One of the ways our churches serve families in their local communities is through hosting a holiday club.
Particularly in the long summer holidays, parents are often looking for somewhere their children can go for a few hours that will offer a space safe and the opportunity to connect and make friends with children from other local families. It also provides the opportunity to offer children a gentle introduction to the main themes of Christianity in a creative and low-pressure environment, building memories of church as a fun place to be.
While many groups stop for the summer holidays, Sam Andrews at Pershore Abbey will be starting her usual Summer Holidays ‘Little Seeds’ group, creating a much-needed space just for pre-school children and their siblings up to 6 years old. This will be taking place from 9.30am – 11.30am on the first four Friday mornings in August - 1, 8, 15 and 22 August at St Andrews Centre opposite the Abbey.
With help from a group of volunteers Pershore Abbey will also be hosting their ever-popular Summer Activity Morning (SAM) on Tuesday 12 August from 9.30-midday with a range of crafts and other activities on offer.
Churches with paid Children and Families ministers have greater capacity to offer these kinds of clubs and indeed many of the other members of our diocesan network do have plans to engage families this summer.
Many of these clubs are free or only charging a low nominal fee:
- The Chase Team in Malvern, are offering a holiday club themed around ‘God’s wonderful world’ called ‘Wonder Zone’ ‘exploring how science and following God can go hand-in-hand’. This will be hosted at St Andrews Malvern from 26 – 29 August: https://chaseteam.org/holiday-club/
- All Saints, Worcester are hosting a holiday club called ‘Create’, during the mornings of 26 – 29 August: https://www.allsaintsworcester.org.uk/children focusing on how ‘God is the original artist, and every child is His masterpiece.
- St Mary’s Church in Kingswinford are hosting a holiday club in partnership with iSingPop which will feature many of their high-energy and catchy worship songs from – 4 – 7 August
- Harvington Youth Project are offering a summer holiday club from 21 – 23 July. Children and Youth Worker Matt Cook will be leading on this.
- St Chad’s Church in Kidderminster, are hosting a free holiday club on 28 and 29 August.
If you’re aware of any other holiday activities taking place across our Diocese this summer, please let us know and we will add them here. Email Ellie in the Comms team.
