11 Million Takeover Day

11 Million Takeover Day

Friday 23^rd November 2007

The Children’s Commissioner for England , Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green is calling England ’s leading institutions and organisations to celebrate the importance of children and young people in our society. Friday 23^rd November has been named as ‘11 Million Takeover Day’ – the day when the 11 Million children and young people in this country are invited to ‘takeover’ businesses, schools, councils and be consultants to organisations who provide services for children. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has invited the UK Youth Parliament into chamber on that day.

Takeover day also forms part of the celebrations of the 18^th birthday of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) which was ‘born’ on 20^th November 1989.

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.

Oxford Diocese wants to encourage parishes and schools to take the lead in actively supporting Takeover Day, and encouraging members with key roles in their own workplace and businesses to get involved too.

We particularly want to encourage churches to enter the spirit of ‘Takeover Day’ by allowing children and young people to ‘Takeover Worship’ on Sunday 25^th November.

Further ideas are now posted on page 2 of this site that will hopefully help churches give children and young people significant input and leadership roles in worship on that Sunday.

Bishop’s John, Alan, Stephen and Colin are fully supportive and hope to invite a small group children and young people to be a ‘Bishop for the day’.

We’d love to hear from you about what your Parish are doing to support and encourage ministry with children and young people through Takeover Day.

**SEE PAGE 2 FOR FURTHER IDEAS and PAGE 3 for 'STARTING THE PROCESS'**