Christians Abroad offers consultancy to churches, agencies and occasionally individuals. It specialism derives from over 40 years of experience of an ecumenical organisation supporting volunteers and professionals in working internationally with people and projects supported by the Christian community worldwide. 

Working with People

Pre Selection.

help with job description, person specification,design of application forms and pre-assessment processes, advertisement, management of applications and short listing as required.  Christians Abroad can provide a comprehensive or bespoke service as may be needed.

Recruitment

help with selection process; administration, design and management of personal interviews and selection test and the post selection process.

Preparation

Christians Abroad can provide a face to face residential programme or a virtual preparation programme for short term mission partners or development workers living and working internationally for periods up to two years.

Residential programmes  are designed for particular candidates or particular groups depending upon the job description, the length of proposed service, the country(ies) in which the mission partner/volunteer is serving and the previous experience of the candidate(s). Residential programmes are designed in response to need  for  24 hour - 3 day period depending on circumstances and may be supplemented by distance learning before the residential programme or after it.

For short term volunteers whose period of service is less than six months, a programme of distance learning is available. This programme is based on a library of  resource materials for particular aspects of short term service overseas including spiritual reflection. Much of the library has been written by Christians Abroad from its experience for its volunteers but draws on the range of materials that is generally available. Volunteers, in conversation with Christians Abroad advisers, decide on the range of material to be used and the topics to be covered. A programme is devised for preparation which includes a reading/writing period as necessary and a one to one feedback by phone/skype. The programme is flexible but needs to be completed at least two weeks before departure. For young men and women between 18-21 years of age or other volunteers who request it, face to face meetings as part of the preparation are encouraged.

Support Whilst Working Internationally

Fortunately with the accessibility of e-mail and improvements in telecommunications worldwide, it is possible to provide long distance support at critical moments when needed and to keep in touch with progress in placement as needed. Christians Abroad's consultants are available for such support and work together in providing it sometimes, by arrangement,  with other agencies. As part of the service provided to volunteers and their agencies, Christians Abroad provides access to appropriate insurance and other financial services as required. Christians Abroad, as a recognised agency, can manage Voluntary Development Worker National Insurance contributions on behalf of a mission/development agency or a volunteer working in specific countries eligible for this service.

Debriefing.

When a volunteer returns to the United Kingdom, it is important for the sending agency and for the volunteer to report back on the experience of process, administration, task and quality of the work expected and completed. This is technical as well as personal exercise in accountability and is very important to both parties.

3Rs -Review, Reflection and Reorientation

When a person returns to the United Kingdom after a period of service either for the  long term or on furlough, it is important for  'spaces' to be provided with an independent and trained counsellor or listener for the volunteer, professional development worker or mission partner to review the impact of the experience, to reflect on the change that that has initiated in their own perspective, spiritual orientation and approach to their future so that the experience can be integrated and its usefulness maximised. This benefits the person returning and enables the person to be more in control of their future contributions and encourages greater self respect. This exercise is particularly important the longer the period of service overseas but it is recognised that first experiences of working internationally even for short periods can have a major impact on one's life. The 3R process and debriefing are essentially different exercises...the 3R process is only for the benefit of the person returning and, unless given permission to share information, privacy in this process is paramount and anything discussed is not normally shared with the sending agency or anyone outside the process.

For more information

For a discussion of the possible contribution of Christians Abroad to Working with People or Working with Projects, please contact the lead consultant,  Colin South on  0300 012 1201 where a message can be left if Colin is not available or more directly by e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

There is a core team of consultants associated with Christians Abroad. Depending on the nature of the project and Christians Abroad's involvement, a specific team of consultants can be assembled with appropriate skill and experience wjho would normally remain with the project for its duration.

Working with Projects

Appraisal

In the first appraisal of projects,  partner aims and  objects, the objectives of possible funders and other interested parties  and how these relate to strategic interests (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) and resources (both local and international) are key issues. It is at this stage that the likely success of a project can be assessed.

Design and Development

This is the process of designing and developing  a project with specific and  measurable objectives whose achievement  can be monitored and evaluated over the proposed duration of the project.A review process is built in at regular intervals to make such adjustments to the design as are determined to meet changing demands and other exegencies.

Management

Christians Abroad can also provide management of set up, operation and closure.

Monitoring and Evaluation

It is often helpful to have an independent agency provide monitoring and evaluation of a project to take advantage of  a different perspective and a fresh approach.

There is a core team of consultants associated with Christians Abroad. Depending on the nature of the project and Christians Abroad's involvement, a specific team of consultants can be assembled with appropriate skill and experience wjho would normally remain with the project for its duration.

For more information

For a discussion of the possible contribution of Christians Abroad to Working with People or Working with Projects, please contact the lead consultant,  Colin South on  0300 012 1201 where a message can be left if Colin is not available or more directly by e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

There is a core team of consultants associated with Christians Abroad. Depending on the nature of the project and Christians Abroad's involvement, a specific team of consultants can be assembled with appropriate skill and experience wjho would normally remain with the project for its duration.