As lockdown restrictions gradually ease, in line with Government guidance, churches across all four nations of the Uk are beginning to put serious thought into what this means for the opening of church buildings and the resumption of in-building activity, including children'due south and youth work.

Over the past yr, some children'south and youth work has stopped birthday, and the thought of coming together with children and young people again is rightly being greeted with bully enthusiasm. For many, children'southward and youth work has continued online, with a variety of approaches having been taken to create environments that are engaging, interesting and fun. Much has been learned over the past 12-months, and many of us have go Zoom 'guru's'!

Simply as we showtime to plan for a resumption of in-building children's and youth work again, albeit initially somewhat unlike looking to when we last were able to practice this, let's non lose all of the learning and experience we've gained from the terminal year. Let'south not abandon the progress we've made in reaching children and young people through Zoom that we wouldn't have reached through in-building activity, many of whom have boosted needs or disabilities.

Similar many children'south and youth workers, I honey a skilful Disney movie, and that well known quote from 'Lilo & Stitch' keeps coming to heed whenever I think almost a return to in-edifice children's and youth piece of work:

"Ohana ways family unit. Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten."

Then often, families of children with boosted needs or disabilities can find themselves forgotten, overlooked, non considered when plans are existence made. Later a twelvemonth it is unsurprising that many church leaders and children'southward/youth teams are excited about the prospect of the doors being opened again and in-building piece of work restarting, but I've personally been saddened to see many people posting on social media about how thrilled they are to non accept to run Zoom sessions any more. For families who cannot, for all kinds of reasons, attend in-building activities, this is so harmful; some other form of exclusion.

And then let's not cull betwixt in-building or online children'southward and youth work; allow's not create exclusion by cutting off families who have been able to connect to church similar never before over the past 12-months. Let's make sure that no i gets left behind or forgotten.

Here's 5 'C's' that you tin can do that will aid with this:

1. Communicate

Ask families what they prefer, what they are able to admission, what resources they need to join in. Make certain y'all are including them equally you plan, remembering that phrase used past the disabled community'Nothing about us without us.'

2. Community

Recognise that your community includes families that come to the building and families that connect from home. Structure your activities in ways that link both parts of this customs together and so that they can bask being involved wherever they are and tin feel the 'togetherness'.

3. Camera

A 'hybrid' or 'blended' offering isn't well-nigh providing an in-building programme and broadcasting it via a static photographic camera at the back of the room to anyone else. Information technology's about interaction, giving families at home a chance to contribute, share and lead; having the camera moving effectually to run into what is happening in-building and dissemination on a screen and sound system what is happening at home, making it a truly interactive feel for anybody.

iv. Creativity

Are y'all doing something 'crafty' or 'creative'? Have yous thought nearly how to equip families that are taking office from dwelling? Maybe drop a bag of resources round to them so that they have everything that children/young people in the church building building have, enabling them to all join in together. Is there a plan or timetable that you could include? For children/immature people with additional needs, make this visual by including symbols and photo'due south.

5. Cheque-in

Nosotros generally conversation with families as they collect their children from in-building sessions, so why not practise the same for families that are connecting online? Don't just driblet them an email merely choice up the telephone or pop round for a (socially distanced) chat. How did the session go for them? What worked and what didn't? What exercise they need from us side by side time? How would they like to take function?

I hope these tips and ideas will help you every bit we emerge from lockdown and program for the 'new normal'. Let'due south make sure we all call up that"family unit means no one gets left behind or forgotten". Let's ensure that whether families are getting involved in what we are offer in-building or at home that they all feel connected and all experience the same sense of community that this brings.

Peace,

Marker

All content © Mark Arnold expect references to the movie 'Lilo & Stitch' © Disney

See as well:
Lost In Lockdown Once again? How To Keep On Supporting Children With Additional Needs
https://theadditionalneedsblogfather.com/2021/01/10/lockdown-two/

Just Go along Swimming: Disabled Characters In Disney Pixar Films
https://theadditionalneedsblogfather.com/2020/05/21/disney/