4-7 Issue 3 News:issue 3 23/04/2009 09:17 Page 7
Coventry MU says ‘yes!’
Child-friendly church winners
St Francis Church, Kitt Green, Wigan has received a
Child Friendly Church Award, thanks to the work of
a group of Mothers’ Union members and the
church’s under 18s co-ordinator. The award was
created by the Diocese of Liverpool and is given to
churches who ‘welcome and integrate children
and their families into the worshipping life of their
church’. It is only given to churches following an
independent evaluation. St Francis Kitt Green has
joined nearly 40 churches who have achieved this
Warwickshire County Council is drawing on the
award since it was instigated in 2004.
skills of Mothers’ Union members to help run a new
Children’s Centre.
Jane Leadbetter, Liverpool’s Diocesan Children’s
Worker said, ‘All churches who receive the child
Di Sliwinski, Parenting Project Coordinator for
friendly award have worked hard to reach the
Coventry Diocese Mothers’ Union, was invited
standard we require. Getting the
initially to join a steering group to plan how the
award doesn’t mean the church
centre should be set up, then she joined the
has to have lots of children
advisory group made up of the staff, parents
week by week, what it does
and local community representatives.
show is that everyone at the
church is committed to
Di says, ‘The Mothers’ Union was in an ideal
welcoming children and
position to support the work of the
young people.’
Children’s Centre because of the wide range
of work we do especially with parents.’
When the centre needed volunteers to run
crèches for different activities, 15 Mothers’ Union
members volunteered for the rota. When the centre
Thanks from
manager asked Di if she knew any knitters to help
set up a knitting group, members volunteered,
Britain’s prisons
teaching the parents to knit while others looked
‘Thank you for the is upset on a visit, the
after the children in the crèche. Members with
continuing support of prison’s play facilitator
flower arranging skills have also been enlisted to
Mothers’ Union for gives them a bear and
show parents how to make simple table
families of prisoners.’ tells the child ‘Let
decorations for Christmas.
That’s the message from Mummy kiss and cuddle
the Visitors’ Centre the bear and when you
As a trained parenting group facilitator, Di helps to
Manager at Belmarsh go home Mummy’s
run the Family Links programme the ‘Parenting
Prison to Mothers’ kisses will be with you.’
Puzzle’ with the centre’s Family Support worker. She
Union members in Ros Murray from
says, ‘The manager and staff are always very
Southwark who provide NEPACS (the North
appreciative of what we do and have given us one
Christmas presents for Eastern Prison After
night a week to run any parenting programme we
prisoners’ children. A Care Society) said ‘These
like. This has enabled us to run a programme for
similar message was little bears work and as
parents of teenagers using the Family Caring Trust
received by members in the prison population is
resource, followed by the programme “What should
Durham who knit bears still rising please keep
we tell the children about relationships and sex?”
and dolls for children knitting ladies. Your
visiting Low Newton’s work is very much
‘It is seen very much as a partnership between the
Women’s Prison, appreciated by children,
Mothers’ Union and the Children’s Centre and it has
Frankland Prison and carers, prison staff and
been a real pleasure to be able to say “yes” when
Durham Prison. If a child NEPACS.’
asked, “Do you know anyone who could...?”‘
familiesworldwide – Issue 3.09 7
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68