In recent years, the impact of mental health difficulties and trauma on our children and young people has been highlighted as never before – bringing into focus the critical need for churches to be informed about the sorts of trauma that impede children from flourishing. For some, trauma has resulted from their earliest childhood experiences, others have been impacted by a singular traumatic incident; we also know that for a large number of children, challenges such as COVID19 and other personal, local, national and international situations have heavily impacted upon their wellbeing, through isolation, instability and bereavement.
The Growing Faith Foundation benefits from partnerships with many experts in these fields through parachurch organisations and diocesan teams. We are delighted to be able to work with them to provide a peer support and learning network which:
- introduces colleagues to their work
- facilitates ongoing collaborative conversations
- opens up relationships outside of the Foundation’s input;
- stimulates action and impact in dioceses around the country.
This network is aligned with the Growing Faith Foundation’s values:
We change the culture for the better
We lead by example
We prioritise relationships
We recognise and embrace the diversity of the body of Christ
We create safe spaces of welcome and belonging
This network is not a course and does not replace the depth of knowledge and understanding that can be gained through expert training. It is an opportunity to engage in discussion, raise awareness and identify areas for development and gaps in knowledge. One of the key benefits of this network is connecting colleagues with organisations who do have expertise in this field and can offer their own programmes, resources and materials which schools can access to deepen their knowledge of these topics in much greater depth.