A Growing Faith Learning Hub in the Leeds area of our diocese has been working to bring together church, home and school in developing faith in children, young people and families.
Growing Faith in the Diocese of Leeds is part of a national movement that exists to put children, young people and families instinctively at the heart of all the mission and ministry of the Church by changing the culture of the Church of England.
Church, home and school are significant places of faith development, and the Growing Faith initiative prompts us to think about how these three places can work more closely together to enable children, young people and their families to encounter Jesus and grow in faith.
Christ Church Upper Armley in the Leeds area is a Learning Hub, funded by the Growing Faith Foundation from the Church of England to explore ways of connecting church, home and school and learn how this can work best.
This week Mandy Christopher, the director of the Growing Faith Learning Hubs, visited Leeds to see what’s going on at the Learning Hub in Armley.
The Revd Phil Arnold, vicar at the church, and the Revd Jess Farrant, curate, have been exploring how to develop links between the primary schools, secondary school, church and home in creative ways.
So far one round of the Parenting for Faith course has been run on Zoom, but particular challenges faced by parents in the inner city has led to work to find more natural crossover points, such as on the school run.
With a focus on transitions between year 6-8, the Hub is creating a safe and supportive place for young people and parents to flourish and grow in faith, something that will continue to evolve and strengthen as the year goes on.
Kim Lawrence, from Leeds Faith in Schools, also works at Dixons Unity Academy and has been particularly appreciated for her work alongside students who are struggling.
Kim said: “Leeds Faith In Schools is thrilled to be working alongside Christ Church to bring the good news of Jesus into Dixons Unity Academy.”
After seeing the work in Armley, Mandy said: “The Upper Armley Learning Hub is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when time and energy and vision have been invested by both church and school in building strong partnership.
“In the Primary school strong foundations are enabling the development of the snack and chat offer which is highly valued by the children, and the same investment in relationship has catalysed new routes into the secondary school.
“This is a hub recognising the unique needs of its context, for example those children who find the school context challenging, and exploring how church and school can work together to meet their needs.”
Revd Jess said: “Being a Learning Hub has re-shaped our outlook and approach to developing ministries in our community, by putting young people at the centre.
“We find ourselves continually surprised by the ways in which God is opening doors and bringing more young people to us.
“Having a reflective and adaptable mindset has been key in this."
The Growing Faith Foundation will visit again next year as part of supporting and reflecting with the hub.
To find out more about Growing Faith, please click here.