Support Extended Schooling (Clubs and Activities)
In this special feature Hannah Field from Arise Ministries shares information and ideas on Extended Schooling.
How can the Church Support Extended Schooling?
Running an Exciting Club for Children
"Surrounding our churches there are schools of children, many of whom know little about Jesus, most of whom never engage with the church - what a CHALLENGE! Almost every one of those schools of children has a local church within easy reach - what an OPPORTUNITY!"
Ruth Gilson, Co-Founder Arise Ministries
Wouldn't it be great to take this opportunity . . . well the good news, is that some people already are . . . . and there's potential for even more Christians to do the same too!
It is an eventful and exciting time for those involved in education; the Government's National Framework: Every Child Matters: Change for Children is opening up many new doors. This programme has the focus of enabling children to:
- Be Healthy
- Stay Safe
- Enjoy and Achieve
- Make a Positive Contribution
- Achieve Economic Well-Being
And it's not just teachers who can help to deliver these outcomes . . . ‘Extended Schooling', which is very much at the heart of this programme's delivery, means that schools are turning to local volunteers, including the church to help them with this.
An Extended School, according to the Government's website:
" . . .offers access to a range of services and activities which support and motivate children to achieve their full potential."
By 2010 the aim is that Extended Services will be accessible in or through all schools. For Primary Schools this involves providing access to a varied menu of activities / clubs, from 8am - 6pm, five days a week, 48 weeks a year. Quite a challenge . . . but a great opportunity, as the schools are looking to the voluntary and community sector to help them with this.
How can the Church Support Extended Schooling?
There are many ways in which the church can support and get involved in Extended Schooling, and this includes:
- Providing people - source volunteers to help assist with the running of clubs and activities that the school is looking to provide.
- Providing space - offer the use of the church facilities to a school that may require more room.
- Providing resources - speak with the school and find out what they need to assist in their Extended Schools provision - and then seek to raise money to purchase these items.
- Providing prayer - dedicate time to pray for the school; its staff and children, on a regular basis.
- Providing a club - set up and run a club to help with the positive development of the children's lives.
Running an Exciting Club for Children
The ‘ALF (‘About Life and Faith') Year of Outreach' programme has been designed by Arise Ministries (a pioneering children's ministry partnership of The Girls' Brigade England and Wales and Viz A Viz Ministries to help you do exactly that! Containing a whole year's worth of resources for outreach amongst children, it has advice on how to approach and work with schools to set up and run an exciting and engaging outreach club for 7-11s. Full of games, crafts, challenges, quizzes and DVD - children are given the chance to explore, ask questions, and to discover who Jesus is and what it means to follow him.
Click here to download a brochure about the ‘ALF Year of Outreach'.
Click here to go to the Arise Ministries Website to find out more.
Alternatively contact Arise on 01235 510426 or info@ariseministries.org.uk and speak to one of the team, including Hannah. We'd be happy to speak with you and to help you make the most of this fantastic opportunity!
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