Awards will help encourage younger people to churches

8:13pm Friday 16th May 2008

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YOUNG Christians must feel wanted, valued and interested when they are sitting in the church pews.

That was the message from the Diocese of Worcester as it launched a ground-breaking award scheme to help local parishes reach out to children and young people and involve them in day-to-day activities of the church.

The kitemark scheme - only the second in the country - will see the diocese reward those parishes doing particularly well and encourage others to follow suit.

Ways of improving young people's lives were identified and there is now set level of standards all parishes should aspire to - for example ensuring all those who work with children possess a Criminal Records Bureau Enhanced Certificate.

Before deciding to roll the scheme out, it was trialled in the parishes of Barbourne in Worcester, Hallow, Teme Valley and Kidderminster.

Rev David Morphy, diocesan director of education, said these churches were central to developing the scheme.

Congregations, including children and young people, were asked whether their churches were child-friendly and whether they were providing the right environment and opportunities for the spiritual nurture and development of faith.

"For pre-school age we are looking at things such as the creche; are there enough toys so that when three-year-olds come into a church they think, this is like play group', and not some wierd, adult environment," said Rev Morphy.

"For primary age - five to 11 - we need to make sure leaders understand the needs of children and produce experience that support them and are accessible." Stressing the need for services to be interesting and accessible, he added that it could be "quite a challenge" for those used to pleasing a more elderly congregation.

"Then we have the 11-plus: the teenagers," he said.

"It's about giving them responsibility, listening to their opinions and asking if they are directly involved in church decisions."

There are bronze, silver and gold awards and the scheme - officially launched by the Rev David Walker, Bishop of Dudley, at the Old Palace, in Deansway, Worcester, on Wednesday - is voluntary.

For more information call the diocesan children's officer on 01905 732825 or e-mail education@cofe-worcester. org.uk.