'All Inclusive?' - Supporting Families
2023-06-07 19:30 - 21:30 (Europe/London) | Supporting Families Online
Supporting Families – understanding and supporting, practically and pastorally, families of children and young people with additional needs
This seminar looks at:
Understanding the terminology regarding additional/special needs, disability etc.
Navigating the diagnosis; what is the journey that many families are on?
Transitions, milestones, rites of passage; what are some of the key ‘trigger’ points for families?
Dads, siblings, challenges during lockdown and more…
What appropriate practical and pastoral support can be offered to families?
Further information, resources and support to explore.
The seminar provides you with everything you need to better understand some of the challenges families of children and young people with additional/special needs encounter, what that experience can be like for them, and how to offer and provide appropriate and informed support.
The ‘All Inclusive?’ – Supporting Families training programme includes:
– A comprehensive colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
– Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of topics related to supporting families of children and young people with additional needs.
– Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.
“This morning, I attended another AMAZING Zoom training session on ‘All Inclusive?’ – Supporting Families – by Mark Arnold (Additional Needs Ministry Director at Urban Saints). It was SO GOOD to meet virtually with other professionals passionate about making their work/ministry INCLUSIVE and ACCESSIBLE to all. It was CRUCIAL to take the time out to reflect on what we do at EDGE and think about how we include everybody. HIGHLY recommended training!”
“This morning’s training was OFF THE CHARTS!! I recommend this training to EVERYBODY!”

'All Inclusive?' - How to Include Autistic Children and Young People in Church
2023-06-14 19:30 - 21:30 | How to Include Online
‘All Inclusive?’ – How to Include Autistic Children and Young People in Church – accessibility, inclusion, belonging, and spiritual development for all. An Urban Saints event. Includes a full-colour A4 workbook, a copy of the accompanying Grove Youth series book, access to video learning, and an interactive online group training session.
Without considered and intentional measures, many aspects of church life can pose challenges for Autistic children and young people.
This practical training provides useful advice on how to make church a space where Autistic children and young people can thrive. It urges children’s, youth and families workers to be agents of change within both their own ministries and the wider church community, building a better place for accessibility, inclusion, belonging and spiritual development for all.
Areas covered include:
– What Autism is (and isn’t!), medical model vs. social model, brain overloads, myth busting etc.
– Barriers experienced by Autistic children and young people in church, including physical, programme and people barriers.
– Reducing or removing these barriers, and who can help.
– How these changes can create belonging for everyone, including stories from Autistic young people, their families, and church children’s/youth workers. 10 ways to create belonging.
– Further resources, links, and information
The ‘All Inclusive?’ – How to Include Autistic Children and Young People in Church training programme includes:
– A comprehensive colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
– A copy of the accompanying Grove Youth series book which provides further context and depth to the training content.
– Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of associated topics.
– Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.
– Participants completing at least three of the Urban Saints ‘All Inclusive?’ training programmes will receive a certificate.
“Thank you Mark for this and for the excellent session on Saturday – This is all very new to me – it was really helpful and I will be processing everything!”
“Thank you so much for the training yesterday, despite having a lot of experience as a teacher and a parent and godparent to several children with sen and additional needs I always find your training helpful.”
“Fab morning spent doing the ‘All Inclusive? – How to Include Autistic Children and Young People in Church’ training. Really enjoyed it Mark Arnold!”
“It was fantastic as always. Got some more great actions points to put into place. Thank you .”

'All Inclusive?' - Invited To Belong:2U - Online
2023-06-21 19:30 - 21:30 | ‘All Inclusive?’ Online
Tickets are £10.00 each for the training and two supporting workbooks, or £25.00 for the training, workbooks, and the ‘Invited to Belong’ resource pack (recommended).

We launched our new Urban Saints ‘Invited to Belong:2U’ training resource at the National Youth Ministry Weekend 2022, providing valuable content to add to the ‘Invited to Belong’ resource that we launched at NYMW 2021.

I can now offer ‘open’ online training sessions for this course, which you can book places on via the Eventbrite link at the top and bottom of this post.

‘Invited to Belong’ is a six-stage practical and interactive learning process for leaders and teams who support young people and children with additional needs in Christian settings.

We open the box together to be inspired, challenged, and equipped to invite young people with additional needs to experience a deeper and more genuine sense of belonging within the ministries they are a part of.

We explore ‘inspiration to belong’, ‘stories of belonging’, ‘barriers to belonging’, ‘enabling belonging’, a vision for belonging’ and ‘invited to belong’.

