Trailblazers After School Club, Bethnal Green Mission Church, London

Our After-School Club opened in January 2000. Initially we opened our doors to 16 children aged 5-11. A term later, in Spring 2000, we recruited a third member of staff and were then able to offer places to a maximum of 24 children. In January 2001 we were able to recruit a fourth member of staff to work with us two days a week and we have links with both church and volunteer projects in the Borough in which we have sought to increase our volunteer base. We have been encouraged by the fact that we have had a number of volunteers from the local community who give cheerfully of their time. Here are some examples:

In June 2001 and 2002, groups of students from Queen Mary College at Mile End organised sports days for the children which were great successes. These groups have also organised a Christmas party and a "Round the World in a Day" party in November 2002. Two young people from the Gap Project, also based at Bethnal Green Mission Church, have been involved in work placements in the club.

In the summers of 2001 and 2002 several groups of young people who are members of churches worldwide have given of their time, helping to paint a mural, running music and dance workshops, to name but a few of the activities.

We have been ably served by volunteers from Bethnal Green, Isle of Dogs (a little further afield!), students from USA, Korea, Hong Kong and Japan (quite a long way away!!)

¢ Young people from the Gap Project, (see link) have been involved in work placements at Trailblazers and organised a party for the children in March 2002

Trailblazers After-School Club is an integral part of our Youth and Children's strategy and our overall church vision. Our Youth and Children's vision statement reads:

"To build up and affirm the young people with whom we have relationships as a worshipping community, through the telling of the story of Jesus and in the conduct of our corporate life so as to embody the truth of the Biblical story,"

Themes

We aim to foster a friendly and sociable atmosphere where children can choose to participate in a wide range of group and individual activities. We organise regular themes around which a number of our activities and any outings are organised. For example, in September 2000 we explored the theme of "Australia and the Olympics". We celebrate Black History Month in October; we have learned about life in Bethnal Green, in the past and today; We have explored the themes of Time, Space and Travel, to name but a few.

We provide the children with opportunities to take part in indoor sports, arts and crafts, board games and puzzles, completing homework and the development of computer skills. We also see the value of mealtimes as being an important corporate, sociable activity. Children are given a light snack daily and help to cook and wash up!

We have a group of Junior Leaders who have written their own job description. Some of the younger children are Buddies and seek to help those who are new or who are on their own and we run a Reward System for all children. We believe that it is important to actively involve the children and young people in decision-making.