Support and accompaniment

This page has information about support for working with children and young people in Quaker settings.

Would you like to welcome children, young people and families into your Quaker community, or strengthen the work you already do with them? The Youth, Children and Families Team in Quaker Life can help you explore what would be useful in your setting.

Support starts with a conversation. You might benefit from talking something through, connecting with others doing similar work, or bringing your community together for a workshop. We will listen and work with you to identify a helpful next step.

Our experienced volunteers are Friends with knowledge of work with children and young people, skills in facilitating groups of adults, and a commitment to Quaker communities in which people of all ages can belong. They are supported by Quaker Life staff.

What support can you access?

network meetings for mutual learning and support
one-to-one conversation and help to explore what your community needs
workshops developed with your Quaker community
regional or national conferences and webinars

Network opportunities

Our regular network meetings are a place to ask questions, share ideas and good practice, learn from one another and find encouragement. They are open to people across Britain Yearly Meeting and beyond who work with children, young people and families, or would like to support this work. Meetings take place online at various times. See our latest flyer, Youth, Children and Families Support Network flyer 2026-27 (PDF)i, for more information.

Talk to us

To begin a conversation, email cypadmin@quaker.org.uk. Quaker Life staff will contact you within two weeks to talk about what support may be most helpful.

Wider conferences and webinars

From time to time, we offer regional or national opportunities to explore shared themes and connect with others in similar roles. Join our Journeys in the Spirit newsletter mailing list to hear about forthcoming events.

Workshops developed with you

If a workshop would help your Quaker community, we will work with you to shape it around your setting. Workshops offer opportunities to come together, learn, reflect, practise and plan. Possible themes include:

being ready to welcome children and families, even if none currently attend
embracing babies and toddlers in Quaker meetings
building relationships with children
exploring spirituality with young people
working with small numbers across a wide age range
making everyone welcome
worshipping as an all-age community
an introduction to Godly Play and Faith & Play-style storytelling
enquiring and reflecting together using Philosophy for Communities
singing with children in a Quaker context

These are examples rather than fixed packages. We can draw on them, combine them or develop something different with you. If you have another request, please get in touch.