Hi all,
Just a quick apology for the lack of posts recently. It’s been a busy old time and I’m now taking a well deserved break on a Thai beach.
Normal service will resume shortly.
Tag Archive for 'Announcement'
Well, it’s been a long time coming but I can finally let you all know about my job change.
I’ve been working for Spurgeons at The WIRE since I was 19 and trained on the job as a youth and community worker. Over these 8 years I’ve learnt and experienced so much, that I can’t really express it adequately here. The main part of my role has been to run various clubs and activities for children and young people in the local area but with a focus on the disadvantaged, disenfranchised and excluded. Because of this ‘general’ role over this length of time, I know most of the families and young people in some capacity and it’s been a difficult process to close The WIRE and stop the activities.
Nevertheless, I am very excited about the future and as of April 1st I will be employed by Arun Community Church. I have a looong history with ACC having attended with my parents since I was around 3, so It’ll be good to work for an organisation I know so well. My new role will be Youth & Schools worker with responsibility for the pastoral care of the church young people (alongside other volunteers), overseeing the Extended Schools programme, and developing ongoing schools work. Due to Spring Harvest, Easter and a Residential Weekend with the youth group, my first day in the office will be Monday 16th April.
Over the next few months I hope to take some time to think, plan and pray plus I hope to visit other projects doing similar work. Let me know if you have time for me to come and visit!
Today The WIRE (where I work) released a statement about its intent to close the project at Easter. It would take too long to explain how and why, but for more info on what The WIRE has been doing in Littlehampton for 10 years Click Here (pdf file. Get Adobe reader).
As from 31st March 2007, The WIRE will be closing its doors and shutting down all of our current activities.
Over the past ten years The WIRE has launched a huge number of activities and initiatives for children, young people and families in the local area. As a team we count it a real privilege to have been with you all on this journey to make a difference in this community. On that journey we have had much to celebrate, we have had some incredible times, with a lot of laughter and fun but also some tough times that we have shared together.
We have achieved much recognition for our creative work including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award and the British Urban Regeneration Association award for community regeneration. Through successful partnership working with schools, health and local government among
others, many of our aims are now being met within the community. So in 2007 it is time to reassess, focus and start to dream new dreams.Although The WIRE as we know it will no longer exist, there are plans currently in preparation for something new that will continue in the spirit of The WIRE and develop more of a specialist service. We believe passionately in the community and are excited about the future.
We have known about these changes for a while and on the whole they are a positive thing reflecting the great developments that have happened in our community, yet I was still quite nervous about emailing this news to the contacts in my mailbox. For most of the afternoon I’ve been getting varied responses ranging from disbelief to support and solidarity. Here are a few:
it’s been clear to me that The WIRE has been doing a terrific work. It seems wrong and unfair that lack of funding should force such a good work to be unable to function
Wow what an end to an era. But as you say the start of a fresh beginning!
The team have been doing so much good work over there for so many years I think its crazy that no funding has been found to continue work that has been so successful. I am sure that the WIRE phase 2 will be just as successful and be strong for another 10 years!
you guys have prepared the ground and foundations for a really exciting future for that whole community
I was a little bit shocked about the message, because I am still very proud of [my time with] the Wire Project
Sounds like some very brave and bold decisions have been made to me. It’s always so tempting to perpetuate good things even when ending them could bring about something better.
Currently, I am very excited about the future. My employment is secure (although not defined). There are many opportunities within the local area for youthwork and community development so it will be interesting to see what sort of plant this new WIRE seed will grow into. With only two months until we close, there’s a lot of work to do in communicating these changes to the general public and answering their questions. That will probably be the most painful part as there are many, many families who will be impacted by our departure. Prayer would be appreciated!
Well, it turns out that there’s more to this house fire than just flames. Upon investigation, the firefighters found a large number of cannabis plants growing in a ‘factory’ upstairs. It seems one of the lamps used to grow the weed caught fire and started the blaze. The police are now on guard and the full investigation gets underway tomorrow.
Interestingly it appears the occupants were there at the time the fire started as there was food still cooking in the kitchen and the back door was found wide open. They must have realised the fire was out-of-control and legged it.
The smell of the burnt plants is still pretty heavy down the street right now, and I heard someone comment that it was the happiest fire crew they’d ever seen…
For those of you who didn’t know, Kirsty and I put in an offer on a house a few weeks ago. We were only casually looking around and it was just the second property we’d seen, but it just seemed like a great place to live. Also it’s a big step for us as we’ve been saving up since we got married back in 2000.
Today loads of documents arrived from the Estate Agents, Solicitors, etc. and it finally seems like it might actually go ahead! If all goes well, hopefully we’ll be moving sometime in the next 8 weeks. Watch this space as I’ll let you all know what’s happening.
Oh, check out Flickr as I’ve put loads of photos up there too.
OK. I’ve joined a photosharing website. Nothing particulary exciting or revolutionary about that. It’s just the way you can ‘tag’ and search through everyone’s photos is amazingly compelling.
There are some beautiful images from around the globe which can help you see familiar sights in a new way. Try searching for Littlehampton and you’ll recognise some of our local scenery (including the inside of the Baptist Church!) you may not have noticed before.
Of course you can also look at some of my photos, or sign up (It’s free) and join a group of like-minded photographers. And before you get too excited, indecent images are banned!
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