If you’ve never been to a Youthwork Summit event, it’s time to join the party. Since 2010, we’ve been organising a unique annual one-day convention for every kind of Christian involved in every kind of work with young people. Why unique? Because over the course of just one day, you’ll hear more than 20 diverse voices presenting their big ideas about Christian youth work. For 5, 10… 15 minutes at the most, we ask a mix of world-leading experts and grass roots practitioners to take to the stage for a series of high-impact presentations – then create an atmosphere of interaction and engagement to ensure their ideas are accessed and developed by our delegates.

The vision behind the event was developed by Chris Curtis, Martin Saunders and Matt Summerfield during a prayer retreat together in early 2010. The question they had set out to explore: how could they and the organisations they represent (Youthscape, Youthwork magazine and Urban Saints) work together to better serve and resource youth workers? Part of the answer was to launch a new kind of youth work event, where breadth, diversity and unity are celebrated; where innovation and new ideas are the focus.

In 2010, we launched in London, where we were joined by over 500 excited early-adopters. In 2011, considerably more youth workers joined us for a stunning day in Manchester. And in 2012, we’re moving the Summit to May.

We’ll keep on moving, reinventing, and reimagining, because frankly, we can’t help it. It’s who we are, it’s what makes YWS so exciting, and it’s how we make sure we continue to serve you, the youth worker, with the very best event we can. So get ready for a very different, very brilliant Youthwork Summit 2012. Just don’t get used to it – we’ll change it all again next year.

In 2012, we’re trying something different – as the Summit extends for the first time into Saturday evening.

Taking our inspiration again from Joel (2 v 28), we’re going to use this extra time to hear from some of the Elder statespeople of UK youth ministry. Hosted by Youthwork Magazine founder John Buckeridge, this will be a one-off opportunity to hear the wisdom of the men and women who were doing youth work before some of us were born – and to listen to their dreams for the current generation of youth workers.

So it’s a day of vision, and an evening of dreams. Join us on what promises to be an incredible journey.

You are a volunteer. This is not the only thing in your life. You’ve got all sorts of pressures on you – from work, to finance, to carving out time for friends and family. We understand that – the leadership team behind the Summit is made up of volunteer youth workers.

We also believe that youth ministry in the UK and beyond is underpinned by the tireless work of a small army of people just like you. Without you, the church’s work among young people simply wouldn’t get going. You are the hands, feet and voices that take the love of God into the lives of young people. And we know that whether you volunteer once a month or five nights a week, you take your call to minister among young people as seriously as the most committed full-timer.

The Youthwork Summit isn’t just for full-timers – it’s aimed just as squarely at volunteers. We want you to join in with those deep discussions about the future of your youth work; we want you to be inspired and equipped; we want you to be blessed, to feel looked after, to enjoy yourself. Why not get your whole team together for YWS 2012? It’s going to be an unforgettable day.

If you’re a full-time youth worker, then we count you as a friend. You know what it is to pour your whole life into ministry among teenagers – spurred on by those twin loves that set us apart and bind us together: for Jesus and for young people. These are the same passions that drive the team behind Youthwork Summit – our aim in putting together this event is to see you inspired, resourced and better connected; to bring you together with over a thousand others just like you; to involve you in a day that will make you laugh, pray, open up and dream bigger.

The Summit offers a chance not only to listen to a diverse range of voices, but also to contribute, discuss, network and imagine. We’ll aim to present you with a mix of experts, pioneers and practitioners, and give you opportunities to engage with their ideas through more than just listening.

We’re passionate about your continued professional development, deadly serious about the need to take space and be reflective once in a while, and desperate to create ways for you to meet other youth workers to network, share practice and most of all, make new friends! Our aim is to make the Summit a relevant, challenging space where all of these things can be achieved. Come along – bring your team – be a part of something bigger.

If you’re a full-time youth worker, then we count you as a friend. You know what it is to pour your whole life into ministry among teenagers – spurred on by those twin loves that set us apart and bind us together: for Jesus and for young people. These are the same passions that drive the team behind Youthwork Summit – our aim in putting together this event is to see you inspired, resourced and better connected; to bring you together with over a thousand others just like you; to involve you in a day that will make you laugh, pray, open up and dream bigger.

The Summit offers a chance not only to listen to a diverse range of voices, but also to contribute, discuss, network and imagine. We’ll aim to present you with a mix of experts, pioneers and practitioners, and give you opportunities to engage with their ideas through more than just listening.

We’re passionate about your continued professional development, deadly serious about the need to take space and be reflective once in a while, and desperate to create ways for you to meet other youth workers to network, share practice and most of all, make new friends! Our aim is to make the Summit a relevant, challenging space where all of these things can be achieved. Come along – bring your team – be a part of something bigger.

We chose the venue for the 2012 Summit to make travel easier than ever. If you’re coming by car, you’ll fund it on the North Circular Road at the junction with the M1. There’s also Brent Cross tube station nearby, so if you’re arriving by train, you’ll be able to transfer quickly and easily from any of the main London terminals like King’s Cross, Victoria and Paddington.

There are plenty of good value hotels close at hand, with a Holiday Inn right next to the venue and Premier Inn, Travel Lodge and Days Inn all within a mile.

That means there’s no excuse! Grab your friends and fellow youth workers and come join us for an amazing day.