Team Roles in Urban Saints' Groups
Urban Saints' Groups are run by teams of volunteers from various churches in a locality. We operate a simple tiered structure of leadership within the teams reflecting the range of experience, ages and levels of commitment likely among those that volunteer to help run a Group.
The Main Leaders are responsible for overseeing everything that happens in the Group and in line with this responsibility comes a thorough appointment process for the role through Urban Saints. Once appointed, Main Leaders may then appoint the rest of their team.
Summaries of each role
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 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 support the MLs and ALs in the running of the Group and must be supervised by them at all times (directly or via clear instructions).
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 are automatically enrolled on the Urban Saints Trainee & Group Helper Training Programme produced for this role.
- 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 support the MLs and ALs in the running of the Group and must be supervised by them at all times (directly or via clear instructions).
OCCASIONAL HELPER (OH)
- The OH role is for someone who will be asked to help at the Group from time to time on trips, residentials and when others on the team are away, for example.
- OHs are appointed by the MLs following a standard appointment process. This process will involve prospective OHs: (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.
- OHs must be aged 18 or over when appointed.
- All OHs must have an up-to-date DBS/PVG/AccessNI Disclosure via Urban Saints and be registered on the DBS Update Service (England & Wales only).
- OHs support the MLs and ALs in the running of the Group and must be supervised by them at all times (directly or via clear instructions)at all times).
Full descriptions for each role
If you would like a full description of each role please click on the relevant link to download a printable PDF version:
Role Description - Main Leader
Role Description - Assistant Leader
Role Description - Group Helper
Role Description - Trainee Helper
Role Description - Occasional Helper
Applying for a role
If you have been asked to apply for a role on an Urban Saints' Group leadership team by one of the Main Leaders, please click the link below to go to the online Form:
Apply for a role on an Urban Saint's Group leadership team
Changing a role
If you are changing your role within the Group at the request of the Main Leaders, moving away or leaving the Group, please click the link below to go to the online Form to inform Urban Saints of the changes:
Inform Urban Saints of a change in your role
Apply to start an Urban Saints' Group
If you have previously contacted Urban Saints and are now ready to begin the process of starting a Group, please click the link below to go the online Form: