Church reaches out through projects across communities
THE new year looks full of promise for East Hampshire churches, as youth and community projects funded by Church of England start-up cash, gain momentum.
The five innovative schemes cover the district from Whitehill in the north to Rowlands Castle in the south, and the awards are from a £100,000 church fund created to help in local communities.
A diocese spokesman said: “These projects are new initiaves to reach out to a new generation of children and young people, and to help those who are lonely or vulnerable and make our church buildings more welcoming.”
Most should be fully up and running early in the new year, thanks to the grants from the Diocese of Portsmouth announced before Christmas.
A soup cafe in Whitehill Village Hall run by volunteers from St Matthew’s in Blackmoor gained £3,200, to provide lunches for workers, parents and children, and people living alone. It will run alongside a Friday cafe, also manned by church volunteers.
An after-school club in Bordon organised by The Kings Church gained £1,000 to open another night, also with help from St Matthew’s.
In Liphook, a youth worker scheme to be jointly managed by the Methodist Church in London Road and the Anglican church in Portsmouth Road was given £5,000.
The diocese spokesman said: “This exciting project will create a new youth congregation at a neutral venue in Liphook. A new minister will lead it and train young people to take on aspects of leadership and visit schools and meet young people on the streets.” It is hoped the temporary post will evolve into a permanent one.
Members of St Mary’s Church in Liss were awarded £1,300 for a weekly parent and toddler group in the church called Stepping Stones. St John the Baptist School in Rowlands Castle was awarded £3,000 towards an outdoor space for children.
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Weather for Petersfield
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 16 C
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