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From recent newsletters:
Update on Vetting and Barring Scheme (England, Wales & NI)
The following information is extracted from the latest ISA Guidance document:
From 12 October 2009:
• You must not knowingly employ in regulated activity or use as a volunteer, a barred person. Any new employees or volunteers must be asked if they are barred but if you have no reason to believe that existing volunteers are barred, there is no requirement to seek new CRB disclosures.
• If you employ people or use volunteers in regulated activity or controlled activity, and subsequently dismiss or cease using them because you think they have harmed or pose a risk of harm to children or vulnerable adults, you must refer the case to the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). However, the recommendation is that before making a referral, it is good practice to consult local children’s services or adult social services, as appropriate. They may be able to offer helpful advice or have additional information that can be passed on to the ISA in a parallel or coordinated referral.
The frequency and intensiveness tests
Work in any of the specified settings or specified activities listed in this section is regulated activity if it is done frequently (once a month or more) or intensively (on three days or more in a single 30-day period). Sir Roger Singleton, Chairman of the ISA and the Government’s Chief Adviser on the Safety of Children, has been asked to check that the Government has drawn the line for ‘frequent and intensive’ in the right place. Sir Roger has been asked to report by early December 2009.
For more information go to www.isa-gov.
Making the Bible accessible
Many of the resources and teaching programmes you can buy for children’s ministry will have Bible stories at their core and will give you varied ideas on how to make the teaching memorable and fun. But if you are looking for specific help on teaching the Bible look at Top Tips on Discovering the Bible with Children or Top Tips on sharing Bible Stories. Delve deeper into the background of the Bible and use you new-found knowledge to excite children – see a range of reference books designed for adults and children to use.
Children’s Bibles
There’s a wide range of children’s Bibles available that you can use in your groups, give as gifts or recommend to parents.
The Baby Bible Storybook For Girls and For Boys are board books that you can give to the youngest of children so they can handle and interact with their own Bible. They have very short Bible stories – one per page – each with a simple activity. For older preschoolers The Big Bible Storybook has charming illustrations and Bible stories told in appropriate language for 3-5s. See a range of Bibles for under 5s…
For over 5s The Barnabas Children’s Bible has a more comprehensive selection of well-illustrated Bible stories and for those children who prefer pictures to words the Picture Bible is one of several comic-style Bible story books. See a range of Bibles for 5-11s…
There are several Bibles that help children transition to the full Bible text. Translations like the Good News Bible and The Message may be more easily understood and the NCV International Children’s Bible has been specifically produced to match a child’s vocabulary. See a range of Bibles for 9-13s…
For information about events for children and children's ministry training, and to share information about your events click here.
