To mark the 30th anniversary of the UN Year of the Child in 2009, a DVD of resources to celebrate and inspire the work done with children in churches has been produced in a unique collaborative venture headed by Children Matter! and the Consultative Group on Ministry among Children (CGMC).

The DVD is part of the 'Will YOU make A difference?' campaign, which seeks to invite all churches to assess their work with children throughout 2009, the 30th anniversary of the Year of the Child and 20 years since the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UK Children Act were established.

Children Matter! and the GCMC are inviting churches to use the anniversary year as an opportunity to celebrate the work done with children, review prayerfully and be inspired towards fresh vision.

A DVD of resources has been produced to encourage the church in children's ministry, with 50,000 copies being made available through the Baptist Union of Great Britain, Church of England, Methodist Church, the Salvation Army, and the United Reformed Church, together with Arise Ministries, Children's Ministry, Cyngor Ysgolion Sul, the Girls' Brigade, Scripture Union and Urban Saints. Copies are also available through Christianity and Youthwork magazines.

The Rt Rev Paul Butler, Bishop of Southampton said of the Will YOU make A difference? campaign: "The privileged responsibility of seeking the well?being of children, including sharing the good news of Jesus with them, never goes away. I am really excited by the way so many denominations and organisations have come together at this time to encourage every church, and every member of every church, to make a difference to the lives of the children of this nation. Together we really can make a difference."

Recent statistics from Christian Research have shown that the church is losing children. The UK Christian Handbook of Religious Trends charts the decline of Sunday schools and the significant changes in the way that churches are in contact with children. Some denominations have provision for children in fewer than half of their churches.

Alan Charter, Director of Children Matter!, said, "Over a number of years, many parts of the UK church have lost contact with the next generation of children and young people. What we are seeing now is an exciting groundswell of support towards much needed renewed vision and work with children, setting about discipling a generation that might otherwise be lost."


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