Riverside Academy
Riverside Academy is the name for the year-out scheme at Riverside Church in Birmingham. It is a gap-year for 18-30 year olds who want to give a year to grow and discover God’s purpose for their lives. You’ll have a life-changing year to grow in faith, character and grace, and explore what life serving God in a church is really like.
For more information, contact us at academy@riverside-church.org.uk or fill out the form below.
Academy Tracks
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Worship & Production
Joining this track will give you the opportunity to develop your musical skills, whether that be singing or playing an instrument. Or, you can also focus on developing skills in sound engineering and PA operation. You'll also receive teaching on the theology and place of worship in the Christian life.
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Performing Arts
Are you interested in learning a wide-range of theatrical and performance techniques, including acting, singing and dancing? Our company, Riverside Performing Arts, specialises in relevant issue-based theatre and has been working in the local community amongst schools and other community groups for more than 20 years. Come and be creative with us as we perform to audiences across the UK!
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Administration
Being part of this track will allow you to hone skills in effective communication, team management and strategic planning. We’re looking for detail-focussed minds who thrive in environments where systems are in place to make sure every person in our church is valued, noticed and given the chance to grow.
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Communications & Design
Come use your creativity and communication skills to reach more people with the news of Jesus! Whether on social media and websites or creating beautiful and engaging print pieces: come join us in spreading the most wonderful message with the world.
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Youth Work
Offering young people an exciting and dynamic place to explore and develop their faith is a vital part of what defines Riverside Church. Come get the chance to get to know our large group of young people, helping them to know Jesus in a relevant and life-changing way.
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Children's Work
We consider children to be the church of today as well as the church of tomorrow. Riverside has many families with children, and there are numerous opportunities to get involved in supporting and growing the children’s ministry. From Sunday teaching to mid-week small groups, helping children aged 0-10 to get to know Jesus for themselves in a creative and energetic way will be a wonderful and faith-building experience.
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Local Missions
Become a nationally-qualified debt adviser with our Money Advice team and serve amidst our busy team who deliver over 800 client-interactions each year. Our food pantry serves 50 weekly shoppers, taking stock direct from supermarkets and providing a subsidised shop for customers. Weekly Stay & Plays and Sunday Open Lunch provide connections with all sorts of local people, discovering how our church community puts its faith into action to meet the practical needs for support, help and a listening ear. This dynamic “hands-on” track will open your eyes to a wide vista of cultures, poverty, practical needs, and challenge your perspective on God’s design for what church should do.
What to expect
Riverside Academy’s year-out programme runs from September to July each year and participants will be expected to commit to a full-time work schedule during this time.
During the year, you will have the opportunity to be linked to one of our specialised tracks and be led by a programme leader within that track.
The Academy programme costs £1500 for the year, which covers costs for all training, teaching materials and administration costs. The fees can be paid in one lump-sum at the start of the year, or payments can be spread over your time at Riverside as agreed with us. We want to encourage anyone to apply, so if this cost makes things difficult, please contact us and we’ll do what we can to help.
During the year, participants will work the equivalent of five days a week, including time spent serving within church on a Sunday as part of the programme. Each participant will have a standard holiday allowance, with time off being agreed with relevant programme leaders.