This month we pray for and with Jo Jones, Community Relational Support Worker based in Runnymede, with referrals coming from four different secondary schools. She works alongside these vulnerable and at risk young people outside of school hours.
Jo writes: “During the week, I work with young people who are at risk of dropping out of school. I spend time helping them to build resilience, to recognize the importance of education and reaching their potential, to understand consequences of poor choices, and to take steps to change their behaviour. I specifically support several young people in care. Please pray for:
- the young people who take significant steps forward but then the habits of life seem to swallow up their good efforts and they fall back into old ways; pray for vision and persistence as I try to unpick this change…
- those young people who struggle with the low motivation that surrounds their outlook on life; pray that they become able to see the amazing person they can be and to find the dreams of a different, more positive future…
- the best way for me to fit the sessions with young people in the time outside of school hours; that I will be kept safe as I drive between appointments and for an easy transition between the young people as I rush from one to the next…
- the severity of some of the issues I deal with daily; self-harm, lack of self-esteem, depression, family breakdown, terminal illness and poor body image to name but a few; pray for self-awareness for myself and time to debrief well whilst maintaining a care and passion for the young people.”
Thank you for your prayers – they make such a difference to east to west and the young people they work with.