Monday 15 May 2023, online event
Chaplaincy and discipleship
What does discipleship look like in a chaplaincy context? How do chaplains journey with people in their discipleship? Do chaplains disciple? Join the conversation with Abi Jarvis, Discipleship and Faith Formation Officer, and Gary Hopkins, Ministry Development Officer (Lay Ministries and Chaplaincy) as they seek to answer these questions. Find out more and book.
Monday 15 May 2023, London and online
Youthscape / St. Mellitus College annual lecture
"A Church for Gen A: listening to and learning from young people" is the 2023 lecture, in which Chloe Combi, creator and host of award-winning podcast "You don't know me" shares her work listening to the voices of Gen A, and Canon Chris Russell helps us reframe the urgent task of making room for young people in the church. Find out more here.
Tuesday 16 May 2023, online
Talking to kids about exams
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 coach our children through exam season? There will be 30 minutes of 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 date above to watch. All sessions are recorded and can be accessed after the event from that same page.
Tuesday 16 May 2023, online event
Family/Intergenerational ministry with Gail Adcock
Led by the London District of the Methodist Church but open wider. This session will explore why being intergenerational matters, reflect on the benefits it offers to all as well as sharing some useful tools and resources. Come ready to share your own tips and learn from others as we explore great ways to shape an intergenerational identity for your church both now and into the future. This event and others from the London District can be booked here.
Tuesday 16 May 2023, Birmingham (see also 17 May, 18 May)
Mums' night out
Care for the Family invite mums to take a breather and be affirmed in the incredible job they do. The hope is that participants will leave feeling refreshed and ready to face the many demands of motherhood. Find out more and book for the Birmingham event here.
Wednesday 17 May 2023, online event
Messy Adventures
An opportunity to hear from some of the writers and scientists involved in creating Messy Adventures, a new resource consisting of twelve units of materials to give the most unconfident leader the tools and confidence to take Church outdoors. Each unit includes fun activities with a strong scientific focus, questions to discuss, ‘Big Thinking’ provided by scientific experts and suggestions for creative ways of responding in Christian worship with awe, wonder and celebration. Find out more and book.
Wednesday 17 May 2023, Stoke-on-Trent (see also 16 May, 18 May)
Mums' night out
See details for 17 May or book for the Stoke-on-Trent event here.
Wednesday 17 May 2023, University of Roehampton
Emotional spaces: The student journey through Higher Education and beyond
This free symposium proposes that we explore the journey of students through education by considering the different spaces that students inhabit as part of their experience of Higher Education and beyond. Students are emotionally embedded in these spaces and this becomes part of the narrative of their educational experience, and how ‘successful’ they may deem this journey (and their future) to be. Find out more and book here.
Thursday 18 May 2023, online event
National Youth Agency supper club: Coastal youth work
Exploring the topic of coastal youth work and hearing the views and experiences of youth workers and young people living and working in coastal areas. The panel is: Simon Roberts, Youth Work Manager; Laura White, CEO of The Magic Club; Detty Tyler, Children and Young People Coordinator; Paul Scott, Youth Worker and MA Student. Sign-up here.
Thursday 18 May 2023, Westminster Chapel, London
ChurchWorks for wellbeing
'How can the UK Church respond effectively and lovingly to the mental heath crisis?' Attend this conference and explore the practical ways in which the church can respond to the current crisis; from social prescribing, chaplaincy and wellbeing courses. Please note that there is a cost to attend this event. Lunch and hot drinks will be provided. This event is being held in partnership with Waverley Abbey College. Find out more and book.
Thursday 18 May 2023, Manchester (see also 16 May, 17 May)
Mums' night out
See details for 17 May or book for Manchester event here.
Monday 22 to Tuesday 23 May 2023, Bristol (see also 19 - 20 June, 21 - 22 June)
Off-site safety management course
Fun and highly engaging two-day in-person course from Pharos, working in partnership with the National Youth Agency. It aims to help youth workers and/or managers responsible for off-site activities, trips and visits, make these experiences safer for young people and staff. Be prepared to roll your sleeves up with a wide range of highly practical tasks designed to highlight the risk issues you might encounter in an off-site or residential setting; this is much more than the normal classroom-based training! Subsidised cost is £100. Click here to book for the Bristol training.
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, 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, 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.
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 and 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, 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.
Monday 19 to Tuesday 20 June 2023, Birmingham (see also 22 - 23 May, 21 - 22 June)
Off-site safety management course
See information for 22 - 23 June or click here to book for the Birmingham course.
Monday 21 to Tuesday 22 June 2023, Manchester (see also 22 - 23 May, 19 - 20 June)
Off-site safety management course
See information for 22 - 23 June or click here to book for the Manchester course.
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.
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 14-16 May, 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.
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.
