New this week:
Warm Spaces Grants - updated form
Christian Film on general release
Line Management Training
In case you missed it:
Christmas Grants Scheme
Installation of Chair as Ecumenical Canon
Ablewell Vacancy
Two events relating to Israel Palestine
Action for Children News
Amplify boking open
Children's Support Fund
Lay employee training
WEA training courses
Learning and Development Events


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Warm Spaces Grants - updated form

Many churches across the District are preparing to offer Warm Spaces this winter in response to the cost of living crisis.  At its simplest, being a Warm Space is about simple, non-stigmatising, neighbourly hospitality. Providing a warm welcome, a hot drink or bite to eat, a listening ear, and being ready to help people access further specialist support. Many churches already run activities which can be adapted to meet the current need.

We know that this provision may put strain on church finances.  If your church is stepping forward to respond to a desperate community need there will be people who can and want to contribute time, expertise or money (e.g. you might consider asking your local councillors, members of regular groups using your building, asking your local food bank for advice or applying for specific local grants). 

But to help you get started, we are offering grants of £500 to churches offering a Warm Space this winter.

Qualifying criteria for a Warm Spaces Grant

•    This will be a new activity or an existing activity which has been specifically adapted to respond to the new circumstances

•    You will have looked at the situation in your local community to ensure that what you provide is shaped around real need.  For instance, you will know where else “Warm Spaces” are being provided and will have worked in partnership to ensure that opening times etc complement one another. 

•    Wherever possible you will have worked in partnership, particularly with other local churches or faith organisations.  If your church is part of a team to provide a Warm Space in a different building, you may still apply for this grant

•    All necessary risk assessments will be in place before opening (guidance is available)

•    Sessions will be freely available to those participating

•    They’ll be advertised in ways that make them easy for people who need them to find out about them

•    They’ll be sustainable through the winter.  We are looking for local provision at least weekly, though this can be shared with other organisations you’re partnering with.

•    They’ll be non-judgmental, hospitable and open to people of all faiths and none

•    You’ll be prepared to listen to people’s concerns and to signpost people to specialist support if needed.

•    The Warm Space initiative will be prayed for regularly by your congregation.

Please clock on the links below for more information and application form:

Application form
Safeguarding Form
Safeguarding Guidance
Risk Assessment Proforma example

Please send completed application forms to: Richard Lockley at admin@wsmethodist.org.uk
 

Christian film on general release this weekend

Season 3 of The Chosen (the life of Christ seen from the perspective of those who interacted with Him) is to premiere in 160 UK cinemas this weekend for episodes 1 and 2.  This follows Seasons 1 and 2 which were very well received in recent years  on streaming platforms as a TV series.
 
Do go and see it and encourage your congregation to attend.
 
The Chosen: Season 3 will be at the following Birmingham cinemas this weekend:
 
Birmingham Vue: 
7pm - Fri. 18th Nov.
6pm - Sat. 19th Nov. 
3pm - Sun. 20th Nov.
7pm - Mon. 21st Nov.
6.30pm - Tues. 22nd Nov.
 
Birmingham New Street Odeon:
7.20pm - Fri. 18th Nov.
3pm - Sun. 20th Nov.
 
Birmingham Broadway Plaza Odeon:
3pm - Sun. 20th Nov.
 
Dudley Odeon:
3pm - Sun. 20th Nov.
 
If these are well attended, do look for it to be brought back the following weekend for further showings.
 
It would be really helpful if the person who gives your church notices this Sunday could go to see it on Friday or Saturday - nothing beats personal recommendation and all these 3pm Sunday showings should be perfect timing!
 
In a 6-page article about The Chosen in this month's Premier Christianity magazine editor Sam Hailes wrote:
"This hardened, cynical journalist is not prone to exaggeration, but even I will admit 'The Chosen' is special."
 
Don't miss it!
 
Yours in Christ
 
David Taylor
Christian films at my cinema
 

Line Management Training

Develop as a Line Manager
Join the Learning Network Team and:
Identify ways to develop key skills and qualities needed to manage lay employees
Gain clarity on the different functions of line management Understand the line manager’s role in the employment cycle Identify effective interventions
When?
All training is free and held online over zoom.
We are repeating each standalone day on the following dates: Thursday15 September
Monday 10 October
Wednesday 23 November
Tuesday 7 February
Friday 12 May
Wednesday 21 June
Each day will be run from 10.00 - 15.30
To book on click HERE 

Christmas Grants Scheme

There is Room…..District Christmas Grant scheme
We believe that the birth of Jesus changed everything for  everyone. It began an incredible story where space was made at the table, the doors were opened up and all were welcomed in. At Christmas, we celebrate this with a simple invitation: 
Come, just as you are, because There is Room for you.
 
