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3Generate 2023 FAQs

Below are the FAQs and answers for the 2023 event. We will update these ahead of the event taking place in 2024. If you have urgent enquiries, email 3Generate@methodistchurch.org.uk

 


Download the 3Generate 2023 programme here!

 

You can also download the 3Generate town map, and a 'create your own' programme here.

 

 

 

 


On this page, questions about...

Tickets

 
How much will the event cost?
The cost of the event varies depending on which ticket option is selected, accompanying leaders’ tickets are free for all options:

Children, young people and young adults weekend tickets = £120
Children, young people and young adult Saturday only tickets (no overnight accommodation) = £60
4-7s short day (Saturday 10am-4pm) tickets = £40 first child, £30 for siblings
4-7s long day (Saturday 9am-8pm) tickets = £50 first child, £40 for siblings
Leaders = FREE
Adults accompanying 4-7s = FREE

When do tickets go on sale?
Tickets for 3Generate will go on sale on Monday 17 April and will remain available until Friday 21 July (young adult tickets will remain on sale until Monday 18 September). Please direct any booking enquiries to 3Generate@methodistchurch.org.uk 

My District/Circuit/Church want to pay for our places, can they pay by cheque or BACS
Payment can be made by credit/debit card, by cheque made payable to “the Methodist Church” or by bank transfer (BACS). To pay by cheque or by bank transfer (BACS). When placing your order please add the code "CHQ" to ‘Discount Offer(s)’ by clicking on ‘(Add Coupons)’. This means you won't have to provide card details later on in the booking process and you will be able to delay your payment. Payments by cheque or Bacs should be made by 31 August at the latest. If paying by cheque, please fill out a cheque form and post this together with your cheque to arrive by the end of August to: 3Generate, Methodist Church, 25 Tavistock Place London WC1H 9SF.

How do I choose to book now and pay later?
If you would like to delay payment until the end of August, payment will need to be made by cheque or by bank transfer (BACS). See above for details on how to do this. Payments by cheque or Bacs should be made by 31 August at the latest. 

Are tickets refundable?
If your circumstances change please email 3Generate@methodistchurch.org.uk. We would not normally expect to provide refunds as costs will have already have been incurred. However, up to three tickets can be returned before the end of August.

How can we get the most out of our day tickets?
Day tickets will allow groups to join for Saturday only and join in during the day with flexible arrival and departures times. Throughout Saturday there will be an exciting programme from morning through to late evening, so you can choose to arrive early or later in the day. Programming starts at 9am, however groups will be able to arrive ahead of that time if they wish. Groups can remain until programming finishes at approximately 11:30pm.

The 4-7s programme runs from 10am on Saturday through till 4pm, which a short day ticket covers. A long day ticket (9am to 8pm) means that you can spend longer in the 4-7s area, where activities will be provided (this is to help those who are attending the 4-7s programme along with a group attending the wider 3Generate event). 

Do tickets include meals?
Meals will be provided for all participants, regardless of ticket types, when they are on-site during the event.

Is there a discount for siblings at the event?
The 4-7s event is a family/household event, unlike the 8-23s event (which is for groups).
Sibling tickets have been offered to the 4-7 age range as it is anticipated that children will attend with their parent, grandparent or carer and that bringing two or more children from the same family will not significantly increase the cost. In the 8-23s event children and young people attend with their leaders and are part of a group. However we do not want any children or young people to be unable to attend due to cost. In the first instance do speak to your circuit or district as they may be able to help, otherwise email 3Generate@methodistchurch.org.uk

Will there be a cut-off date for booking and is there a minimum number for booking?
The final date for ticket sales is Friday 21 July 2023 (for young adults the final day of ticket sales is Monday 18 September 2023).

 Arrival and registration 


Where do we park?
In car park N1, accessed via gate 3. Parking is free for 3Generate attendees.

How long, and how accessible, is the walk from the car park to the halls?
It takes approximately seven minutes to walk to the halls, depending on the speed of your walking, and the route is fully accessible. There are blue badge spaces available in car park N1, which are nearer to the venue. 

