Children

Welcome to our Activities for children and young people!

Children and young people usuall join us in church on a Sunday morning and we have "Gold" activity bags for younger children and also a bag of percussion instruments for any who want to join in with the worship!  We also have a children's corner in the Church Room which is adjacent to the main hall in the community centre and has a few toys and books. If parents feel the need to use the children's corner, you are welcome to leave the door ajar so that you can still hear the service.   We have recently started a discussion group for children aged 10-14 and any young helpers and this meets from 4:30 to 6 on a Friday starting with a home-made snack!.. at the moment we are using resources from Nua, produced by Scripture Union Ireland.

TGB Gatehouse comprises a number of groups including The Bunker and Bunkeroo Junior, family movie afternoons in school holidays and a term-time homework club. We are also have a number of activities designed to cross-over the generations such as Musicality which currently offers 'Musicality Tot's', a parent and toddler group with a musical emphasis as well as ukelele and guitar lessons to mixed age groups.  Some parents and children have joined these groups and learned an instrument together. See TGB Gatehouse tab or visit our website at tgb-gatehouse.com 

If you want to know any more about any of our children's activities please contact Sara Leigh who is our children's and youth worker as well as being the Project Coordinator for TGB Gatehouse.

Leadership Safeguarding Statement

The Church Council recognises the importance of its ministry /work with children and young people and adults in need of protection and its responsibility to protect everyone entrusted to our care.

 The following statement was agreed by the Church Council on:  23^rd May, 2016

This place of worship/organisation is committed to the safeguarding of children and protected adults and ensuring their well-being. Specifically:

• We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect of children and young people (those under 18 years of age) and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
• We believe every child should be valued, safe and happy.  We want to make sure that children we have contact with know this and are empowered to tell us if they are suffering harm.
• All children and young people have the right to be treated with respect, to be listened to and to be protected from all forms of abuse.
• We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, psychological, financial and discriminatory abuse and neglect of protected adults and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
• We recognise the personal dignity and rights of protected adults and will ensure all our policies and procedures reflect this.
• We believe all adults should enjoy and have access to every aspect of the life of the place of worship/organisation unless they pose a risk to the safety of those we serve.
• We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of all those who will work with children and protected adults.

We are committed to:

• Following the requirements of Scottish legislation in relation to safeguarding children and protected adults and good practice recommendations.
• Respecting the rights of children as described in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Implementing the requirements of legislation in regard to people with disabilities.
• Ensuring that workers adhere to the agreed procedures of our safeguarding policy.
• Keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding.
• Following any denominational or organisational guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and adults in need of protection.
• Supporting the safeguarding co-ordinator(s) in their work and in any action they may need to take in order to protect children/protected adults.
• Ensuring that everyone agrees to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by this place of worship/organisation.
• Supporting parents and families.
• Nurturing, protecting and safeguarding of children and young people.
• Supporting, resourcing, training, monitoring and providing supervision to all those who undertake this work.
• Supporting all in the place of worship/organisation affected by abuse.
• Adopting and following the ‘Safe and Secure’ safeguarding standards developed by CCPAS.

We recognise:

• Children and Families Social Work (or equivalent) has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child.  Adult Social Work (or equivalent) has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a protected adult.
• Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed then the police should be contacted as a matter of urgency.
• Where working outside of the UK (in international mission activity), safeguarding practice maintains its importance and allegations or concerns will be reported in line with the procedures detailed in Appendix 4.
• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

If you have any concerns for a child or protected adult then speak to one of the following who have been approved as safeguarding co-ordinators for this place of worship/organisation.

Alison Barratt -  Safeguarding Coordinator

Signed by on behalf of the Church Council/Trustees:

Signed            Chris Barratt 

Date               23-5-16