Eden
In the Eden Valley (and surroundings) we have two schools’ workers. Ruth Evans (ruth.evans@niscu.org.uk) and Andi Taylor (andi.taylor@niscu.org.uk)
Andi and Ruth both seek to work with local Church leaders and other youth and children’s workers across the Eden area in the schools most relevant to them, and also directly with schools as they are invited in.
Our two workers broadly split the work geographically between them, but are ot exclusive to a particular area and often work together on larger projects with schools across the whole area. Andi looks after the Kirkby Stephen and Appleby areas, and the associated feeder primary school communities, and Ruth looks after Penrith and the associated rural feeder schools, and also the Alston area.
Andi can provide assemblies but also has a particular skill and gift in providing art and visual-creativity based workshops and clubs that directly link creativity to Bible stories and Christian values, the art works she encourages children to create are wonderful! She also works with others to provide a ‘Wellbeing’ based lunch club at Appleby Grammar School.
Ruth offers assemblies, puppet sessions, lessons & pop-up prayer spaces (see the link to Prayer Spaces In Schools at the side) in Primary and Secondary schools, and ‘Big Question’ lunch clubs at QEGS in Penrith, and occasional drop-in sessions at Samuel Kings’ in Alston. She is trained in OT Mini’ and ‘NT Mini’, provided by Walk Through The Bible and is happy to set up links for schools.
Both Ruth and Andi offer seasonal lessons/experience the story events – Christmas, Easter, (adapted for year groups) Moving Up.
Ruth is also trained in, and willing to support schools who are implementing, the ‘Understanding Christianity’ scheme.
We know that prayer is vital and would encourage as many people as possible to pray for their local school, but also to join collectively in praying for the schools’ work in Eden – we are a geographically large area. If you would be interested in receiving a weekly prayer update (Pocket Prayer) please email Ruth directly at ruth.evans@niscu.org.uk with your name and email address, she promises to only use it to send you the weekly prayer email and termly newsletter. We hold a prayer meeting by Zoom on the first Monday of each half term, again, contact Ruth for information.
Please do get in touch if you want to chat to find out more, we love meeting supporters as much as schools.
The Area Support Group for NISCU Eden meets half termly to plan, pray and seek to work strategically across our area, working together to help all children to hear that they are loved by God and that Jesus came as the ultimate rescuer!
For more information as a teacher, parent, church leader or potential volunteer, please contact Ruth, she will do her best to answer your questions.
