About the Course

Overview

PowerUP has been written to specifically address the needs of children aged 6 to 11 who are facing major changes in their lives due to the separation and/or divorce of their parents.

For too long we have believed that children will bounce back in spite of the challenges they have experienced. We now know this is not the case and that we need to stop, listen and equip them with the skills to not just cope but to flourish. This programme seeks to create a safe space in which children can freely express their emotions as they begin to navigate this transition in their own individual way and in their own time.

PowerUP uses stories and characters to model situations and coping strategies. The stories help children explore what is happening in their lives from a comfortable distance by observing the characters in the story. The group situation helps them understand they are not the only ones experiencing this change. The atmosphere is fun, relaxed and positive.

To ‘power up’ is a term used in gaming when a player can collect an advantage which gives them an added skill or strength.

It is our heart’s desire that every child who attends this course will be encouraged, strengthened and equipped. This will in turn power them up to a next level type of coping and ability to thrive in the rapidly changing world in which they find themselves.

How It Works

The programme runs over eight weeks. The children attend the course on their own. There is, however, a graduation in the final session that the whole family may attend.

PowerUP is a Christian-based programme for children aged 6 to 11 where each child is buddied up with a coach for the duration of the programme. All coaches and volunteers must hold current Police Checks.

The evening starts with games and optionally a meal, then moves into big group story and learning time, followed by small group coaching time. The programme takes place in a large room where children and coaches are supervised at all times. Some organisations choose to run it on a Saturday morning with a morning tea.

The course is usually run at a cost of $10 per child per session, with the hope you would be able to assist families with sponsorship if needed.

Courses must be run by a Licensed PowerUP Facilitator.

Sessions

Adapting to Change
Positive Self-Talk
Courage
Big Feelings
Guilt
Forgiveness
Problem-Solving
Self-Esteem

  • "I feel much happier, I know I will be alright."

    Child Feedback

  • “My daughter attended PowerUP this past year. It has been a big year for her with a lot of changes and she was taking a lot of it out on me. Our relationship which had been really good was deteriorating rapidly and I was really afraid for our future. What PowerUP gave us was hope and tools for a better relationship and a more settled future. My daughter is much happier and more capable of managing and communicating her feelings. We have both grown and developed through the course. The support and care the team offers is invaluable especially at a time in our lives when there is so much uncertainty, so much fear and anger.”

    Parent Feedback

  • “I like coming to PowerUP. I think you put something in the food. Something like happiness sprinkles!”

    Child Feedback

  • “My children were reluctant to go on the first night, but from then on, it all changed. They would talk about PowerUP in the week and count down to the day they got to go. They would come home excited and delighted with the tools that they had been given and learnt about. They talked about ways to handle their emotions, and how fun the sessions were. I saw my children taking risks and being brave and talking about their feelings. I am so grateful for PowerUP providing them with a loving, empowering, fun, positive and consistent support for my children at what would normally be a stressful and sad time. Thank you again to the coaches who selflessly gave their time to make a difference to the children’s lives.”

    Parent Feedback

  • “I don’t feel so angry in my head anymore.”

    Child Feedback

  • “What PowerUP gave us was hope and tools for a better relationship and a more settled future. My daughter is much happier and more capable of managing and communicating her feelings.”

    Parent Feedback

  • “I want to be a PowerUP coach when I grow up.”

    Child Feedback

Key Teaching Tools

Each week the children learn a new way to help themselves PowerUP as well as PowerTools to help them deal with the challenges of life. There are weekly Treasure Care bookmarks to remind the children of the PowerUP alongside a bible verse and prayer. Throughout the course the children build up a PowerTools box with reminders of lessons learnt and props to help them implement the life strategies they are learning.

  • PowerUPs

    Each week the children learn a new way that they can help themselves to PowerUP.

  • PowerTools

    PowerTools to help the children deal with the challenges of life.

Example Content

Each week is based around a key PowerUP teaching point and includes worksheets, a video, a model facilitator script, PowerTools cards and a Treasure Card bookmark to help reinforce learnings.

Learn how you can run the PowerUP course in your area