Seven churches across four United Reformed Church (URC) synods have gained a Children and Youth Friendly Church Scheme (CYFC) award for the work they do to support families.
The CYFC Scheme is an opportunity for churches to look afresh at their life with children, young people and families.
The seven churches are Yorkshire Synod’s Bridge Church Otley, West Midland Synod’s Broadway, Shrewsbury and South Aston URCs; Eastern’s Christchurch Raleigh URC; Wessex Synod’s Petersfield and Liss URC; and the National Synod of Wales’ St John’s Buckley URC.
The congregations were all guided by a trained accompanier through a reflective cycle that explores a church’s strengths, values, opportunities, hopes and dreams.
Bridge Church in Otley gained its award after it demonstrated the ways in which it strives to link the activities and foundation of all they do to the church’s mission statement, which includes being welcoming and loving. It also has a five-year plan that includes a vision for children and families.
Isobel Evans, Parents and Toddlers Organiser, said: “Our time with the children and young people is used to help them to feel that they are loved by God and the church community, and to understand how they can ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’.”
In the future, the church hopes to take steps to support parents and carers in developing their faith, and better reflect the age demographic of its community among its members and services.
Petersfield and Liss URC gained its award for the work it carries out to engage with children, young people and families.
Jo Hopkins, Community Worker for thechurch, said: “Our children where asked recently whether they felt unconditionally welcomed and that they belong in our church and all said ‘yes, definitely’.
“Our senior junior family church members said they felt valued and not looked down on. All junior family church members are asked which activity they like, and we try and have a varied programme each week to make sure we are inclusive to as many young people as possible.”
St Aston URC offers monthly all-age worship which includes opportunities for everyone to take part including the church Boys Brigade company.
Each Sunday children are included in the early part of the service and there are activities and worksheets available for the children facilitated by leaders on a rota. Towards the end of the service an opportunity for children to share with the congregation what they have been doing is always given.
“We are a very welcoming and inclusive church community and make an effort to welcome and include people of all ages,” said Ann Tempest, South Aston Church Treasurer.
On engaging with the process, Ann added: “We hope to be encouraged in what we are doing that is good and to gain guidance towards areas of improvement.”
Any church which actively offers a welcome to children and youth, regardless of whether they currently count any children or young people amongst their congregation, can engage with the scheme, which is a reflective and encouraging process undertaken with the support of their synod’s children’s and youth work advisor.
Find more about the Children and Youth Friendly Church Award Scheme here.