Let’s work together to enable our children’s, youth, and families ministries to be accessible, inclusive, and a place of belonging for all.

Everyone registering will receive two hard copy full-colour A4 training and resource workbooks (we’ll post these straight to you), along with links to a playlist of helpful and informative videos to watch. If you order a ticket with a copy of the ‘Included to Belong’ resource itself, we’ll send that too (recommend one resource ticket per team/group, plus as many training tickets as you need).
Then we’ll have a Zoom session gathering everyone together (max. 25) where we can get some more training input, discuss everything, look at some case studies, have some Q&A, and signpost towards further resources!
A recent comment about ‘Invited to Belong’ sent to us from a youth leader shows the impact it is having…
“I just wanted to let you know how useful we’re finding the ‘Invited to Belong’ resource. We used some of it at our youth group team meeting this week, along with some of our young leaders, and it produced some really helpful conversation. We’ve come up with a good list of ways we can make our group better and more inclusive! We will continue to use it at future meetings. The individual fact sheets are a great source of information. Thanks for all the resources you put together. They are really invaluable.” Thrive, Leeds
For more information about the ‘Invited to Belong’ resource, visit http://www.urbansaints.org/invitedtobelong
As always, it’s limited to the first 25 people (you can order multiple tickets up to a limit of five) so we’ll be closing bookings once the course is full.
“Just wanted to say a big thank you for all your hard work in helping me feel 100% more equipped than I did before in leading our children and young people, and reaching out to other families in our community with additional needs and/or disabilities.”
“All the videos, the handbook, the organisation, the breakout space to share ideas was really, really appreciated and makes all the difference when a workshop is so well thought through and organised.”
Looking forward to ‘seeing’ you there!

'All Inclusive?' - Supporting Children and Young People with Additional Needs
2023-07-12 19:30 - 21:30 | ‘All Inclusive?’ Online
Supporting children and young people with special or additional needs or disabilities – accessibility, inclusion and belonging for all. An Urban Saints event. Includes a full-colour A4 workbook, access to video learning, and an interactive online group training session.
Most children’s and youth workers want to include children of all abilities and needs in what they do, but many struggle to make this a reality. There are many different kinds of special or additional needs, and each one, each child, needs thinking about and planning for carefully.
It is hard for children’s and youth workers to navigate the right path through this sometimes difficult and complex area; being caring, inclusive and supportive to each child (and their families), while not losing focus on the needs of the rest of the group.
This is an area that is confusing and challenging to many of us who are responsible for looking after children and young people who have special or additional needs. How can parents, churches and children’s/youth workers not only understand more about the children we are working with, but also change the way we work with them so to be more inclusive and create belonging for all?
The ‘All Inclusive?’ training programme includes:
– A comprehensive 50 page colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
– Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of topics including eight ways to make childrens/youth work inclusive, the benefits of having an ‘Inclusion Champion’, putting together and using a ‘Fiddles Box’, and how to plan childrens work by interest groups rather than age groups.
– Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.
– Participants completing three of the Urban Saints ‘All Inclusive?’ training programmes will receive a certificate.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/all-inclusive-supporting-children-young-people-with-additional-needs-tickets-641950670737

'All Inclusive?' - Disability Equality
2023-07-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Disability Equality Online
Disability Equality – Understanding the Equality Act and how it applies to all children’s and youth work, particularly in a church context.
This seminar looks at:
Disability Equality Legislation Guidelines; detail regarding terms used and current disability legislation, specifically the Equality Act 2010, in relation to children’s/youth work.
Urban Saints Disability Equality Policy; how Urban Saints applies disability equality law.
Further Supporting Information; tips and resources to help and support you.
The seminar provides you with everything you need to better understand the legal requirements under current disability equality legislation to treat equally children, young people, and adult team members with additional needs or disabilities within groups, camps and overseas mission trips etc.
The ‘All Inclusive?’ – Disability Equality training programme includes:
– A comprehensive colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
– Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of topics related to disability equality legislation and how to apply it.
– Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.
– Participants completing three Urban Saints ‘All Inclusive?’ training programmes will receive a certificate.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to gather information and informed advice and tips. Answered my questions and uncertainties and made me feel equipped and excited about how I can work alongside all young people.”
“Tonight, I attended another INCREDIBLE Zoom training session on ‘All Inclusive? Disability Equality’ by Mark Arnold (Additional Needs Ministry Director at Urban Saints).
It was SO GOOD to meet virtually with other professionals passionate about making their work/ministry practise inclusive. It was Important to take the time out to reflect on what we do and learn about The Disability Equality Act and the CRUCIAL measures we need to ensure are in place
HIGHLY recommend these sessions to everyone and anyone. GREAT teaching and reflections. Applicable to everyone and everywhere.”

