If you’ve ever wondered what adding a circular saw to your children’s program would do to your risk assessments, Footprints Erina may have the answer!
Two years ago, Kids Zone, Erina Community Baptist’s weekly afterschool program, had to close due to a lack of volunteers. Lisa Hartley, Community Engagement Coordinator for Footprints Erina (the community outreach non-profit of Erina Community Baptist Church), and her team were looking for a way to still reach out to the kids in their local community. Asking herself “what do we have?” and “what can we work with?”, Lisa recognised that some kids only came to Kids Zone when they had “Shed Week”, a semi-regular excursion to the Men’s Shed on the premises.
And so, the Kids Shed program was born as a collaborative project with the Erina Community Men’s Shed.
For four weeks a term, twelve kids and three Kids Team volunteers head over to Erina Men’s Shed, where six community volunteers (“shedders”) teach the kids woodworking. The kids learn safety, hammering, screwing, sawing and drilling, all while using hand tools and electric tools including the latest in technology, such as a laser engraver and wood planer.
Four weeks has proven to be the perfect length, where the kids don’t get bored or over-confident, and the parents make it a priority to get their kids there each week. The volunteers also commit to being there for the full four weeks, making consistency of participant and team one of the programs strengths.
The program has naturally attracted a representation of neurodiverse children, who have enjoyed the hands-on, one-to-one, and bit-size learning. Local homeschool families also jumped at the opportunity to be involved in the program. Howard, who leads the program from the Men’s Shed end, has prioritised teaching the kids independence and problem-solving skills. If the kids make a mistake, they get to learn how to fix it themselves. This has been great for building their skills and confidence.
The program is also highly valued by the shedders, who find real purpose in coming and sharing their knowledge and experience with the kids. And the kids benefit from building strong relationships and rapport with the volunteers. For the kids from single-parent families, this has been a particularly valuable positive relationship with a reliable older man in a safe and structured environment.
“There is ample research now that shows what Erina Baptist have found – that intergenerational relationships have significant benefits for all generations,” explains Louise Bartlett, Team Leader for Children and Family Ministries at NSW & ACT Baptist Churches, “churches could be leading the way here for our communities.”
Last term, the kids worked together on a project to make wooden trains, which they donated to the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal. At the end of the four weeks, the kids presented the trains to the Salvation Army, and a representative of the Salvation Army awarded them each with a certificate. Reflecting on the day, Lisa remembers the pride on each of the children’s faces. But even more so, she recalls the overwhelming pride on the faces of their families.
“At the end of the day it’s about forming relationships with the kids and their families,” says Lisa. Only one of the kids currently in the program is from the church, and many of the families have had nothing to do with a church before.
“One of the older kids has difficulties with verbal communication,” reflects Lisa, “but his mum noticed how at the presentation one of the volunteers was happy to engage him in conversation even though it was an effort. She told me that ‘few adults have done that with him’ and it was clear that this volunteer knew him and what he struggles with.”
“The Erina Kids Shed concept is a reminder to dream about new and significant ways to connect with kids and their families,” says Louise, “to notice the gifts and resources God has placed within your faith community and lean into that, rather than trying to do the same thing over and over.”
Looking forward, Lisa and her team are planning what is next for their current cohort of kids aged between 10 and 13 and for future cohorts. “We have a long waiting list,” says Lisa, “but the program is so good that no one wants to leave!”
Lisa is happy to talk to anyone thinking about how a similar program on partnership might work for their church. You can reach Lisa at lisa@footprintserina.com.au