This year the District is again supporting the Connexional Advent & Christmas Campaign by making small grants available of up to £150.  This is for projects which seek to share the Good News of Christmas with the wider community.  Your Superintendent’s counter-signature will be needed, but anyone can apply on behalf of their church or Circuit.  
 
Applications will be considered by the District Chair and the Ministry & Missions Co-ordinator.  Most Circuits will have a maximum of 3 grants awarded, with more negotiated for larger Circuits.
 
Jo and Rachel will be particularly looking for projects which:

• Not only give gifts away, but also seek to encourage community engagement and participation.
• Seek, through relationship, to invite their community to meet with Jesus this Christmas.
• Are conscious of the need to be environmentally friendly in their implementation.

Please fill in the application form (electronically if possible) and email to Janet Fenney janet@wsmethodist.org.uk 
You can find more resources for the Methodist Church Christmas campaign here:  https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/there-is-room-advent-and-christmas-2022-resources/

Installation of Chair as Ecumenical Canon

Installation of Chair as Ecumenical Canon 22nd November 
Ecumenism between this District and the Diocese of Lichfield will be marked and celebrated on Tuesday 22nd November at 5.30pm when the Chair will be installed as an Ecumenical Canon during Evensong.  Rt Revd Mark Davies, Bishop of Shrewsbury, will be installed on the same occasion.
It would be lovely to share this celebration with any members of the District wanting to come along.  The service is, of course, open to the public
 

Ablewell vacancy

Senior Adviser/Team Leader
(Money advice and welfare benefits)
16.5 hours per week at £14 – 15.50 per hour depending on experience
We are seeking a proactive and organised individual to join the Ablewell team.  Ablewell Advice Walsall is an outreach project of the Central Hall Methodist Church. Central Hall is a registered charity and our services are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
We provide specialist advice in relation to debt and welfare benefit matters. Our philosophy is to provide advice that is “people-centred, putting the client and their needs first”.  We are a distribution centre for the Black County Foodbank.
Working hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9.30- 15:00, with occasional support to the foodbank on Saturdays, 11:00 – 13:00.The successful candidate’s duties will include:

• Lead the team of advisors, by setting direction, motivating and supporting them in delivering their work as a team and individually.
• Liaising with management committee to ensure effective service delivery, and when support from outside your role is needed.
• Provision of specialist advice and casework in relation to debt and welfare benefits
• Maintaining accurate case records and managing cases proactively
• Supporting the training needs of the adviser(s).

You will be someone who:

• Has demonstrable supervisory and team building experience
• Has at least 2 years recent experience of delivering welfare benefits and debt casework within an advice agency or similar
• Is able to independently manage a caseload, taking a proactive approach
• Is trustworthy and comfortable with handling confidential information
• Enjoys working as part of a small team
• Is flexible and adaptable
• Is sympathetic to the Christian ethos of our organisation. 

This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.     
For an informal discussion about this role, please email Andrew Beattie at ablewelladvicemanagment@gmail.com , leaving your telephone number, and a best time to call back. Application packs will be sent on application to the above contact details.  CVs will not be accepted.
Closing date: 9.30 am on 22^nd November 2022.   Interviews will be held on 30th November 2022.
Ablewell Advice Walsall, The Central Hall, Ablewell Street, Walsall WS1 2EQ www.ablewelladvice.org.uk F: AblewellAdvice T:@Ablewell_Advice     Tel: 01922 639700

Two Events relating to Israel Palestine

Conference “Peace Justice and Reconciliation”

With particular reference to Israel Palestine.

Guest Speakers: Dn Angleena Kaiser. Methodist Mission Partner - Bethlehem

Rev Dr Nadia Nassar - Director of the Awareness Foundation

Workshop leaders: Rev Dr Inderjit Bhogal, Rev John. Howard,

Methodists for World Mission.   Charity No.243221

       Friday 9th to Sunday 11th December 2022

Venue: The Hayes Conference Centre Swanwick Derbyshire.

Places available with special offers of low cost

Contact Rev John Howard

john_d_howard@hotmail.com

 —————————-

A Ten Day visit to Israel Palestine.

“Living Christianity in the Holy Land.”

Wednesday January 18th to Monday January 30th

Run through the Methodist Liaison Office Jerusalem supported by the Methodist Church Global Relationships Team

Leader: Rev John Howard Former Mission Partner Bethlehem.

