At times Gateway Youth team members may offer or be asked to provide 'coaching' for a youth.

When we coach youth we try to do the same thing a sports coach does, but for the youths life in general. We ask about what is going well, what they are struggling with, and offer plenty of encouragement - encouragement in life and faith is the main purpose of coaching.

We offer coaching because many teenagers find it helpful to have a trusted adult, from outside of their family/school/work, to bounce ideas off and to be encouraged by. In practice, this typically involves grabbing some food in a public place and chatting. Often, the team member involved will offer to provide transport to and from coaching (as per the transport permission form available at info.gatewayyouth.online).

Many families like to get to know the team member who their youth has connected with, often by inviting them in to say hi, or even for a meal. We strongly encourage this and our team members would love to meet you.

We always back parents/carers and have policies for disclosing particular conversations to the parent/carer directly - although we encourage youth to talk openly with their parents/carers at all times too. Gateway Youth team members provide coaching in line with the policies in the Gateway Youth Team Handbook (available at info.gatewayyouth.online), including providing you with their personal contact details.

Coaching is provided only with parent permission and not required for participation in the general Friday night Gateway Youth program.