Resources for Children, Young People and Families

Here are some resources suggested by Jodie Thorpe, our Children, Youth and Families Enabler:-

Virtual Holiday Club
Designed by the team at 4Front Theatre; a charity that aims to produce shows and performances that are entertaining and thought-provoking for people of all ages, yet ultimately exist to create theatre that puts faith at the 4front.  Virtual Holiday Club is an online resource featuring dramatised Bible stories, crafts, songs, games and competitions.  Streamed live on YouTube from Monday 9th August to Friday 13th August.
Watch the video
For further information visit the Virtual Holiday Club website: https://www.virtualsundayschooluk.com/pages/virtual-holiday-club-2021

Fizzy Finn Finds His Feet
Riding Lights theatre company, York, is pleased to introduce you to their new show Fizzy Finn Finds His Feet - a play for all children, especially those who found lockdown made them feel stressed and anxious.
Finn is a fidget. His brain ablaze with an unbreakable buzz that fizzes to his fingers and tickles his toes...or it would do if he could only find his feet.  ‘The problem is that I can feel it. Electricity ripples like thunder in my chest and lightning in my brain. I can’t escape. It’s after me and if you don’t get out the way it’ll zap you too!’
Aware that many young children have found the recent lockdowns and absences from friends and family very stressful, causing anxieties which they find hard to articulate, the company has commissioned a new play from Jon Boustead  to address some of these problems in a gentle, fun way. 
Fizzy Finn Finds His Feet will be available download in November and December (or for live performance if you’re within range of a day return journey from York). It comes with additional classroom materials, giving teachers resources to help children engage more deeply with the issues raised through this delightful, interactive show. To express interest, please contact Chloe Oldroyd on 01904 655317.

HOPE UK aims to equip young people to make drug-free choices and is hosting a series of online courses for churches:-

Drug information for parents – 13th September 8pm
Drug awareness for youth workers - 27th September 8pm
County Lines for Parents –  20th September 8pm
Drugs and the Management of a Building – 20th July 8pm
Click here for details and booking information. 

JODIE recommends:-

Videos filmed during an online leaders' day hosted by SCBA (Southern Counties Baptist Association). In them Rachel Gardner, Director of Youthscape and President of The Girls' Brigade, considers the
challenge of reaching, supporting, developing and empowering young people and young adults.
Follow this link to see the videos.

www.yfc.co.uk  Some great video resources for older children and young people.
 
https://kitchentable.org.uk/  I’d particularly recommend their ‘talking faith’ series.
 
www.scriptureunion.org.uk "With new ideas, updates on the 95 campaign and resources for leaving lockdown."

The latest Covid-19 guidance relating to Children’s, Youth and Families Ministry is available from Baptists Together - click here.

Below are some other useful websites, links, events, materials that might be appropriate for your ministries with children, youth and families:-

Tabletalk - Usually purchased in the format of cards to discuss around a table.  Tabletalk have currently got some great discussion questions available free on their website to help generate chat with friends and family.  Could also be used in a youth group setting.  (Something to keep your eye out for too - they are developing a new ‘wellbeing’ table talk game which sounds great.) http://www.table-talk.org/

1277 National Network of Church-based Toddler Groups - Have some good ideas for praying for and with Toddler Groups.  See their website and Facebook.  Also links to various resources ready for when you are able to get Toddler Groups back up and running.  https://1277.org.uk/

Toddler Time - A weekly story, craft and song time for Toddlers on YouTube from West Mersea Free Church.  Accessible from their website (https://merseafree.church/youth/toddlers/) and on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvqUJSqo2zw)

Joanne, from Beauchief Baptist Church, Sheffield, has shared her really useful blog where she reviews various Christian apps and advises which ones are good.

‘Together at Home’ - family resource sheets around scripture with suggestions for activities, prayers, discussion etc:

Godly Play UK - 10 easy things to do to help us talk to each other … listen … be calm and relax …be quiet and still … and, perhaps, be silent.