SNAPSHOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU

The Children & Young People Now Awards 2023 will celebrate the outstanding achievements of organisations, teams and individuals in helping to improve the lives of children, young people and families in the UK. Gain the national recognition your hard work and innovation deserves. Submitting an entry is free and straightforward. The deadline for entering the CYP Now Awards 2023 is Friday 23rd June.

Gambling harm reduction and prevention training. With around one person a day taking their life due to gambling harm and approximately one young person in every classroom who is displaying at-risk or problematic gambling behaviour this is now more vital than ever. This fully funded CPD accredited training is offered free to anyone working, volunteering, or supporting young people in the Methodist Church. These sessions aim to equip people and bring about awareness, knowledge, and skills to make safe choices around gambling. The training also look at the world of digital harms, exploring, loots boxes, gambling ads, crypto and much more. For more information or to book a workshop please contact Megan Thomas.

Free specialist skills! NatWest is working with the National Youth Agency (NYA) to recruit volunteers from across its business, who will offer their skills and expertise to support youth work organisations. Whether you need help writing a bid, developing a marketing plan or working more effectively with partners, the NYA will match you with one of NatWest’s expert volunteers who will give between two and eight hours of their time, provided online, absolutely free. Apply here.

SNAPSHOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR

CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOUNG ADULTS

Every Period Counts Campaign is seeking to make the right to period products and education in schools a reality for everyone. Every day students across the UK are missing out on class because of period shame and inequality. Young people can find out how many classes have been missed so far this academic year due to period poverty and shame by viewing the #EveryPeriodCounts live counter. They can then share their story - their experiences of having their period in school and why things need to change. Encourage your young people to join the Period Parade in Westminster and write to their MP on 28 May (Global Menstrual Health Day).

The Bright Green Future Environmental Leadership Programme, run by the Centre for Sustainable Energy, is open for applications from 16 to 19 year olds from across the UK. This free programme includes a residential, online career webinars and a group project. Students learn about sustainability issues, gain confidence, think about their future careers and make new friends. The programme especially welcomes applications from young people of colour, as the environmental sector is one of the least diverse sectors in the UK. Applications close 1 June 2023.

Applications for 2023 Young Darwin Scholarships are open. This scheme from the Field Studies Council supports individuals aged 16-25 with a real interest in the natural world. It includes an immersive experience and package of ongoing support to nurture their passion and knowledge. To celebrate FSC's 80th anniversary they will be offering 80 scholarships this year. Applications close 4 June 2023.

Recruitment is now open for the 2023/24 cohort of #iwill Ambassadors. Do you know anyone 10-24 who has a passion for making a difference? Would they benefit from support from the #iwill Movement? Are they able to commit to being an #iwill Ambassador? Each year, #iwill recruits #iwill Ambassadors from all across the UK. They come from a variety of backgrounds, but all have one thing in common – a passion to make a difference to communities and society. Ambassadors are selected because they demonstrate a strong commitment to social action, whether big or small, and have stories to tell that can inspire others to take part in social action. They may already be campaigning, volunteering, fundraising or supporting peers to make a difference in their communities and beyond. Or they may be at the start of their journey and want some support to get involved in social action. Applications close 11 June 2023 at 11.59pm.

International Essay Contest for Young People 2023, organised by the Goi Peace Foundation, invites young people from around the world to enter. The theme for this year's contest is: "Youth Creating a Peaceful Future". Deadline for submissions is 15 June 2023.

SNAPSHOTS OF VACANCIES

Liverpool South Methodist Circuit is looking to fill two vacancies:

• Circuit Children's Worker (full time / 37 hours a week)
• Circuit Youth Worker (full time / 37 hours a week)

Salary for both posts is £25,000 - £28,000 p.a. depending on qualifications and experience. Closing date for both posts is Wednesday 31 May 2023.

SNAPSHOTS OF OTHER RESOURCES

MHA Sunday resources

MHA Sunday is when we come together and celebrate our charity Methodist Homes (MHA).

It is usually the second Sunday in June, which, in 2023, is on 11 June. As always churches are welcome to hold a service whenever it fits with their calendar of activities. This year, the theme follows 1 Corinthians 12:12-27- ‘There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body’. Everything you need for a service is provided: prayers, hymns, video, a quiz, and sermon. You can also order gift aid envelopes, download ideas for fundraising activities, and even for a primary school assembly. Download resources here.

