Children from across Knowsley joined in a virtual Olympic Torch relay as part of a Bible-inspired holiday club activity to help boost their mental and physical health in lockdown.

Members of Trinity Church Page Moss created an uplifting video montage of children virtually passing torches made of cloth, wood, card, a Star Wars style light Saber, a TV remote, Lego, and even a toilet roll, set to the classic Chariots of Fire theme tune.

The three-day holiday club was organised to boost the health and wellbeing of children from Huyton to Halewood and help bring families from together during half term, with the option of a free healthy packed lunch delivered to their door each lunchtime.

Trinity Church Fo F food bags Feb 21

Sessions hosted on Zoom were attended by 36 children from 27 families across Knowsley, and followed a Winter Olympics theme focusing on mental and physical strength, through a different Bible story and character each day.

Among the stories children learned about Daniel’s perseverance as a champion of healthy eating in Babylon, forgoing meat and wine for a diet of vegetables and water to stay strong. They also learned about Noah building the ark with his family as a team effort, and Moses putting trust in God to overcome challenges.

It was part of a host of Feast of Fun at Home activities run by 24 churches across the Diocese of Liverpool area in February.

Fifteen of the participants received a free healthy lunch box each day delivered by LIDS (Liverpool Independent Delivery Service), including a sandwich, fruit and snacks.

Trinity Church Page Moss is part of the Anglican/Methodist circuit of churches in Knowsley.

The holiday club was organised by Natasia Bullock, a children’s worker for the Methodist church, who also runs a Christian theatre company called The B Tales, and delivered with the circuit youth worker, and the schools worker for Huyton Deanery.

Trinity Church Fo F Feb 21 montage

Natasia said: “We had 36 children from across South Liverpool attend during the week which span 24 households. We were able to provide 15 young people with meals for the 3 days which were very gratefully received.

“We ordered the healthy lunch bags from LIDS who delivered them to myself, and me and the team distributed them to our families.

“LIDS also provided some free extra bags so we were able to give these to the older siblings of some of the families who have identified had greater needs. We had lots of fun creating challenges, playing games, learning Bible memory verses and hearing Bible stories each day.”

The activity was funded by a Feast of Fun at Home grant from social justice charity Together Liverpool.

Natasia said: “We wanted to use the grant to be able to offer healthy lunch boxes to those families who need additional support during half term.

“Our Olympian theme included how athletes train and eat and generally promoting mental health and wellbeing, whilst drawing comparisons from the Bible characters.”

Natasia said each day included a morning session, setting a midday challenge, followed by an afternoon session.

Among the activities the children also watched a clip of the film Cool Runnings about the determination of the Jamaican Bobsleigh team in the 1988 Winter Olympics, and made a ‘lucky egg’ mascot to keep with them during activities.

Natasia said: “They also did a dance challenge. Even through it was through Zoom it was all about boosting their health and wellbeing.

“Some parents stayed with their children and joined in while others were busy with work, and it took the pressure off on both sides, either giving them an activity to do together as a family, or entertaining the children and keep them active while their parents couldn’t.”

“It was a lot of fun and great to be able to support the families with meals, especially during the difficulties of the pandemic, and to be able to bring children from different churches together.”