The Methodist Church has given its backing to a new ecumenical training programme designed to strengthen children’s work in churches.

The Core Skills programme was developed by the Consultative Group on Ministry among Children (CGMC) to provide training and good practice in six key areas of children’s work.

The Core Skills programme will be launched this weekend with a conference at the University of Nottingham.

Speakers at the launch include Jane Williams, wife of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Methodist Children’s Secretary Steve Pearce said, “Core will bring inspiration and a skills revolution.

“Churches want to do the best they can for the children who come to church activities and to be attractive to children who don’t, and that means taking training seriously. Core can help churches succeed.”

Professor Al Aynsley-Green, Children’s Commissioner for England, said that the Core Skills book is “an excellent piece of training for all those working with children to explore the issue of faith”.

“Seeing children as equal partners and respecting their rights is central to this training and it gets my full support,” he said.

Following the official launch in Nottingham, the new training programme will be launched regionally across the rest of the UK and Ireland.