Southwark Diocese Children, Youth & Family Ministry Training
The Diocese offers a number of training events (in person and online) throughout the year to help volunteers, paid workers or those in commissioned or licensed ministries to grow and develop their ministry with children and young people. Check out the What’s On page for upcoming training.
The CYP Team are here to support you with your training needs. We can also speak as part of your Sunday service or other events. Do contact us to chat through the possibilities. Get in touch to see how we can support your local ministry.
CYP Foundations
If you’ve ever felt called to support children, young people, and families in your church but weren’t sure where to start, or if you’re already involved and want to grow in confidence, join the one-day Children and Young People (CYP) Foundations training! Held in a church near you, CYP Foundations is designed to equip you with the tools and support you need to step into or grow in children’s, youth, and families ministry. Whether you’re a volunteer, a leader, or exploring if children, youth and families ministry is for you then do join us. In addition, teams of people coming to learn together, can be a great way of having a positive impact on your church’s CYP ministry. For more information CLICK HERE
Safeguarding Training
It is a legal requirement for anyone volunteering with CYP to have safeguarding training. For more details do look at our Safeguarding Training page
Catalyst
Take up the challenge to deepen your knowledge, hone your skills and follow God’s call for ministry and mission with children and young people. Catalyst is a dynamic training course which aims to equip and inspire you. This course will help you if you are a volunteer in a toddler group, helping at a youth club, doing a few Sunday morning sessions a month or running an outreach programme as a paid worker. You will learn from experts in the fields of children and youth ministry, whilst being supported by your Diocese. And did we mention that every aspect of the Catalyst is fully funded by the Church of England, so you won’t need to pay a thing.
Who is it for?
The course will benefit you if you are new to children and youth ministry by providing a solid foundation on which you can build. It will also benefit those who have been around a little longer, to renew, refresh and revitalise their existing knowledge and experience. For some, it will also provide a pathway into further training. So, whether you are a volunteer or an existing paid church worker, we encourage you to prayerfully discern whether Catalyst is right for you.
What will I learn?
At its heart, Catalyst will help you develop approaches with children and young people that fosters a holistic and lively relationship with Jesus. Weaved through the sessions and the conference are the core topics of: safeguarding, cultural awareness, working in groups, discipleship, self-knowledge, self-reflection, theology, biblical studies, play, informal learning, mission and evangelism.
Find out more information here. Catalyst Cohort 4 will begin in Autumn 2026, further details to follow.
Aurora Children Ministry Course
Aurora children is for anyone aged 16+ working with children in church, community or school. A child-centred course, suitable for those just beginning to work with children and for those who have done so for many years. Through input, guided reading, sharing, activities and reflection on your own practice, you will be empowered to discover the theory behind an effective child centred approach to children’s ministry. It will give you the opportunity to reflect on your own practice, develop new skills and confidence in your work with children. The course will cover: Children’s Ministry and the Children’s Leader, Understanding Children and Children’s Ministry Practice and Managing the Ministry.
Aurora Youth Ministry course
Aurora Youth is for anyone aged 16+ working with youth in church, community, or school. A youth-centred, 8 month-long course, suitable for those just beginning to work with youth and for those who have done so for many years. Through input, guided reading, sharing, activities and reflection on your own practice, you will be empowered with all the essential skills, knowledge and understanding you need to be effective in youth ministry, and will cover Youth Ministry and the Youth Worker, Understanding Young People and Youth Ministry Practice.
