The Story Vol 16

THE STORY
STATISTICS, TRENDS AND RESEARCH FOR YOUTH WORK
NEW IDEAS:
THINKING THEOLOGICALLY
ABOUT YOUTH WORK IN
A PANDEMIC:
A CONVERSATION WITH
ANDY ROOT
NEW RESEARCH:
BURNOUT AMONG
CHRISTIAN YOUTH
WORKERS IN THE
US AND UK
youthscape.co.uk/research
VOL. 16
WINTER
2020

WELCOME TO
THE STORY
To be notified about new issues or
subscribe for printed copies visit
www.youthscape.co.uk/research/
the-story
In each issue of The Story we bring you
some of the latest research related to
young people and youth work. We look
for statistics, research and trends which
can shape your work with young people –
informing your thinking and practice.
IN THIS ISSUE:
NEW RESEARCH
The Aspiration Gap
P.3
After many months, we know this
pandemic has taken a huge toll. New
research from The Prince’s Trust highlights
how important it is to hold hope for young
people who feel their future is being
robbed (page 3). As we enter a second
lockdown, Phoebe Hill and Andy Root
have been wrestling with the theological
implications of online youth work and
we’ve shared some of the highlights of
their conversation on pages 4-5. It also
feels very timely to be sharing insights
from research by Len Kageler and
colleagues, on avoiding or managing
burnout if you are a youth worker (pages
6-7). Finally, our poster begins to explore
some of the key concepts helping us
reflect on racism and learn more about
how to be anti-racist in our youth work.
Thank you to all those whose efforts are
making this learning possible.
Lucie Shuker
Director of Research, Youthscape
NEW IDEAS
Thinking theologically about
youth work in a pandemic:
a conversation with Andy Root
NEW RESEARCH
Burnout among Christian Youth
Workers in the US and UK
YOUTH WORK DIAGRAMS
How to Hygge
AN INTRODUCTION TO…
SYSTEMIC RACISM
Research News
P.4–5
P.6–7
P.8
REVERSE
New on the blog: You’ll find a range
of articles at www.youthscape.co.uk/
research/news including all the results
from our weekly 3x3 lockdown surveys,
and reflections on youth work, research
and theology.
Coming soon: We’ve now finished a new
report on Theological Reflection in youth
work, which we hope to launch very soon.
Thanks to all those who took part in our
survey!
P.2

NEW RESEARCH
The Aspiration Gap
In the first two weeks of September 2020
The Prince’s Trust surveyed 2000 16-25 yearolds,
of whom 625 were ‘Not in Education,
Employment or Training’ (NEET) or had received
free school meals during school (described as
‘those from poorer homes’ in the report). 1 The
findings suggest that for older youth, there
were significant feelings of hopelessness as
they re-entered education, and that these were
more keenly felt among those from poorer
backgrounds or who were NEET.
44% said their aspirations for the future are
now lower as a result of the pandemic.
More than a third (36%) believed they will have
a “lower quality of life” than their parents,
while 46% claimed their generation will have
fewer opportunities.
41% believed their future goals now seem
“impossible to achieve” (50% of those from
poorer backgrounds).
38% felt they will “never succeed in life” (48%
of those from poorer homes).
More than one in three (36%) said they have
“lost hope” for the future.
55% said the pandemic had made them fearful
for their future, and 46% said thinking about
their future made them feel “hopeless”.
Of the 861 young people surveyed who were in
school, college or university:
41% worried the education they’ve missed will
set them back for the rest of their life (50% of
those from poorer backgrounds).
More than a third (39%) felt that their education
has now “gone to waste” (rising to 47% of
those from poorer backgrounds).
41% worried that other young people have had
tutors or more help than them (47% among
those from poorer homes).
More than half (54%) say they feel pressure
to work “even harder” because of the school
they’ve missed.
Statistics like these can be challenging to read,
but there are lots of people making a real
difference. Here’s Becky Harding, Lead Coach
on the Spear Programme.
On the Spear Programme we are passionate
about equipping and empowering young
people into work or further training in order
to succeed in their career. We work with
unemployed 16-24-year-olds across the UK,
who often come from more disadvantaged
backgrounds. Katy 2 came to our first Spear
Brighton online programme in August. She was
suffering with poor mental health and addiction
and was unemployed. Katy completed the
programme and at the celebration event said,
“The Spear Programme has taught me that we
are always going to have obstacles in our life
– but we can always get through them. It’s not
about where we come from, but where we go
from there’’. Katy is now at college in London
studying Fashion Retail and is actively seeking
part-time work.
The youth unemployment statistics are stark,
overwhelming and sometimes frustrating,
especially in the wake of the pandemic, but
young people are resilient and determined. In
the midst of such uncertainty, there is hope to
be found.
1. Responses were weighted to be representative of all 16 to 25 year-olds in the UK, but no further information was
available about how this was achieved. 2. Not her real name.
P.3