'All Inclusive?' - Supporting Families
2023-09-06 19:30 - 21:30, 2023-11-14 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-01-24 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-07-17 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-02-17 19:30 - 21:30 | ‘All Inclusive?’ Online

'All Inclusive?' How to Include Autistic Children and Young People in Church
2023-09-13 19:30 - 21:30 | ‘All Inclusive?’ Online

'All Inclusive?' - Invited to Belong:2U
2023-09-27 19:30 - 21:30 | ‘All Inclusive?’ Online

'All Inclusive?' - Disability Equality
2023-11-01 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-01-22 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-07-09 19:30 - 21:30 | ‘All Inclusive?’ Online
Disability Equality – Understanding the Equality Act and how it applies to all children’s and youth work, particularly in a church context.
This seminar looks at:
Disability Equality Legislation Guidelines; detail regarding terms used and current disability legislation, specifically the Equality Act 2010, in relation to children’s/youth work.
Urban Saints Disability Equality Policy; how Urban Saints applies disability equality law.
Further Supporting Information; tips and resources to help and support you.
The seminar provides you with everything you need to better understand the legal requirements under current disability equality legislation to treat equally children, young people, and adult team members with additional needs or disabilities within groups, camps and overseas mission trips etc.
The ‘All Inclusive?’ – Disability Equality training programme includes:
– A comprehensive colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
– Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of topics related to disability equality legislation and how to apply it.
– Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to gather information and informed advice and tips. Answered my questions and uncertainties and made me feel equipped and excited about how I can work alongside all young people.”
“Tonight, I attended another INCREDIBLE Zoom training session on ‘All Inclusive? Disability Equality’ by Mark Arnold (Additional Needs Ministry Director at Urban Saints).
It was SO GOOD to meet virtually with other professionals passionate about making their work/ministry practise inclusive. It was Important to take the time out to reflect on what we do and learn about The Disability Equality Act and the CRUCIAL measures we need to ensure are in place
HIGHLY recommend these sessions to everyone and anyone. GREAT teaching and reflections. Applicable to everyone and everywhere.”

'All Inclusive?' - How to Include Autistic Children and Young People in Church
2023-11-08 19:30 - 21:30 | ‘All Inclusive?’ Online

'All Inclusive?' - Supporting Children and Young People with Additional Needs
2023-11-21 19:30 - 21:30 | ‘All Inclusive?’ Online
Supporting children and young people with special or additional needs or disabilities – accessibility, inclusion and belonging for all. An Urban Saints event. Includes a full-colour A4 workbook, access to video learning, and an interactive online group training session.
Most children’s and youth workers want to include children of all abilities and needs in what they do, but many struggle to make this a reality. There are many different kinds of special or additional needs, and each one, each child, needs thinking about and planning for carefully.
It is hard for children’s and youth workers to navigate the right path through this sometimes difficult and complex area; being caring, inclusive and supportive to each child (and their families), while not losing focus on the needs of the rest of the group.
This is an area that is confusing and challenging to many of us who are responsible for looking after children and young people who have special or additional needs. How can parents, churches and children’s/youth workers not only understand more about the children we are working with, but also change the way we work with them so to be more inclusive and create belonging for all?
The ‘All Inclusive?’ training programme includes:
– A comprehensive 50 page colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
– Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of topics including eight ways to make childrens/youth work inclusive, the benefits of having an ‘Inclusion Champion’, putting together and using a ‘Fiddles Box’, and how to plan childrens work by interest groups rather than age groups.
– Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.

