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Action for Children News
News
for your District from Action for Children
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Hello from Action for Children!
I hope this finds you well.
We have started to receive heartwarming reports
from churches who have held early Action for
Children Sunday services and I hope you will be
able to share any news you can with us in the weeks
ahead regarding celebrations of our special
relationship. It would be wonderful to have an idea
of how many churches hold Action for Children
Sunday services so if you do get feedback please
pass it on.
Colleagues from across the charity were pleased to
be able to attend the recent Methodist Conference
to share updates on our work and engage with
Conference members during the breaks from business.
Our CEO, Paul Carberry, was invited to speak this
year, shining a light on the work we do to help
vulnerable children, young people and families.
This email looks ahead to the autumn with details
of a creative fundraising opportunity, Boycott Your
Bed. I do hope many of our Methodist supporters
will be able to support this.
Best wishes and continued thanks,
Anna
Faith Partnerships Lead
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News from Action for
Children
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Host your own
Boycott Your Bed this autumn
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Right
now, over 4 million children live in
poverty across the UK. That's almost
30% of all children. And with the
impact of the cost of living crisis
hitting home, they're even more
vulnerable. Tonight, many will go to
sleep hungry. Some won’t even have a warm
bed to climb into or a safe space to
wake up in.
We’re a vital lifeline, but we can’t do
it without you.
Together, we can make sure children
have the basics like warm clothes, hot
meals and a proper bed. We can help
them recover from abuse and neglect,
and put support in place for families
to protect against it happening, too.
And we can offer the right mental
health support, so children thrive.
How to get involved
People across the country will be
giving up their bed for the night and
attending a Boycott your Bed Live
event. But if you can’t make one of our
in-person events, you can still get
involved with the fun!
All you need to do is sign up, get a
team together, raise funds and give up
your bed for a night.
Maybe members of your local congregation
would be able to join together or work
colleagues? Further details and our
registration form can be found here.
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Where is child
poverty increasing in the
UK?
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The
End Child Poverty Coalition (of which
Action for Children is a part) has
published new detailed local child
poverty data up to 2021/22.
It shows that the withdrawal of the £20
increase in Universal Credit in October
2021, followed by the onset of a major
cost of living crisis, has resulted in
the return of near pre-pandemic child
poverty levels. Read more about which
areas of the country are affected worst
and how you can make a difference, in
our blog here.
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The
Stephenson Awards recognise and
celebrate our incredible staff
colleagues, volunteers, foster carers
and supporters who are there for
children, young people and families -
as well as the remarkable achievements
of young people and their families themselves.
This year we were delighted to welcome
as a judge, the Revd Rachel Parkinson,
Chair of the Wolverhampton and
Shrewsbury District.
The awards are named after our founder,
the Revd Thomas Bowman Stephenson, and
were held in London, hosted by Angela Rippon
CBE.
We send congratulations to one of the
winners, Margaret Hobbs (Home
Collection Secretary of Wellingborough
Methodist Church) who has been
collecting for Action for Children for
more than 70 years. Margaret has
organised a huge number of fundraisers
down the years including three-legged
races, cake stalls and in-store
collections.
Thank you to all our supporters for the
amazing dedication you show to the work
of our charity, helping to secure safe
and happy childhoods for thousands of
young people each year.
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From
Manchester and Stockport District, a
report of a recent informal Q and A
session at Manchester Central Hall. A
group of Action for Children staff met
with local Methodists to share updates
on our work in the area. Read more here.
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Action for Children District Advocates
Dear
District Advocates
Supporter Services may already have been in touch with volunteers
who collect and bank donations/collections, but I wonder if you
can also share locally that we have a new freepost licence which
is: RUEY-EGCU-ZKZL. Please can all post now use this licence
number and not the old one, RTGA-TJEJ-HHCK which has been discontinued.
I hope the following may answer any questions your volunteers may
have about this:
Will
communications sent using the old number reach Action for
Children?
Yes, but there will be a significant delay.
Do I
need to order new collection envelopes?