Will toilets be available in the area where we have to queue to register?
Yes, there are a number of toilets situated around the NEC, outside the halls where 3Generate is held.  We’d urge you to not arrive until 3Generate opens at 7pm.

Do we have to print out our tickets? What paperwork do we need to have in order to register?
You do not need to print out tickets.  Bring your signed parent/carer consent forms for the children and young people in your group if you have not already uploaded these to the iKnow Church system.

Venue and accommodation


What will the sleeping arrangements be?
Accommodation will be indoors in groups in The Village, which is situated in three of the NEC halls (adjoining the main venue - the 3Generate Town). Each group will have an assigned plot in The Village, with plenty of space for the group and space between groups. Tents will be provided and will be erected before your arrival. A bed and mattress will be provided in the leaders’ tents. Roll mats will be provided in tents for children and young people.

Leaders will need to bring their own sleeping bag/duvet and pillow and pillowcase. Children and young people will need to bring their own sleeping bag, pillow and pillowcase. 

It is the responsibility of leaders to allocate tents to their group members appropriately. Leaders will share their tent with one other leader from the group, with each leader having their own zip-up, private compartment. Children and young people will be sharing their tent with one other child/young person, as allocated by their group leader.

Will the tents be big enough for my taller group members?
Please indicate on the iKnow Church system which of your young people are over 4' 6" before 14 September 2023 to ensure we know they need a larger tent. You will also be contacted by our Accommodation Manager, ahead of the event, to ensure that the right number of tents, and the right sizes, have been allocated to your group. If, on arrival, you have any problems with the size of your tents, please contact a Village Host as soon as possible and we will try to rectify this. 

What will the tents look like?
The tents are pop-up style - with children and young people sharing single ‘pod’ tents. (There will be larger pop-ups available for teenagers). Adults are mainly in tents with two sleeping pods, either side of a central area of walk-in height. Those with accessibility needs (as indicated on the iKnow Church system) will be in single-person, easy-access tents with a drop lip to the entrance and separate sleeping pod. 

Can I bring my own tent to 3Generate?
No - there is no provision for erecting your own tent.

Will there be chairs or seating in The Village?
Limited seating is provided. If you're able to bring your own, we recommend this.

How will belongings be kept safe?
It will be possible for the tents to be locked with a small luggage padlock that you bring from home.

How much space will there be in tents for bags?
There is limited space in tents for bags so we’d encourage everyone to bring the essentials and prioritise the things they really need.

What will the washing facilities be?
The NEC provides washrooms within each of the exhibition halls that we will be using, and are also installing shower blocks for our use within the camping area. These areas will be subject to regular cleaning.

Are there separate toilets and showers for leaders and for children and young people?
Leaders will use separate shower blocks to children/young people.  Everyone will use the toilets as provided on the NEC site.

What lighting will be in place in the village?
Lighting within the NEC exhibition halls is fully adjustable, which means that we will be able to select a night-time setting for the accommodation halls that will allow a reduced level of light overnight but sufficient for people to be able to visit toilets etc.

Do we need lights for the tents/night time?
We suggest you bring torches so that, when lights are dimmed in the hall, it’s still possible to see inside tents and navigate your way to the toilets.

What will the food arrangements be?
All food over the weekend will be provided by the NEC and will be available to “take-away“ to eat in the dining area. Breakfast will be 7am to 9am, lunch will be 12pm to 1.30pm and dinner will be 5.30pm to 7.30pm. You will be able to collect your meal at any point during these time slots and there should be no need to queue for a long period of time. Food will be made available throughout Friday evening for you to collect once your group has registered. There will also be a packed lunch for you to take away with you on Sunday, to be enjoyed on your journey home. 

How will you cater for specific dietary requirements?
We can provide food to meet all dietary needs if we have been told about these on iKnow Church system before 14 September 2023. Following feedback from last year we have been working with the NEC to ensure that there is very clear signage to indicate where special dietary food will be available. We are also working with the NEC to explore a wider variety of cultural food. 

