Weekly Evidence Checklist: Mencap Gateway Bronze Award (Week 16)

-

Welcome back to the weekly roundup! It is Sunday, which means it’s time for our 5-minute evidence check-in for the Mencap Gateway Bronze Award. This week has been a rich blend of outdoor education, sensory management, and spiritual reflection.

​Here is the breakdown of activities and evidence for Week 16:

​1. Volunteering: Walk for Autism

  • ​Status: Completed and submitted previously.

​2. Fitness: Nature Walks & The Great Outdoors

​This week’s fitness has been heavily integrated with my studies at Newbattle Abbey College and a family trip. 


  • ​Activity: Woodland walks and exploration.
  • ​Highlights:
    • ​A family trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens over the holiday weekend.
    • ​Continued the Prescribe Nature course, which involved a significant amount of movement while building wellbeing in the outdoors.

​3. Hobby: The Digital Parish & Daily Office

​I have found myself returning to the Northumbria Community Daily Office. There is something incredibly grounding about the structure and depth of Celtic Christian prayer. I have also looked at other prayer books too. 


  • ​Activity: Prayer and documenting faith reflections here on the blog and at the podcast.
  • ​Exploration: I’ve also been looking into various other prayer books to supplement the Northumbria readings and having a Psalmist mentality of praying without ceasing. 

​4. Personal Challenge

  • ​Status: Previously submitted.

​5. Lifestyle: Sensory, Advocacy & Wellbeing

​This category covers the "behind the scenes" work of managing daily life and neurodivergent needs.


  • ​Regulation: Using Squiggle Society and other art supplies, fidgets, and planned sensory snacks to maintain regulation.
  • ​Routine: Continued use of the Finch app to stay on track with daily habits.
  • ​Advocacy: Staying in active communication Social Security Scotland. 
  • ​Mental Health: A 1-to-1 session with my Health in Mind support worker, focusing on naming emotions and tracking progress.

​Highlights from Newbattle Abbey College (Prescribe Nature)

​The Prescribe Nature course has been a fantastic way to combine my fitness, hobby, and lifestyle goals. This week we focused on:

  • ​Base Camp: Learning how to set up tents and mastering different knots.
  • ​Foraging & Identification: Learning to identify safe vs. unsafe plants and looking for edibles on the forest floor.
  • ​Practical Skills: We even made herbal tea using the edible plants we foraged!
  • ​Conservation: Planting in the polytunnel after lunch at the main college.

​Faith & Community Update

​This weekend, we tried an ASN-friendly (Additional Support Needs) church in Edinburgh. Unfortunately, it wasn't the right fit for us—the environment was too busy and loud, and we had an "elopement" incident with one of the children. It has prompted some reflection on whether to return to our former church or continue looking locally for a space that suits our family's sensory profile. We keep coming back to what a suitable church for us might look like. On another note I am in conversation with Cairn about my own pioneer ministry.


A Highland Theological College graduate and non-conformist follower of Jesus living at the crossroads of neurodiversity and faith. Writing on the wild grace of the Gospel.

Comments

Post a Comment

What sayest thou?

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome!

-
Image
Above All Love: A Foundation of Faith Dear friends in Christ, Welcome. This space exists for one reason: love — the love of God poured out in Jesus Christ, the love we are called to extend to one another, and to the world. There are many voices clamouring for our attention. Here, you will find the rhythm of one heart seeking to follow the way of Love — a faith rooted not in tradition for its own sake, but in the living, active, self-giving love at the heart of the Gospel. Three truths have become my anchors. The first is the Living Word. Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh. Apart from Him, the true God cannot be fully known. In Jesus, we see the face of a God who is Love, and whose Gospel is the path of Peace. The second is the Gift of Grace. Salvation is found by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. Grace is a gift — unearned, freely given, and life-changing. The third is the Way of Love. It is our joy and our calling to follow Him. Thou...
Read more

Be Still

-
Image
“Be still, and know that I am God.     I will be exalted among the nations,     I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10) The Dedication: ​ ​ For the "Zoomers" and the "Beepers"— For every child who feels the world a little too loudly. ​ And for the Grandpas— The quiet anchors who teach us that the best way to find our way through the noise is to simply be still. ​ Dedicated to the memory of those who taught us to listen.   Above is silent story based on my short story of the same title: Once there was an old man who took his grandson a walk in the countryside. The old man's face was creased with wrinkles. Like the rings inside an ancient log tree, each signified age and wisdom. The man, to the boys surprise stopped suddenly. He was calm, so calm the boy didn't feel it right to interrupt this moment of solititude. 'Listen', the old man said. The boy listened. At first he could hear nothing but his own racing thoughts. 'Tru...
Read more

Mr Kirk

-
Describe your take on the Charlie Kirk murder: I have held off judgement as whatever happens he was human and I refuse to speak ill of any dead. I agreed with him on some things and strongly disagreed on other things. I will let God be his judge, not me.  None the less I always have questions: Was it weird Netanyahu said it wasn't him?  Why this one killing got so much attention when it is daily, even hourly in the USA?  What's in the files?  Why wasn't the flags even at half mast for the senators murdered only months before for example?  Thoughts about the service I admittedlly only saw bits of:  Horst Wessel effect? Pyrotechnic show? Political rally?  Were some people just acting?  Mega church concert? Is revival, as some claim it is, not more than some nice songs and words?  Isn't revival conviction, repentance and fruits showing, social reformation?  Can God not also use it for good even if some of these speakers, as some may claim, ...
Read more

