The Additional Needs Blogfather runs the Urban Saints ‘All Inclusive?’ series of online additional/special needs training programmes to help parents/carers and children’s/youth/families workers understand and support children and young people with additional/special needs and disabilities.
For each programme you get a full-colour A4 training workbook packed with resources and information, a link to a playlist of supporting videos, then a Zoom session to explore what we’ve learned together, put some of it into practice, and lots of time for discussion and Q&A. All for just £7.50 per training programme (or £10 for ‘How to Include Autistic Children and Young People in Church’, but you get an extra book, or £25 for ‘Invited to Belong:2U’ but you get a great resource and two workbooks!)
For more details and to book on to the training programmes see below or visit:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mark-arnold-the-additional-needs-blogfather-30541746080
Feedback from training sessions includes:
“Just wanted to say thank you for facilitating the course this morning, it was brilliant. I wish I could have got our whole team on…”
“It’s an amazing opportunity to gather information and informed advice and tips. Answered my questions and uncertainties and made me feel equipped and excited about how I can work alongside all young people.”
“It was really good to receive the online videos and workbook information well in advance of the Zoom meeting.”
‘ALL INCLUSIVE?’ – Supporting Children and Young People With Additional Needs
Supporting children and young people with special or additional needs or disabilities – accessibility, inclusion and belonging for all. An Urban Saints event. Includes a full-colour A4 workbook, access to video learning, and an interactive online group training session.
Most children’s and youth workers want to include children of all abilities and needs in what they do, but many struggle to make this a reality. There are many different kinds of special or additional needs, and each one, each child, needs thinking about and planning for carefully.
It is hard for children’s and youth workers to navigate the right path through this sometimes difficult and complex area; being caring, inclusive and supportive to each child (and their families), while not losing focus on the needs of the rest of the group.
This is an area that is confusing and challenging to many of us who are responsible for looking after children and young people who have special or additional needs. How can parents, churches and children’s/youth workers not only understand more about the children we are working with, but also change the way we work with them so to be more inclusive and create belonging for all?
The ‘All Inclusive?’– Supporting Children and Young People With Additional Needs training programme includes:
– A comprehensive 50 page colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
– Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of topics including eight ways to make childrens/youth work inclusive, the benefits of having an ‘Inclusion Champion’, putting together and using a ‘Fiddles Box’, and how to plan childrens work by interest groups rather than age groups.
– Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.
– Participants completing three Urban Saints ‘All Inclusive?’ training programmes will receive a certificate.
“You’ve done some amazing work… You do some brilliant training, I’ve been to it, I highly recommend other people to look that up.” Martin Saunders, Director of Innovation and Deputy CEO, Youthscape
“It was really good to receive the online videos and workbook information well in advance of the Zoom meeting. I found that really helpful as it can be tricky fitting everything in at the moment with children being home too. The breakout session during the meeting was a good idea as it gave us the opportunity to chat a bit more freely, so thank you.”
“Thank you so much for this morning, that was so incredibly valuable. I really appreciated the way you referred to siblings who are so often forgotten. The meerkat/lions analogy is brilliant, I’ve got a feeling I’m never going to forget that. Also, the focus on the people who are not yet part of our community but need somewhere they can belong. Annnd finally, the need to make sure that we include God – oh yeah! I feel convicted 😄! Thank you so very much for your work.“
‘INVITED TO BELONG:2U’
‘Invited to Belong:2U’. An Urban Saints event. Includes a full-colour A4 workbook, access to video learning, and an interactive online group training session.
‘Invited to Belong:2U’, the sixth in the Urban Saints series of ‘All Inclusive?’ additional needs training programmes, will guide children’s and youth leaders step-by-step through the six stages of the ‘Invited to Belong’ resource: ‘Inspiration’, ‘Stories of Belonging’, ‘Barriers to Belonging’, ‘Enabling Belonging’, ‘A Vision for Belonging’, and ‘Invited to Belong’.
– Unpacking stories of inclusion done well, helping you to know the context and backstory behind these inspiring examples.
– Immersing you in the encounters that Jesus had with people with additional needs and highlighting what these encounters teach us today about inclusion.
– Guiding you to identify barriers to belonging in your own context.
– Equipping you with the skills and knowledge to break these barriers down.
– We will work together to craft what your own vision for belonging might say. And we’ll inspire you to reach out to children and young people with additional needs in your own community to invite them to belong.
The accompanying full-colour A4 training workbook is packed with resources, valuable fact sheets, accessibility checklists, and all the training materials used. There is also a playlist of informative videos to support the training content.
You will be fully equipped to take the ‘Invited to Belong’ resource back to your own teams, to work through it with them, and to maximise the benefit of this resource in your settings, enabling children and young people with additional needs to belong.
The ‘All Inclusive?’ – Invited to Belong:2U training programme includes:
- A comprehensive colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
- Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of topics.
- Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.
- Participants completing three of the Urban Saints ‘All Inclusive?’ training programmes will receive a certificate.
You can book either just a place on the training (for £10) or a place on the training plus a copy of the ‘Invited to Belong’ resource pack itself (for £25).
‘MAKING SENSE OF OUR SENSES’
Supporting children and young people with special or additional needs or disabilities – accessibility, inclusion and belonging for all. An Urban Saints event. Includes a full-colour A4 workbook, access to video learning, and an interactive online group training session.
There are at least eight senses; five that we can all think of; sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch, as well as three that we might not know so much about; vestibular (balance and movement), proprioception (body awareness), and interoception (awareness of what’s happening inside the body).
