Grown-ups remember you don't have to stay with your children - feel free to drop off and pick up! we do however have a 'parents lounge' available, particularly useful if you live a bit further away. There will be drinks and snacks available, comfy chairs to rest or chat, and also chairs and tables if you needed to bring work to do to make the most of the child-free time! This area also has a video link-up to the X:site event upstairs!


What is X:site?

X:site is an interactive, high energy, accessible event which aims to reach children aged 7-11

(school years 3-6) from across the city to provide opportunities for:

Developing a real and lasting relationship with Jesus

Teaching the Bible faithfully in a way that is relevant and exciting

Challenging children to live out their faith

Enabling children to see themselves as members of the Christian community in Birmingham

Envisioning, equipping and encouraging childrens' ministry leaders throughout Birmingham

Who are we?
X:site Birmingham is co-ordinated by a group of volunteers from across the city who are passionate about seeing children getting to know Jesus and learning to follow him in their daily lives. United around this common vision, the team members are from a wide diversity of church backgrounds and are working in partnership with Scripture Union - an organisation with a proven track record in reaching out to children and young people across England.

Who is X:site for?
X:site stands for the place of the cross, and is about bringing children together to learn more about the difference Jesus can make in their lives. X:site is open to any children in school years 3-6 (aged 7-11). They may have some link to church either in Sunday school, junior church, mid-week club, uniformed groups, holiday club or church school connections, but it is also open to their friends and children who have no church background.

What do we teach?
Scripture Union has a very helpful Statement of Faith which acts as a banner under which all X:site team members, drawn from different Christian churches across the city, are agreeing to work. All teaching will be written and delivered according to this statement. You can download a copy of the Statement of Faith from www.scriptureunion.org, or see the 'Ministry with Scripture Union' leaflet (see downloads section).

Who are Scripture Union and what is their role?

Scripture Union is a missionary movement working in over 130 countries to make Jesus known and to help people to meet God daily through the Bible and prayer. In this country, Scripture Union is involved in residential holidays, resourcing and supporting churches, summer mission events and Christian schools ministry. In many ways Scripture Union is the 'glue' for X:site. As well as providing a theological framework, they have a vital role in team recruitment and child protection. Scripture Union ensures that every team member goes through a thorough recruitment procedure with proper references and an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Check. In addition they provide health and safety policies and procedures, and a wealth of experience and support for the local team.




How will X:site help with our local mission?
X:site will undoubtedly be most beneficial for churches and groups who are already working with children in their local communities. It is our hope that children and children's leaders all over Birmingham will be encouraged and inspired by being part of something bigger, and enthusiasm, vision and resources will flow back into communities across the city. Where X:site will provide the kind of gathering event that no one church could achieve on their own, local discipleship and pastoral care is vital to help the children in their everyday walk with God. Out hope and prayer is that by getting involved with X:site, churches will be equipped and inspired to reach out to local children through schools, clubs and other community based programmes.

How can I help make X:site Birmingham a reality?
We believe X:site Birmingham has tremendous potential and we would love others who share our passion for reaching the children in Birmingham to join us in this exciting venture. We cannot do this without you.

There are a number of different ways in which churches and individuals can help to make X:site a reality:

Praying: We need people to pray for the many different aspects of X:site. The prayer coordinator will circulate current information and we would ask that you would commit X:site to prayer regularly and also share the prayer needs with your local church.
Team:

We continue to recruit team for X:site Birmingham, due to the increasing numbers of children attending.

There are a variety of different roles, with various levels of commitment. Please email us at birmingham@xsiteuk.org to discuss different opportunities to serve.

Roles (and time commitments in brackets) include:

  • leading a small group of children (up to 16) alongside another leader (One saturday every other month, 3pm-9.30pm)
  • Registration team - responsible for registering the children, and allocating groups (One saturday every other month, 5pm-6.30pm)
  • Hosting team - setting up snacks and drinks for the children, and 'supervising' the parents area. This would involve ensuring tea, coffee, hot chocolate and buscuits were available, and networking with parents and children's workers and helping to answer their questions about X:site. (One saturday every other month, 5pm-8pm)
  • providing assistance to children with Special Needs (One saturday every other month 3pm-9.30pm)
  • managing resources - keeping an inventory, co-ordinating purchase of resources (time required will vary)
  • stewarding - helping to keep the venue safe(One saturday every other month, 5pm-8pm)
  • set up and set down - exactly what it says! Please note this is quite physical, as it involves moving a considerable number of chairs! The more people we have available, the easier it will be! (One saturday every other month, 2.30pm-3.30pm, 8pm-9.30pm)

...and a whole host of other jobs!

Due to the nature of our work, all team members who will have contact with children must go through the Scripture Union recruitment procedure which includes providing a reference from a church leader, agreeing to work under the Scripture Union statement of faith, and completing an enhanced CRB disclosure check. Please email birmingham@xsiteuk.org if you have any questions regarding this.

Roles involving registration, hosting, resources, set up and set down will not require a CRB or reference.

If you have already served on a Scripture Union Team (Spring Harvest, Beach Missions etc...) you will only be required to complete an update form and obtain updated CRB if required.
Publicity: We are looking for people who can publicise the event in their area. This may be at your church, school, place of work. There are a variety of ways this can be done - please email us at birmingham@xsiteuk.org if you have any ideas!
Children: We are looking for people who will bring children along to X:site and will encourage and enthuse them, reminding them of times and dates, speaking to parents and arranging transport where necessary.
Finances: We require funding to pay for the essential costs of running X:site and we would be grateful of any donations towards this.





If you would like to help make X:site Birmingham a reality, if you have any questions, or would simply like more information, please contact us at Birmingham@xsite.uk.net.

or alternatively, click here