Amplify update
Hello everyone,
As you will be aware, Amplify, the children and youth weekend
away for the Birmingham and W&S districts, is coming up
between 24th and 26th March 2023.
This email contains some important information both for
yourselves, and for others within your circuits and local
contexts. You can find out more information about everything
Amplify at www.birminghammethodist.org.uk/amplify
Stewards
at Amplify
We are looking for adults who have a heart for young people, want
to find out more and be involved in Amplify. These people are
vital in making the weekend run, releasing leaders to be
alongside their young people. Plenty more info is available on
the website. Please share this information with those in your
local contexts who might be willing and interested in being
involved.
Access
the job description here
Stewards
Application Form
Booking
tickets for the weekend
Tickets can be booked for leaders and young people through
this link
First a deposit is made - Leaders £10 ; Young people £20. This
stage closes on Sunday 22nd January.
Following this deposit being made, a link is sent within the
confirmation email to make the final payment will be sent. The
final payment must be made by Sunday 19th February.
Young
people without a group
Young people all need to attend with a named adult responsible
for them, but we understand that there are young people around
the District who are not part of large groups. If you have young
people (anyone aged 8-18) in your churches, they are more than
welcome to attend. We will group ones and twos together either as
a group of individuals or with other groups within the local
area. We want everyone, whether part of a large group or not, to
be able to access Amplify, so please get in touch if you do have
these ones and twos.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with me. I'm very
excited about Amplify and hope you, your leaders and your young
people are too!
Thanks,
Charlotte 🙂
Charlotte
Hambly | District Youth Coordinator
07742737437
www.birminghammethodist.org.uk
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Lay Pastoral Worker vacancy
The Black Country
Circuit (28/12)
LAY
PASTORAL WORKER (Part time 16 hours per week, days flexible as
required to respond to need)
Salary:
£10.90 - £12 per hour depending on qualifications and experience
We are looking for a part-time lay pastoral worker to support the
ministerial team:
Applicants
must:
- Be able to work
collaboratively as part of a team
- Be a committed,
practising Christian who is willing to understand and engage
with Methodism
- Have excellent
interpersonal skills
- Show awareness of
issues concerning safeguarding
- Be willing to be
flexible with regard to working hours, including some
evenings and weekends
- Have some
experience of delivering pastoral care
- Be educated to
minimum GCSE level 5 (or equivalent)
Closing date for applications: 12 noon on Thursday 15th
December 2022
Interviews will take place on Wednesday 21st December
2022
For further details (including job description and full person
spec) and an application pack contact Rev Denise Williams:
Email: revdenise@hotmail.co.uk
Tel :0121 520 2237
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Action for Children News
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Working
with the John Lewis Partnership to support young people in care
We are delighted to be working with John Lewis to support
children and young people with experience of the care system.
This year's iconic John Lewis advert highlights the ongoing
partnership - you can view a short film about the story behind
the advert here.
Imran Hussain, Director of Policy & Campaigns, Action for
Children, says: “At Action for Children we want every child to
have a safe and happy childhood. Every year, we work with over
40,000 children and young people in, or with experience of, the
care system, and we know the challenges and poor outcomes they
may face. We are delighted to be working with the John Lewis
Partnership on its iconic Christmas advert and applaud the
company for its work and long-term commitment to shining a
light on the issues facing some of the most vulnerable children
in the country. We believe this partnership will enable us to
support and empower more children and young people as they make
the transition from care into the adult world.”
Read about four ways we support children in care here.
The John Lewis Christmas advert highlights the importance of
children’s social care. Now we need to fix it. The government
must commit to invest and reform children’s social care, writes
Joe Lane, Action for Children’s Head of Policy & Research.
Read more here.
Be a Secret Santa to support vulnerable children this Christmas
Many children in the UK are facing a Christmas without food,
warmth or toys this year.
We’re working hard to change this by growing a community of
Secret Santas to help.
Will you add one of our essentials to your shopping list this
year and help vulnerable children across the UK? There is also
an option to purchase our charity Christmas cards to support
the campaign. Find out how to be a Secret Santa here.
Our TV advert is supporting our Secret Santa campaign - you can
watch it here.
Christmas worship resources - are you holding a special service
this Advent and Christmas?
We've created a worship outline for churches that wish to hold
special services to support and pray for our work. The
prayers, poems and stories are based on the theme, ‘Warm
welcome’. Visit our dedicated page actionforchildren.uk/worship
to download a copy. If you are holding a special service in
support of our work this year please do let us know - tag us
into your social media or drop us an email here.
If you're a church, district or circuit contact who hasn't been
receiving our newsletter and the worship outline by post,
please email ask.us@actionforchildren.org.uk
with your details and we will add you to our mailing list.
Parent Talk report
New research using data from our Parent
Talk service reveals huge demand for support with
special educational needs and disabilities.
Parent Talk is a first-of-its-kind free online service which
provides accessible and trustworthy advice, support, and
reassurance for parents and carers of children aged 0-19.
Parents and carers can access 1-to-1 advice from parenting
coaches – trained family support workers – as well as support
and advice articles across a range of common parenting
challenges.
Read our insights into common parenting challenges, and the
barriers people face accessing support services here.
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Thank
you to the Methodist family for your continued prayers and
support at this challenging time for so many.
Anna McCrum
Faith Partnerships Lead
Action for Children
Email
me here
07977 830126
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Warm Spaces Grants - updated 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
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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:
Tuesday 7 February
Friday 12 May
Wednesday 21 June
Each day will be run from 10.00 - 15.30
To book on click HERE
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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/
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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
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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
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Children's Support
Fund
There
is still money available from the above and if your Church is
thinking of running any Children's activities, especially with
the Christmas approaching which is traditionally the time
for activities then, please consider applying for a maximum
of £500. The attached application
form needs to be completed.. Any further questions
please contact Tim Lorimer on tim.a.lorimer@gmail.com Many
thanks
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Lay Orientation Training in the Methodist
Church
A day
for new Lay Employees to meet, explore their role, understand
Methodism and get to grips with key employment practices and much
more!
The next Lay Orientation Training will be taking place on-line on
6th
December 2022 from 10:00 am – 14:30pm.
To register for the event please click the link below:
Lay Orientation Training Registration, Tue 6
Dec 2022 at 10:00 | Eventbrite
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