This is an ideal opportunity for a visit to Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Nazareth and other places in the Holy Land. It’s an experience that you will never forget!

For details contact:

john_d_howard@hotmail.com

News from Action for Children

Amplify booking now open

Hello everyone,
 
I have some very exciting news: ticket sales for Amplify are now open!
Amplify is a weekend away for children, young people and leaders from the Birmingham and Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Districts, to be held between 24th and 26th March 2023. The weekend aims to gather young people together to build relationships and to grow in faith together with others their own age. As part of the weekend there will be times of worship and learning together in different ways, and access to outdoor activities at the site.
Please read the following information carefully so that you know what to expect when using the new booking system and how to build your group.
 
This year, the booking process is in 2 parts - a deposit stage and a final payment stage. The deposit holds the place and gives access to making the final payment later. This allows us both to maintain a first come first serve basis and to ensure that we give the Pioneer Centre the correct numbers at the time required.
 
Once again, it is up to you how you decide to do your booking within your group. You could decide to book everyone in your group on at once, ask parents to book their own children on, or a mixture of both - whatever works best for you. If you choose to input the information yourself as a leader, I have attached a form in order for you to gather exactly the information you will need in the order that you will need it. There is some overlap in the questions asked at each stage due to limitations in the system to ask conditional questions (i.e. has any information changed), but I am sure you will appreciate the importance of the information asked to ensure that Amplify runs smoothly.
 
Thanks to the subsidy being provided by both Districts, the cost of tickets has been able to stay the same as last year at £80 for young people and £20 for leaders. The deposit for each of these will be £20 and £10 respectively. Tickets will be sold on a first come first served basis, with the deadline for purchasing deposit tickets being 22^nd January 2023. The final payment can be made anytime after the deposit stage, with 19^th February 2023 being the deadline. 
 
We have got approximately 120 places available at Amplify this year for young people (aged 8-18) and leaders. This year, all young people will need to have a group leader responsible for them who will be named at the final payment. This includes being responsible for medication, bedtimes, and generally keeping tabs on them, making sure they are safe and happy. Obviously young people will be able to approach all leaders at the event, but having a known leader to a young person has proved to be a good model. In order to maximise the spaces that we have for young people to attend, we are asking that groups think about how many leaders they need to have a safe ratio of leaders to their group, bearing in mind that the whole event will be well within the required ratio with volunteers and other leaders at the event. This will be 1:8 for under 13s and 1:10 for 13+. It would be really helpful if you were able to consider gender within your leadership to match your groups. If needed, groups booked with a high ratio of leaders to children may be asked to reduce their leaders in order to make space for other groups to attend. 
 
Following on from booking, closer to the event, all leaders and parents will receive the relevant consent forms and a link to the portal for uploading information. There will also be an online form for young people to select their activities for the weekend. More information will be sent about this closer to the event itself.
 
We will be meeting on Monday 21^st November at 7.30pm for a leaders' briefing about Amplify. https://zoom.us/j/95720015246?pwd=T1FHREFvb0FyM04rK0lkQ1BCYVptZz09 
In order to honour the places funded by each District, there are two separate deposit links.
 
If you are in Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury you can book your tickets here: 
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/birminghammethodistdistrict/780344#
Here is a step by step guide to making bookings.
I hope that this covers everything but please do contact me if you have any questions.
 
Thanks,
Charlotte 🙂
 
Charlotte Hambly | District Youth Coordinator
07742737437
www.birminghammethodist.org.uk | Registered Charity no. 1134167 
36 Amesbury Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8LE 
  
 

Children's Support Fund

Lay Orientation Training in the Methodist Church

Learning and Development Events

As I’m sure you’re aware, all of Reflective Supervision CPD Courses are now available online.
These courses are delivered by colleagues across the Network, the wider Connexional Team, ministers in Circuit and external trainers. Some are even written (and will be delivered) by your good selves.
 
The courses are listed at:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/methodist-church-supervision-cpd-courses-39676866413.
 
These short courses will be repeated and added to over the coming year.
 
 
The LN Calendar will be updated with new learning opportunities regularly, so make sure you make a habit of checking back using the link: (the posterboard or tile view may be the most useful to get a sense of what’s available)
 
Learning and Development Events (methodist.org.uk)

and

https://www.canva.com/design/DAFG2nPbPoU/OX07q2EzwLKKmmy75-JfDA/view?utm_content=DAFG2nPbPoU&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

 

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