'All Inclusive?' - Invited to Belong:2U
2023-11-29 19:30 - 21:30 | ‘All Inclusive?’ Online
‘Invited to Belong:2U’. An Urban Saints event. Includes a full-colour A4 workbook, access to video learning, and an interactive online group training session.
‘Invited to Belong:2U’, the sixth in the Urban Saints series of ‘All Inclusive?’ additional needs training programmes, will guide children’s and youth leaders step-by-step through the six stages of the ‘Invited to Belong’ resource: ‘Inspiration’, ‘Stories of Belonging’, ‘Barriers to Belonging’, ‘Enabling Belonging’, ‘A Vision for Belonging’, and ‘Invited to Belong’.
Unpacking stories of inclusion done well, helping you to know the context and backstory behind these inspiring examples.
Immersing you in the encounters that Jesus had with people with additional needs and highlighting what these encounters teach us today about inclusion.
Guiding you to identify barriers to belonging in your own context.
Equipping you with the skills and knowledge to break these barriers down.
We will work together to craft what your own vision for belonging might say. And we’ll inspire you to reach out to children and young people with additional needs in your own community to invite them to belong.
The accompanying full-colour A4 training workbook is packed with resources, valuable fact sheets, accessibility checklists, and all the training materials used. There is also a playlist of informative videos to support the training content.
You will be fully equipped to take the ‘Invited to Belong’ resource back to your own teams, to work through it with them, and to maximise the benefit of this resource in your settings, enabling children and young people with additional needs to belong.
The ‘All Inclusive?’ – Invited to Belong:2U training programme includes:
– A comprehensive colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
– Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of topics.
– Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.
You can book either just a place on the training (for £10) or a place on the training plus a copy of the ‘Invited to Belong’ resource pack itself (for £25).
“Thank you so much, Mark, for such inspiring training I am very excited about using it with our teams.”
“Thank you for the training last night. It was so very helpful and has encouraged me greatly. I look forward to seeing how the Lord will work through it. Thank you also for your time sharing your knowledge and experience with us. Keep going in Jesus!”
Feedback from ‘Invited to Belong:2U’ training

'All Inclusive?' - How to Include Autistic Children and Young People in Church
2024-01-09 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-06-12 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-12-09 19:30 - 21:30 | ‘All Inclusive?’ Online
‘All Inclusive?’ – How to Include Autistic Children and Young People in Church – accessibility, inclusion, belonging, and spiritual development for all. An Urban Saints event. Includes a full-colour A4 workbook, a copy of the accompanying Grove Youth series book, access to video learning, and an interactive online group training session.
Without considered and intentional measures, many aspects of church life can pose challenges for Autistic children and young people.
This practical training provides useful advice on how to make church a space where Autistic children and young people can thrive. It urges children’s, youth and families workers to be agents of change within both their own ministries and the wider church community, building a better place for accessibility, inclusion, belonging and spiritual development for all.
Areas covered include:
– What Autism is (and isn’t!), medical model vs. social model, brain overloads, myth busting etc.
– Barriers experienced by Autistic children and young people in church, including physical, programme and people barriers.
– Reducing or removing these barriers, and who can help.
– How these changes can create belonging for everyone, including stories from Autistic young people, their families, and church children’s/youth workers. 10 ways to create belonging.
– Further resources, links, and information
The ‘All Inclusive?’ – How to Include Autistic Children and Young People in Church training programme includes:
– A comprehensive colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
– A copy of the accompanying Grove Youth series book which provides further context and depth to the training content.
– Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of associated topics.
– Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.
“Thank you Mark for this and for the excellent session on Saturday – This is all very new to me – it was really helpful and I will be processing everything!”
“Thank you so much for the training yesterday, despite having a lot of experience as a teacher and a parent and godparent to several children with sen and additional needs I always find your training helpful.”
“Fab morning spent doing the ‘All Inclusive? – How to Include Autistic Children and Young People in Church’ training. Really enjoyed it Mark Arnold!”
“It was fantastic as always. Got some more great actions points to put into place. Thank you .”

