Workers Report for Web-site April 2011

Tuesday 29th March 2011 3:10 PM

• for Tony, Esther and the volunteers who run weekly lunch clubs etc
• for Easter assemblies and the meditation

Posted 3:10 PM | Permalink

Worker's Report for Web-site Jan 2011

Thursday 17th February 2011 1:45 PM

This first report of the academic year 2010-11 brings good news from Trinity Academy, news of lesson opportunities at Hipperholme & Lightcliffe & exciting news of Christian youth activities at Todmorden.

Lunch Clubs
Trinity Academy has a new timetable and new faces. Both of these have impacted on CICS involvement with the school. Tony has been able to build a good working relationship with the new Chaplin, Rev Marion Russell, and with help from her & volunteer Debora Branch lunch clubs have been re-launched in the split lunch break which results from the new timetable.

The group which meets in the first break (years 7, 9 & 11) is well attended with last years returning students joined by some new faces.
There is a vision for the group which meets in the second break for years 8 & 10 to become a support group for young Christians living out their faith in a school environment.

Other lunch clubs continue to meet at:

• Calder High with fantastic support here from Rev James Allison & Tracey Hunt
• Rastrick High School in partnership with Guy Cook. A faithful core group enables deeper discussion on Christian issues
• Hipperholme & Lighcliffe, Graham Thompson, a teacher, give one lunch time each week to lead a 'questions about the Christian faith' group.
• North Halifax Grammar School A core group of students who have attended for the last 4 years has attracted new students to swell the numbers to an average of 15 weekly
• The Crossley Heath School, Small group working to publicise group to swell numbers.
• Brighouse Provisional dates in diary for the New Year to re-launch Rock Solid as monthly after school event.

Christmas Assemblies are booked at Brighouse for w/c Dec 13th.

Lesson Opportunity at Hipperholme & Lighcliffe
Tony has agreed to help to plan and deliver a community event with a group of students who are not taking RE as an exam subject. The plan is to arrange a Christmas Fair for a chosen charity and invite other students as appropriate.

Adrenalin, Soul Rush & 16+ groups
Smaller numbers and other factors mean these have had a slower start this year. Watch for developments in 2011!

New schools
Calder High School - new head teacher has expressed a wish to see her students engaging in prayer. Tony to speak to local vicar, Rev James Allison re possible links.

Todmorden High School
A new youth group meeting at Roomfield Baptist Church, Todmorden is having exciting success in reaching out to, and engaging with local teenagers. This is in addition to other Christian projects running in the town.
The leaders of these groups are keen to work with CICS to form links with Todmorden High School, and this possibility is being actively & enthusiastically explored.

We are so grateful that so many ways of meeting with young people are open to CICS. Please pray for all the events and activities mentioned here. Don't forget - we still need more trustees, especially a Treasurer!

Posted 1:45 PM | Permalink

CICS End of Term Report

Monday 26th July 2010 10:20 AM

End of Term Report and a big thank you from cics for all the support given by individuals & churches

Assemblies @ Rastrick High

Can you feed yourself Malteasers using a wooden spoon with a 2 ft handle?

That was the challenge put to students in response to the topic requested for assemblies by the school - 'Thinking of Others'

A presentation from schoolworks.co.uk looking at JFK's inaugural speech was used. "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" Substitute 'school' for 'country' and you can see where it all fits in.

And of course you will already have worked out that you get more Malteasers if you work with a partner!

Punch line - The verse from Matthew 'Do to others as you would have them do to you'
Lunchclubs continue to be held at the following schools:-

Holy Trinity, Calder High School, Rastrick High School, Brooksbank, North Halifax Grammar, Crossley Heath Grammar and Hipperholme & Lightcliffe High School.

Sports Day Activity July 2nd Hipperholme & Lighcliffe.
What do you do on Sports Day if you are not in an event?
The Christian Aid Paper Bag Game (PBG) of course!

Tony and helpers were asked at short notice to assist with Y7 & Y9 students so they used this popular activity. The PBG illustrates how difficult it can be for some families to earn enough money to survive and challenges students to consider what they can do help those suffering from poverty all around the world.

Church-updates.

This term Tony has visited the following churches with up-dates or presentations:-
Coley C of E; Grace Baptist; St Georges C of E; St John's Warley;
Youth for Christ Launch (see their website for details) May 14th

At an exciting evening at All Saint's Salterhebble students from North Halifax Grammar School and Tony explored the role of cics in our schools and highlighted the need to reach out to young people outside the church setting.

Halifax charity gala

Did you see the roller-bladers, uni-cyclists, balloon making mini-bus, scooters and 3 lads and a wheeliebin in the gala procession? That was cics!

Young people did us proud, bringing their own wheels for our entry this year and we are very grateful for the loan of the minibus & driver. The young people gave up their whole Saturday to take part, staying on at Manor Heath to help with the coconut shy & penalty shootout. A very positive event financially and socially in raising the profile of cics.

Out of School Activities

Organised by Esther's brother, Sam, the 16+ visit to Hebden Bridge was enjoyed by those able to take part. The next 16+ will take place after the summer break.

Soul Rush has experienced a dip in numbers attending and the group will be re-launched in September.

Adrenalin group watched the film 'Up' on the big screen at All Saint's. This evoked deep discussion on following our dreams and God's intention for our lives. The next meeting was a games night on the Moor followed by hot dogs and planning for the future.

Trust and Workers Vision Day at Gate Hough Farm.

We are very grateful to Brenda, Kenneth & Martin for the use of their beautiful flat with its view to Studley Pike, for our vision day this year. We looked at cics past present & future & sought God's guidance as we continue to work towards our aims & objectives.