This seminar explores all eight senses, and provides us with practical ways to learn about them with our own children, or with children we care for in a club or group, as well as thinking about what Jesus did when he met people with sensory impairments or how he and the disciples responded to their own senses.
We will also understand Sensory Processing Disorder/Difficulties, which are journeyed with by as many as one-in-ten children and young people and are often experienced alongside a range of other additional needs and disabilities.
The ‘All Inclusive?’ Making Sense Of Our Senses training programme includes:
– A comprehensive colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
– Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of topics including an example of sensory overload, an overview of sensory processing disorder, putting together and using a ‘Fiddles Box’, how to create a sensory safe space, and more.
– Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.
– Participants completing three Urban Saints ‘All Inclusive?’ training programmes will receive a certificate.
“It was SO refreshing to meet virtually with other professionals passionate about making their work/ministry practise inclusive. It was EVEN BETTER to take the time out to reflect on what we do and learn what strategies we can use to help those who struggle when it comes to our EIGHT senses (including THREE mystery ones). HIGHLY recommended training!”
“I have just completed this course and would recommend to everyone! Very helpful to either learn these things or reiterate your current knowledge and encourage you to think about how we approach the senses and people who may struggle with them.”
‘DISABILITY EQUALITY‘
Disability Equality – Understanding the Equality Act and how it applies to all children’s and youth work.
This seminar looks at:
Disability Equality Legislation Guidelines; detail regarding terms used and current disability legislation, specifically the Equality Act 2010, in relation to children’s/youth work.
Urban Saints Disability Equality Policy; how Urban Saints applies disability equality law.
Further Supporting Information; tips and resources to help and support you.
The seminar provides you with everything you need to better understand the legal requirements under current disability equality legislation to treat equally children, young people, and adult team members with additional needs or disabilities within groups, camps and overseas mission trips etc.
The ‘All Inclusive?’ – Disability Equality training programme includes:
– A comprehensive colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
– Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of topics related to disability equality legislation and how to apply it.
– Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.
– Participants completing three Urban Saints ‘All Inclusive?’ training programmes will receive a certificate.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to gather information and informed advice and tips. Answered my questions and uncertainties and made me feel equipped and excited about how I can work alongside all young people.”
‘SUPPORTING FAMILIES’
Supporting Families – understanding and supporting, practically and pastorally, families of children and young people with additional needs
This seminar looks at:
Understanding the terminology regarding additional/special needs, disability etc.
Surviving the diagnosis; what is the journey that many families are on?
Transitions, milestones, rites of passage; what are some of the key ‘trigger’ points for families?
Dads, siblings, challenges during lockdown and more…
What appropriate practical and pastoral support can be offered to families?
Further information, resources and support to explore.
The seminar provides you with everything you need to better understand some of the challenges families of children and young people with additional/special needs encounter, what that experience can be like for them, and how to offer and provide appropriate and informed support.
The ‘All Inclusive?’ – Supporting Families training programme includes:
– A comprehensive colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
– Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of topics related to supporting families of children and young people with additional needs.
– Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.
– Participants completing three Urban Saints ‘All Inclusive?’ training programmes will receive a certificate.
“This morning, I attended another AMAZING Zoom training session on ‘All Inclusive?’ – Supporting Families – by Mark Arnold (Additional Needs Ministry Director at Urban Saints). It was SO GOOD to meet virtually with other professionals passionate about making their work/ministry INCLUSIVE and ACCESSIBLE to all. It was CRUCIAL to take the time out to reflect on what we do at EDGE and think about how we include everybody. HIGHLY recommended training!”
“This morning’s training was OFF THE CHARTS!! I recommend this training to EVERYBODY!”
Let’s learn together how to put in place changes and strategies to help every child and young person to be included, to be able to access everything they want to, for everyone to belong.
‘HOW TO INCLUDE AUTISTIC CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN CHURCH’
How to Include Autistic Children and Young People in Church – accessibility, inclusion, belonging, and spiritual development for all. An Urban Saints event.
Without considered and intentional measures, many aspects of church life can pose challenges for Autistic children and young people. This practical training provides useful advice on how to make church a space where Autistic children and young people can thrive. It urges children’s, youth and families workers to be agents of change within both their own ministries and the wider church community, building a better place for accessibility, inclusion, belonging and spiritual development for all.
Areas covered include:
– What Autism is (and isn’t!), medical model vs. social model, brain overloads, myth busting etc.
– Barriers experienced by Autistic children and young people in church, including physical, programme and people barriers.
– Reducing or removing these barriers, and who can help.
– How these changes can create belonging for everyone, including stories from Autistic young people, their families, and church children’s/youth workers. 10 ways to create belonging.
– Further resources, links, and information
The ‘All Inclusive?’ – How to Include Autistic Children and Young People in Church training programme includes:
– A comprehensive colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
– A copy of the accompanying Grove Youth series book which provides further context and depth to the training content.
– Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of associated topics.
– Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.
– Participants completing at least three of the Urban Saints ‘All Inclusive?’ training programmes will receive a certificate.
“Thank you Mark for this and for the excellent session on Saturday – This is all very new to me – it was really helpful and I will be processing everything!”
“Thank you so much for the training yesterday, despite having a lot of experience as a teacher and a parent and godparent to several children with sen and additional needs I always find your training helpful.”
“Fab morning spent doing the ‘All Inclusive? – How to Include Autistic Children and Young People in Church’ training. Really enjoyed it Mark Arnold!”
“It was fantastic as always. Got some more great actions points to put into place. Thank you .”
The Additional Needs Blogfather 