Children and young people's work update

May 2012

News

CYP administration: We are pleased to have David Goncalves working as the CYP Administrator within the CYP staff team. David has been working with us since the beginning of April and has spent the last month learning about Quakers, children & young people’s work and Friends House systems, quickly becoming our database expert! The job is combined with some other Quaker Life administration that David has also been getting his head around. The post is temporary for 6 months while the wider Quaker Life administration needs are reviewed. The intention is to make a permanent appointment in September. David should be the first point of contact for all CYP queries coming to Friends House. His telephone number is 020 7663 1013 and his email cypadmin@quaker.org.uk 

BYM CYP programmes: We are keenly looking forward to the CYP programmes that are taking place as a part of BYM later this month. All the programmes are linking to BYM main sessions and are exploring themes that pick up on some of the topics being discerned at the Yearly Meeting. There are 42 0 to 12 year olds booked into the programme at Friends House, in age specific groups they will be exploring their theme ‘Our place in the world’. There are 29 12 to 15 year olds booked for a residential programme taking place at Feldon Lodge in Hemel Hempstead, their theme is ‘Visions for our Quaker future’. Additionally there are 77 15 to 18 year olds who will be taking part in JYM that is being held at the YHA in Lee Valley, exploring their theme ‘Bearing witness to bring about a just and compassionate society’. We would ask Friends to uphold the teams of volunteers who will be working on each of these programmes.    
              

Things to do 

Storytelling as theological reflection workshops: Take place at Salisbury LM on 12.5, at Leicester LM on 19.5 and at Lewes LM on 30.6. This workshop considers an approach to storytelling known a ‘Godly Play’, which puts children’s responses at the heart of the experience. The workshop will explore the place of theological reflection in our work with children and offer the opportunity to experience and try out Godly Play stories. All these workshops are open to all. Advance booking is essential, for more information and booking details go to www.quaker.org.uk/workshops

Speaker request: Summer Shindig is an event for young people taking place from 28 July to 4 August, at Acworth School in Pontefract. Their young people’s planning group has chosen the theme ‘It's Not Fair’ and would like to have someone facilitate a session on age discrimination or age issues. In particular they would like to consider the issues facing unfairness for them as teenagers and for other age groups. They are seeking someone who could facilitate a session on this topic. Could you, or any one you know, fulfil this request. If so please contact, Roz Currie at summershindig@gmail.com  

Things to use 

 Fischy Music: This is a charity that supports emotional, social and spiritual health and well being in children through songs. They offer cds for children, families and groups; training events for those working with children; and workshops and concerts for groups. For information go to www.fischy.com 
 

New resources from Barnabus: There are several new titles for children and for those working with them from Barnabus. These include ideas for the summer, ideas for dads and children, plus a pack of ideas to use to celebrate the diamond jubilee. For further information go to www.barnabusinchurches.org.uk 
 

Things to tell children

A great book for all children:  Knuffle Bunny – a cautionary tale. A lovely book about the day a vital cuddly toy is lost and the hunt to find it – ultimately successful but it took some doing by a very worried child, dad and mum. Available through the Quaker Bookshop 020 7663 1030 www.quaker.org.uk/shop
 

Things useful to know

Sustainability stories: In the Sustainability Toolkit produced by Quaker Peace and Social Witness there is a Godly Play style story, The Fragile Earth, and a simple ritual, Council of all beings, that can be done with children or in an all age setting. The Toolkit was sent to every Meeting and there are links in it to the two activities. The whole Toolkit is a good read too. A direct link to the activities can be found at www.quaker.org.uk/activities-all-age-children-and-young-people-0
  

Journeys in the Spirit resource

The Journeys in the Spirit: children’s work edition was launched in 2007; you can find out more about this by viewing the Journeys in the Spirit: children’s edition web pages that are within Resources on this site. This includes details of how to subscribe to receive this each month.

If you work with young people within a Quaker setting then the Journeys in the Spirit: youth work edition is for you. Full information about this, including subscription details, can be found on the Journeys in the Spirit: youth work edition web pages that are also within Resources on this site.