Community Groups
Community Groups are run by volunteers from across the churches in a locality under Urban Saints' Public Liability Insurance, policies and practice guidelines.
The Main Leaders are appointed by Urban Saints and they then appoint the rest of their team. All leaders and helpers aged 18* and over are DBS/PVG/AccessNI checked by Urban Saints. (*PVG Disclosures are required from age 16 in Scotland). The Group is accountable to Urban Saints, which means:
- Its leaders operate in a manner compliant with Urban Saints’ policies and practice guidelines;
- The Group fits the agreed criteria for an Urban Saints’ Group (see distinctives here);
- The Group is insured (public liability) by Urban Saints;
- The Group pays to Urban Saints the agreed cost for membership;
- The Group submits annual accounts to Urban Saints for audit.
Roles within a Community 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 Urban Saints 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 Urban Saints’ Policies and Practices, 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: (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.
- ALs must be aged 18 or over when appointed.
- All ALs must have an up-to-date DBS/PVG/AccessNI Disclosure via Urban Saints 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 Urban Saints’ Policies and Practices, 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: (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 or similar.
- GHs must be aged 18 or over when appointed.
- All GHs must have an up-to-date DBS/PVG/AccessNI Disclosure via Urban Saints 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 an 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 an up-to-date PVG Disclosure obtained via Urban Saints.
- 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 Community Groups
Here are the forms that Community Groups will find helpful - click on each link to download a printable PDF version:
Role Description - Main Leader
Role Description - Assistant Leader
Role Description - Group Helper
Role Description - Trainee Helper
Apply for a role on a Community Group team
If you have been asked to apply for a role on a Community Group leadership team, please click the link below to go to the online Form:
Apply for a role on a Community Group team
Apply to start a Community Group
If you have contacted Urban Saints and are now ready to start a Community Group, click the link below to go the online Form: