Affiliated Groups
Affiliated Groups are run by volunteers from one church under that church's public liability insurance, policies and practice guidelines. the Group carries the name and brand of Urban Saints.
The Main Leaders are appointed by Urban Saints in consultation with the church and they, in turn, appoint the rest of the team by agreement with the church leadership. Leaders and helpers are DBS/PVG/AccessNI checked by the church.
In terms of accountability and liability, this works as follows:
- The Groups' leadership team operates in a manner compliant with the church’s policies and practice guidelines (which must be robust, up to date, compatible with and open to scrutiny by Urban Saints);
- The Group must fit the agreed criteria for an Urban Saints’ Group (click to see the distinctives);
- The Group is insured (public liability) by the church;
- The Group pays to Urban Saints the agreed cost for membership;
- The Group submits annual accounts to the church treasurer for inclusion in the audit of the church accounts.
The roles within an Affiliated Group team
MAIN LEADER (ML)
- MLs will normally be appointed by Urban Saints following a standard appointment process. This process will involve prospective MLs: (a) completing the relevant Application Form; (b) providing the names and contact details of two suitable referees, one of whom should be the applicant’s church leader; (c) meeting with someone appointed by Urban Saints (other than the Impact Team Leader who helped set up the Group) for a face-to-face, in-depth discussion about the role.
- MLs must be aged 18 or over when appointed.
- All MLs must have an up-to-date DBS/PVG/AccessNI Disclosure via the affiliating church and be registered on the DBS Update Service (England & Wales only).
- MLs must be in agreement with Urban Saints’ Statement of Faith and be fully committed to Urban Saints’ Strategy.
- Working to all the policies and practices of the affiliating church, MLs must have full knowledge of, and take overall responsibility for all that happens in their Group, including oversight of GDPR, inclusion and safety. MLs do not have to be present for all Group activities and may delegate some responsibility to Assistant Leaders (AL) on the team whilst still retaining overall responsibility.
- For mixed Groups, if there is only one ML, or all MLs are of the same gender, then there must be an AL of the other gender on the team.
- MLs may delegate responsibility for some Group activities to others on the team, but still retain overall responsibility as outlined above.
ASSISTANT LEADER (AL)
- ALs are appointed by the MLs following a standard appointment process. This process will involve prospective ALs completing the relevant Application Form.
- ALs must be aged 18 or over when appointed.
- All ALs must have an up-to-date DBS/PVG/AccessNI Disclosure via the affiliating church and be registered on the DBS Update Service (England & Wales only).
- ALs must be in agreement with Urban Saints’ Statement of Faith and be fully committed to Urban Saints’ Strategy.
- Working to all the policies and practices of the affiliating church, ALs support the ML in the running of the Group and must be willing and capable of taking delegated responsibility when required by the MLs (who still retain overall responsibility).
GROUP HELPER (GH)
- GHs are appointed by the MLs following a standard appointment process. This process will involve prospective GHs completing the relevant Application Form.
- GHs must be aged 18 or over when appointed.
- All GHs must have an up-to-date DBS/PVG/AccessNI Disclosure via the affiliating church and be registered on the DBS Update Service (England & Wales only).
- GHs must be in sympathy with Urban Saints’ Strategy and Statement of Faith.
- GHs must be supervised at all times by the MLs or ALs (directly or via clear instructions) and support them in the running of the Group.
TRAINEE HELPER (TH)
- THs are appointed by the MLs following a standard appointment process. This process will involve prospective THs completing online application form and enrolling on the Urban Saints Training Programme set up for this role (available during 2020).
- THs can be appointed from age 14 and the maximum age is 17. Once a TH becomes 18 they should be appointed as a Group Helper to the team.
- In Scotland, all THs aged 16 or over must have a PVG Disclosure obtained via the affiliating church.
- THs must be supervised at all times by the MLs & ALs (directly or via clear instructions) and support them in the running of the Group.
Forms for Affiliated Groups
Here are the forms that Affiliated Groups will find helpful - click on each link to download a printable PDF version:
Memorandum of Understanding for Affiliated Groups
Role Description - Main Leader
Role Description - Assistant Leader
Role Description - Group Helper
Role Description - Trainee Helper
Apply for a role on an Affiliated Group team
If you have been asked to apply for a role on an Affiliated Group leadership team, please click the link below to go to the online Form:
Apply for a role on an Affiliated Group team
Start an Affiliated Group
If you have contacted Urban Saints and are ready to start an Affiliated Group, click the link below to go to the online Form: