The Diocesan Youth Team
Craig Abbott:Diocesan Youth Officer based at Church House, Blackburn
01254 503070 ext 223 craig.abbott@blackburn.anglican.org or youth@blackburn.anglican.org
I am the Youth Officer for the Board of Education in the Diocese of Blackburn. My main responsibilities are working with the team of youth worker/chaplains in our Church of England High schools and working with churches in their delivery of youth work. I love what I do because I get to work with people who are passionate about their faith and young people and incredibly creative in passing on the Christian faith to the next generation. One of my favourite things in the world is the sea and I love Italian food (though not mixed together). The biggest challenge in my job is remaining positive about the future of the Church of England when young people seem so far down the agenda.
Sam Cheesman: Youth Worker/Chaplain at Ripley St Thomas Church of England High School, Lancaster
(01524 64496) cheesmans@ripley.lancs.sch.uk
My name is Sam and I’m the Youth Worker/Chaplain at Ripley St Thomas in Lancaster. It’s an absolutely fantastic job with every day bringing its new challenges and opportunities, and a brilliant place for starting and developing relationships with staff and students alike.
It’s been great to be able to work in a school setting but still be really overt about who I am and that I’m passionate about Jesus. It’s not always that easy but seeing the young people grow in their knowledge and love of God excites me every day, and I thank God for every chance I have to see that here.
When not in school, or even when still working food tends to make me pretty happy. There’s nothing like the gut wrenching heartbreak of sitting down to a nice meal out and finding only disappointment, so my wife and I like trying as many places as possible so we know where to find satisfaction.
Dave Buckley: Youth Worker/Chaplain at Archbishop Temple Church of England High School, Preston
(01772 717782) 
chaplain@archbishoptemple.lancs.sch.uk
My name is Dave and I'm the youth worker/chaplain at Archbishop Temple in Preston. I love Jesus and I love people and in this job I get to talk to people about Jesus and help them through life (especially those tricky teen years).
When I'm not chaplaining (new word!?) and things like that I love spending time with Alice and our three kids, playing and watching football, eating delicious food (pies are especially nice) and watching good tv with friends.
Fiona Radcliffe: Youth Worker/Chaplain at St Aidan's Church of England High School, Preesall (01253 810504) fiona-radcliffe@st-aidans.lancs.sch.uk 
My favourite thing about being Youth Worker / Chaplain at St Aidan’s and the local churches is the openness and enthusiasm of the young people – from talking about who God is, to leading worship, to wacky games, they are up for anything and there is never a dull moment!
When I’m not working I love being outdoors, laughing at bad jokes, and drinking coffee in cosy cafes. My two biggest challenges are...to learn to play the guitar properly after 3 years of attempting to teach myself (free lessons anyone!?) and more seriously to stop putting God in a box – who knows how big his dreams for young people are?
Ben Green: Youth Worker/Chaplain at Bishop Rawstorne Church of England High School, Croston. (01772 600349) bgreen@bishoprawstorne.lancsngfl.ac.uk
Hey there. My name’s Ben and I have the thorough pleasure of being the youth worker chaplain at Bishop Rawstorne Language College in Croston! I started just after Easter in 2009, since then the thing that makes my job the best job in the world is the young people I get to spend time with everyday, and seeing them growing into the people that God wants them to be.
A few random things about me:
One day I would like to ... record an album!
I like ... bacon, cheese and jam toasties after a night out.
I dislike ... marmite at anytime of day!
Favourite most encouraging and challenging quote ... ‘If you think you are too small to be effective, you’ve never been to bed with a mosquito’ (Anita Roddick) and ‘Our ceiling should be their floor’ (Bob Jones) – God really challenges me through these quotes.
Sarah Ferguson: Youth Worker/Chaplain in Leyland working at Balshaw's Church of England High School, Runshaw College and St Andrew's Church (01772 421009)
The thing I love best about my job is the opportunity to tell so many young people about Jesus and what it means to know him as Lord and Saviour. I love how open and honest young people are about what they think and that means they are so open to hearing the gospel. This is definitely my favourite part of the job! Working between 3 places means I have to do a lot of juggling but also means I get to do a huge variety of things from residentials with the Christian Union at college to teaching sessions on spiritual health to years 7's at school. Being able to share the good news of Jesus with so many people in so many different ways is a real privilege.
My favourite food in the whole world is chocolate and I have an intense dislike of coffee and anything coffee flavoured! One of my favourite trips ever was to Cadbury world where I actually got to watch the chocolate being made - and to taste lots of samples! Obviously I avoided the coffee chocolates.
When I'm not at school, college or church I like spending time with friends, reading books, watching funny films and going on nice holidays!
Andrea Jackson: Youth Worker/Chaplain at St Michael's Church of England High School, Chorley. (01257 264740) ajackson@saint-michaels.lancs.sch.uk
Working in Chorley has lots of 'best bits' but I love the opportunities I have to talk to and encourage young people about the difference a relationship with Jesus makes. That's is my favourite bit and the thing I want to do best.
Other people can't believe all the stuff I get to do like going on trips and joining in with school and youth groups. So far I have sang karaoke, met Jerry Springer and made some pretty gross slime.
I am determined to do a triathlon (a race where you have to run, swim and cycle) but I need to learn to run first, I would also like to find the secret to baking a sponge cake that rises.
My most embarrassing moment gets updated regularly but a cartoon style crash into a wall when out on my roller blades recently is top of the list.
Jill Ivison: Youth work Administrator based at Church House, Blackburn. 01254 503070 jill.ivison@blackburn.anglican.org or youth@blackburn.anglican.org
The Board of Education office in Church House is a great place to work with a fantastic group of people. I try to encourage the youth worker/chaplains in their work, help them feel part of the team and supported in all the amazing work they do with young people. The best bit of my job is going along to the various events we organise for young people such as the Diocesan Youth Conference or Confirmation Camp and seeing at first hand young people having fun, building friendships, being challenged and encouraged and moving on in their relationship with God. It makes all the planning and organising that I've been involved in for months beforehand worthwhile.
To make up for being stuck at a desk all day I love being outdoors; going for walks, growing vegetables and fruit in my allotment, and in the summer sitting in the garden with a good book or a few friends.
Some of my best moments recently have been completing a long distance walk - the St Cuthbert's Way, eating the best home grown raspberries ever, seeing God answer prayers both large and small and experiencing the reality of the fact that with God at my side I won't be defeated by huge life challenges.