New role to focus on the development of younger leaders 

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Isabella Senior as Young Leaders’ Development Coordinator

Isabella joined the Ministries Team towards the start of March, having previously been working with the iNet and REACH London mission organisations in supporting their long and short-term internships. Before that she was an intern herself at New River Baptist Church in London. 

Her appointment follows the recommendation of the internship project group that met throughout 2021. The group brought together 15 people from across Baptists Together who each have a heart for the development of young adults through internships.

Together they created a suite of draft resources that aim to guide young adults looking for internship opportunities and enable churches who wish to host interns. The project group reported back to the Baptists Together Core Leadership Team in the autumn and suggested the appointment of a Young Leaders’ Development Coordinator to continue the work. 

Isabella’s initial focus is to understand and connect with all those who currently provide internships in a Baptist context, and with the interns themselves. Alongside this, she is working to complete a suite of resources for churches.

These will help churches that wish to run their own internship scheme or host an intern who is attached to an existing regional or national programme. Beyond these immediate aims, Isabella will take a lead in the development of younger leaders more broadly, working with our existing ‘round tables’ for young adults and for children, youth and families. 

Isabella said, 'What an exciting and key role, to support young leaders, churches, and internship providers in offering amazing internship opportunities across England and Wales!

'When I look back at how much I have learned and grown as a disciple of Jesus in both character and competence while I was an intern myself, I can’t help but feel privileged in being able to bless others with my experience. I’m looking forward to connecting with interns and those who run (or wish to run!) internship programmes and being able to encourage them in this journey!'
 

Learn more about Isabella and her hopes for her new role in this short video:   

Rachel Stone, Safeguarding and HR team leader, and Tim Fergusson, Ministerial Development Advisor were both among four co-leaders of the internship project group. 

'It is a joy to welcome Isabella as she takes up this role to support the intentional development of young leaders across Baptists Together,' Rachel said. 

'We recognise the wide variety of excellent work already going on in terms of internship programmes, and we are excited to see what Isabella will add to this.

'As Baptists Together we want to inspire and be inspired by young people and young leaders, and we are grateful to the Core Leadership Team and the BUGB Trustees for funding Isabella’s role over the next three years.' 

Tim added, 'I am really looking forward to the energy and vision Isabella will bring to this role.

'We have the chance here to join up different aspects of our leadership development, so that we have a clear pathway for learning and growth for all stages of Baptist leadership: disciple-forming internships for young adults; learning communities for the many who volunteer as church leaders; and, of course, the formation and ongoing development of our ministers.' 
 

Contact Isabella here.