Cost of living toolkit for youth workers

The National Youth Agency (NYA) has developed a practical resource pack to help youth workers deliver cost-of-living and money-management sessions for young people across a variety of settings.

Clean Air Day, 15 June 2023

Air pollution is the single biggest environmental health risk in the UK and young people are particularly vulnerable to the effects of poor air quality. Discover more about the day and find resources - including those for campaign groups and for schools.

Refugee Week, 19 - 25 June 2023

Refugee Week is a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. A Children and Young People's Pack is available to download for free. You can also find resources on Agents of Change web pages. The Join Public Issues Team is asking us to consider showing hospitality, not hostility for people seeking asylum during Refugee Week - by hosting a meal or tea and standing in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers against the government's Illegal Migration Bill. Find out more and download the toolkit here. Finally, on the Children, Youth and Family Team's web pages, you can find resources, including some that reflect on the book The Boy at the Back of the Class.

SNAPSHOTS OF THINGS TO READ/WATCH/LISTEN TO

Sex education, saving lives and community nursing is a recent edition of The Hopeful Activists' Podcast, featuring three interviews led by young people and including a conversation about boys, sex education and Andrew Tate.

The use of mobile devices to calm young children creates longer term issues is an article from Word on the Street that offers a helpful summary of research from the JAMA Network in the USA.

What is the link between video gaming and gambling? is another helpful summary article from Word on the Streets, this time offering an overview of research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Artificial Intelligence - a blog entry from James Carver, the Methodist Youth President. As AI becomes mainstream, he shares his thoughts on the risks of handing ethical responsibility over to machines.

Where there is faith there is hope - the writing on the wall is another blog entry, this time featuring the story of Parkway Methodist Church in Bristol and how it has shared the faith and concerns of young people through a brilliant new art mural.

SNAPSHOTS OF FUNDING AVAILABLE

The UK Youth Fund in partnership with Pears Foundation

Charitable and not-for-profit youth organisations across the UK, who are delivering high-quality youth provision, but whose work is being hindered, curtailed, or cut back due to rising core costs, can apply for cost of living support to address these unprecedented demands. Applications can be submitted any time.

National Lottery Awards for All accepting 2023 event applications

Funding to build strong relationships in and across communities in England, including support to help communities celebrate the national events that are important to them - including the Coronation of His Majesty The King, The Eurovision Song Contest and the 75th anniversary of Windrush. Applications can be submitted any time.

Refurbishment Grant from the Youth Investment Fund

For small grants of up to £150,000 to help youth projects revamp their spaces and make them more sustainable. This grant programme should appeal to smaller youth services, who may not have the capacity to deliver large capital projects. The Youth Investment Fund team wants to ensure that a wide variety of smaller, more regionalised, and local service providers can benefit from the programme. To qualify for a grant, you need to show that the funding will either extend your reach to young people or help preserve your youth service. Youth service applications should be for refurbishments on a single site where the service either owns the freehold or has a lease of at least five years. The grant is for projects seeking funding of up to £150,000 that do not require planning permission. Your project must also be in a selected eligible area in England. Check if you are in an eligible area using the postcode checker. A Refurbishment Grant could cover a range of refurbishments, including improving accessibility, insulation, plastering, improvements to kitchen or bathroom facilities, roof repairs, replacing doors or windows, asbestos removal, moving an internal wall, damp proofing, fitting a new boiler, rewiring or electrical works. The second application window opens soon: 29 May to 9 June 2023.

Positive activities

A new funding opportunity from the Youth Endowment Fund. The grant round is aimed at projects that support children who are already involved in the youth justice system (for example, in either custodial or community-based settings) or are considered at high-risk of becoming involved in offending. Projects will be funded for a maximum of 24 months and will need to support a minimum of 350 children over this period. Closes 26 May (5pm).

Sport England Reopens Small Grants Programme

Funding to encourage communities to become more involved in sport and physical activity. Grants are available to help not-for-profit sports clubs, local authorities and schools in England to carry out local community sports projects and encourage more people to be involved in sport. Closes 30 June.