NEW IDEAS
Thinking theologically about youth work in a
pandemic: a conversation with Andy Root
Over the course of a few
weeks, Youthscape’s
Phoebe Hill and leading
youth ministry thinker and
theologian Andy Root sent
each other a series of voice
memos about theology and
youth work in a pandemic.
Here are some highlights of
their conversation…
PHOEBE: Hey Andy! On the Youthscape
podcast recently we ended up talking
about theological perspectives on online
youth work. 3 We talked about what you
wrote (all those years ago!) in Revisiting
Relational Youth Ministry, about God being
in the midst of the youth work relationship.
The question I posed in the podcast and
wanted to pose to you is whether or not
you see ‘place-sharing’ translating directly
into an online domain?
ANDY: Hey Phoebe. I’ve thought quite a
bit about place-sharing which for me is the
manifest place where the concreteness
of revelation happens. So can that
happen across zoom or some other kind
of digital space? Scottish theologian Tom
Torrance thinks that space is based in
relational dynamics. So relationships can
actually make a space. The question then
becomes: can digital technology be a
space for encounter with the presence of
God? Thinking about it in the context of
zoom – I think that zoom has all the suck
factor of meetings in it. It allows meetings
to happen, but there’s none of the spirit.
The encounter of the human spirit is much
harder across zoom. I am sceptical about it
because studies have said that one of the
things that happens on zoom is that you
can’t help looking at yourself. They think
this is one of the driving engines of zoom
fatigue, that you are watching yourself.
That creates a fundamentally different
kind of space if I’m always watching myself
have a conversation. What does that
mean theologically? It feels that there is
something theologically at stake.
The other side of this is that my wife
is a pastor and has a woman in her
congregation who was diagnosed with
cancer out of the blue. To walk with them
through this she is doing morning and
evening prayer every night with them. This
would simply not be possible without zoom.
So there’s a certain way in which zoom is
creating space for prayer to happen.
3. Episode 181, https://www.youthscape.co.uk/podcast
P.4

PHOEBE: When it comes to digital
technology, there’s this narrative where
‘the Church has always been behind
culture’ and ‘we need to be ahead of the
curve this time’. There’s a sense of hostility
towards anything that isn’t overly positive
towards technology. What you said about
there being something theologically at
stake feels so true. But it’s broader than
just where God is present, it’s also about
asking: what is digital technology doing to
our humanity?
ANDY: One of the things I’ve been working
on for volume 3 of the Secular Age series
is this sense that there’s always someone
who keeps time for us. As human beings
historically, you need somebody or some
larger institution that keeps time. For most
of western history that was the Church.
But one of the big revolutions of modernity
is to say that it doesn’t want the Church
to keep time any more. It’s a longer story,
but the interesting thing is that Silicon
Valley now keeps time for us. It is just as
oppressive in some ways. So what I’m
picking up when people are saying that
the Church is so behind and we need to
catch up – that really is a Silicon Valley
view. This idea that the only businesses
that will survive are the ones that can
quickly innovate, so you have to disrupt
very quickly and live in a state of insecurity
– you have to go fast. So when pastors
say things like ‘we have to change change
change’ – we hear that and we feel that it
makes sense because we live under the
tyranny of Silicon Valley’s accelerated view
of time.
PHOEBE: I wrote a blog for the
Youthscape website about the challenge
of faith formation in a time when we
can’t meet together. I talked a bit about
performativity and restrictions on the
normal practices of a youth group like
praying out loud and singing out loud and
reading the Bible together. What kind of
impact might that have on faith formation?
ANDY: There are lots of things we can’t
do, but to me one of the core elements we
can do that’s very important and is a major
river that pours into faith formation, is to
invite young people to interpret stories.
Particularly to invite young people into
stories of what God’s responsibility is in
this. Even stories of people in their faith
communities who have prayed for healing,
or prayed and didn’t find healing. And then
trying to make sense of that. Maybe they
could make little videos, and they could
share them with people and start to reflect
together. Faith formation is dependent on
narrative, and one of the ways it becomes
incarnate is that there are embodied
people who live this faith out, and their
stories are the way they transfer their lived
experience to us.
What do you make of this?
We’d love to hear your own
theological reflections on
what it’s like to do youth work
online at @YWResearch or at
research@youthscape.co.uk
P.5

