Afterschool Club at Christ Church

Maggie completed Stepping Up in April 2022 and was commissioned as a Community Minister in July that year in Coatham & Dormanstown Parish, based at Christ Church in Redcar.

Maggie has opened the church doors every Tuesday during term time to run an afterschool club where parents can come with their kids. Adults can find a warm, comfy place to sit, chat and find friendship over a cuppa. There’s lots of activities for the kids to engage with as they make crafts, play fun games and enjoy a snack!

When the group first began there were 7 children coming along. Within the first year of running the numbers have now doubled! Parents started actively requesting more faith based activities in the group so there’s now a bible story every week and the kids pray for different things that’s important for them.

As the activities happen in the church building, people in the community are making it over the threshold for the first time and making meaningful relationships with people in the parish. A family is now attending church services regularly on a Sunday from these connections being made. Important conversations are happening with the adults coming along, particularly in the context of mental health and are able to receive prayer and seek support from the vicar, Rev Rebecca and the church leaders.

The hope for the future is that the team can link new connections with the other primary school in the parish and host another afterschool club in the sister church at All Saints, Dormanstown.