TRAINING AND EVENTS CALENDAR

Tuesday 23 May 2023, Bath (see also 24 May, 25 May)

A Mind of Their Own

From Care for the Family, these events are packed with practical and preventative tools for you to use at home, helping you to better understand what’s going on in your child’s head. Exploring the science of the mind, and why children act and react the way they do. Find out more here or Book for the Bath event here.

Tuesday 23 May 2023, online event

Bendy bodies, bendy brains

Hosted by the South-East District, this neurodiversity talk by Dr Jess Eccles looks at how common differences in the body are related to neurodiversity; and the wider implications of research findings. This session is open to all. Register here.

Wednesday 24 May 2023, online

Equipping grandparents

This free training for children’s, youth and families’ leaders is delivered by Parenting for Faith in their dedicated Children’s, Youth and Family Leaders Facebook group from 1pm. Many of us have a crowd of grandparents in our churches – how can we best equip them to nurture their grandchildren’s faith? Featuring 30 minutes of input, followed by an optional 30 minute Zoom chat with others. The teaching segment will be recorded and can be accessed after the event at the same link.

Wednesday 24 May 2023, Exeter (see also 23 May, 25 May)

A Mind of Their Own

See information for 23 May or find out more here. Book for the Exeter event here.

Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 May 2023, Cambridge (see also 20 and 21 June)

Youth-centred design methodology training - Plan International UK

Plan International UK are delivering a unique two-days of training on Youth-Centred Design methodology to create impactful wellbeing programmes for young people. These free two-day training courses are aimed at anyone developing and delivering programmes for young people or hoping to do so in the future. Youth-centred design methodology encompasses three stages: Find Them, Listen to Them, Design with Them, helping practitioners to identify and 'find' young people who would most benefit from engaging in their programme, listen to and consult with them to truly understand their lives and needs, and co-design and create interventions to meet those needs. Book for Cambridge event here.

Thursday 25 May 2023, Poole (see also 23 May, 24 May)

A Mind of Their Own

See information for 23 May or find out more here. Book for the Poole event here.

Friday 26 to Monday 29 May 2023, Cliff College

Cliff College Festival 2023 - Eden Restored

Find out more here.

Thursday 1 June 2023, online event

Small church, rural and rooted

If you live in a rural area you might want join this group, discussing how being a church without a building might work. We will hear examples of 'flourish' and 'open' using a Methodist Way of Life and explore how we could use these in our locality. Find out more and book here.

Thursday 1 and Friday 2 June 2023, John Wesley's New Room, Bristol

Visit the Georgian school room

In May half term, travel back in time and visit the Georgian schoolroom! Going to school was very different 275 years ago, – with no computers or whiteboards in sight! Find out more and book here.

Tuesday 6 to Thursday 8 June 2023, Saffron Walden, Essex (see also 13-15 July)

Godly Play core training course

Led by two Godly Play trainers, these three-day courses offer a mixture of trainer-led sessions and opportunities for coached storytelling by participants. Each day focuses on a different kind of Godly Play presentation (sacred stories, parables and worship) to help you understand how different styles of Christian language support spiritual exploration. Courses take place in a model Godly Play environment, with the opportunity to use and see a comprehensive set of resources. £325 including lunch each day. Find out more here. Book for Essex here.

Thursday 8 June 2023, Barking

Third national youth work and racial justice conference

"The Art of Leaving No Communities Behind". Join youth workers and leaders in the sector to learn, reflect and network with others committed to challenging systemic racism. Hear from individuals and organisations driving change. Find out more and book.

Saturday 10 June 2023, Leeds

Dignity for All conference

The Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) is partnering with Church Action on Poverty and the APLE collective to host this conference about ending poverty where the real experts are at the centre: people who experience poverty. The hope is to bring together activists based in churches with campaigners with lived experience of povert y - to listen and learn from each other about how we can end poverty in the UK. Find out more and book here.

Monday 12 June 2023, Cliff College and online

Generation forum: how race impacts the way we do mission and ministry

Generation is a Cliff College research centre that explores research and conversations on evangelical approaches to ministry and mission among youth, children and families.

The next forum will feature a paper by Clare Williams, Founder of Get Real and Tutor for the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. Then, in addition to the usual space for conversation and Q&A, we will also have a panel discussion with Clare, Richard Oppong-Boateng (Youth Evangelism Officer for the Methodist Church) and Daud Irfan (Methodist Youth President 2021-22). Find out more and book here.

