A thought-provoking, helpful report: the impact of COVID-19 on children's mental health

The United Nations recently acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing widespread psychological distress. Transforming Lives for Good (TLG) has written an informative and thought-provoking report about the impact of COVID-19 on children’s mental health: The Hidden Crisis.

As well as laying out some of the challenges and issues faced, it offers a range of support and ways we can promote well-being and life skills for a better future for all of our children.

Please feel free to share this report with your network, children’s and youth group leaders and your wider community.

“The countless ways that COVID-19 has impacted our society will, directly or indirectly, have a huge effect on our emotional health..... Please read this report, and consider how best to act upon it. ”

— it says in the report's introduction

Transforming Lives for Good (TLG) -

“TLG is a Christian charity that helps churches to
bring hope and a future for struggling children.
From school exclusion, to poverty and holiday hunger, there are children across the UK facing some of the toughest starts in life. We believe change is possible and that’s why in all our work lies an unchanging resolve to transform lives for good.”

— says TLG

TLG are a friend of Pray for Schools

(cover photo by Kat J @ Unsplash)

Anti-racist RE resources and recording of recent panel discussion

As you may already know, in partnership with Methodist Schools, the Free Churches Group commissioned Lat Blaylock of RE Today to write and develop a dynamic and thought provoking range of RE resources - Anti-racist RE - which you can access for free HERE.

We are now delighted to share in full the 'Anti-Racist RE Panel' session

from Strictly RE @ Home 2021.

With thanks to our panellists Anthony Reddie, Alexandra Brown,

Saima Saleh & Sally Elton-Chalcraft.

You can watch a recording of the panel discussion here:

We are grateful to the Westhill Endowment for providing financial support which enabled us to develop these Anti-racist RE resources.

(cover photo courtesy of Alexis Brown at Unsplash)

Rounded: Ready for Life: launch event coming up soon!

Are you working with young people aged 16 to 19 years old?

We are delighted to announce that there is a new resource to support 16-19s in college and beyond. This has been developed by the West Midlands Churches’ Further Education Council. There will be a launch event (hosted at lunchtime on 16th March and early evening on 17th March).

ROUNDED is WM Churches' Further Education Council's new Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development resource for 16-19s in college and beyond.

It comprises six interactive, flexible-format sessions cover different character dispositions which can help young people prepare for an ethical and fruitful life.

We'd love you to join us for one of the two launch events above. Session will include:

• Demo of one of the interactive films

• Introduction to ROUNDED and how to use it

• Hear from ROUNDED's creator, Simeon Whiting

• Time for questions

To take part, please email Ms Lynne Hayes-James indicating which session you would like to join. You will then receive a Zoom link a few days before the event.

(cover photo courtesy of Fang-Wei Lin @ Unsplash)

Explore values and virtues which will help 16-19 year olds grow as rounded individuals

Are you working with young people aged between 16 and 19 years old?

The West Midlands Churches’ Further Education Council has prepared some thought-provoking and interesting resources entitled Ready for Life in six different topic areas:

1. CULTIVATING IDENTITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING

2. BEING FAIR AND JUST

3. BEING MERCIFUL AND FORGIVING

4. BEING THANKFUL

5. CARING FOR OTHERS, ANIMALS & THE ENVIRONMENT

6. BEING HOPEFUL AND VISIONARY

Explore values and virtues which will help 16-19 year olds grow as rounded individuals.

For further information and to find out how to order your copy:

(cover photo courtesy of Eliott Reyna @ Unsplash)

Methodist Schools webinar: so, you’re interested in school chaplaincy?

Every couple of years, Methodist Schools organises an informal session for people to find out more about school chaplaincy and explore whether it might be a calling for them.

This year we are running the session by webinar on 3rd March at 2.00pm – 3.45pm. There will be an overview of the nature of chaplaincy from the leader of the Centre for Chaplaincy in Education and reflections on the nature of the work from serving chaplains in the state and independent sectors – and from a headteacher, talking about why it is important to the school.

This session is aimed at people who might be interested in working in school chaplaincy, whether lay or ordained. It’s being run by Methodist Schools, so it will be coloured by experience within that sector but will have a more general appeal if chaplaincy is your area of possible interest. It would also be valuable for people about to embark on a school chaplaincy role – maybe someone anticipating a station which includes a school, for example.

All interested people are welcome! If you would like to join us, please send your details to the Methodist Schools office (oolayinka@methodistschools.org.uk) and we will send you joining instructions.