Children, young people and families

The Children and Young People Mission and Ministry Team is here to advise, support and help churches celebrate mission and ministry with children and young people across the Diocese. 

They are passionate about ensuring children and young people are offered life-enhancing encounters with Jesus Christ and supporting parishes to consider how they can best welcome, nurture and include children and young people as equal partners in the life of the Church. 

On this page we cover:

Our responsibility to safeguard children and young people
Training
Mental Health First Aid training
Upcoming events
The Children and Young People newsletter

We also have dedicated pages on:

Resources to support ministry with children, young people and families
Diocesan Youth Council

If you are a children or youth worker - paid or voluntary - you may like to visit our Support for Children and Youth Workers page
 

Our responsibility to safeguard children and young people

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and the safeguarding of children and young people is paramount.

All adults and young people who are responsible for working with children and young people should be familiar with the Church of England and Diocesan Safeguarding policies and guidance documents.

The Diocese's Children and Young People Lead Adviser can also offer training to parishes with a specific focus on the practical implications of the Diocesan safeguarding policy and procedures for those who work with children and young people. 

All those who work with children and young people on behalf of their parish should undertake the Safeguarding training from Basic to Leadership courses, depending on your position within your parish. 

• For details of forthcoming Diocesan, safeguarding training opportunities visit Events and Training.
• For more safeguarding advice please visit the Diocesan Safeguarding pages
   

Training

We want to encourage and develop the highest standards of working practice in all those who work with children and young people in parishes across the Diocese.
To that end, we have developed a wide-ranging programme of training which we can deliver to parishes, across deaneries or wider. To see the range of courses we can offer click here
If there is some training you would find helpful but cannot find it on our programme please get in touch and we will look to put together a bespoke session for you.

 
If you would like to arrange training for those who work with children and young people in your parish, benefice or deanery, please contact sarah.cabella@rochester.anglican.org

Mental Health First Aid training

Rochester Diocese are running FREE Mental Health First Aid training courses in 2026 for anybody connected to Children and Young People, led by Lynne Parkinson.  This course would normally cost you £300.  You have to attend both days to receive your certification, which is accredited by MHFA England.   

Dates for 2026:

• January 28 and 29 - at the Diocesan Office
• March 7 and 14 - at Christ Church, Dartford
• May 20 and 21 - at the Diocesan Office
• September 30 and October 1 - venue TBC
• November 7 and 14 - venue   TBC

For more information or to book, contact Sarah Cabella - sarah.cabella@rochester.anglican.org

Upcoming events

We are refreshing and developing the Diocesan Youth Council, but the plan is to localise networking young people together into smaller hubs. These hubs will be an opportunity for young people to gather, be listened to and have the opportunity to feed into wider discussions around growing faith, growing younger and more diverse as a church, to inform and be a decision maker on behalf of their peers and other local young people near them.

Messy Cathedral – Saturday 16 May 1-4pm, Rochester Cathedral.  Free to attend.  For all ages. 

Children and Young People newsletter

The Children and Young People team share a bi-weekly email for all people connected to youth and children's work throughout the Diocese via email.

If you would like to receive the mailing and are currently not receiving it, please email Sarah Cabella on sarah.cabella@rochester.anglican.org with your email address, name and which parish you are from.
 

Key contacts