manna - bite-sized youth and children's ministry training

Welcome to manna. The new bite-size Youth and Children's ministry training programme from The Dicoese of Chelmsford and The Salvation Army Essex and Herts Division. manna is open to anyone involved (or wishing to become involved) in youth and children's ministry regardless of denomination.

manna is designed to feed you in your ministry with children and young people in a way that gives you the sustenance you need.

On this website you'll find an overview of our upcoming training dates alongside our menu.

We have designed this programme as a menu because there are different ways to engage with this programme depending on how hungry you are.This ranges from individual one-off sessions (nibbles) to taking a particular pathway (set menu) or committing to an ongoing, long term journey that fits your needs (buffet option).

We hope and pray that this new modular approach to training will support you in your ministry amongst children and young people.

To find out more about how manna works scroll down, to book into a training session click here or to contact us click here

How manna works...

We have designed this programme as a menu because there are different ways to engage with this programme depending on how hungry you are.

This ranges from individual one-off sessions (nibbles) to taking a particular pathway (set menu) or committing to an ongoing, long term journey that fits your needs (buffet option).

Our Menu Options

Nibbles
An option for those just looking for a snack!
Have a look through our upcoming events and book onto the sessions you fancy.

Set Menu
To complete the set menu option you must:

Attend the 8 mandatory modules (listed with an M)
Attend 4 additional modules of your choice
Complete your denominations safeguarding training and provide evidence of completion

Then choose one of the following for a certificate of completion

Complete a reflective piece of writing
Complete a reflective piece of writing and join a local mannag group to reflect and learn together
Complete a reflective piece of writing and have some coaching or mentoring sessions to help you reflect and grow

Buffet Option
Choose a combination of the above that works for you
...maybe some modules,
...maybe a coaching session,
...maybe a manna group,
...maybe everything!

A typical manna evening...

Each manna evening will have a particular topic but will largely follow the same structure

18:30 - Food Optional
19:00 - Main content
21:00 - discussion/Q&A Optional

Upcoming Events

Our events links contain more information on the evening.

Please Note: As we continue to follow Government guidelines around groups meeting we will be continuing to host manna online in September

The Missiology of Youth and Children's Work

Online Session

An exploration of the missiology of youth and children's workers.

Wednesday 9th September 2020 Online Via Zoom

Book In Zoom Link

What? How? Why? Wow? The Impact of Prayer Spaces in Schools

An exploration of prayer spaces in schools and their impact for youth and children's workers.

Tuesday 6th October at The Salvation Army, Chelmsford

Book In

The Final Frontier: Engaging and Communicating with Youth, Children and Families

How do we most effectively engage and communicate with youth, children and families as youth and children's workers?

Monday 9th November 2020 at The Diocese of Chelmsford Offices

Book In

Programme

Our two year rolling programme includes the following sessions (use the upcoming events section to see which are running soon.

Mandatory Modules*

M1: Youth & Children's Work: The Theory
M2: Loving Them Anyway: Challenging Behaviour
M3: I Wonder to being a follower: Youth and Child Faith Development
M4: The Final Frontier: Engaging and communicating with youth, children and families
M5: Getting Your Group On
M6: Refresh & Refuel: Retreat Weekend
M7: Lead, manage, evaluation: Work-based practice
M8: Be the change: reflective practice

*modules are only mandatory for those on the set menu path but if these interest you anyway feel free to come along!

Other Modules

Wonder & Questioning: A Theology of Childhood and Childhood Spirituality
ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and Risky Behaviour
What? How? Why? Now! the impact of Prayer Spaces in Schools
Come Alongside Them: Mentoring
The Missiology of Youth and Children’s Work
Working Alongside or as a volunteer
Supporting & Pastoring LGBT*
Take up your cross and follow: discipleship as a journey
Listen. Hear: Youth & Children’s Participation
Where He leads: Vocation and Calling
Through their filter: Culture & Media