BeSpace - time to go into a school

Members of our church joined our vicar Anita to deliver a week of prayer and reflection through four prayer and reflection spaces at the local Queensway primary school here in Banbury. 

Pre lock down Anita and volunteers delivered to the various year groups the opportunity to take some time out to be conscious of the world in which they live, their need to be open to making time to be still and to discover ways in which you can communicate with God. 

BeSpace ( a charity) is a well designed and resourced programme adopted by the Oxford diocese and takes place in many schools.

Anita who regularly goes into the school was delighted that the school wanted to continue this programme now we have passed through the worse of the pandemic. It meant a school, with a two form entry from year 1 to year 6, was enabled to have all children come into the prayer space through the week. It required 24 individual sessions to be able to break down the classes into smaller numbers. This in turn meant with four prayer stations volunteers were required. So with sixteen people volunteering from St Hugh's and five from other local churches it was all made possible.

This year the young people had the opportunity to think about saying thank you for someone who had a real impact on their lives. So they made pipe cleaner people and a colourful prayer wall was created through the week.

There was of course the wow factor of the bubble tube that changed colour in a tent. As the focus we reflected on saying please in a very personal way for things we wanted to change or felt we needed.

Saying Sorry using sand was of course a very popular medium to use. There's something very tactile about writing in sand or making shapes to represent what you are sorry about and then levelling it all out.

                                                                                         

The map of the world with flags hung up made a very colourful space as we reflected on what we knew and what we wanted to change. It was the time to think, pray and reflect on the needs of the world and others.

For me 'BeSpace' was a wonderful time to be involved without responsibility and to work with others to assist this important opportunity for children. I have to say the school was very welcoming, from the excellent secretaries at reception ( you can tell a lot about a school from them), to the teachers and support staff. The children 'were children' but well behaved, engaging, insightful and fun. 

Some shared very openly, others took their time to speak. The diversity of background was a joy and while perhaps not as diverse as in Sheffield, brought a richness to the sharing. As always children made me smile and laugh. They made me conscious again about the various issues they have to deal with. A young carer for his mum as he shared moved me deeply, to the many who had experienced grief and for some it was still very raw. It was great to hear how so many valued their grandparents, how they had a love hate relationship with siblings (all very normal), to an amazing awareness of climate change, pollution, animal extinction. It felt like we touched on so many areas of life. It revealed how well teachers know their pupils, their needs and can communicate a curriculum that they remember. Pupils spoke warmly of their teacher, and teachers spoke warmly of their class. 

I was glad to be able to offer two full days in this important week for the school and trust that in some way all pupils and staff gained something from their time at BeSpace.

BeSpace is a Christian charity based in Oxfordshire that equips local churches to facilitate prayer and reflective spaces in schools and other areas of the community. 

If you would like to know more go the BeSpace.be website.