A Sunny Hello from Lambeth & Southwark ☀️

Hi from Southwark and Lambeth. Hope it’s not too hot for you!

Clare and I continue to provide Christian assemblies, RE lessons, and a faith leaders club in schools mainly concentrated around Stockwell and Brixton. Together we have visited 17 schools, including county and CofE Schools and 2 pupil referral units. 

Our focus all this year has been on Spinnaker's brand new Collective Worship resource, ‘Beyond Belief’. We have been looking at the types of values that Primary Schools focus on in assemblies, which include respect, courage, joy, love, compassion and some other values have been explored from a Christian perspective with an appropriate Bible story. 

Recently, I had great fun talking to children about fruit! Fruits of the Spirit! The question is, of course, what sort of ‘fruit’ do you want to produce in your life?  Love, Joy, Peace, etc… The bit the children enjoyed the most was the game we played, hiding the mini pineapple! Teachers watching the Collective Worship spoke about it being engaging and fun for the children. The children loved the paper pineapple and pretending to be a tree growing fruits. When asked to give feedback on the assembly, a child wrote, ‘I might love my family and friends more after watching this assembly. Another child wrote,  'I might act like a good fruit!' 🍍

The feedback from our assemblies and lessons is overwhelmingly positive, with schools really appreciating what we do. A teaching assistant wrote… 

‘The kids love discussing the assemblies at playtimes, the assemblies are great, and it connects with our children.’ 

An assistant Headteacher wrote...

 ‘The children are happy to show and share values they learned in assemblies... Spinnaker’s work is linked to the values of the school.’

Most schools have been visited fortnightly, and many children have had the opportunity to learn about what Christians believe. Over Easter, about 1,000 Lambeth and Southwark school children heard what Christians believe about Easter. We have also been able to engage with London City Mission again this term and some of the schools I visit enjoyed the ‘Life Exhibition’ which is all about Jesus.

This summer I have been teaching RE in 3 different schools. Children have learnt stories about Jesus and about the church. Currently I am preparing for a church visit with some year 3 children in South Lambeth. The children really enjoy the lessons. They are so enthusiastic – I have about 4 children who would teach the lesson if they could! They did some beautiful artwork. My Faith Group Leaders have also been a joy and we led our own collective worship based on the story of the prodigal son.

I recently had the opportunity to speak at a church in West Norwood.  If you want me to come and speak in your church, please ask.  They were all very enthusiastic about what I am doing. Church support is vital to what Clare and I do in Lambeth and Southwark; we literally cannot do it without you. Your prayers keep us going into school. Finances are also needed to help us stay on the road. There are prayer pointers and a link if you would like to give on our website - www.spinnaker.org.uk/donate

One of my greatest needs is more volunteers, as driving around the boroughs is not practical, so I really need people to visit schools in different areas. We give full training, and it is great fun. We are giving children and teachers, who may never heard of Jesus, the chance to learn who He is. If you are able to volunteer, please register your interest with us here or email me ([email protected]).

Thank you very much for your support. It means a lot to us.
Heather and Clare