Events, training, and more!
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| Welcome to the latest Youth & Children Update! |
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| Take a peek at YEEK! This is the cover of the Yeek 25 Photobook. Download the full PDF version here for the full picture 📸 🖼 (Photos by Matthew Haigh-Forsyth, Matt Fischbacher and Claire Benton-Evans. Please fill in this form to share any of the pictures in your own communications.) |
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| Activities for Black History Month |
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| October is Black History Month in the UK. Here are four activities to get children and young people digging deeper, looking closer, and thinking bigger. Many of them coincide with half term! 😀 |
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| Maritime Leith's Black History: Tour Trinity House in Leith, Edinburgh, and discover the stories that link maritime Leith with Black History. Fridays in October at 11am and 1pm. Get more information. |
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| Wild Wings of Hope: Explore the extraordinary journeys of migratory birds and insects with storytelling and craft. This three-day event celebrates the biodiversity and cultural heritage of Scotland and Africa. Wednesday 15 to Friday 17 October, National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Get more information. |
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| Black History Walking Tours of Edinburgh: These tours run for between one and two hours and explore different areas of Edinburgh, including New Town, Portobello and Leith. Tours run throughout October. Find out more and book on this page. |
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| African and Caribbean Crafts Kids' Workshop: African and Caribbean crafts exploring colour, shape, design, and stories using recycled materials through textile printing with Adrinka symbols, bird sculpture making, and beautiful bead-making. Thursday 16 October, Paxton House, Berwick-Upon-Tweed. Get more information. |
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| From 22 October to 1 November it's the Scottish Storytelling Festival at venues all round Scotland and online. There's a children's programme too, with events in Edinburgh from 'A Dispute with a Butterfly' at the Scottish Storytelling Centre to the Botanics Storytelling Day at the Royal Botanical Garden. Get more information. |
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| Ring Out is a youth-initiated event for all aged 11–16 who are concerned about the impact of the climate crisis. On the 4th Saturday of each month, 11:30am–2pm, there is the chance to come together for discussion and creative action, with the bells being rung between 12 noon and 12:20pm. Next running 25 October. For more information contact A+E. |
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| New WhatsApp group for young adults The Pisky 18+ WhatsApp Community is a new PYC initiative to help Yeek graduates and other 18–25s keep in touch with each other and with key Youth leaders. There will be announcements of opportunities such as pilgrimages, and the chance to join different groups in the Community (e.g. your Diocese, Yeek 24 leavers). To join, fill in this short form. |
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| Taizé: One Week in July Taizé is an ecumenical monastic community in Burgundy, France. In July The Revd Nick Bowry, Rector of St James the Less, Penicuik, accompanied a group of young people aged between 18 and 28 from the SEC on a week-long trip to this modern-day pilgrimage site. On the evening of Friday 3 October, Nick will talk about the history of Taizé, its mission and the peaceful encounter that this special place offers. £5/person. Find out more. |
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| For Leaders - From the SEC |
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| Subsidised Christmas Booklets to Give Away This booklet is described as "An affirming Christmas gift to give to families, encouraging them to talk together, be creative, be hospitable, be celebratory, and including activities for all ages." We are inviting congregations to order these booklets through the Diocese for the reduced and subsidised cost of £1 per book. Have look at what the inside is like here, or ask to see a copy the next time you're in the Office. Order via this form and we will be in touch once they are available. |
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| Wondering about your work with babies, toddlers, children, or young people? Not sure what to do or where to start? Or maybe you are already doing something and are wondering what might come next? We are here to help! Get in touch with us and let us help you to take the next step, faithfully and with confidence. |
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| Safeguarding Training for those working with children and protected adults is available online, 8–9pm, on Thursday 20 November. This is being run by Ps & Gs, and is approved by the SEC Safeguarding team. Register here to attend. |
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| Play Church. You may have seen the reel about Play Church on our social media feeds. Did you know that it is hosted by congregations throughout the year? We have hosts booked up until autumn 2026, but if you want to host the Play Church at some point in the future, get in touch with Fee and she can talk you through what is involved and/or slot you in as a future host! |
