VES Team End of Week Update | Safeguarding Focus
Dear wonderful VES team,
As we come to the end of our first full week back, I wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you - and especially to those who were able to join us for our VES Team Training Morning on Monday. It was genuinely brilliant to have 30+ of us together, and feel the shared commitment to what we’re building at VES.
A few key highlights and follow-ups from the morning:
VES as Adullam’s CaveWe reflected together on VES as a place of refuge, dignity and hope for people walking through difficult chapters of life. If you’d like to revisit that input, a short summary blog is here:
https://croydonvineyard.org.uk/vesteam/adullams-cave
The Three E’s of VES ClassesWe also explored the Three E’s - Engaging, Educational, and Equipping - as a shared framework for what we’re aiming for in every class. This is a helpful reference point for both new and experienced teachers: https://croydonvineyard.org.uk/vesteam/three-es-of-ves-classes
Safeguarding – a shared responsibilityA huge thank you to Hannah for such an excellent and thoughtful safeguarding session. The training document is attached - please do take time to read it carefully if you haven’t already.
Also attached is our “VES – A Safe Welcome” document. This one page document is required reading for everyone on the VES team (indeed - our only required reading!!) It has the “rules of the game” for how we create a culture at VES that is welcoming and safe for everyone.
If you’d appreciate further safeguarding or trauma-informed training, VES is very happy to pay for team members to attend the 2:19 online seminar this Thursday “When trauma shows up in the classroom”. If you’d like to attend, just book your place on the website and forward the booking confirmation to me. The link to do that is here https://www.twonineteen.org.uk/resources/when-trauma-shows-up-in-the-classroom/
A great start to termWe’ve had a good registration morning on Tuesday, followed by excellent first Wednesday and Thursday classes - thank you for helping set such a positive tone, even in the cold! You will also hopefully start to notice some gradual improvements to the ACH as we start cleaning, tidying, and caring for the space proactively - more on the ACH in future emails!
Dates reminder February half-term: 16–20 February (no classes) Last session of term: Thursday March 26th (Easter Party)
Thank you again for all you give - your time, energy, care, and faithfulness. As I emphasised on Monday VES really is what it is because of this team.
Very grateful to be serving alongside you.
Much love,
Andy