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.