NEW RESEARCH
Burnout among Christian
youth workers in the US
and UK 4
Dr Len Kageler
Nyack College, New York 5
This study explored how youth workers in
the US and UK experience and recover from
burnout. An anonymous online survey was
shared with youth workers through five youth
ministry resource providers, and those taking
the survey had experienced youth ministry
burnout or had detailed knowledge of
someone who experienced burnout.
What contributes to burnout?
Respondents were asked to choose up
to four (out of 11 choices) of possible
contributors to their own burnout.
Feeling isolated or lonely, spiritual
dryness, pastor/supervisor hard to get
along with, and too much criticism were
the top four items named by these US
and UK youth workers.
Of the 123 valid responses, 90 were from the
US and 33 were from the UK. The results can’t
be generalised to all youth workers but will
be of interest to and relevant to both youth
workers and those who seek to train them.
Leaving ministry
Of those experiencing burnout, 51 of the 123
did not recover and did not re-enter vocational
ministry, with the vast majority of these
expressing no intention to return to ministry or
lead in volunteer roles. The four who left paid
ministerial work and stepped into volunteer
roles moved areas of ministry or changed
churches when moving to a volunteer basis.
Comments were provided like “still loves kids
but doesn’t have to deal with the bureaucracy”
and, wanted to work at a “slower pace”.
Recovery and return
The survey also asked respondents to
describe their recovery from burnout and their
choice to stay in youth ministry. The majority
of those experiencing burnout re-entered
or stayed in ministry (n=72). These recovery
stories described a variety of paths toward
return to ministry, which are outlined here.
FELT ISOLATED OR LONELY
SUPERVISOR RELATIONSHIP
SPIRITUAL DRYNESS, AN UNNOURISHED SOUL
FINANCIAL PRESSURES
GREW WEARY OF SPENDING TIME WITH YOUTH
FEELINGS OF PERSONAL DISORGANIZATION
STRAINED FAMILY RELATIONS
FEELING UNQUALIFIED FOR THE JOB
GROWING LOSS OF CONFIDENCE
TOO MUCH CRITICISM
FEELINGS OF PERSONAL INADEQUACY
OTHER
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
P.6

