How to start an SU Group - Scripture Union Scotland

Team Leaders’ Manual – School SU Groups1.1.4 Think what kind of group you would like to startSU groups can take many forms and styles. It may well be that the format of the group changes asyou talk and pray with others or once the group has started, but you’ll need to have a plan to beginwith – at least to be able to hold an intelligent conversation with school management. Some SUGroups in both primary and secondary schools have a limited age range; this can help to keep thegroup more focussed on what it does. If you are looking to develop a senior pupil group fordiscipleship and Bible study it is likely to have a different feel from a group that seeks to gather thevarious pupils who have just come up from their primary school SU Group. The resources andprogramme planning sections of the SU Group Leaders’ Manual will be helpful for you here.We have identified what makes a school group an “SU group” and these values are listed below.This list is not intended to stifle creativity by group leaders, but rather to engender a common ethosthat defines the ministry of SU Scotland.• To deepen relationships with each other whilst learning dependence on God;• To have prayer and Bible engagement central to the programme of meetings;• To be centred on the needs of children and young people and encourage their faith journey;• To strive to be inclusive to all and create an atmosphere of Christian love;• To have clearly-defined aims which are evangelistic and discipleship oriented;• To model Christian values and lifestyle amongst the group;• To be fun and relevant for those who attend;• To be well-led by accredited SU leadersIn this manual we always refer to “SU Groups” but you are at liberty to call the group anything thatdescribes, labels or defines the group to the satisfaction of you and the school. This might be LunchBunch, Monday Club, Ignite, 2CY, The Grid, . If you are calling it an “SU Group”, or referring to it assuch with the school’s Management Team, then we’d want you to be an accredited volunteer withSU Scotland – more of that next.1.1.5 Work with the full knowledge of Regional Worker or Local Area Worker staff fromSU Scotland or staff from an Associated TrustYou may well have made contact with a staff member for SU or one of our Associated Trusts bynow. If not, visit www.suscotland.org.uk/regional and use the links to track down your nearestoffice. We will aim to support you in the thinking and planning towards an SU Group as well asguiding you through the process that accredits you as a Volunteer for all aspects of SU Scotland’swork.• One member of your team needs to be identified as the school Team Leader and shouldrequest Team Leader Forms (and TL Reference forms) from your Regional or Associate Staff or LocalArea Worker (these forms are not available from the SU Scotland website).• Other Team Members complete Volunteer Forms – application and two referees - which areavailable from the our staff or our website (www.suscotland.org.uk/volunteer and look for the“Application Packs link”)• Please send or hand your reference forms on to your two referees, asking them to send themon to the Volunteers Unit in Glasgow (or for you to forward for them with your application forms,January 2012