The Children and Youth Friendly Church Scheme can help your church improve the welcome it gives to children, young people and families.

Churches that join the scheme work with a trained accompanier who helps them to identify what they’re currently doing to welcome young people and develop ways to improve it.

Westbury Gardens URC worked with Leo Roberts, North Western Synod’s CYDO+, to achieve the status.

Leo said: “I was pleased to see evidence of the church’s four mission statements being practiced during my visits and in conversations.”

The statements are: be responsive to God’s call, encourage each other to grow in Christ, further develop links with other Christian churches locally to witness in the neighbourhood, continue to be a resource on which the local neighbourhood can draw and seek new ways of providing a service.

Westbury URC was able to evidence how children and young people feature at the heart of its mission. For example, they are included on meeting agendas so that the Elders and the missional partnership minster can continually focus on how best to reach out to the younger generation.

As well as Messy Church and holiday clubs, on special occasions members of the congregation visit the community-run judo group to offer cakes and refreshments to families and the young people as a gift from the church. Young people from the judo club are also invited to the church’s special Christmas service.

Westbury URC has good relationships with local schools. The Revd Adam Woodhouse regularly takes assemblies at several local schools and offers religious education lessons at one of them.

Last year, the church connected with Clitheroe Grammer School. Around 60 Year 10 students on an education faith trip spent an hour visiting the church to learn about the denomination before continuing their journey at a local Mosque and a Hindu temple.

As a result of the visit, the school made plans to repeat the trip with another class later this year as part of its “faith in action” studies.

Learn more about the Children and Youth Friendly Scheme.

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Caterham URC in Surrey is the latest church to gain an award from the Children and Youth Friendly Church Scheme.

Activities focusing on young people include a communion course for children and their families to attend and activity days for families to join in with on Palm Sunday and Advent.

Staff regularly share children and family-centred URC resources such as ‘Celebrate Together’ and advent packs.

Junior church organise a Christmas card tree every year to raise money for charity of their choice, and the church has a youth council where young people are able to share their views on all areas of church life.

Nicola Grieves, Eastern Synod CYDO, said: “The church has a clear vision statement for their work with children, aiming to provide ‘a welcoming, safe and caring environment where children and young people can grow in faith, learn skills for life and be equipped to lead fulfilling lives’.”

Northern Synod

Over four days this summer, Stockton Road URC opened its doors for its members, user groups and local community to enjoy a series of events and activities.

From 17-20 August, more than 230 people visited Stockton Road to enjoy tending to the church’s community garden, bug hunts, exploring the church, a Nigerian cultural evening, arts and crafts, and an environmental-themed worship led the Revd Jane Rowell, the church’s minister.

Attendees were also treated to a dance performance from the award-winning Kathleen Knox Dance School which has called Stockton Road their home for more than 25 years.

The event followed the church’s ten-day reflection period that took place after celebrating the URC’s 50th anniversary.

“Different people have offered differing opinions as to what were the highlights of all of this activity,” said Alison Dalton, CRCW for Stockton Road and Roker URCs.

“For some it was the social evening when our sister Nigerian Church (Mountains of Fire and Miracles Ministries) shared some interesting facts about Nigeria and its culture through worship, singing, dance, dress and a taste of typical Nigerian food, even though it may not have been as spicy as it would be back in Nigeria!

“For others it was helping to make a community art piece made with four fused-glass panels to represent our current main user groups, or one of our other activities.

“Our theme for this festival of activity was ‘Our heritage, our environment’.

“I wonder what we will do next year as we reflect and learn from all that happened this year and in 2022, we will let you know sometime during 2024!”

East Midlands

The combined churches of Olney welcomed 100 children this year at their annual summer holiday Bible club.

This year’s theme, ‘On Safari’, saw leaders from four churches (Baptist, Anglican, URC and Catholic) help children enjoy singing, messy games, prayer, and drama activities.

The children and young people were divided into different age groups and attended age-related activities across each of the different churches. The week concluded with a free family BBQ.

The Revd Chris Parker, Minister of Cowper URC in Olney, said: “It was lovely to see happy children with their parents and carers.

“It was also brilliant to share God’s love with the community and a real privilege to see and hear the spirituality of the children. Thanks to all involved.”

Eastern Synod

Dance crew Diversity has opened a new dance studio in a former United Reformed Church building in Westcliff.

