#CapeAbility is founded on the idea that every child has the potential to be their own superhero. The campaign uses Bible and Welcare superhero stories to encourage positive mental health and well-being for children and young people and to raise awareness of the work of Welcare amongst a new generation of supporters.
#CapeAbility will help children develop key mental health strengths to build their emotional well-being so that children can go on to inspire their peers and families to have healthy relationships.
In light of the church closures, children not being able to attend church activities, we would like to present you a virtual way forward for the campaign. Children can be encouraged to make a cape out of recycled materials (such as old bedsheets and T-shirts) and decorate it at home. They will be asked to write encouraging messages to those in isolation and to the most vulnerable on their capes. Photos of the capes can be sent to fundraising@welcare.org and they will be shared on social media to spread their messages.
The lesson plans can be delivered on virtual platforms or they can be sent directly to the parents and the parents can be encouraged to complete them with their children, thus creating a closer bond between them. The stories, the discussions and the activities can be used at any time from now in order to help children process what’s going on around them. Churches will receive information about Welcare and how parents can support vulnerable families in need which they can forward to all the parents and donations can be processed directly online.
The following themes are highlighted in the six lessons produced by Welcare and endorsed by Fiona Foreman (RE Adviser & Wellbeing, Mental Health and Character Education Adviser at Southwark Diocesan Board of Education).
You can find more details on how you can run the Campaign, for fundraising activity ideas and general superhero activities in the following document.
What is the format of the lesson plans?
The lessons are based on 2 stories, one Bible character and a real life example from the work of Welcare with a local child or family. The characters are portrayed as superheroes and we learn about their stories, the difficulties they face and how they cope. Each individual story focuses on one positive mental health characteristic which is followed through the lesson and all the following activities are based on these strengths. As a teacher you can select which activities and which story/stories you would like to focus on. The stories are followed by a discussion and a range of activities that you can use, as appropriate.
If you are a Junior Church leader, and want to take part in #CapeAbility for Churches, get in touch via fundraising@welcare.org.