Tuesdays 13, 20 and 27 June and 4 July 2023, online event

Nurturing your baby or toddler’s spiritual life

Parenting for Faith invites all who have a baby or toddler in their lives – or who are currently in the adoption process or pregnant – to a fun and relevant 4-week online course especially for them. The course is suitable for those on the fringes of faith as well as mature Christians. Churches can sign up for £50, and distribute the Zoom link to as many families as they like. Alternatively, there are limited spaces in a male-only group for Dads and male carers (£20). Find out more and book here.

Wednesday 14 June 2023, online event

Praying with children and teens

This free training for children’s, youth and families’ leaders is delivered by Parenting for Faith in their dedicated Children’s, Youth and Family Leaders Facebook group from 1pm. In June’s training, we’ll be looking at how to lead kids and teens in prayer. There will be 30 minutes of input, followed by an optional 30 minute Zoom chat with others. The teaching segment will be recorded and can be accessed after the event at the same link.

Wednesday 14, Thursday 15, Wednesday 21, Thursday 22 June 2023, online

Youth Mental Health First Aid training

(Also running in October/November 2023)

Places on these courses are prioritised for Methodist leaders, workers, volunteers and parents. If you are not Methodist and would like to attend a course, please contact Lynne Norman and she will ensure you are added to a waiting list. Participants will need to attend all four sessions (10am to 12.30pm) and complete approx. 1.5 hours of self-guided learning between sessions and ahead of session 1. The cost of attending the course is £35. This covers the price of the course materials (which will be posted to your home address) and the Eventbrite fees. This training has a recommended retail price of £300 and we are offering it for a heavily subsidised price to those working for the Methodist Church. Book for the June training here.

Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 June 2023, London (see also 24 and 25 May)

Youth-centred design methodology training - Plan International UK

See details for 24 and 25 May or book for London here.

Saturday 1 July 2023, St. Thomas, Swansea

FLARE: Faith, Leadership and Resources Exhibition

A one-day conference from the Children, Youth and Families Team of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon. With a resources marketplace and a programme of speakers, including Rick Otto from New Wine Kids Ministries, speaking on Discipling Children and Young People. Find out more and book.

Thursday 6 July 2023, online event

New Places for New People Hubs: The NPNP story so far and how you can begin

More and more places across the Methodist Church have begun discerning a vision for a New Place for New People by listening to God and to their communities. Open to everyone, this NPNP Hub is an opportunity to hear testimony from a variety of contexts and sizes, told by those pioneering and supporting them. And of course, the next steps you can take towards discerning what it might be in the community you serve. Find out more and book.

Friday 7 to Sunday 9 July 2023, Dynas Powys, Vale of Glamorgan

Walk Humbly - Student Christian Movement national gathering

In Micah 6:8, God asks us to ‘act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God' - this weekend will consider how to put this into practice through speakers, workshops, worship and fellowship. The keynote speaker this year is Ashwin Thyssen, a junior lecturer in the Department of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology at Stellenbosch University. There will also be two members from the devolved nations sharing their experience of student Christianity and life in Scotland and Wales, as well as workshops led by members and special guests from Women and the Church and The Council of Christians and Jews (tbc). This event is open to all SCM members and any student studying at a UK institution of Higher Education, or who has graduated from one within the last three years. Find out more.

Saturday 8 July 2023, online

Every church a growing church - mission planning for all

A Zoom conference providing inspiration, practical tips and bespoke help to discern a really useful church or circuit mission plan. Find out more and book.

Monday 10 to Wednesday 12 July 2023, University of Reading (by invitation) or online

The Power of Youth Work: Forging a sustainable and peaceful common future

In celebration of the 2023 Year of Youth, the National Youth Agency is delighted to be invited by the Commonwealth Secretariat to host the 4th Commonwealth Conference on Youth Work. It will provide a platform to celebrate and strengthen the impact of youth work across the Commonwealth. Virtual attendance is open to everyone and is free, with the ability to join the majority of sessions including keynote presentations and breakout groups. Sessions cam also be accessed online after they have ended. The conference will explore the youth work theory and practice that supports the education and development of young people worldwide. It will consider how we can learn, innovate and build networks to grow youth work across the globe. Register here.