Ashley Banjo and the group acquired the former Westcliff URC, near Leigh-on-Sea, last year. The church closed in 2018.

The studio will offer in-person and live stream dance classes for baby beginners all the way to adult professionals. The building is also available for hire for events.

At the opening day, the dance group and their families were greeted by��Anna Firth, Southend��MP.

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Southern Synod

A house-bound woman who has managed to remain an active member of her church has gained a Certificate of Loyal & Devoted Service.

Doreen Meredith joined the church in 1969 as a young mother of five when it was a Congregational chapel.

She soon started work as a Sunday school teacher and youth club leader and assisted the Chapel during school holiday clubs.

Following the formation of the URC in 1972, Doreen was inducted as an Elder and became church secretary, a role she carried out until 2016.

Despite Doreen becoming less mobile over the years, her faith and support for The Chapel on the Hill never wavered.

Peter Jackson, Church Secretary, said: “Doreen’s prayer support is invaluable, as is her advice, and wisdom, all of which are freely given.”

While the chapel holds afternoon face-to-face services, Doreen faithfully attends the weekly morning Sunday service held on Zoom and regularly hosts ‘members and Elders meetings’ in her home and contributes wisely at every meeting.

Doreen was thanked for her dedication and loyalty to Jesus and the band of believers in Sedlescombe for more than 50 years and was presented with a rose shrub and a certificate by Peter and his wife Marie.

Marie said: “Doreen’s love and support for the village has been a gift from Jesus, her prayers over many years have been a blessing to so many.”

Yorkshire Synod Church helps send scout to this year’s Jambouree!

Congratulations to Noah Dockar, 17, from Otley Bridge Church, who is one of five scouts chosen from his troop to attend the Scouts’ 25 ��Ʒ��ҹ�������� Scout Jambouree in Saemangeum, South Korea.

The jambouree, which takes place every four years, has gathered scouts from around the world since 1920 and this year more than 40,000 are expected to attend the event held from 1-12 August.

Noah has needed to raise £3,800 to go on the trip and has been assisted by his church to fundraise by holding bake sales, quiz events and selling raffle tickets.

To help Noah, fellow other scouts from the 44th unit, affectionately known as “the Yorkshire Puds’, sold sell hot dogs at their local carnival.

Within a year of starting to fundraise, Noah successfully met his goal and looks forward to setting off in August.

For those not taking part in the trip, URC Children’s and Youth Team sent some of their overseas resources focusing on South Korea for the troop to explore.

Northern Synod

A banner created for the URC’s 50th anniversary celebrations was blessed at a recent service at Stockton URC.

The “welcome” banner was created after Alison Dalton, Church Related Community Worker for Sunderland (and Boldon) URC Partnership, spent several weeks with the church’s Rainbow group exploring the sanctuary and the special things found there, and then designing and painting items to go on the banner.

A sewing group at Grindown Church Community Project, also based in Sunderland helped sew the Rainbows’ design onto the banner, with tweaks of their own such as buttons.

At a recent service, where more than 50 people attended, the banner was blessed and displayed at the front of the church for all to see.

Eastern Synod

Saffron Walden United Reformed Church has recently been recognised as a child and youth-friendly church for its commitment to engaging with families.

The congregation actively creates a space for all voices of the church to be heard and intentionally includes all ages in the decision-making and general life of the church.

Nicola Grieves, CYDO for Eastern Synod, said: “They [children and youth] are a committed team and take listening to the children and young people very seriously. It was evident from my visits that the whole church family welcomes the children.”

Young people have active roles at Saffron Walden, from helping to lead the junior church, planning, and leading services including worship, taking a lead on the church’s commitment to becoming an Eco-Church and participating in the puppet team, Castle Hill puppets.

As part of the CYFC process, congregations are encouraged to think about areas for development. John and Jo Ford, Saffron Walden’s children and youth Elders, expressed hopes to develop more intergenerational links.

“In the future, we wish to create opportunities for older people within the congregation to share with younger people their experiences of faith,” they said.

The young people of the church are steering the work towards gaining an A Rocha UK Eco-Church award by exploring what’s involved and setting up a task group. There have also been suggestions of holding an occasional forest church service.

When John and Jo Ford, were asked why they had felt it was important to become a recognised child and youth friendly church they added: “We believe that by engaging with the CYFC scheme we will be able to make our church and the Christian faith more accessible to children and young people.

“Importantly, we think that we will be able to use this opportunity as a vehicle to drive forward the changes that are needed to develop children and youth work.

