Child and Youth Activities

POP Squad (Youth Group)

Contact Natalie Bettesworth or Julia Bartlett -01726 816429 for further details.

This group is set up to extend the friendship of our Church youth members from 10 to 16 years.

The Group meets fortnightly, on Wednesdays, in the Gott Hall, from 6.30 pm.

Junior Church

Junior Church – 5 to 12 years old.

Junior Church is held alongside the Sunday Communion Services.  The contacts are as follows:

Church of the Good Shepherd - Mrs Julia Bartlett 01726 816429.

St Mary's Church - Mrs Ann Dewings 01726 814651.

The children are very much involved in the Mass at both churches and we always try to follow the theme for each Sunday, as at the main Mass.  A family Mass is held at each church on the first Sunday of each month.

We start with a prayer, followed by a story.  This is usually the same Gospel reading as used in the church for that Sunday.  This is followed by an activity, which varies each week.   We make models, puppets, kites, flags, magnets etc.  We colour in and paint, bake bread, biscuits and decorate buns and even do some singing.  This is then finished off with the Lord's Prayer and a collection.  The children then return to the church for communion or a blessing and to show everyone what has been made.

At Easter we decorate our Easter garden, which is displayed in the Church.  We put on a tableau at Christmas and have a party once each year.

Little Lambs

Par Little Lambs' Group meets in the Gott Hall every Tuesday between 10.00am and 12.00 noon.  The group is for babies and pre-school children (each child must be accompanied by a responsible adult).

The Gott Hall provides a light, spacious, well equipped  environment, in an atmosphere of fun and friendship.  The children enjoy an extravaganza of playtime opportunities.

There is large play equipment to explore, including an adventure tunnel, trikes, push-along and very popular sit-in toys.

There are smaller investigative toys including jigsaw puzzles, shape matching puzzles, an assortment of interesting books for curious minds and numerous building bricks.

There is a collection of dressing up clothes that, along with a play kitchen, a farm, a garage, a play food set and more, inspire role-play situations.

Every week is a creative experience, which may be about painting, colouring, sticking, using Playdough or cooking (little Lambs have made their own Christmas cakes and Easter biscuits).

Each session features singing time and a percussion band in the internally accessed Church of the Good Shepherd, and, following closing prayers, everyone returns to the Gott Hall for refreshments, more play and story-time, offering a rich variety of children's literature.

Each year, the end of the summer term is celebrated with a teddy bears' picnic party.

The contacts for the group are:

Mrs Barbara Thurston - 01726 812944.

Mrs Lynn Holmes - 01726 68072.