Take Heart: A Catechism

-
Take Heart A Catechism By David Holdsworth  Authors Note: There are many good Catechisms available. But, somewhere along the line Christians in many parts of the church at large seem to have lost this age old practice of simple instruction in the format of questions and answers. In no way is this little contribution meant to take away from good Catechisms already written, but rather to be a compliment to them. This is a simple way for me to share the good news with others. It is my hope that you the reader or listener may find biblical help from the simplicity of the good news. I have included biblical proofs as standard so you may go and examine the scriptures (and indeed your heart) for yourself. Pax et Bonum. (1) Q. What comfort may be found for the believer? A. A heart that need not have trouble or fear. One that can rely on God in troubled times and that can glorify His name.  Proofs. John 14:27, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 50:15 (2) Q. What message does scriptures give to those st...
Read more

The Lord's work continues

-
Acts 8:1-5 Despite being persecuted and in suffering, the church continues the work of sharing the gospel. They gave their best and didn't give up. Don't assume that in suffering, God is not on the job. We follow a crucified Lord. However, some Christians seem to think that depression and disillusionment are signs of sin. This is clearly untrue. (cf Psalm 22:1 and the words from the cross). His light shines brightest in the valley. Managing uncertainty forces us to rely on God. He is our refuge and our strength. As we walk with Him, He will strengthen us even as we go through the valleys and storms of life. Jesus can see around every corner, and he has got our backs. Worries will come. But, turn your worries into prayers and petitions. Place it all in God's hands. Sometimes, it is OK to say things are not OK. But, the Lord's work continues.
Read more

Charles Spurgeon: On War and Christians

-
Image
  ✦ ✦ ✦ "Long Have I Held That War Is an Enormous Crime " The Forgotten Voice of Spurgeon Against the Unrighteousness of War Compiled from the Sermons & Addresses of C. H. Spurgeon · Charles Haddon Spurgeon — the "Prince of Preachers," whose sermons filled the Metropolitan Tabernacle week after week with thousands of listeners and whose printed words reached millions across the Victorian world — held a view on war and Christians that modern conservative, fundamentalist, and evangelical readers would find startling. He was, in the most direct and unambiguous terms, opposed to war. Not cautiously skeptical of it. Not quietly troubled by it. Opposed to it — on Christian grounds, from the pulpit, in print, again and again across the breadth of his ministry. Laurence M. Vance, who has studied Spurgeon's writings on the subject at length, has noted that "Spurgeon considered the spirit of war to be absolutely foreign to the spirit of Christianity" and tha...
Read more

Ares or Christós?

-
What if we aren't the "goodies" after all?  What if propaganda from all sides of all conflicts reveals a darker truth?  There are no heroes only villains and their victims. The broken cisterns of this world are truly overflowing.  There are no righteous, no not one!  There never have been, for all our supposed righteousness is as filthy rags. It is a sad reality that so many, even those of the faith, seem to effectively kneel before Ares.  This idolatry of violence and war is in such contrast to worshiping at the feet of the Prince of Peace.  Sometimes it feels as if the entire world is marching toward destruction and chaos.  Worst of all is that we know the mistakes made in our histories, but we seem to learn nothing from history (other than that we learn nothing).  We do it all again and again.  Sin after sin. When posterity comes to judge us will they look upon the arms trade unchecked, the governments unhindered in iniquity and the...
Read more

Gateway Bronze: Week 1 – Setting the Foundation

-
Image
​ 1. Lifestyle (Health and Wellbeing) ​ The Rhythm: This week I’ve used the Finch app and the Northumbria Office to keep a consistent daily sanctuary. It’s helped me stay grounded as I start this six-month journey. ​ Evidence:   ​ 2. Personal Challenge (Self-Awareness) ​ The Connection: I attended the Dad & Me group at Midlothian Sure Start . It was good to be in that space and start building that weekly habit of connection. ​ Evidence:   This week involved normal play and some messy play. Gabriel came as "Dads helper" this week which was cute!  ​ 3. Fitness & Volunteering (Nature & Service) ​ The Progress: I completed my nature walk this week and spent time getting set up for  Walk for Autism ( my fundraising page is now live ).  ​ Evidence: Other: I also started to explore resources from Health in Mind. And follow the advice to keep a journal. ...
Read more

Walk for Autism Half Way

-
Today I joined a team from No6 One Stop Shop (Autism Initiatives) in Edinburgh for a walk. It was a lovely walk toward Inverleith Park near the Botanical Gardens and back again. It was nice seeing the swans and blowing the cob webs away. It did get a little cold due to the partial eclipse of the sun. Link here to todays  photo . Sponsors and Donations big or small most welcome . My personal present step count is 63,567 towards 80,000. More than half way there. I will hopefully reach the rest of my goal by Autism Acceptance Day and Month. Watch this space.
Read more