Do leaders have to accompany their children and young people into the dining area?
No they do not need to accompany them, but mealtimes are a good opportunity to check in with your group, see how they are and do a headcount.

Are we able to go back to our tents when the 3Generate Town is open and can children and young people go back to their tents without their leaders?
Leaders can return to tents but children and young people can only return if a leader is present. They must not return without adult supervision.

Will we be able to leave the NEC and go outside for some fresh air?
Yes, if leaders choose to take their groups outside they will need to sign out and sign in again on their return. Children and young people remain the full responsibility of group leaders if they leave the 3Generate halls.

What parking will be available during the weekend?
Free parking will be in N1, accessed via gate 3

Will there be wi-fi available?
There is limited wi-fi available but it will not be suitable to download or stream media such as films or TV shows. 

Will we be able to charge our mobile phones?
Yes, leaders can do this in The Well and there will also be a supervised charging station available.

What happens with our luggage on Sunday? What happens on Sunday morning?
After breakfast groups will need to pack their bags, which can then be taken to the luggage holding area.  After the Sunday morning closing worship you can collect a packed lunch and your luggage, then depart.

 Keeping us safe

Is there a risk assessment template that we can use?
Guidance on event risk assessment and a blank template are available in the 'Residential Events Guidance' as part of the ‘Organising Events’ resources from the Children, Youth and Family Team.

What type of DBS do leaders need to bring a group?
All leaders must have a valid Methodist DBS (less than five years' old on 9 October) with a barred list check, obtained through the Methodist Church. DBS certificates from other organisations may be accepted if they are less than two years' old.  Your Main Group Leader will need to complete and upload a Group Safeguarding Verification Form, which confirms all leaders in the group have the correct DBS certificate and a copy of this form uploaded to their iKnow profile. Once completed, this form should be signed by your nominated local DBS verifier. The deadline for uploading the appropriate DBS certificate to each leaders' iKnow profile and submitting the Group Safeguarding Verification Form is Monday 31 July 2023.

Will the event be ‘closed off’ to the outside world?
3Generate has use of dedicated halls within the NEC, with stewards stationed at the entrances and exits. There will be no access by the general public to 3Generate. 

 Programme

What will 3Generate look and feel like this year?
3Generate 2023 will build on the success of last year's event. There are some changes to venues in the 3Generate Town for 2023, including a new Global Venue. You wouldn't want to miss it! From the event launch on Friday, through to the entertainment on Saturday evening, to the energetic final Big Worship Celebration, 3Gen is going to be a blast!

3Generate is the children and youth assembly of the Methodist Church and is strategic in how the Church listens to the voices of children and young people. We are constantly adjusting the event based on feedback from participants and leaders, and through direct input into the programme from children and young people themselves at our Influencer Day. We have been meeting throughout the year to plan a full and exciting programme, which will be released soon.

What is happening with 3Gen's Got Talent this year?
This year we are launching 3Gen Celebrates, which is an evolution from 3Gen's Got Talent and aims to celebrate the gifted and talented children and young people of the Methodist Church across the site in different venues, using creativity, personal expression, culture, art and testimony (personal faith stories and stories of where you are acting as an agent of change). The Arts Centre will host a '3Gen Celebrates' gallery as part of its venue activities on Saturday and five different venues will have '3Gen Celebrates' open mic slots as part of their programme. This will culminate in a showcase on the main stage in The Park on Saturday night, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, where some of the performers from the open mic sessions will be invited to share their talents and stories again as a means of celebrating all the ways in which God gives us gifts and skills and calls us to be agents of change in the world. Details on how to sign-up to be a part of one of the open-mic sessions will be released soon.

How loud will the event be?
Loud performances throughout the weekend will be held in the 3Generate Arena, which is separate to the 3Generate Town and is a sound-proof venue.

All venues at 3Generate will have inclusion boxes which will include ear defenders and ear plugs for children and young people finding the noise too much. If you are a leader please borrow anything you need from the inclusion box and encourage the child or young person you are supporting to join back with their group.

