Barnsley Holiday Club Transforming Mission

As the children and young people from around the District return to classrooms or start new schools, we take a look back on events over the summer in the Barnsley Circuit.

Linda Stammers, Children and Families Support Worker in Barnsley North East, Ellie Peet a Lay Worker in Barnsley South and Revd. Ben Scrivens, along with a small army of volunteers arranged a holiday club which served over 40 children and young people within the three areas of the Circuit.

The team entertained, shared bible teachings, played games and generally had fun with all who attended the holiday club.

Each session was themed around the Creation story. The first was around light, the second was about water and the oceans, then third and final session was all about the creation of life on the land.

The story was shared through games, crafts, outdoor activities such as scavenger hunts and songs. The club saw children aged between 3-12 years old attending and ran between 10am until 2pm.

Linda Stammers, said: "In the Barnsley Circuit we are always looking for ways we can push our mission forward so we launched a holiday club online for October and February half terms during the last school year. This summer we were delighted to be able to host the club in person and we saw over 40 children and young people across the three sessions.

"We held the club in each of the three areas of the Circuit (North East, North West and South) to make sure we were serving the whole Circuit. It was so much fun and we saw new faces arriving especially once we released photos on social media and children went home and told their friends all about it.

"We are now looking at what more we can offer our children and young people within the Circuit. It was so encouraging to see 12-year-olds who wanted to join in, learn more also help the littler ones during the sessions.

"Thank you to everyone involved, the parents gave great feedback about how much their children had enjoyed themselves and all us grown ups did too."

How is your Circuit or Church transforming mission? Send an email to Comms@SheffieldMethodist.org to share your stories.