Art in schools was never a subject I enjoyed or was any good at. Drawing a straight line with a ruler was even a challenge. Creating a piece that the teacher would be impressed by was just wishful thinking. Not being great at art, I always thought that being creative and innovative was something other people did. But when I was first introduced to Prayer Spaces in School around 8 years ago, something clicked.

Yes, this is what being a children’s and youth worker is partly about, being inventive and creative. Bringing the big story of the bible to life, the big questions of life to the front of children’s and young people’s thinking and to encourage thinking to become technicolour. Prayer Spaces in Schools took my two dimensional work 3D! I now have the privilege of being able to deliver and promote Prayer Spaces around Gloucestershire. Well, I was until March 2020, when it all stopped.

Schools cancelled events and I felt that twiddling my thumbs was all I could do….

Both nationally and locally, I hear great stories of people’s imagination being the only limitation to what they have been creating in their setting.

Wait a minute, isn’t a Prayer Spaces suppose to be innovative, creative and push us to think outside of the box? That is what we have been doing. Both nationally and locally, I hear great stories of people’s imagination being the only limitation to what they have been creating in their setting. Prayer Spaces at Home, Prayer Spaces in a bag and the like. But what about me? Where have I taken my creativity? I’ve partly fulfilled a life long dream and hit stage and screen…well, YouTube.

My little add to the creative pot has been to broadcast the popular Prayer Spaces in School I have delivered, to all and any that may wish to be inspired by, pinch and re-design. You may wish to visit the channel or search The Bizz Prayer Spaces in Schools, Gloucestershire on YouTube. What about the future? Post Covid? The new normal? Going back to the old way can’t be an option, for me, I am off to explore doing Prayer Spaces on TikTok as another string to my bow.

The Bizz, Gloucester, has had a long standing with Prayer Spaces in Schools and have been championing it for many years. Jonathan Kear is working for The Bizz in promoting and delivering Prayer Spaces to schools around Gloucestershire, working as closely as possible with the local church.