Whether a child or young person has additional needs or not everyone is welcome to the Sensory Space venue. This venue is a drop-in venue that participants can go along to for some peace and quiet.

Does the event include access to the Bear Grylls Adventure?
Unfortunately no, this is not part of 3Generate.

4 - 7 year olds at 3Generate


How will 4 - 7 year olds take part in 3Generate?
On Saturday 7 October, from 10am to 4pm, they can join in a dynamic and immersive programme of activities, designed to aid them in reflecting on faith, life and meeting with God in their own dedicated space, separate to the main 3Generate event.  The programme is flexible and designed so that younger children can make their own choices, exploring the space as they feel led.  It’s 3Generate but on a smaller scale! 

Can 4 - 7 years olds take part without a parent/carer or significant adult?
No, each child will need an adult with them for the whole day. They can be accompanied by up to two significant adults, who may be parents, carers, grandparents or others they know well from church. These adults can encourage and support children as they explore all that’s on offer during the day. The venue and programme is intended to be an intergenerational space.

What is the role of a group leader for 4 - 7 year olds attending the event?
Group leaders can coordinate, organise and book tickets on behalf of 4-7 year olds and their parent(s)/carer(s) or significant adult(s).  Whilst taking part in the 4 - 7s venue, children will be the responsibility of these adults and not the group leader.

Will 4 - 7 year olds be able to visit the main 3Generate event?
Yes, but only as part of the planned 4-7s programme, which will provide opportunities to visit the main 3Generate event in small groups with their adults. 

Where is the venue for 4 - 7 year olds?
The venue for 4 - 7 year olds and their parents/carers/adults is within the main 3Generate event halls at the NEC.  Only the children and their adults booked in will have access to this venue, along with members of our Delivery Team. 

What food/refreshments will be available for those in the 4 - 7s venue?
Meals will be provided for all participants when they are on-site during the event. For 4-7s these meals will be served in their venue. 

Additional needs and access requirements


What support or help is available for those with additional needs or disabilities?
Additional needs are wide ranging – they can include physical, learning, mental health and undiagnosed needs – anything that may impact on someone being able to join in fully at 3Generate. We want everyone to feel welcome at the event and we have an accessibility team, who can help you to support the children and young people who are attending as part of your group. There is a Sensory Space venue and retreat spaces within other venues. We also have specific provision for accommodation and physical access for those who need it. Please provide as much information as possible regarding access needs on the iKnow Church system. You can find the accessibility team at registration or in the Sensory Space venue for help.

A member of my group has additional needs, can I have a conversation with someone before we come to 3Generate?
Yes absolutely! Please contact Naomi Graham or Mark Arnold and fill in the additional needs information on iKnow Church so that we can make sure that the event is as accessible as possible for the children and young people attending.

What is the Sensory Space venue like?
This is a small venue that children and young people can retreat to if they are finding parts of the event overwhelming or difficult to engage in. We will have a rolling programme and supportive team, we’ll also have smaller scale performances from some of the event contributors.

If a member of my group has additional needs, how can they get the most out of 3Generate?
We’d love you to connect with the accessibility team when you register and we also encourage you to pop in to the Sensory Space if there’s anything we can help with. We also want everyone to play their part in making the event as accessible as possible. There are some top tips for accessibility here.

Can I bring a carer or support worker to 3Generate?
We want to make sure that everyone who would like to come to 3Generate can attend regardless of their additional needs. We cannot provide full-time 1:1 support for children or young people so, if you need this, we’d recommend you bring an additional leader along with your group who can be your carer/support worker for the weekend.

How will you cater for specific dietary requirements?
We can provide food to meet all dietary needs if we have been told about these on iKnow Church system before 14 September 2023. Following feedback from last year we have been working with the NEC to ensure that there is very clear signage to indicate where special dietary food will be available. We are also working with the NEC to explore a wider variety of cultural food. 

Click here to read the 3Generate diversity statement


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