Camp leaders are highly motivated, servant-hearted and love working as part of a team. Leaders have the opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus throughout the various activities and time spent together during camp, as well as through informal Bible talks and discussion.

Leaders benefit from working together as part of a team, spending time together in prayer and Bible study as well as serving in community with other Christians from a range of backgrounds. Being a leader at camp is a lot of hard work but is a fun and rewarding way to spend a week of your summer.

Although there are already a number of regular leaders in the FCYC leadership team, new applications are welcome at any time, and leaders will be allocated to a camp dependent on their availability and on space at the camp. All new leaders must fill in the Online Application Form by the end of February in order to be considered for this summer’s camps and must be able to attend the FCYC Leaders’ and Cooks’ Day.

There are three categories of leader:

• Team Leaders are appointed by FCYC following service as a leader at camp.
• Leaders must be committed Christians who meet the criteria below. Leaders do not have to have served at FCYC previously.
• Junior Leaders are usually aged 18-21, and have not served as a leader at FCYC previously. Junior Leaders are appointed a mentor at camp who will support the Junior Leader throughout the week. They will not be expected to lead Bible talks or dorm discussions, but will be expected to take on some responsibilities as determined by their mentor.

All FCYC leaders and cooks must be suitably trained to ensure a high quality and safe FCYC experience for all campers. Each member of the leadership team is required to detail at application stage the training they have received in the following areas in order to establish the requirement for training provision by FCYC each year; safeguarding, how to be a good leader, working with young people who have Additional Support Needs, giving Bible talks and leading discussion groups.

To be involved in Camp Leadership you must:

• Have a personal faith in Jesus Christ
• Be an active communicant member of a Bible-believing church
• Be able to obtain two satisfactory references
• Be a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scotland (PVG) Scheme for working with children
• Have up-to-date Free Church Safeguarding training
• Have a desire to work with young people and to share the Gospel with them, evidenced by recent, relevant experience
• Be willing to commit the necessary time to undertake this work

You will also need to commit to:

• Being at camp for a full week over the summer
• Attending the FCYC Leaders’ and Cooks’ Day annually
• Meeting with your team prior to camp
• Being willing to take on any planning and preparation responsibilities delegated to you by your team leader
• Completing all the necessary paperwork, for example the application form, before the deadline
• Ensuring you are familiar with (and will abide by) Free Church of Scotland Safeguarding and Social Media policies and procedures
• Arrange for a minimum contribution of £150 be made towards your costs at camp (this could be through your Deacons’ Court, a donation, or through fund-raising). And to speak to the Camps Coordinator if you are unable to do so.