Parishes
Outreach
There are many different ways that you can connect with new families, children and young people, depending on your context and resources.
There are so many resources and ideas to help you connect with all ages across your community, it's easy to be overwhelmed or not know where to start. The following points can be used by the church community or PCC to help you think about what you want to achieve and how it will fit with the existing life of the church.
- Where does the church family already have connection with children and families and where are the gaps? See the 'Opportunities sheet' in our resources folder to help you do this
- What do you already do well?
- What do members of the congregation have skills and enthusiasm for?
- What are the particular needs of your community and how might you be able to meet them?
- Who else can you work with? Existing community groups, other churches, charities, institutions
- How will any plans or ideas fit in with your overall vision as a church? Use the 'In 3 Years Time' sheet in our resources folder to help you
Ideas from around our Diocese
There's a lot going on already. See below for some ideas, or get in touch with us to ask what might work best for you.
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Run 'Experience Days', linked to the Church year. Many churches take the opportunity of festivals or community events to offer something to families. The Experience days produced by Jumping Fish can be a way to work with local schools to help pupils explore the meaning of key festivals. Click here to find out more. |
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Engage with local community events. Offer activities and refreshments or a prayer space at the local fete or carnival. Link your activities to events in the church calendar that are close to the date. Look on our prayer page <link to be added> for inspiration on how to do this. |
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Offer a Tea Time Service to connect with families. St James' Church in Trowbridge started an informal service for families exploring baptism and/ or attending the toddler group. Each service has lively worship, activities, a talk, prayer and tea time. Leaders are exploring how to support children who are transitioning to secondary school. |
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Use the likes of '8 Bible-themed Journey Days'. This practical book consists of eight story-based workshop days to help local churches support primary schools aiming to deliver high quality cross-curricular RE. 'Journey Days' is written by Barbara Meardon and Verity Holloway. Click here to visit the main page. |
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Run a residential. The Annual Residential Trip in Bridport is open to children and young people aged 8-16 and is led by members of the church. The trip includes sports, games, music, outdoor activities, crafts and a chance to explore the Christian faith. The weekend builds relationships between church members and the wider community, giving young people a positive, fun experience. Many return each year and develop leadership skills as they get older. |
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Investigate Hope Mission Academies. These help equip young people to share their faith in their communities and schools. There are a number of ideas on the Hope revolution website. |
There are many ways that you can reach out to people in your community. For other examples of services, residentials or projects around the diocese - or simply for further support, advice and inspiration - do contact the Children, Young People and Families Team. The team includes:
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Adviser for Work with Young People Lizzie Whitbread |
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