Upcoming Training Opportunities
At IMYC, part of our role and passion is to provide training opportunities for those across the Connexion who walk the journey of discipleship with children and young people. Many of these training opportunities are shaped by requests from those involved in youth and children’s ministry.
Two examples of this are our upcoming training sessions focused on Grief and Special Educational Needs.
In September 2025 we will have two separate evenings focused on Grief.
Wednesday 24th September 7-9pm: How a Church might respond to the death of a child or young person in their community.
Tuesday 30th September 7-9pm: How a Church might respond to a child or young person who is grieving.
We will learn from people with experience in pastoral care, hear how some churches have responded to grief, and leave with practical tools and advice.
Both evenings will be held in Edgehill with facilities to join online. Registration for the sessions will open in August. You can choose to attend one or both of the sessions.
On Saturday 10th January 2026, 10am-4:15pm, we are planning a day focused on how Church can be more inclusive of people living with Special Educational Needs. Throughout the course of the day, we will cover topics such as ASD and ADHD, behavioural difficulties, dyslexia, anxiety, Down’s Syndrome, and developmental delay; thinking about the reality of living with SEN and gathering some practical tools we might implement into our Church contexts.
This training will be held in Edgehill House, Belfast, with the option to join online. You are welcome to stay for the whole day, or you can pop in/on for the sessions which are most helpful for your context. Registration will open in December.
In addition to these training opportunities, we would like to draw your attention to the new and exciting ‘Children’s Ministry Essentials’ course. Created by the Children's Ministry Network, (part of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland), this is a comprehensive introduction to mission and ministry with children, whatever context you work in. There are 10 modules which can be taken in isolation or together, online or face-to-face, as a regular group or at your own pace. You can find out more about the course here: https://theologyx.com/program/childrens-ministry-essentials/.
Please do not sign up without first contacting IMYC. As a member of the Children's Ministry Network, there are discounts available when you register through us. If you are interested, please email Heather at heather.bailie@irishmethodist.org.
As always, if you have any training requests, please do get in contact with us at imyc@irishmethodist.org
Thanks!