A safe space for conversation and learning with and from each other.
This interactive day focuses on making our church life and buildings accessible and enjoyable for Children, Young People and Families affected by a range of disabilities or learning needs.
We have an exciting line up of workshop leaders with national profiles and local experience, click the link for a details.
All our speakers have direct personal experience of disability and learning needs.
For parents, carers, teachers, anyone involved in ministry with children and families.
£5 per person.
Please bring your own lunch, drinks and other refreshments will be provided throughout the day.
Please click here to book your space.
The session is hosted by The Diocese of Gloucester Connect Team.
Rachel Summers – Curious wild
Rachel is an experienced SEN, EBD teacher. Discovering how children flourished in an outdoor environment encouraged Rachel to become a forest school practitioner.
Pioneer minister and author of several books about outdoor worship Rachel is passionate about helping people discover God through Creation.
Mark Arnold – Additional Needs Alliance
Mark Arnold has 35 years of Christian youth work experience, and is Additional Needs Ministry Director at Urban Saints, a national children’s and youth work organisation. Mark is founder of The Dads’ Fire Circle and Co-Founder of the Additional Needs Alliance, both vibrant and fast-growing online communities, and blogs as The Additional Needs Blogfather.
Mark will facilitate a workshop and discussion on how to include autistic children and young people in church: creating a place of belonging and spiritual development for all.
Julie Cresswell Optimum coaching.
An accredited coach and teacher in a pupil referral unit Julie describes herself as passionate about children growing up feeling seen, heard, understood and accepted for the unique individual they are.
Having someone to talk to in a safe space helps you recognise that you are the expert on your child.
In her session Julie will help you appreciate that on this parenting, caring journey you are enough, you know your child and as a family you have all you need for every situation.
Her insight can help anyone ask the right questions and provide support for families.
Laine Lewis – The Harbour
Laine is a Gloucester girl married to Mike and has two boys both of whom are complete legends and their extra challenges and needs make them even more fabulous. Laine has 27 years experience in Youth and Children’s Church and Community work. She loves to cook and read and shop and watch washing machine videos with her youngest.
Laine will talk about how she was inspired to start The Harbour as a place of provision and outreach and how that came about as well as talking practically about how it was run and lessons they learned from it.
Rachel and Suzie Laughton
Rachel has been connected with the church in Gloucester all her life. She became increasingly involved in children and families work in her home parish of Hempsted and the City Centre during the pandemic leading to becoming the Children and Families Worker. Rachel works in partnership with Hempsted School to support children and families across the Hempsted community sharing activities and opportunities for children and families to grow in faith. Rachel also runs a dance school with her husband but there’s no promise of a Salsa class today.
Rachel Laughton and her daughter, Suzie, share their good news story of welcome, love, inclusion and adventure as part of the church family.