Tuesday 11 July 2023, online

Talking to kids about decision-making

This is a free Facebook live event for all parents, carers and those involved in children’s lives, organised by Parenting for Faith. How do help our children make godly, faithful decisions as they grow up and gain independence? There will be 30 minutes input, followed by optional 30 minute discussion – why not gather a group to watch together? Head to the Parenting for Faith Facebook page at 8pm on the above date. All sessions are recorded and can be accessed after the event from that same page.

Thursday 13 to Friday 14 July 2023, Durham

Growing younger, going deeper: deeper in theology, bolder in vision, stronger in confidence

For those who want to deepen their theology of different aspects of growing faith in children and young people, through engaging with fresh and rich insights in this area, who desires to see how to connect theological research with their context to build a bolder vision for their community of faith, and who seeks to develop their own training and strengthen their confidence in enabling schools, churches and households to collaboratively enable faith to grow in children and young people. Find out more and book.

Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 July 2023, Llandudno (see also 6-8 June)

Godly Play core training course

See details for 6 - 8 June or find out more here. This event is residential and the cost is £460, including two nights' accommodation. Book for Llandudno here.

Wednesday 19 July 2023, online

Teaching Parenting for Faith to your team

This free training for children’s, youth and families’ leaders is delivered by Parenting for Faith in their dedicated Children’s, Youth and Family Leaders Facebook group from 1pm. How do we excite and inspire our team of volunteers with a long-term approach of parenting for faith? There will be 30 minutes of input, followed by an optional 30 minute Zoom chat with others. The teaching segment will be recorded and can be accessed after the event at the same link.

27 July to 17 August 2023, John Wesley's New Room, Bristol

Wonderful world of books

This summer, stories will be jumping off the pages into the New Room. Exploring favourite children’s books with a different story read each week, followed by a fun craft activity and then a trip to explore the museum. Plus, a museum trail available throughout the summer holidays. Find out more and book.

Tuesday 19 September 2023, online

Talking to kids about the media

This is a free Facebook live event for all parents, carers and those involved in children’s lives, organised by Parenting for Faith. How do we help our children to be discerning when it comes to what they consume online? 30min input, followed by optional 30min discussion – why not gather a group to watch together? Head to the Parenting for Faith Facebook page at 8pm on the above date. All sessions are recorded and can be accessed after the event from that same page.

Saturday 23 September 2023, Bristol (also in Sheffield on 5 October)

National Estate Churches Network Conference 2023

The theme for the conference is ‘God With Us: Sharing our journey’, with opportunity to share examples of God at work and good practice in estates ministry, as well as practical workshops and fellowship. Conversations will include starting out in a new church, longevity in ministry and moving on well. Find out more and book here.

Thursday 5 October 2023, Sheffield (also in Bristol on 23 September)

National Estate Churches Network Conference 2023

See details for 23 September or click here.

Thursday 12 October 2023, Birmingham

Beyond conference

Frontier Youth Trust and CURBS are hosting a learning day for those interested in connecting with children and Young people BEYOND the walls of the Church. Most children and young people no longer have a connection to a local church. The old patterns of ministry to children and young people within our walls has to change. The day will create space for youth and children's work practitioners to share stories from their practice. A collection of speakers will deliver short Ted talk style presentations followed by roundtable discussion. Find out more and book.

Friday 20 October to Sunday 22 October 2023, Cliff College

Community organising

Beginning at 6pm with dinner on the Friday evening and ending after lunch on the Sunday. This course is a starting point for anybody interested in community organising. It will help develop an understanding of what community organising involves and what it looks like in the real world.  Participants will start to explore how people come together so that they can understand and take action on their concerns to build community and overcome social injustice. Find out more and book here.

Tuesday 31 October, Thursday 2, Tuesday 7, Thursday 9 November 2023, online

Youth Mental Health First Aid training

(Also running in June 2023)

See information for June course or book here for the October/November course.

Tuesday 7 to Thursday 9 November 2023, Staffordshire

The Forge gathering

This is a three-day fun and inspiring retreat for all children’s, youth and families’ workers (paid or unpaid). You will be refreshed, laugh, have fun with those who ‘get it’ and be inspired by relevant teaching, Spirit-filled worship and the chance to share ideas with others. £185. Find out more and book here.