Church and school leaders within the Diocese of Sheffield can now request free button badges for primary school leavers in their communities.
Our hope is that these badges could be given out this summer during leavers’ assemblies or services to encourage children as they prepare to move to a new school. Children and young people might like to pin them to school bags as a reminder that God is with them wherever they go. The badges could also be used during backpack blessing services. School and church leaders can request class-sized packs of 32 badges or request a bespoke number. The badges and accompanying prayer resource are not Y6-specific so schools/churches are welcome to order badges for children in other year groups who are also moving on. Request badges using this form: https://forms.office.com/e/vaWLfVsXp0 . There are a limited number of badges available and they will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis, so please complete the form as soon as possible. Non-CofE schools and non-Anglican churches within the geographical boundary of the Diocese of Sheffield are also welcome to request badge packs.
The badge is based on a design by a Sam, a runner up in last year’s Bishop’s Badge Competition, who was himself a Y6 leaver at the time. Sam said, ‘I based the design on how people have to have a lot of journeys in life, and some of them are rough – that’s why there are patches [on the backpack]. And even when you’re at your lowest, the message is that God is with you no matter what, even if you’re going through the roughest times, he’s still there, guiding you.’
