What are we Aiming Towards

Encouraging all members of the congregation to have a positive attitude towards each other, especially across generations and cultures.
Having an awareness of current child protection policies, and having clear guidelines to protect all children on any church activity. (This is not optional – it is vitally important that you have a child protection policy in place). In the first instance please contact those responsible for child protection in your denomination, who will be able to provide advice and training. Additional help can be obtained from the PCCA Christian Child Care, P O Box 133, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7UQ. Tel. Office 01322 667207. Tel. Helpline: 01322 660011. Different denominations and PCCA offer training, resources, and consultation facilitators to help churches and schools understand and implement child protection policies.
Being aware of the spiritual, emotional, physical and social needs of its members, and others in contact with the church community, and seeking to fill these needs where it is appropriate.
Providing a dynamic, multi-sensory, inspiring, and creative children’s programme.
Acknowledging that all relationships can benefit from learning and developing relationship skills, and providing opportunities for learning, such as seminars and workshops for parents, couples, teens, singles, those growing older, etc.
Having a named person on whom people can call when they have a family crisis or a practical need of some sort. The aim of this is to relieve the immediate stress on families and individuals when emergencies arise.
Actively involving adults, and children of all ages, in the church service on a regular basis.
Sharing out responsibilities so that no one family or person is over-burdened with church-related tasks.
Taking care of its church leaders, and their families, by protecting their need for family time, too.
Having a building that is safe and accessible to everyone (ramps, toilets, access, protective railings, etc)..
Providing a crèche for very small children so that their parents can focus on the worship experience without distractions.
Finishing services on time. Carers, people with certain health problems, parents, and those with non-church-attending spouses all need to know that a service will finish at a given time. (Having an atmosphere where people can leave a service at any time, without being made to feel uncomfortable, can be helpful. But it is also important to remember that a person can feel a sense of loss and loneliness if they have had to leave the service before it is finished, and before they can have a time to chat with their friends. Church may be the only social contact available to some carers and lone parents, etc.)[endbullet] [bullet]Being aware of the needs of men and fathers, and addressing these in a variety of ways. (Men’s groups, sports, work-teams, networking, etc.).
Reaching out to other families in the local community, using an on-going project.