discussion. This term’s theme is ‘Relationships’. YF is led by Eleanor Rae, Gordon Melville, Nathan Gilmour and John & Gill Burns. The YF meet on an additional Sunday after the Evening Service for an ‘@ Home’ event.

 

Youth Cell each Thursday 7-9pm is a Bible Study for Riverside Youth (S1+), their friends and interested members of the local community. Later this month we plan to begin ‘Youth Alpha’ – a good grounding in what it means to be a disciple of Jesus today, but also a great opportunity for our young people to invite along interested friends. As well as study, each evening includes snack time and sports or games. Youth Cell is led by John & Gill Burns.

 

D:talks happens on the 2^nd Sunday of each month (Sept-June) 7pm at New Life Church, Prestwick. This is a praise and teaching event regularly attracting over 100 young people from Ayr, Troon, Kilmarnock and surrounding towns and villages.

 

NBT Youth Club (P7-S4) every Monday 7.30-9pm.  Computer games, football, hockey, pool, table tennis and more! An opportunity for local and church youth to spend time in a Christian environment. Leaders: Phil Rae, Gillian Keenan, Diane Lennox, Ron Turkington, Alison Stafford, Frances Burns, Stevie Gilmour, Derroll Wilson, Alastair McEwan, Jody Turkington, Katie Rankine, Victoria Smith, Anna Kolb, Yvonne Goudie and Jim & Avril McMinn.

 

Ignite Bus every Thursday 7-9pm at Newton Primary. This is a new venture in conjunction with the Wallacetoun Junior Youth Club. The bus provides a safe place for both primary and secondary aged young people to meet and enjoy various activities. It also

 

provides us with an opportunity to build relationships with more local young people and invite them along to other church activities.

Leaders: Ian & Emma, Adrian Keenan (bus driver), Russell Paton (trainee driver), Ron Turkington, Alison Stafford, Phil & Linda Cannon, Franklin & Marie Henry, Olive Hall, Kelly & Dorothy Storrie (Douglas Clark also hopes to be available to help soon).

 

Chaplaincy Ian speaks at assemblies on Monday and Friday mornings every fortnight at Newton Primary and on the first Friday of each month at Braehead Primary. Alastair leads an assembly at Belmont Academy for S1-3 most Friday mornings. We are also responsible, with the other chaplains, for Christmas and Easter school services.

 

SU Groups Ann Anderson leads an SU group at Monkton Primary, Nathan Gilmour leads at Belmont Academy and Ian Burns helps with a group at Prestwick Academy. Ian Gall will soon be helping to re-launch a group at Ayr Academy.

 

The Ark is a great, non-threatening venue for Christian young people to take their friends. DJ on a Friday 7.30-10 for S1-3 and live bands on a Sat 7.30-11 for S4+. There is also an after-school drop-in on a Wednesday from 3.30-6.30. Ron Turkington, Graham, Gemma & Olive Hall, Victoria Smith and John & Gill Burns are all involved.

 

Firestarters Ayrshire meets on the first weekend of each month. It aims to disciple young Christians from various local churches through teaching and undertaking practical projects. For more information please speak to John or Gill Burns.

 

Following on from their successful ‘Fashion Workshop’, during The BIG Week, Community Education now run a weekly Girls’ Group in the Church Centre. This helps the girls develop basic life skills and discuss issues that are affecting them.

The local Community Support Officers (CSO’s) have also been running a weekly DJ workshop for young men not in employment, education or training (NEET).

 

We are also grateful to George Rae and Stuart Stevenson who have made themselves available ‘on call’ to assist us when necessary!  Please use this flyer to inform your prayers and to discuss what’s going on with your children! Also remember Explorers, Crèche and the Parent & Toddler Group. If you would like to know more (or are interested in getting involved) please speak to Ian or to any of the above leaders.