Let the Children Come

The United Nations Children’s Convention was twenty years old in November 2009. The church has adopted the anniversary as a celebration of children and childhood, and a challenge to ensure that we understand and uphold the articles of the convention.

This imaginative resource for schools and churches, written by Barbara Meardon (Children’s Adviser, Diocese of Salisbury) and Sarah Rickett (Head of Education at Salisbury Cathedral), seeks to explore eight of the UNCRC articles from a Christian perspective. It is based on Jesus’ teachings and links well to values and citizenship education.

It includes detailed instructions and pictures to help you set up eight stations, with reflective activities for children and adults alike to think about and respond to the challenge of the articles. Quotes show what the Bible and famous Christians have to say about each one. There are extra activities to extend the time adults and children can be engaged. References are included for further activities and suitable books.

The stations can be set up individually or as a as a whole experience, and would be perfect as a focal point in churches and schools. Churches can set the stations up and invite classes from their local schools to visit, or use them with the congregation to explore attitudes to children within their own communities and around the world. This is a wonderful opportunity to extend school and church links.

The materials were trialled at a very successful ‘Let the Children Come’ day at Salisbury Cathedral in May 2009.

Includes four supplementary stations for young people by Claire Estall – Youth Adviser for the Diocese of Salisbury.