Here you'll find information, resources and activities from the United Reformed Church (URC) specifically targeted at the under 11s age group, their parents and leaders of children's work. 

 Children are equal partners with adults in the life of the church. This is the first principle of the URC Charter for Children (PDF | 52kb).

Whether you are a parent or carer looking to learn what the URC has to offer or a children’s worker or church member looking for ideas and resources, we can help support you. 

You'll  find information about our Children and Youth Friendly Church awards which recognise the work done by many churches in taking steps to welcome and support children, young people and families, and about our Infant Feeding Policy, designed to reassure parents and carers of a church's willingness to support them as they care for their little ones. 

You can earn about our non-uniformed children’s groups,  Pilots and Friends on Faith Adventures, and also about our weekly downloadable magazine which aims to provide a Bible-based programme of engaging stories, activities and worship ideas for all the family to use together at home. 

Planning to reopen your toddler group after lockdown? 

Here is a useful factsheet which may help you consider how to do this safely and effectively: Reopening Toddler Groups (Word)  Reopening Toddler Groups (PDF 115KB) 

Families on Faith Adventures @ Home

More and more we become aware of the need for resources for families to engage with at home, which became increasingly apparent during the Covid-19 pandemic, and so Families on Faith Adventures @ Home was conceived - a weekly Bible-based, non-lectionary resource for families. The resource is aimed primarily at families with under 11s but has proved popular with a wide range of people of all ages. Each week a different Bible passage is explored through story, discussion, activities, prayers, challenges, craft, games, with a pick-and-mix selection of things to do together based on easily-accessible materials. There is a youtube playlist to accompany it. Find the materials here on our dedicated webpage. 

Friends on Faith Adventures

We are proud to announce the launch of our new programme for children aged 5 to 11. Friends on Faith Adventures (FOFA, for short) is a non-uniformed organision produced by Pilots and the Children's and Youth Work team to enable churches to provide child-centred, Biblical discipleship for all. Parents and  carers are encouraged to get involved too. Click on the link to find out more, 

 Looking for a Child Friendly Church ?

When you're looking for a church for your children or family to attend, it can be difficult to know which ones will be welcoming to younger participants. 

Up until 2020, churches were able to apply for the Child Friendly Church Award and were awarded a plaque to show that they had been approved being particularly welcoming to children and families. In 2020 a new scheme was introduced, the Children and Youth Friendly Church Scheme which is designed to help churches and congregations continuially develop their engagement and welcome for children, families and young people. There is a new plaque which they will be awarded when they complete the first round of this scheme, and certificates inside the church which will be renewed every five years to ensure that the ethos of welcome is current and ongoing. Find out more about the scheme and remember that you can contact the CYW office or your local synod representative  to find out which church near you has received the plaque. 

Pilots

Are you aged between 5 and 18? Do you like making friends, playing games, being creative, adventurous, crafty and active? Do you like learning new things and exploring the world? If so, Pilots is for you!

Pilots companies, based in local churches around the UK, usualy meet on a weekday night, providing different activities, games and challenges to suit all ages and abilities

 You can find out more on our Pilots page here

 Infant Feeding Policy 

Wherever you see this poster on display, you will know that the church has a policy on infant feeding. 

Local churches are encouraged by Mission Council to adopt the new URC Infant Feeding Policy which was approved in November 2020.

The policy states:

Anytown United Reformed Church (‘the church’) wants this to be a safe place for infants to be fed by their carers/parents.

We will give all parents and carers active and practical support for their needs in feeding their infant here whether by breast or bottle.

It goes on to give guidance to enable local churches to fulfil this in practice in a variety of ways. 

Find links to the editable policy, poster and logos by clicking here or on the poster.  

Some good resources...

Our network of regional professions known as the CYDO+ team have contributed these fact sheets and resource guides on the theme of Under Fives: 

•   Bumps and Babies 
•   Adverse Childhood Experences (ACES) and 1001 Critical Days 
•   Babies in the Community 
•   Mental health for new parents
•   ROOTS for Churches - Worshipping with 0s to 5s 
•   Toddler Groups 
•   Parenting for faith 
•   Setting up and running an effective creche
•   The Benefits of Sensory Bins 
•   0-5s in church (including infant feeding)

Our resources page has more resources suitable for this age range. Look there for our downloadable PDF booklets on being a children's worker or children and youth work elder, with accompanying documentation. Also available is the booklet Where Are The Children, aimed at supporting and encouraging churches in their engagement with the under 11s. Annually a new resource booklet is published on the Children's and Youth Work theme for the year. In 2020 this was Common Ground, in 2021 it is Heroes and Villains which will be released in February 2021. Contact the CYW office for a PDF copy of either of these.  

Catalogue of recomended resources (PDF |  1.8mb) - download a list of some recommended books and websites organised into several categories to help you find exactly what you need.