Thanks to a grant from the Diocese’s Children and Young People Fund, St Augustine’s Church in Slade Green, was delighted to be able to provide every child at St Paul’s C of E School with a Real Advent Calendar.
The Real Advent Calendar is produced by the Meaningful Chocolate company and is the UK’s only Fairtrade Advent calendar which comes with a free booklet sharing the Christmas story.
The Revd Jim Bennett, Vicar of St Augustine's said:
"We wanted to do something that would enable the children to have a fun experience while learning about the true meaning of Advent."
Just over 390 Advent calendars were given out, which Jims says are an extension of a growing relationship that has been developing between the church and the school throughout the pandemic:
“We kept engaged with the children during the lockdowns by holding a weekly virtual collective worship with the children either being at home or in school. Now that we are back in person the enthusiasm of the children is infectious.
"This initiative has enabled us to bring the season alive to the children, which often gets overshadowed due to the preparation for Christmas.”
The Children and Young People (CYP) Fund aims to support ideas that will give children and young people lifelong encounters with Jesus; grants can fund anything from resources and trips, to food and practical supplies.
The fund has been made possible through the significant financial support of Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust.