Tips for year 13 transition to uni/work/gap year by Becky Lawrence, Youth and Kids Worker, St Marks Milton Keynes,

They’ve been welcomed into and been part of your youth group for perhaps the last 7 years but now they’re 18 and finishing year 13 which probably means they’ve come to the end of your youth provision and on top of that they may be leaving town to go to uni, or heading off on a gap year or maybe sticking around to begin work or volunteering.  Whatever they are doing next they wont be youth anymore but young adults instead!  The transition to adulthood and the next step of university or the world of work is a big one for young people and it is really important that we help support them in that as youth leaders and as a church.  As young people reach the end of their time at college or 6th form and the end perhaps of their time in the youth group they probably feel a whole mix of emotions, excitment, fear, worry, relief, and more.  Adulthood, moving away from home, getting a ‘real’ job, going on a gap year or starting uni and taking responsibility for your own life, faith and wellbeing can be a daunting and overwhelming time for them.  We have an amazing opportunity and resonsiblity to help guide them and be used by God to equip them, give them hope and grow in faith at this pivotal time for them.

A lot of Christian young people find it tough to stay committed to their faith in the midst of uni/student/young adult culture, and when faith development switches to become their responsibility not something their parents tell them to do it can get lost amidst a whole host of other options that seem way more exciting.  In a new environment of work, or gap year or uni there are lots of distractions and barriers for continuing to be part of a local church and sticking with their faith.  Even if they stick around, they may feel that your church is no longer a place where they fit in – they might not feel part of the adult congregation and might find it easier to just slip away from your community.  At one point the facts and figures were that 70% of Christians lose their faith while away at university which is staggering.  But that doesn’t have to be the norm, faith can also be strengthened while at uni or once into young adulthood.  Those that have support and accountability are more likely to stick with it and dig deeper into their faith.  It is so important that we do all we can to offer our support, guidance and be part of their transition to adulthood so that all of our investment in them relationship building and hard work is not undone.  The smoother we as churches and youth leaders can help make that transition, the better and there are a number of things we can do.

 

You might want to gift a resource or two to any young people you have at this stage – i’ve got a couple of recommendations if you do.

‘Beyond Beans on Toast’ is a great simple recipe book that i’ve given to young people heading off to uni.  As well as recipes it also features tips and stories for helping survive and thrive at uni.  The recipes are simple to make and affordable for students.  The tips involve what to pack, keeping bugs at bay and budget help and advice from Christians Against Poverty.  The stories featured are from students who share their own University experiences and tell of the radical encounter with Jesus that changed their lives forever.

You can find the book at Festive – an awesome charity who also do a bunch of support for Christian 6th Form & Further Education students and those that work with them.   https://www.festive.org.uk/beyond-beans-on-toast

 

You also might want to make the most of Fusion – a great Christian charity movement that help link students with churches while away at uni, help link churches with students in their town and offer resources and support for students plus more.  They also feature a bunch of resources to prepare and help equip Christians while at uni.  They’ve got small group resources, The Student Alphabet, Bible notes/daily devotionals, conversation cards, prayer cards and discipleship cards and more.   You can buy resources as a bundle as part of a student link up box or separately on their website.

https://www.fusionmovement.org/

 

This year i’ve only got a couple of young people about to finish year 13, one of them is going away to uni and the other has delayed her A level exams to Autumn term, then she plans on doing a gap year.  Now they are 18 when they finish year 13 they will leave our youth group and we don’t have a students group or a young adult group as we are a little church in a city that doesn’t have a university of its own. We make a lot of effort as a church to help all of our kids and youth to feel like vital members of our community by giving them a voice on sunday mornings, and doing our best to engage and include them in most of what we do as a church.  So I hope the one who is sticking around will continue to feel at home as part of our church community and I plan to continue to meet her for 1-2-1’s if she stays local and support her throughout her gap year.  With the other one, I also plan to continue to offer my support while she is away at uni, I’ll make an effort to stay in touch and send her care packages to let her know we are thinking of her and cheering her on.

I am planning to do some informal next stage prep with them both over this summer term over a couple of visits to a pub, giving them a chance to share their worries, hopes, fears, and excitement for the next stage of their lives.  My thinking behind doing it at a pub is – they are adults now and it would be more special & normal to meet them there!

As a church you can also highlight any young people who are going to uni, starting full time jobs or taking gap years.  you can get them to stand up or show pictures of them on a sunday and as a church commission and pray for them as they make the transition.  This can help them feel really supported and also help your whole church to keep them in their prayers.

You might also want to buddy up ex youth from your group who are at uni/already working to mentor or offer peer support to those who are just starting.  If you don’t have any or have lost contact or think an adult mentor or buddy would be more useful you could do this yourself or assign trusted suitable volunteers from your church who could be that point of contact who will keep in touch with them, pray for them and help them feel supported even if away from the town your church is located.

If you’ve got a few young people who will be sticking around, or maybe even have a uni in your town and have other new students who may come to your church, perhaps you could start a cell group or other group for young adults or students?  Or if you dont have enough for a group, could you make more effort to tie them in with adult cell groups and/or offer support to them in another way to help cultivate their faith development and help them feel like a vital part of your church.  Your church could also register with Fusion to be a listed church that Christian students could link up with and be welcomed into.

If you’ve never considered doing any uni prep or next stage prep for your 17 or 18 year olds, I really recommend considering it and may God will give you the wisdom to decide what to do to best support them and coach them as they make their move to adulthood filled with faith and hope.  If you’d like help or advice or just to chat through your ideas or what you could do, contact us at Youthwork+, myself, Bex or Olly would love to meet you for coffee or connect on Zoom.