The Check-List
Getting started as a Group Leader
Welcome to the team! Whether you’re setting up a new Group or taking over the leadership of an existing one, thank you so much for agreeing to be a Group Leader - Groups are where we can go deeper with God and with each other for the sake of the city. This guide will walk you through the things you need to do in order to be ready to lead and manage your group.
Safeguarding Training
As a church we’re committed to Safeguarding. We ask all Group Leaders to complete two, online Church of England Safeguarding modules:
Basic Awareness (approx 75 minutes)
Foundation (approx 2 hours)
To take these courses, you’ll need to register an account at https://safeguardingtraining.cofeportal.org/login/index.php - when registering, under ‘Training Institution’ select ‘not part of a Training Institution’, and under ‘Diocese’, select ‘Oxford’.
Once you have completed the safeguarding training, please download your certificates and email them to Gosia Brudlo (gosia.brudlo@staldates.org.uk).
DBS Check
All Group Leaders need to go through a Disclosure and Barring Check. Please contact Gosia Brudlo (gosia.brudlo@staldates.org.uk) in order to begin this process.
ChurchSuite
ChurchSuite is the platform that we use to manage Groups across St Aldates. If you haven’t already signed up for ChurchSuite, you can do that here - just select ‘I’m just updating my details’. We can then add you as a leader of your Group.
My ChurchSuite
My ChurchSuite is the portal through which you can access yourGroup’s information, and update the:
Vision and group description
Venue information
Date and times and frequency of meetings.
In order to access My ChurchSuite, you’ll need to have first registered for ChurchSuite. The Groups Team can then send you an invite to join My ChurchSuite.
Group Leader’s Guide
Make sure you’ve read the Group Leader’s Guide, and get the dates in your diary for the termly Group Leader’s Meetings.
How do new people join?
People will primarily join the group after attending a termly Group Vision Night which means that there will be a termly cadence of intake into Groups. This is our preferred way people join your groups as we think very carefully about who will be good fit for your group. If you strike up a fantastic conversion at Church and want to invite them to your group, do let the Groups Team know and encourage them to come to the next Vision Night.