So, you’re ready to get going and set up your prayer space in school. You’ve got your themes and stations prepped, your team rota sorted and now it’s time to set up. 

What are the things you’re going to need and the things you are going to wish you had packed because, well, you just didn’t think of that, or the room wasn’t quite as you remembered!?

Here’s the top ten sent in by prayer space in schools practitioners!

1. Scissors. Pack a couple! You will never be able to find some in the school, they are like gold dust. You will definitely put a pair down, move on and not find them again until you tidy up! And if there is more than one of you on set up, well, it’s guaranteed you will need them at the same time!
2. Tape. Of every kind! Ok, maybe not every kind, but depending on what setting you are in, cellotape, double sided tape, gaffa/duck tape. You are going to want to cover leads so they’re not a trip hazard, stick signage up (or down) so it doesn’t go for walkies or be blown about in the wind. Trust us, tape is your friend!
3. Blue/White Tac. There will be some places where using tape is too risky, you don’t want to damage the new paint work!
4. Cable ties. A pack of these never goes unused when building new spaces, whether it’s holding up something, pining something out the way or securing fabric. They are strong, durable, and are fascinatingly multiple purposed. Remember to cut the ends off so they don’t poke someone in the eye plus it just looks tidier! Look out for releaseable ones, you can reuse these making them worth the investment.
5. String. Creating spaces within spaces, you will want to add extra lines to peg up prayers, tie something back, loop material. The list is endless! You can even buy multi coloured string to brighten up the spaces!
6. Magnetic Hooks. Magnetic hooks can be a super simple way of hanging strings or fabric from a suspended ceiling, the type where the tiles are held in a grid of steel strips. Click here to see a story we have done on these before!
7. Sheets. Cheap black or white sheets. They cover displays, go over any table, basically cover anything you can’t move in the space you are working with.
8. Coloured material/voiles/cargo net. To bring the drab to life, create the wow factor and transform a space.  A cargo net is great for creating spaces to peg on or lay prayer responses as well as decoration, they are multi use!
9. Extension lead. You’ve made your plans then you start setting up. You will likely find your lead doesn’t reach as far as you thought! Or you may need the extra socket as something is already in there that can’t be unplugged. (Don’t forget to PAT Test)
10. Wipes. In a school setting, you’re going to be moving things that haven’t been moved for a while. You’re likely to get grubby, you don’t want to move that grubbiness around on all the lovely things you’ve brought with you, handmade, cut out shapes, whatever it is. You will thank us later.