Please use existing ones but use the new licence number when you
send the envelopes to us. We are printing new envelopes and these
will be ready soon. We will let you know when they are in stock.
My
cheques have not been banked and/or I have not received a thank
you from AFC. Why is this?
The delay in receiving mail sent under the old licence is likely
to be the reason for this. We apologise for the delay.
Action
for children Sunday is coming up. I am concerned about ensuring
our collections reach you. What should I do?
Please send cheques etc in the usual manner but using the new
Freepost licence number RUEY-EGCU-ZKZL.
But don’t worry, if the old number is used by mistake, the
collection will still reach us eventually.
Once the new collection envelopes are ready we will let you know.
Thank you for your continued support.
Best wishes
Anna
McCrum
Faith
Partnerships Lead
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Sunshine and Showers Prayer Course
Are you a church or small group leader? Do you have local
arrangements on your plan? Have you ever noticed apparent
contradictions in prayer? Sunshine and Showers Prayer’s beautiful
messiness is for you. 6 sessions focusing on paradoxes in prayer;
discussion and exploration in small groups; local and flexible.
If you are interested in running a group come along to this free
online information session to learn more about it Thursday 20th
July @ 11.30. Book your place now via Eventbrite.
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Journey of the Magi
Journey of the Magi – a festive, light-hearted, joyful event
with a moving and profound message.
Share
the joy and wonder of Christmas with your church and local
community through this exhilarating, critically acclaimed
performance. The show offers a bridge between contemporary life
and Jesus’s birth, comparing our own personal journey to
Christmas day with the journey that the wise men took. With
sparkle and songs to keep the children entertained and bags of
good humour for the grown-ups, Journey of the Magi delights
audiences of all ages and offers a chance to reflect and refocus.
“Absolutely fabulous show. Wonderful mix of fun,
wit, and meaning. It made me laugh and it made me cry all in a
couple of minutes. (Hope you'll come back.)” Richard, Poynton Methodist Church
Springs
is inviting churches to host a performance of Journey of the Magi,
which will be available nationally during Advent 2023.
Further
information can be found on the Springs Dance Company website
page https://springsdancecompany.org.uk/productions/journey-of-the-magi/,
by emailing touring@springsdancecompany.org.uk or
by calling 07775 628442.
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Exploring Digital
A day online exploring the digital world for Methodist Churches
and communities.
Join together with Methodists from all over Britain for a special
digital gathering. Learn from key individuals who've mastered the
digital world on how to connect and share the Gospel online. The
event will feature insightful keynotes, group discussions and an
expert panel. Don't miss this chance to enhance your
church's online presence and explore faith in the digital era!
- When: Saturday 30
September, 10am to 3:30pm.
- Where: Online, so
you can join wherever you are.
- Cost: We are providing
this day free of charge.
We'll be
sharing further information about speakers, topics and resources
closer to the event. Register
for your free place now to avoid missing out and
join us on Saturday 30 September for a day
of exploration into the digital world and the
opportunities it holds for the Methodist Church.
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3Generate Update
3Generate
takes place from 6 to 8 October 2023 at the NEC. It's a wonderful
opportunity for children and young people to gather
together, encounter God and be reminded of their vital place
within the wider Methodist Church. It's open to anyone aged
between 8 and 23, with a special day event on the Saturday for 4
to 7 year olds with their parents/carers.
All the information you need to book can be found here:
www.3Generate.org.uk
Here is a link to a video from last year.
https://youtu.be/NAtflE_meYo
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Melody
Jones at layworkermelody@hotmail.com.
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Advanced Safeguarding Training
Advanced
Safeguarding Training Dates.
Anyone wishing to book onto one of these sessions needs to email kayredfern@birminghammethodist.org.uk
All of the below are training dates at The Methodist Churches
below:
22nd July – Wednesbury Leabrook – face to face –
9.45am registration
16th Sept – Dudley Wood – face to face – 9.45am
registration
9th Sept – Coventry – Central - Eadon Hall – face to
face – 9.45am registration
14th October – Kenilworth – face to face – 9.45am
registration
25th November – Solihull – face to face – 9.45am
registration
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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, 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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