Word with the young (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Word with the young

11:33am Friday 5th October 2007

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A MARRIED couple are hoping to reach out to Darlington's young people after being appointed as the town's first all-denomination Christian youth workers.

Mel and Martin Stand are the directors for the Darlington Area Churches Youth Ministry, a new position which aims to meet the needs of the town's youngsters and work with existing youth services.

The couple have moved from Tipton, Wolverhampton, and have two children, Caleb, three, and one-year old Noah.

They have more than 30 years' combined experience in youth work. Mrs Stand said the couple would talk to young people to work out what they needed before taking steps to meet those needs.

"It is not about fulfilling other peoples' agendas, but about what young people in the community want, because that is who we are serving," she said. "It is about complementing and serving."

Mr Stand said they intended to work with existing services provided by Darlington Borough Council and would try to reach youngsters in ways relevant to them, including music and sport.

The Rev Dr David Bryan, chairman of the management group of Darlington Area Churches Youth Ministry, said there was a clear need for a director of youth.

He said the partnership of churches, a coalition of all the town's Christian churches, had been trying to establish a youth director for more than two years.

The eventual aim was to have a network of youth workers in the town, headed by the couple: "I just think we can make a difference."

A commissioning service for the couple will be held tomorrow at Bondgate Methodist Church, 7pm.

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