Why local workers?

Unlock appoints Local Workers to fulfil its vision to be a Christian organisation which helps churches of any denomination to relate the Good News of the Down to Earth Christ to the people around them.

Unlock is especially concerned with communication in a traditional tabloid (non-book, 'text shy', or urban working class) culture — oral learners, or “people who can read but prefer not to”, within the UK’s inner cities and housing estates.

Unlock has a growing network of local workers who are able to lead workshops and training events and provide consultancy.

These Local Workers...

- ensure that greater use is made of Unlock’s distinctive approach to learning, and the materials it has evolved over the last four decades, by providing a locally based resource person, offering consultancy, workshops and training events.

- make available Unlock’s published Bible studies, games and audit packs

- work to enable local leadership and increased confidence about sharing the Good News

- further develop Unlock’s materials and methods, through creative work and from practical experience gained in different urban situations.

- inform Christians in general about what Unlock is and does, and raise support for the work where possible (including financial support).

In Bristol . . . 

Unlock has appointed an Unlock Discipleship Development Worker for Bristol and plans to launch a new Unlock project there in the Summer of 2010; in partnership with the Bristol Inner City Churches Partnership (http://www.stlukesbartonhill.org.uk/partnership.htm).

In Birmingham . . .

Debbie Marsh is our new Discipleship Development worker for Unlock Birmingham. Debbie is currently getting to know Unlock and exploring the possibility of doing some Unlock work with a local 'Mind' group.

Profile Debbie Marsh >>

Unlock Birmingham was launched in July 2009, led by Unlock Discipleship Development workers, Pete and Sam Taylor. Pete and Sam have delivered Unlock Training at Queens College and are working with a small group in Bloomsbury. They are in contact with the Education for Discipleship group in the Regional Training Partnership and with Urban Expression locally and presented Unlock's work at shared resource day for the Methodist Birmingham & Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury Districts as well as providing Unlock training in the Birmingham area through Unlock DIY. Pete and Sam have been posted to Methodist Distrcts in South Wales in the summer of 2010. We wish them well in their new ministries.

Profile of Pete and Sam >>

In Sheffield . . .  A support group is established and the funding has been secured for a project running into 2011.

Steve Millwood is the Unlock Sheffield Discipleship Development Worker. Steve is building up his contacts and working with small groups in North Sheffield. He has developed 'Crucible', a resource based on Sheffield's steelworking industrial heritage. and will be offering Unlock taster/training sessions in North Sheffield during 2010.

Profile of Steve >>

Sheffield update - February 2009 >>

In Liverpool . . .  Sonya Doragh worked as the Unlock Liverpool Urban Discipelship Development Worker for two years from April 2008. She has developed Unlock work with local parents and toddlers, and through a communtiy lunch project. Her resources, 'Cooking the Book' and 'Mess, Mistakes and Muddling Through', are available below. Sonya also providedUnlock training for church and group leaders through Unlock DIY and has developed an Unlock resources for use in baptism preparation which will be available in the resources section of the Unlock website shortly.

Profile of Sonya >>

Mary's Moments (the story of a journey from relationship to discipleship) >>

Cooking the Book >>

Mess Mistakes and Muddling Through >>

Unlocking Baptism >>

Unlock DIY >

In Hull . . . .

Fiona Smith was appointed as a worker for Unlock Hull in December 2006. Fiona worked with the Unlock Hull group to deliver a series of Unlock events in Hull during 2007 and 2008. She completed her paid employment with Unlock in December 2008 and the voluntary Unlock Hull Group is still active.

Stories of Unlock Hull >>

Hull update - February 2009 >>

In September 2007 Unlock Hull ran the first of their series of 'Unforgotten'  events, inviting local people to share, and reflect on, their first hand experiences of the summer floods, in relation to God's word.

Unforgotten Hull - workshop outline>>

Unforgotten Hull - creative techniques >>

Unlock is now established in  Glasgow . . .

Unlock's current project in Glasgow began in 2004. Now Unlock Glasgow is locally funded (with support from the Scottish Bible Society) and continues to develop the work of Unlock in the city. Victoria Rydebark is the current Unlock Glasgow Worker.

Profile of Victoria >>

Unlock resources developed by Unlock Glasgow supported by the Scotish Bible Society are available at http://unlockglasgow.org.uk

Next . . .  Unlock Manchester?

We are initiating explorations that we hope will lead to an Unlock Local Project in Manchester. Contact the National Office for details, particularly if you live or work in Manchester, and would like to get involved.

Where next? - 2010 >>

How to become a local worker

Please read the following documents which outline the main principles of the training Unlock provides and the local worker job desciption.

The 10 Unlock principles of training >>
Unlock local development worker job description >>
Click here for a free PDF viewer >>
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Support for Unlock local workers

Sometimes the work of an Unlock worker can feel isolated. You may be working far from the National Office and only see other Unlock workers very occasionally. It is important that you feel supported in your work for Unlock and there are a number of ways we try to achieve this.

Unlock workers resources can be found here >>
(This is a password protected area for Unlock workers only)