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| The Provincial Enable Grant can be used to access up to £5000 in any one year. It aims to enable SEC congregations to develop new projects, or to support existing projects with an SEC connection, address increasing poverty amongst families in their community. More details are on the SEC website. |
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| For Leaders - From other providers |
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| Attend a Messy Church Masterclass! Are you wondering about running Messy Church but unsure about where to begin? Why not attend a Messy Masterclass online? It's free! Messy Masterclass – Starting Your Messy Church sessions are running on:
▶ Thursday 2 October, 7:30–9pm
▶ Tuesday 14 October, 1–2:30pm
▶ Tuesday 4 November, 7:30–9pm
▶ Wednesday 26 November, 1–2:30pm Find out more and sign up on the BRF website. |
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| The Thriving Families Conference, which explored ministry with 0–5s and their families, ran in June 2025, and its sessions are now online for you to view. See what's on offer on the conference's YouTube page. |
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| Upcoming Events with Godly Play Scotland This event will take place in the Godly Play Room at Duddingston Kirk, Edinburgh. ▶ Accredited Training: 22–24 Oct, £315. The details, and booking form, for this event are available on Godly Play Scotland's events page. |
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| Young People, the Local Church, and Leadership A lunchtime learning session for Christian leaders of 40 years of age and under. What does it take to grow youth and children’s ministry from fragile beginnings? Drawing on national research and frontline experience, Becca Willett (Youthscape) will bring practical insights and stories of hope, and share how intentional choices and committed church leadership are key to embracing the opportunities of this emerging generation and seeing young people come to faith today. Wednesday 22 October, 12:30–1:30pm, online. Get more information here. |
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| Youthscape's National Youth Ministry Weekend is running from 14–16 November in Birmingham. The theme for this year is 'The Upturn'. Find out more here. |
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| If you can't get along to the National Youth Ministry Weekend, why not catch some of the 'Talking Youth Ministry' podcast archive? There are hundreds of these weekly podcast episodes, easily browsable and free of charge, on the Youthscape website. |
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| If you're interested in Parenting for Faith, check out these courses, available from the BRF: ▶ Parenting Teens, six-week online course starting Friday 3 October, £25. ▶ Parenting as a Church Leader, online, Thursday 9 October, £25. ▶ Cliff College Certificate in Parenting for Faith, online, self-study, £150 or £175. There is a completion option that is always available. The certificate option starts Wednesday 1 October, so move fast! Find out more by exploring BRF's online store. |
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| On 15 November, Care for the Family will be running a special online Bereaved Parent Support Day which will offer understanding, encouragement and hope to any parent who has suffered the death of a child, at any age or in any circumstance.
Participants will hear from others who have experienced the loss of a child and be able to share informally in small groups, supported by trained facilitators. There will be three short online sessions during the day with meal/rest breaks between each one. Suggested donation: up to £15. Find out more on the Care for the Family Eventbrite page. |
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| Alumina, previously SelfharmUK, offers support for 10 to 17 year olds who are self-harming or thinking about doing so. It's a free, online seven-week course with up to 14 young people, all accessing the sessions from their own phones, tablets or laptops across the UK. The courses take place on different evenings of the week and are run by friendly, trained counsellors and volunteer youth workers. Find out more, and see what a session looks like, on the Alumina website. |
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| REMINDER: You can find lots of information under the Adventures in Faith headline on our website, including a list of Awareness Days until the end of 2025, as well as courses/events you might find helpful. Links to the Adventures in Faith pages can be found via the gold-coloured menu items above and below. |
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Spark is a video-based devotional app from United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) for kids aged 10 to 12. Featuring everything from spoof wildlife documentaries, virtual boxing matches to lightning-speed special effects, each daily devotional engages kids and helps them connect with the Bible. Get more information on the UCB website. |
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| Keep up to date with Diocesan
News & Events! |
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| Revd Fiona (Fee) Reynolds, Advisor for Christian Life, 0131 346 9089 [email protected] |
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Cathy Tingle, Interim Administrative Assistant (M&M), 0131 346 9085 [email protected] |
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