Children

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Southwell and Nottingham Diocese is proud of our work with children. We have many churches doing innovative and creative work, as well as the award-winning Time Travelling! Project at Southwell Minster, and the highest standard Safeguarding and CRB Procedures.

The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, Rt Rev Paul Butler, is national Bishop Advocate for children

The Children’s Ministry Adviser, Nick Harding, nick@southwell.anglican.org works full time for the Diocese, with admin support from Alison Jacobson  alison.jacobson@southwell.anglican.org

As well as speaking up for children in the church, Nick is particularly into all-age worship and ministry with boys, and has written a number of resource books and books for teenagers. He’s also a Trustee of Scripture Union, leads all-age worship at Spring Harvest, is on the C of E General Synod, a Lay Minister (Reader) at St John’s with St Mary’s Churches, Mansfield, a SIAS Church Schools Inspector, and a magistrate.
When not doing any of that he spends time with his excellent teenage boys and very tolerant wife!

To find out more about Nick Harding, click here

Please follow these links or e-mail Alison or Nick for more information:

Communicating

The Big E Newsletter.
This mailing is produced 4 times every year, and is sent to all children’s workers on our list. If you would like to receive it please contact Alison. The current Big E Newsletter can also be viewed here. 

Children’s Ministry Audit
In 2008 we produced ‘8664 reasons to Celebrate’, a booklet reporting on the state of children’s ministry in every benefice. Copies are available from Alison.

Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)
Nick Harding is responsible for policy and practice regarding CRB, and supported by Pat McNish patcrb@southwell.anglican.org , who administers the Diocese CRB process The Diocese also acts as a CRB ‘Umbrella body’ for other churches and church-linked organisations. 
 

Training

Regular Training and Review. Nick and the Education team provide training during daytimes and evenings throughout the year. Find out more about the current training programme.  Nick can also respond to specific requests from churches for training, review of their ministry, and planning.

Safeguarding training is provided by Nick and Barbara Selley, Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser. Barbara also deals with cases and allegations. For Safeguarding training enquiries and to contact Barbara ring Family Care on 0115 960 3010 

The Big E Training Day. This annual training day for children’s and youth workers takes place in October, and attracts 200 delegates for a huge range of workshops and seminars. Follow this link 
Big E

Lay Ministry Training. The Diocesan certificate, via the JIF course, provides for people who wish to be recognised Lay Ministers with a Children’s Ministry Specialism in their churches. For more information check out... Department of Development

Leading Children is an extension studies course from St John’s College, Nottingham. It is designed to help volunteers and paid staff with some experience of children’s ministry to reflect on good practice and sharpen their skills. Follow the Distance learning – Faith for Life links from www.stjohns-nottm.ac.uk

Resources

Diocesan Resources Room
The Resources Room is at The Diocesan Office, Dunham House, Southwell NG25 0JL. There are books, DVDs and materials to support childrens, youth and schools work, music, worship, prayer and theology. All can be borrowed for free. It is open during normal office hours, and run by volunteer Marlene Shrive, who can be contacted in the room most Thursday mornings (01636 817224). 

Children and Communion
In this Diocese 50% of benefices now admit children to Communion before Confirmation. There is a booklet with policy guidelines and advice for churches available from the office, or check it out at the Diocesan Liturgical Committee website. This site also has liturgy and worship ideas for commissioning children’s and youth workers, welcoming a new headteacher, and other helpful material. 

Pray and Say
materials encourage children to pray for their peers, and helps leaders develop skills around prayer with children. For a pack please contact Alison.

Firestarters
is a resource bank of ideas for creative prayer for children, young people and adults to learn to pray about children and young people! See here.

Time Travelling!
is a wonderful, award-winning educational project based at Southwell Minster that attracts 7,000 children every year. Click here to go to the Time Travelling website

Books and Resources
Nick has written books and resources for a number of publishers. His most recent are Boys, God and the Church (Grove), and All Age Everything (Revised) (Kevin Mayhew Ltd). 

Informing

General Synod
From 2005-2010 Nick was on the General Synod as a lay member. He kept a diary of his Synod experiences, which can be viewed here  

Open Churches / Church History Project.

This is a project combining church history with tourism and educational materials for use with children, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Nick is the Project Manager.
Click here for more information

All Age Worship and church visits. Nick is available to speak at services, PCCs and other groups, and help churches review their ministry as time allows! Early booking for services is essential, especially around Advent and Christmas. 

Other useful links

Scripture Union www.scriptureunion.org.uk

Kevin Mayhew www.kevinmayhewltd.com

CPAS www.cpas.org.uk

Church House Publishing www.chpublishing.co.uk

BRF Barnabus  brf.org.uk, www.barnabasinchurches.org.uk

Godly Play UK  http://www.godlyplay.org.uk

Childrens’ Society  www.childrenssociety.org.uk

Children Matter www.childrenmatter.ning.com

Open the Book  www.openthebook.net

Grove Books www.grovebooks.co.uk 

For more information

Nick Harding  nick@southwell.anglican.org
Alison  alison.jacobson@southwell.anglican.org