Click on the sections below to find a whole range of different resources to help when working with children and young people.
Baptism Books
A resource put enabling families to explore faith through secular children's books. These are put together by the Calling Young Disciples team and released monthly. More information. The team have also produced a special resource sheet to help children who might be anxious on this time based on the book I’m not scared by Jonathan Allen.
Pilgrimage at Home
Tony Cook from the Diocese of Bath and Wells has produced a pilgrimage which families can do together around the home. Download the pdf pilgrimage.
Five things you could do as a family as we come out out lockdown. Download a resource from the Diocese of Bath and Wells.
Church@Home weekly sheets
The Youth and Children's Adviser from the Diocese of Bristol will be writing, distributing and using a thirty minute family worship and prayer time - for children aged from toddler to teenager. Find out more.
YouTube videos
Going For Growth from the Church of England
Faith isn't something to be learned in church - it's to be lived out at home. But it isn't always easy for families to know how to pray together or tell the stories of Jesus together. This page offers links and ideas to help families be Christian in their whole lives, not just the Sunday bit! Visit the website.
Illustrated Ministry
Illustrated ministry is currently offering free resources to all households that want to continue to worship within their own homes. Once you register with them, they send you a free colouring page and then every Friday will send you some new resources. Visit their website
They have also put together this series of colouring pages to use when you feel anxious. Download pdf.
Worship for Everyone
Nick & Becky Drake (kids worship leaders) are using Facebook to give families something to do together with action songs, all age bible teaching, and lots of fun so at 4pm @ Worship For Everyone Wednesday and Saturday.
Diddy Disciples
Each evening at 6.46pm , Compline is being said/sung live on Facebook by "Diddy Disciples" author Rev Sharon Moughtin-Mumby and her family in South London. Her children lead the prayers. It's at a good time for families to join in just before children's bedtime, but it can be replayed at any time. Visit the Diddy Disciples Facebook page
Little Church
Perfect for preschoolers and their parents - See YouTube for their first story featuring Noah
Pinterest has lots of amazing and different ideas to use. Margaret Pritchard from St Alban's Diocese has put up a page to help with 'home, worship and pastoral care during the coronavirus'she also has videos of worship have a look. You can also check out my page Emma Pettifer and also one from Mary Hawes where you will also find many ideas to help you and your church families.
Roots
Roots is offering resources for worship at home linked to the weekly lectionary for free at the moment. Visit the website.
Together at Home Facebook group
Jesus calms the Storm and includes a Bible reading, prayers, discussion starter and activities. Join the group
Ideas: Resources for home worship
This website is currently offering free of charge worship resources for folk to worship at home. Visit the site
Oddments Theatre Company
Oddments Theatre Company is launching 'drama church', which will be available from 6pm every Friday on their YouTube Channel.
Movement
Movement aims to establish a regular gathering, bringing groups of young people together to meet with God in prayer and worship accompanied by quality Christian teaching that is practical, relevant and useful. Their gatherings are currently online. Find out more
Interactive Children's Resources
Lectionary-based app
The Diocese of Bristol has launched a lectionary-based app which provides users with a bible passage, thought-provoking questions, a quote and a prayer focus. Great for young people, families or clergy looking for inspiration! Find out more
God Venture
God Venture - Fun, creative ways of sharing God with children.
Bible Videos
The Diocese of St Albans has produced stories from the Bible as videos, which anyone is welcome to use. Have a look at their YouTube Channel.
Bible Chat Mat
An amazing free resource from the Diocese of Bath and Wells. Bible Chat Mat allows people of all ages to read the Bible and have conversation together, whether around a meal table, sitting on the sofa or wherever works best. This activity can be done as a household, friends together, home group, Sunday group or even in a school club. The sheets can be coloured and doodled on, allowing you to respond to the Bible story in your own unique way. Find out more and download the resources.
Bible Podlets
The Diocese of Blackburn has just released a series of Bible Study Podcasts for adults and primary school age children called Bible Podlets. There are currently three episodes available and there’s another seven on the way – they’re released every Friday. Listen and download the podcasts and resources.
Mental Heath Awareness Week 2021 - wellbeing and nature:
The Mental Health Foundation, who ‘host’ Mental Heath Awareness Week, have produced a school pack this year which is fairly comprehensive. Download it here. (If you are struggling to access it please email Emmawho can WeTransfer it across to you to save time.) There are some good ideas in this pack appropriate for both children and young people, and helps to get us thinking about the impact of nature on our mental health with some practical ideas of engaging with this theme.
Other resources on this theme:
Anna Freud - Spending time in nature
Mental health and nature video featuring David Attenborough
5 ways to connect with nature to improve our wellbeing
Anna Freud - nature toolkit for Primary age children
Anna Freud - nature toolkit for Secondary age children
Mind pack on nature and mental health
General resources around mental health for children and young people:
Word on the Street have come up with some great ideas and strategies for young people struggling with loneliness.
Dan from the Diocese of Chichester has discovered some really great videos from CGP Grey on YouTube. This one looks at how we can look after our own mental wellbeing.
Natural Resources Wales have put together a glorious booklet of activities for children outside. It includes some great activities that families could do outside
Youthscape have produced a set of Shuffle cards around mental wellbeing (Mindset) and there are some great ideas in these cards that you can use with young people either online or in real life! They include a couple around nature.
- Assemblies.org.uk - Assemblies for every season for everyone.
- Prayer Spaces in Schools
- Optimus Education - A collection of 40 primary school faith assemblies.
- Teaching Ideas: Inspiration for engaging assemblies.
- Praying Each Day - Daily reflections
- Religion, Environments & Education (REEP) - education projects and events to educate young people about the ways that different cultures respond to and interact with the environment.
- The Stapleford Centre - Assemblies
- Schoolswork.co.uk - Resources for every Christian who works in and visits schools across the UK
We hold a number of resources centrally which you are welcome to borrow for use in your parish.
The Large Resources leaflet details several of the larger games that we hold, do please contact Simon or Emma to book and arrange collection. If there is something you need which isn’t on the leaflet, do get in touch as it is not an exhaustive list and we might be able to source items from neighbouring dioceses or other churches.
As well as these items, we have a considerable library of books relating to ministry with Children and Young People. Some are theological reflections, others are more practical guides on running holiday clubs, youth group sessions, drama and poetry scripts or collective worship outlines for schools. These are available to browse and borrow from the Diocesan Office.
The following leaflets are guides for more specific areas of youth and children’s work and relate to some of the resources we hold or training we deliver across the diocese.
Video conferencing
Download guidance on doing video conferencing with Primary school age children.
Netflix Party
Netflix party is a new way to watch films with friends. Netflix has a host of Christian films such as Veggie tales, storykeepers etc.. you could watch with your children’s groups and families altogether online. Find out more
One Way UK online resource centre
Lots of resources are being compiled on this website suggested by a range of people. Visit the site
Additional Needs Alliance
This organisation provides resources, help & guidance for families who have children with additional needs & disabilities and for those who work in churches with them. There are currently extra resources to help these children understand Covid-19 and what's happening, which could be useful for youth/children's workers as well as parents/carers. Join the Facebook group.
Holiday Clubs
- Pulse Ministries Orbiters Holiday club is totally free
- Scripture Union has online videos
- Virtual Holiday Club 2021. An online resource featuring dramatized bible stories, crafts, songs, games and competitions. Streamed live from YouTube from Monday 9th – Friday 13th August, this virtual holiday club is available to watch for free from home or your church building.
Worship music
Here are a couple of sites/playlists with contemporary kids songs with lyrics: