11 children from the Church of the Ascension CE Primary School in Wall Heath, Dudley have achieved the Archbishops’ Young Leaders Award. The children were presented with their certificates by Bishop Martin at a special collective worship in school.
The Archbishops' Young Leaders Award exists to see a generation of young people empowered to transform society. The award uses partnerships between schools, churches and the local community to offer opportunities for young people to grow in leadership, faith and character.
The children receiving the award in Wall Heath are all part of the school’s Worship Leaders’ group. They completed different team building and volunteering challenges and spent time thinking about leaders and the qualities they possess, particularly looking at Jesus. The worship leaders also led reception children in an Easter experience event, planning and delivering the activities, sharing their knowledge and demonstrating leadership qualities.
On giving out the awards, Bishop Martin said: “These are the first Archbishop Young Leaders Awards presented in the Diocese and it is very exciting that I am able to award them in one of our Dudley schools.”
Charlotte in year 6 said: “I particularly enjoyed the teamwork activities which we could only complete by working together and not leaving everyone out. Doing the award has really rounded off my experience as a worship leader, which I’ve been doing since year 4.”
Liv, also in year 6 said: “Going over to the church to run activities for the reception children really gave us the chance to be leaders. It was also great to work with Sian and Mrs Moore who were supportive but also gave us the chance to work independently.”
Caiden in year 5 said: “I also enjoyed working with the reception classes and running activities for them. We had a lot of fun, and it developed our leadership skills.”
The Worship Leaders’ group is supported by Sian Morgan, Children and Families’ Minister in Kingswinford and Wall Heath and Helen Moore, a teacher at the school. The group meets at least weekly with children choosing to come along. Some of the group then decided they’d like to take up the Award and parents gave permission for them to be involved.
Sian said: “We came across the award when we were looking for something more to do with the Worship Leaders’ group and have worked on it since January. The resources are great and there is lots of support. The delivery has also been a joy – the children have grown in confidence. It’s given them a chance to go out and make a difference rather than waiting until they are adults.”
As part of the award the children noticed the Wall Heath in Bloom group who care for the plants in their community and decided to make cards and thank you gifts for them. “We had lovely feedback about how appreciated people felt,” said Sian.
Year 5/6 teacher, Helen said: “The award has provided the children with a sense of purpose. They have enjoyed the different tasks and developed their independence. It’s also given them a much better understanding of community.”
Headteacher, Lindsay Mason said: “Doing the award has been absolutely fabulous for the children involved. They have led lots of takeover assemblies and acts of worship which have been very creative and often are the rest of the school’s favourite assemblies! It’s been an excellent way to exhibit their own faith and has given them a strong foundation to develop their leadership skills”
There is a close relationship between the school and the church with the church community regularly visiting the school and the children going into church for different things.
Lindsay continued: “The school and the church are part of the same community; there are no boundaries between us. The relationship provides valuable connections and sense of belonging.”
Sian said: “It means everything to the church to have such a close relationship with the school. The children are comfortable in both places and are used to seeing school staff in church and church staff in school. Working together with the head has means we’ve been able to do so much more with the children.”
Find out more about the Archbishops’ Young Leaders Award at: www.archbishopofyorkyouthtrust.co.uk.
