After many successful events since 2007, we are again plugging Takeover Day, led by the Children's Commissioner for England, as an opportunity for churches to enable greater participation of children and young people in church life and hear their voices, opinions and questions.

Many will remember pictures of William Godley who had the opportunity to shadow Bishop John at a special service back in 2007 - if you missed it the Oxford Mail Archive shows the story.

Two teenagers spent the day with Bishop Colin, other children and young people planned services,  preached, led worship, conducted choirs and took part in church in new ways for their congregations. It was a blessing for young and old alike.

Nationally, the 2007 Takeover Day saw 10,000 children and young people 'take over'500 organisations including schools, police forces, newspapers, fire brigades, churches, charities, local authorities and even parliament. By 2009 that had grown to 30,000 and the hope is that this year 40,000 children will get the opportunity to join in Takeover Day. Across the Diocese in the last three years children have literally 'Takenover'church services and had significant roles in leading worship where they never had before. SOme have also had the opportunity to join PCC meetings for the month.

This year we want more children and people to take over and have their say.

National Takeover Day is on Friday 11th November 2011. Churches can enable children to 'takeover'on any sunday but why not make it a priority for your November Family service?

Why is Takeover Day so important?

The aims of the day are predominantly to hear the voice of children and young people, enabling them to give ideas, ask for changes and improvements, involving them in making decisions that will affect them (including budgeting and spending) and help them see the broader issues when decisions are made on their behalf.

The key aims of the day for businesses and organisations are either to showcase how you already involve children and young people or to provide a kick-start to involving children and young people.

Takeover Day is really important for us to put into action the words of our mouths. We often say that children and young people are important to us but fail to do anything that really shows them how important they are to us or God.

I loved it last year, working with a church in Oxford to facilitate a group of children planning and leading a service of morning prayer. They surprised the adults in many ways that day. Firstly, they didn't just choose 'kids'worship songs they liked a variety of music. Secondly they did send the adults out to specific 'age'groupings and led bible study on stories of children in the bible. Two teenagers spoke about their experiences of church and implored the adults to not underestimate the spirituality of the young and their capacity for Jesus. Finally, and most controversially, they banned coffee, in favour of hot chocolate, lemonade and doughnuts - 'real party food'suitable for the occassion.

Those that took part last year were very blessed by the experience and I'd like to see that blessing extended this year.

For some churches it will take courage. The nearest sunday to 11 Million Takeover Day is Sunday 14th November which is of course Remembrance Sunday and for many this is a poignant time which needs sensitive treatment. It is also a time for many churches to host uniformed organisations for Church Parade and therefore have many young people in church who wouldn't normally be. I believe that that this Sunday offers a great opportunity for children and young people to enabled in the planning and leading of worship, including acts of remembrance that are meaningful and appropriate (Remembrance resources availablehere).

One bit of advice though from comments from different churches last year - practise the children and young people speaking out loud in public. There is nothing more frustrating for the older members than not be able to hear properly what's being said - a simple case of coaching to 'slow down and speak up'should help that.

To find out more and download a Takeover Day guidance pack and resources clickhere.

About the Children's Commissioner for England

The Office of the Children's Commissioner is a national organisation led by the Children's Commissioner for England, Dr Maggie Atkinson. The post of Children's Commissioner for England was established by the Children Act 2004. It requires the Commissioner to refer to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) when planning and carrying out its work.

The Children's Commissioner has a duty to promote the views and interests of all children in England, in particular those whose voices are least likely to be heard, to the people who make decisions about their lives. She also has a duty to speak on behalf of all children in the UK on non-devolved issues which include immigration for the whole of the UK, and youth justice, for England and Wales. One of the Commissioners key functions is encouraging organisations that provide services for children always to operate from the child's perspective.

Link to theChildren's Commissioner's website. 

Getting Involved - Getting children involved.