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West of England Baptist Association
Becky Allison. Hi, I represent the West of England Baptist Association. I have been a children and families pastor in North Somerset for 10 years and I also work for South West Youth Ministries supporting children, youth and families trainees within the Gloucestershire area. I’m really passionate about seeing children come to know Jesus, to see them grow in their faith and develop a faith that lasts. In my free time I love to travel, go to the theatre and spend time with my family, friends and dog Archie! |
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South West Baptist Association
Glenda Chadwick-Down is the Regional Mission Enabler - Children, Youth & Families for the SWBA. Prior to this she served as Minister, Youth & Children at Teignmouth Baptist Church and before that at Moortown Baptist Church in Leeds. Glenda is loving her role of supporting, encouraging and raising the profile of all the CYF work across the Association. Alongside this Glenda is also part of the CYF Team at Bristol Baptist College. Glenda loves living by the sea and enjoying the coast with her family, friends & Springer Spaniel! |
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North Western Baptist Association
Fiona Firestone – I have always had a passion for children’s work and have held both voluntary and paid roles over the past 20 years and it is a privilege to represent the NWBA at the roundtable. I believe that children and young people are not just the future of the church but it’s present! My current ministry is as a Co-ordinator in the North of England for the charity Renew Wellbeing, this includes CYF Renew which influences my input to the group. |
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Yorkshire Baptist Association
Jodie Thorpe. Hi, I represent Yorkshire Baptist Association. I am passionate about children and families growing closer to God by journeying together. I am an advocate of intergenerational church and long for this not to be tokenistic, but the genuine heart of the wider church family; to see and value everyone, of all ages, as a child of God. |
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Central Baptist Association
Simon Cragg. Hello, I am a Minister in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, and am part of the Central Baptist Association. I have been involved in Children and Youth work for over 20 years, both on the ground in discipleship of young people, and in line managing staff and working on a coherent vision that seeks to grow those ministries. I get excited when I see children and young people take steps in their faith, building a relationship with God, and begin serving their friends and use their gifts in their local church. I get even more excited when other leaders get passionate about being part of that discipleship-making process. |
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London Baptist Association
Amie Buhari set up The Hebe Foundation (formally known as South London Youth Project) in 2007 after feeling for years the need to provide young people with activities that work towards developing their gifts and improving their lives in some way. Amie has over 25 years' Youth Work and Management experience in various organisations such as theatres, environmental companies, TRA Associations, churches, youth clubs etc. Amie’s skills include Teaching, Facilitation, Project Management, Counselling, Events coordinator and she is also an Actress, Singer, Percussionist and Writer. |
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Education representative
Rachel Swaby leads the Children and Young People’s ministry at New Park Road Baptist church in South-West London and is the the Safeguarding lead for London Baptists. Rachel embarked on a primary teaching career in 2004, working in East London. After leaving the classroom, Rachel worked for an education charity supporting schools with Christian collective worship, RE lessons and SMSC provision. She is also a qualified freelance Financial Education Coach. As well as ministering to the next generation, she has a heart for working with and supporting the wider community. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys running around the local common and spending time with her husband and two sons. Rachel is also a caring cat lover and enjoys reading and musical theatre. |
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Co-opted member
Sian Hancock has worked with children, young people and their families in a range of community settings over the years including church, pre school and primary school. She is Associate Tutor at Bristol Baptist College and a Trainer for Godly Play UK. She has a deep sense of calling to see children develop in their faith journey.
Sian is a Young Victims’ Advocate for children and young people affected by crime, anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse supporting them with trauma-informed therapy. She is currently in the final stages of a professional doctorate in Practical Theology where her research has focussed on girls aged 7-14 years - their identity, world and faith. Sian co-edited the book Re-Thinking Children’s Work in Churches. Any spare time she has, she enjoys sharing with family, friends and waggy tailed Pippin.
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London Baptist Association
Pete Herbert-James is passionate about helping churches serve a younger generation and in identifying, equipping and releasing a new generation of leaders into the life God has called them. He currently works part-time with London Baptists supporting churches in CYF and Young Adults ministry, whilst living with his wife, Jo, in Cardiff, where he is also completing his MTh alongside ministerial accreditation. |
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Specialist Team representative
Mike Lowe is National Communications Manager for the Baptist Union and Facilitator for the CYF Round Table. Prior to this role he was a Minister in Derby where he had a passion for working with children and young families. He now wants to enable the voices, passion and experience of this group to be heard across the country |
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East Midlands Baptist Association
Sarah Fegredo represents the EMBA, where she is the CYF Associate, on the round table. She has a degree in Youth and Community Work with Applied Theology. She has worked as a Baptist minister and Children and Youth pastor at Ruddington Baptist Church and West Bridgford Baptist Church. She currently works for Renew Wellbeing looking after adult Renew spaces and as the National Coordinator for CCYF Renew. She has a passion for helping children and young people reach their God-given potential. |
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Southern Counties Baptist Association
Clare Hooper - I currently chair the CYF Round Table which is a gathering I have found to be hopeful and energising. Locally I love being involved with prayer spaces and I’m also part of a team that runs a befriending ministry for young people who for various reasons are vulnerable to homelessness. The main bulk of my time is divided between my role as a regional minister for SCBA where I serve as the children, youth and families mission developer and my role with Bristol Baptist College where I’m the tutor for children, youth and families. |
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Northern Baptist Association
Dan Holland. Hi, I'm Dan a Youth and Community Worker at Potrack Baptist Church in Stockton-On-Tees and representative for the NBA. I'm a husband to Rachel, dad to Asher, and long-suffering Nottingham Forest fan. I love coffee, God, football, and my local estate where we live. I am passionate about seeing children and young people/those in the community grow into who they were made to be and also grow in their relationship with God. I've been a youth worker in Stockton for about 16 years and have been involved in both Primary/Secondary schools work as well as children's work of all ages. I'm excited to become part of the CYF roundtable to work in partnership with those across the association and advocate for those who often don't have a voice. Also worth knowing that I once got knocked out by a young person I was trying to keep safe during a wide game in the dark (I still carry the scar to prove it!). |
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South Eastern Baptist Association
Josh Amott. Hey, born and bred in Kent and have now been working in the church that I grew up in for around 7 years as the youth and children's worker, before that I was involved in volunteering for many years while doing other jobs. As I have been at the same church since I was 7 I have had the joy of seeing kids become teenagers and then adults. I'm passionate about children and young people coming to know the love of God, for them to know that they are accepted and loved as they are. In my free time I enjoy going to watch the mighty Charlton Athletic, going on long walks and road trips with my lovely wife. |
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