"scripture union training"

Today's blog post is about the 3 days I spent up in Sheffield with "Scripture Union" on a schools work training course. I suppose the best place to start would be at the beginning, After being told about the training I was more then happy to go on the three days, but as I don't drive there was a transport issue... take the train for £60 and have a relaxed 2 hour journey OR only pay £20 and get up at 5am for the National Express coach which would take 5 hours to get to Sheffield... from Chester!  And so faced with the challenge I did what any 'still living at home, car-less, studying intern' would do...

...I got up at 5am and took the National Express coach! Not a problem, it was actually quite a good journey. I had a change over at Liverpool and had to wait round an hour for the next coach but this gave me a good opportunity to get breakfast and dive in some bible reading. Once back en route to Sheffield I did find it quite funny how I was the only one on the coach... guess everyone else went for the option of a lie in and a relaxed train. So there I was, 3 hours on a coach and well into some bible studying till I got to Sheffield. Once off the coach and into the taxi to head to The Wilson Carlisle Center I was faced with a little worry when the driver had no idea where it was or what I was on about... he then asked another where the center was, who asked another, who then asked another, things were seeming odd now... was this a real taxi? Eventually they found out it was only round the corner and I was there in no time (albeit now slightly late) but no worries. Once there I met the leaders of the training Geoff and Hannah and the rest of the people id be training with, and we dived straight into some ice breakers and get to know each other games before properly starting the course. That first day we covered introductions of learning styles, what schools work actually is, whats schools are like today and the theory and practice of collective worship. Followed by some dinner before the final session on the world of children and young people. It was a good first day and I met some great people from loads of different areas of schools work over the UK. And so that evening was a good chance to chat and socialise with everyone over a drink before heading to bed (Had been up since 4am and was fairly tired at this point! haa). The next day I was up bright and early to take full advantage of the Centre's cafe and there full English breakfast... and when I say full I mean FULL! This thing had half a pig on the plate accompanied by a bucket of tea, I was well set up for the day. And so the second days training consisted of some good topics and discussions covering areas like biblical rational for missions, God's people in schools, handling the bible with integrity and working with others! Was a fun second day and covered some really interesting topics of schools work. That evening was followed by more chatting with the team over a drink about what we all do in our different areas... which funnily enough led to us all singing each others songs from what we do (I still have "la la la la lifepath! **to the tune of la bamba** stuck in my head now a few weeks on!! haa!!) after some had gone to bed that night and even after a lovely dinner it only took one person to say "theres a maccies" round the corner before three of us went on a venture round Sheffield. It turned out to be a great walk round the city and we even found this awesome "pop up bar" right in the middle of the square, even decorated with traditional stained glass windows (which resembled the pubs you see on soap operas) inside it felt like you were in a proper building! ...And much to all out surprise the place had 5* port'o'loos! You dont even get towels, wood floors and artwork on the walls in some restaurants but here we were in Sheffield city center with being treated like kings! haaa! And so off to bed to sleep before the third and final days training. Once again up bright and early to take advantage of the FULL breakfast... but this time accompanied by the majority of the trainees as well to form what would later be know as "The Breakfast Club" before we cracked on with the days training, Which began with some great collective worship looking at Matthew 11:28-30 and pray for each other. We then through the day looked at the topics of Christian groups in schools, Other faiths in schools and Chaplaincy... We would have covered more topics such as time management but how ironic is it there wasnt enough time in the course to fit it in! Haa! And so after much study, laughs, learning and fun the training like so many great things had come to a close. And so began the 5 hour journey back on good ol' National Express!! ....Which later turned into a 6 hour journey thanks to the ring road round Manchester not only being delayed from a crash but also grid locked with everyone trying to get home (I stupidly had booked the coach back to clash not only with rush hour but also it being the same day Manchester City played Sheffield in the football....) But eventually I was back in the mother land of Wales and tucking into my dinner! It was a great 3 days and I learnt loads, would highly recommend to anyone involved in schools work! 

Written by Kieran :)