Find more about the Children and Youth Friendly Church Scheme here.

Ipswich Road URC recently saw 40 members gather for its “cafe church” along the theme of prayer.��

The gathering in Norwich provided the opportunity for people to discuss what prayer meant for them and what the Bible says about prayer.

The group also engaged in the URC at Greenbelt’s request for churches to contribute to the URC’s tent decorations by creating Kintsugi hearts.��

Members were provided with paper hearts, backing card, milk bottle tops containing small amounts of glue and gold and silver paint and cotton buds to use as paint brushes, then, using the guidance in the URC website, created the hearts and brought them forward to the front of the church.

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Its work has been demonstrated through a variety of activities taking place there each week.

For example, many families within the local community attend Little Fishes, Trinity’s toddler group where they have been welcomed and invited to various church events such as Nativity and Christingle.

The church didn’t let the pandemic get in the way of their focus for mission, holding Muddy Church – an initiative popularised due to the virus – where activities took place outside, allowing families to come together to hear the message of God in a fun and safe environment.

Trinity also recognised the importance of outreach during the crisis, using its links with schools and youth clubs to share resources and advertise events.

Steven Mitchell, CYDO for Mersey Synod, said: “Trinity URC is a truly welcoming church which works hard to make sure every child and young person who walks through the door feels valued and empowered.

“The church’s development targets show a real passion to develop and make children and youth work a central part of the whole church, not just for the few who organise activities.”

It’s not just outreach that is at the heart of Trinity URC; a sense of ownership and belonging for those children, young people and families who walk through their doors is just as important to them.

Each child is welcomed by name as they arrive at church, the junior church leader ensures that each one has been spoken to and acknowledged.

In response to being asked about their vision for welcoming children, young people and families, the church said: “We welcome the opinions and ideas of our children and young people and wish to include them in the life of the church,’.

This is the epitome of what the CYFC award represents.

Any church which actively undertakes to offer a welcome to children and youth, regardless of whether they currently count any children or young people amongst their congregation, can engage with the scheme, which is a reflective and encouraging process undertaken with the support of their synod’s children’s and youth work advisor.

Find more about the Children and Youth Friendly Church Award Scheme��here.

Image: Google Maps.

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Desborough United Reformed Church (URC), in the East Midlands Synod, began its participation with Children’s and Youth Work’s Children and Youth Friendly Scheme in February and completed the steps required in November, with the support of Richard Knott, acting Children Youth Development Officer (CYDO) for East Midlands Synod.

Throughout the process, it was clear that Desborough had a passion for engaging with families and its community by running events, responding to feedback, encouraging participation and aiming to be as inclusive as possible.

Richard said: “The planning team listens well to its community and the children and young people they have contact with. A servant-hearted attitude is clear through the approach in all they do and seek to do.”

Desborough runs a weekly toddler group; holds Sunday JaM, a youth church aimed at making church accessible to families on the margins; takes part in the annual Desborough community carnival to raise awareness of church and opportunities for families to engage with giveaways and donations; and has created a community tradition of reclaiming the 31 October as a Christian festival by utilising Christian charity ��Ʒ��ҹ�������� Vision’s activity resources and holding games, face/hand painting, and distributing hot chocolate all of which are free of charge.

“The mission impact is huge,” said Beci Carter and Samantha Stone, Desborough URC’s Youth Leaders.

“We reach those already trick or treating in the neighbourhood and those who don’t want to do that but who will instead come to us, including teenagers who love it! Although it’s all good-natured fun, we see reclaiming the 31 October as a vital and valuable opportunity for community engagement and have built a strong relationship and reputation for the church in the community.

“Children will identify with the church through this engagement in the community and we have also built a strong partnership with ��Ʒ��ҹ�������� Vision and saw our pictures included in their publications.”

As part of the Children and Youth Friendly Scheme, congregations are encouraged to think about areas for development and Desborough identified that they aspire to create space for voices of all ages to be heard.

The church plans to build further on its interaction with children and young people by introducing a more regular process for young people to share their opinions in decision-making with Elders of the church.

Launched in September 2020, the scheme replaces the old Child Friendly Church Award and is a reflective and encouraging process which any church can undertake with the support of a CYDO or similar to help grow their engagement with children, families and young people.

Find more about the Children and Youth Friendly Church Scheme��here.

Image: Erika Giraud/Unsplash

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