About

CONCRETE was born out of ‘Urban Hope’ the youth work project of St Stephens Canonbury in Islington in 2013. In 2018 CONCRETE moved as a project and is hosted by Salmon Youth Centre in Bermondsey. It is important that as project, CONCRETE ethos and practice is worked out and tested in praxis.

Many youth workers speak of feeling isolated and of how ‘working out’ how to deliver youth work in their context can be a lonely task; CONCRETE aims to tackle this by drawing those working with young people together in to a journey of mutual development and support. We seek to be ‘value led’ and ‘relationally worked out.’ Building a framework of values and principles on which our attitudes, beliefs, skills and practices are formed.

Ben Bell and James Fawcett are curators of CONCRETE, but we consider ourselves on a journey with many others in youth work in the UK.

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I was terrified of youth work – really really thought it wasn’t for me, or where my gifts lay. In fact, I was probably relieved when I first visited the parish that there was no youth work!! Then, I arrived, and found that it had to be done. And the gifting has come with that, but it has taken courage.

There was NO youth provision in the area at all, let alone the church. There was a real separation between the church and the community – particularly generational, the older people did not like the young people and the young people did not think much of the church. This is how I started out and some of the key things I learnt in the first 6 months:

1. Consulted – first with the young people – let them say what they like and name the group, I then approached the PCC, and the parents. I then held a meeting, discussing it with the aim of getting them all on board.

2. I have found volunteers who are not regular church goers – I just watched for the warm and friendly people to get it going now a few keen parents have got on board too.

3. Engage with local organisations – it has proved to be a truly incredible act of witness for the church the whole parish have been talking about it. It has got some momentum the parish council, local hotels, the school, all sorts of people and organisations have blessed the youth group with money, time, resources.

4. Understand that the kids really just need a space to be themselves, to be held safely, and to be able to work out their friendships. They like the odd themed night, and we find that good activities open up the space for conversation. But, we go with the flow – the hardest thing for hyper-organised-me, but it’s been a liberating and faith enhancing thing too.

5. The Diocese have been really helpful with the safeguarding / policy stuff. The space we offer as a youth club is rooted in the social gospel so is open to everyone – it is a service to the community,

However, I am increasingly aware that we are also allowing them to develop a really positive opinion of the church, their church, and getting to know them on a personal level. And in among all that, little opportunities for spiritual pointing happens – discussions about what the church pulpit is for, candles being lit for the world, decorating the church Christmas tree. It is all small but meaningful minutes – so listening – with Holy Spirit Eyes – is really important. It feels as though we are building foundations for other things right now. The 17 kids who walk through our doors are an incredible ball of energy for a reasonably elderly church. They’re vibrant, noisy, and lively. But immense fun and an absolute joy to work with. I hope and pray that they will grow towards the Gospel, but I am very aware that God is unfolding this thing so I am not putting unnecessary pressure or expectation on it.