'All Inclusive?' - Invited to Belong:2U
2024-05-23 19:30 - 21:30 | ‘All Inclusive?’ Online
‘Invited to Belong:2U’. An Urban Saints event. Includes a full-colour A4 workbook, access to video learning, and an interactive online group training session.
‘Invited to Belong:2U’, the sixth in the Urban Saints series of ‘All Inclusive?’ additional needs training programmes, will guide children’s and youth leaders step-by-step through the six stages of the ‘Invited to Belong’ resource: ‘Inspiration’, ‘Stories of Belonging’, ‘Barriers to Belonging’, ‘Enabling Belonging’, ‘A Vision for Belonging’, and ‘Invited to Belong’.
Unpacking stories of inclusion done well, helping you to know the context and backstory behind these inspiring examples.
Immersing you in the encounters that Jesus had with people with additional needs and highlighting what these encounters teach us today about inclusion.
Guiding you to identify barriers to belonging in your own context.
Equipping you with the skills and knowledge to break these barriers down.
We will work together to craft what your own vision for belonging might say. And we’ll inspire you to reach out to children and young people with additional needs in your own community to invite them to belong.
The accompanying full-colour A4 training workbook is packed with resources, valuable fact sheets, accessibility checklists, and all the training materials used. There is also a playlist of informative videos to support the training content.
You will be fully equipped to take the ‘Invited to Belong’ resource back to your own teams, to work through it with them, and to maximise the benefit of this resource in your settings, enabling children and young people with additional needs to belong.
The ‘All Inclusive?’ – Invited to Belong:2U training programme includes:
– A comprehensive colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
– Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of topics.
– Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.
You can book either just a place on the training (for £10) or a place on the training plus a copy of the ‘Invited to Belong’ resource pack itself (for £25).
“Thank you so much, Mark, for such inspiring training I am very excited about using it with our teams 😊.”
“Thank you for the training last night. It was so very helpful and has encouraged me greatly. I look forward to seeing how the Lord will work through it. Thank you also for your time sharing your knowledge and experience with us. Keep going in Jesus!”
Feedback from ‘Invited to Belong:2U’ training

'All Inclusive?' - How to Include Children and Young People with ADHD in Church
2024-06-26 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-11-20 19:30 - 21:30 | ‘All Inclusive?’ Online
‘All Inclusive?’ – How to Include Children and Young People with ADHD in Church – accessibility, inclusion, belonging, and spiritual development for all. An Urban Saints event. Includes a full-colour A4 workbook, access to video learning, and an interactive online group training session.
Without considered and intentional measures, many aspects of church life can pose challenges for children and young people with ADHD.
This practical training provides useful advice on how to make church a space where children and young people with ADHD can thrive. It urges children’s, youth and families workers to be agents of change within both their own ministries and the wider church community, building a better place for accessibility, inclusion, belonging and spiritual development for all.
Areas covered include:
– What ADHD is (and isn’t!), other terms for ADHD (VAST, DAVE), how common ADHD is, neurodiversity, core areas of ADHD, and more.
– General ways to support children and young people with ADHD
– Practical ways to help children and young people with ADHD
– Case studies
– Further resources, links, and information
The ‘All Inclusive?’ – How to Include Children and Young People with ADHD in Church training programme includes:
– A comprehensive colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
– Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of associated topics.
– Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.
“Thank you Mark for this and for the excellent session on Saturday – This is all very new to me – it was really helpful and I will be processing everything!”
“Thank you so much for the training yesterday, despite having a lot of experience as a teacher and a parent and godparent to several children with sen and additional needs I always find your training helpful.”
“Fab morning spent doing the ‘All Inclusive? – How to Include Autistic Children and Young People in Church’ training. Really enjoyed it Mark Arnold!”
“It was fantastic as always. Got some more great actions points to put into place. Thank you .”

'All Inclusive?' - Supporting Children and Young People with Additional Needs
2024-07-23 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-01-22 19:30 - 21:30 | ‘All Inclusive?’ Online
Supporting children and young people with special or additional needs or disabilities – accessibility, inclusion and belonging for all. An Urban Saints event. Includes a full-colour A4 workbook, access to video learning, and an interactive online group training session.
Most children’s and youth workers want to include children of all abilities and needs in what they do, but many struggle to make this a reality. There are many different kinds of special or additional needs, and each one, each child, needs thinking about and planning for carefully.
It is hard for children’s and youth workers to navigate the right path through this sometimes difficult and complex area; being caring, inclusive and supportive to each child (and their families), while not losing focus on the needs of the rest of the group.
This is an area that is confusing and challenging to many of us who are responsible for looking after children and young people who have special or additional needs. How can parents, churches and children’s/youth workers not only understand more about the children we are working with, but also change the way we work with them so to be more inclusive and create belonging for all?
The ‘All Inclusive?’ training programme includes:
– A comprehensive colour A4 training workbook with a wealth of information and resources sent to each participant in advance.
– An Additional Needs Information Book giving an overview of 25 different additional needs, how to provide support, and where to get more information.
– Access to a series of videos to explore and learn through, covering a range of topics including eight ways to make childrens/youth work inclusive, the benefits of having an ‘Inclusion Champion’, putting together and using a ‘Fiddles Box’, and how to plan childrens work by interest groups rather than age groups.
– Finally, a Zoom session including discussion groups, case studies, Q&A, and signposting to further resources to investigate, as we wrap this programme up together.