A significant break/sabbatical/vacation/
unemployment
The most common recurring theme in the
stories of burnout recovery was that of
sabbatical. Widely described as “extended
vacation,” “significant break,” “time off/
out,” “unemployment,” “work leave,”
and “sabbatical.” Some kind of break or
sabbatical, voluntary or involuntary, was
mentioned by one third of all who reported
eventual recovery. These proactive
sabbaticals were most often initiated by a
mentor or pastor’s direct intervention based
on what they observed in the individual’s life.
Professional help/counselling
Almost a fifth (19%) of those who eventually
recovered from burnout and returned to
ministry received some form of counselling.
While a relatively low percentage, it was the
second most common recovery element
among the participants. The counselling
focused on a variety of topics including
forgiveness, self-care, accountability, calling,
dealing with loss, and boundaries. Some form
of encouragement from leadership, pastor,
or mentor was often connected to receiving
counselling and thus staying in ministry.
Delegation
Delegation was a form of lightening the load
and involving others in the work. For this
subgroup, burnout ultimately resulted in more
people doing the work of ministry and more
equitable workloads, which is a fundamental
strategy for health in the ministry. Delegation
was often connected to other comments
about “letting go,” or “removing things from
my life.” These comments fall under the
idea of setting boundaries: self-imposed
limits that define one’s sphere of work and
responsibility. One respondent stated: “I’ve
started saying no to things that are not
directly within my responsibilities.”
Soul care and spiritual disciplines
Many of the changes or elements described
enabled the youth worker to engage with
God in new or deeper ways. For example,
Sabbath provided space and mentors
provided modelling for the practice of
neglected spiritual disciplines. While
disciplines themselves are not merit bearing,
they place the participant in a path to meet
God and grow.
Network support
Ministry partnerships and friendships were
listed as major causes of perseverance,
reaffirmed calling, encouragement, challenge,
accountability, support and prayer. One
participant put it well: “Friendships built
among the youth leaders enabled us to talk
and encourage each other through these
times. We prayed for and carried each other
in bad times.” While other factors above
were often described as playing a part in
recovering from burnout, these networks
of support were, as one person put it, “the
reason I stayed in the ministry.”
So what does this mean?
Some youth workers in their high desire to
follow God’s calling on their lives begin their
ministries fired up with enthusiasm but end
up discouraged, exhausted, and in despair.
This study has highlighted some of the pitfalls
that may lead to burnout. Proceeding as a
youth worker with some awareness of these
pitfalls should contribute to avoiding burnout
yourself, as well as helping other youth
workers who are at risk of burnout too.
4. For a full copy of the paper please contact research@youthscape.co.uk 5. The other authors of the study were Dr
Mike Severe, Taylor University, Indiana and Faith Argeropolis, Nyack College, New York.
P.7

YOUTH WORK DIAGRAMS
How to Hygge
NUDITY IN
SAUNA
THANKS
GIVING
VERY HYGGE/
COSY
HOT WATER
BOTTLES
Research team member Gry is a
Norwegian living in England.
Here is her bi-cultural guide to
staying cosy this winter.
DAVID
ATTENBOROUGH’S
VOICE
SKIING INTO THE
MOUNTAINS AND
STAYING IN A
CABIN WITHOUT
ELECTRICITY
CANDLES
BLANKETS
BONFIRE
NIGHT
STICKY
TOFFEE
PUDDING
SUNDAY ROAST
IN THE PUB BY A
ROARING FIRE
NOT VERY
BRITISH
VERY
BRITISH
EYE CONTACT
WITH STRANGERS
ON THE TUBE
NUDITY
IN THE
STREETS
DISORDERLY
QUEUING
ICED TEA
CUCUMBERS
GOING TO
A FOOTBALL
MATCH
WAITING FOR
A BUS IN THE
RAIN
GRITTY
SOCIAL REALIST
DRAMA
PASSIVE
AGGRESSIVE
COMMENTS
NOT VERY
HYGGE/COSY
For more #youthworkdiagrams follow us on Twitter @YWresearch
Bute Mills, 74 Bute Street,
Luton, LU1 2EY
TWITTER POLL: WHERE IN THE WORLD?
Yes, we’re not going anywhere, but that doesn’t mean we can’t
dream.* If you could be anywhere right now, where would you
like to be? Our Fantasy Getaway Twitter Poll (n=31) decisively
settles the question of youth workers’ holiday preferences.
hello@youthscape.co.uk
01582 877220
Registered charity no. 1081754.
Registered company no. 3939801
registered in England, a company
limited by guarantee.
P.8
FRYING ON
A BEACH
(48.4%)
31 VOTES
ROAMING
A NEW CITY
(29%)
THERE’S NO PLACE
LIKE HOME
(16.1%)
WHIZZING DOWN
A MOUNTAIN
(6.5%)
*...and with Google Street View your dreams can almost come true.