Finally - on behalf of Tony and the Trustees - a massive THANK YOU to all our volunteers who give up time and energy to assist the work of cics - especially the young people who have enabled the work to continue during Esther's maternity leave. We wish those who have to leave us at the end of term, God's blessing. There are always opportunities for new volunteers please contact Tony! And Keep praying!

Posted 10:20 AM | Permalink

Workers report - May 2010

Wednesday 12th May 2010 2:01 PM

Once again we are pleased to be able to bring good news of the work of God in Calderdale schools.

Easter Assemblies and Holy Trinity Passiontide Services
Assemblies were led at Rastrick High School and Brighouse High using a resource courtesy of schoolswork.co.uk. A version of this was also used at Holy Trinity Passiontide service which is repeated to enable the whole school to be included the whole. Tony received very good feedback on the impact of the second of these services from a student- in spite of him feeling this was the less successful of the two! He was told, never to underestimate his work!

Lunch Clubs
Very interesting topics are planned for the seven regular lunch clubs. These include: - the General Election, God & Politics; Bible character studies; Be like your friends, be yourself OR be how God wants you to be; Pentecost & the Holy Spirit and Exam stress v exam prep.

Plans are still in hand to start lunch time work at Brighouse High. We are very grateful to the volunteers who give so much time to run Lunch clubs and help with other aspects of CICS work See this term's issue of Inform for a volunteers' eye view of CICS

Information Packs & New Schools
We have so much to offer schools besides lunch clubs & assemblies, including lessons on a wide range of topics which fit in with personal health and social responsibility curriculum; faith days and the

Marriage & Relationships course, that we have put together a pack which give details of these services.
We are delivering these to key members of school staff so they can be informed of all we do.

Four new schools have been contacted and Tony will follow up these contacts soon.

Out of School Clubs
Simon Endeacott (a worship leader @ All Saints' Church) was joined by Sam Kirkby, 2nd year student at Kingdom Faith Bible College Horsham at the March meeting of the 16+ group. Their input prompted some very useful discussion.

The plan is to trial material from the CAP money management course with this group in the near future.

Soul Rush (girls group) topic was 'Who's Your Idol' at their April meeting. This will be continued at the June meeting - date to be arranged.
Adrenalin (boys out of school equivalent) meets at the same time & venue, in another room. At their April meeting they had a Movie Night. If anyone of secondary school age would like to attend either of these groups please contact Tony for details.

Church Visits
Tony has made or will make visits to Coley church, St George's & Warley St John's Halifax to up-date the congregations on the work. If you would like a CICS visit at your church please contact Tony or the trustees.

It's Your Move books
These have been updated by Scripture Union for this year and have new cover design. Copies have been purchased and will be distributed to leavers of primary schools throughout Calderdale at the end of the school year. Thanks again to churches that have funded & distributed books. It's not too late to contribute if you would like to do so please, again contact us!

And finally please support the PRAY FOR SCHOOLS FORTNIGHT PRAYER EVENING at St Jude's Church Free School Lane Halifax 7.30pm Monday May 17th and include your local schools in prayers privately and in your church over the two weeks 10th - 29th May

Posted 2:01 PM | Permalink

Workers report for the website - Feb 2010

Sunday 28th February 2010 10:07 AM

Good News!
The most exciting news in this report is the re-launch of the group at Crossly Heath on Friday 26th Feb. We have been given the use of a maths room and nine young people attended the first meeting. This is fruit of lots of work and prayer and we thank the maths teacher, students and volunteers, but most of all Thank God!

Workers News
As most of our supporters will know by now Esther (our second worker) started her maternity leave on March 7th. We wish Esther and Marcus every blessing as they move house & look forward to parenthood.
Tony will continue to push the work forward and is planning to contact new schools very soon. We are very grateful for the volunteers who are helping Tony with lunch clubs and the out of school work.

Lunch Club news
Regular groups are held at Holy Trinity, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe, Brooksbank, North Halifax Grammar, Rastrick High and Calder High, Crunch Club as well as the re-launched group at Crossley Heath.
Plans are in hand to also do some lunch time work at Brighouse High school.

Assembly News
In the week commencing 15th March Tony will lead assemblies with an Easter theme in Rastrick High School for years 7 - 11 and w /c 22nd March at Brighouse High again years 7 - 11. Tony has also been asked to take part in Holy Trinity's Passiontide Service, March 26th in school.

Out of School Clubs News
16+ group It has been arranged for Simon Endeacott to speak to the group on the topic of Worship. Date to be arranged.

Soul Rush
Esther has put plans in place for this to continue for the rest of this academic year. Two dates have been planned and willing volunteers, three 6th form students and two gap year workers with local churches will look after these events.

Adrenalin - boys group.
The third meeting of this group has been held with a Valentine's Day theme. A balloon race, celebrity couples quiz and poetry competition led into a discussion on God's love for each of us. Ten young people attended the meeting, which finished with a bacon buttie supper.

Soul Rush & Adrenalin will continue to meet in their own space but at the same time & venue. Details from Tony on 07879675368. Email - tonybuck@cicscalderdale.org.uk

It's Your Move book distribution/ Church News
If your church would like to be involved in the funding or distribution of It's Your Move books which will again be given to primary school leavers throughout Calderdale (if their school agrees to take up the offer) please contact Tony. (Details as previous paragraph.)

Tony will update the congregation at Coley Church on May 2nd at 9.am & 10.30

CAP news.
Tony is now trained to deliver the three part CAP money management course. The principles of this course represent a solid foundation for any young person's finance. This will be another service CICS can offer schools.

Please pray for Tony as he again carries the work forward as the only paid worker and for the volunteers. And we still urgently need Trustees please!!!

Posted 10:07 AM | Permalink