A while back the safespace crew sat around our table chatting as usual... as we talked an idea emerged... the idea was for a chill-out/safe haven for night clubbers - nothing that new but there is nothing like this in Telford/Wellington. Wellington Methodist Church has an excellent building right in the heart of the Clubbing area of Wellington so we approached the minister Peter Clarke. His response was fantastic, "I've wanted to do something like that for 2 years" he said "but never really had the people." So we began to talk and dream... the project we came up with is to be called Sank·tuary, it will run from around 12.30 to 3 am on Fridays and offer a chilled place, real coffee, fresh smoothies, Brownies and bakes etc. and people willing to listen...
Anyway we began to develop the idea - Tam, who has managed a Cafe and as all her catering certification started working on the refreshments side of things, Ian, who is a sign surveyor and has vinyl cutting machines etc. began, with me, working up the sign-age etc.... then a few days ago we had an e-mail from Telford and Wrekin Safer Communities team informing us that they have just won a substantial funding bid from the Home Office to develop a safer night time environment in Wellington and they saw our project as a key part of the strategy! So much so that they had included a grant for us in their bid! So I met with the team (Council, Police, Ambulance Service, Licensing authority, Environmental health, Trading Standards etc.) to find out more... It seems they want to offer us not only cash but training, support, security, advice, relationships with the Nightclub owners and security staff, direct access to the security/ambulance services, etc. as well as other things which I can't yet go into fully as they have to be worked out in detail.
So we plan to open in under two weeks in partnership - safespace, Wellington Methodist Church and Telford and Wrekin safer communities partnership- and as part of an integrated strategy including a poster and information campaign, new night time officers, new taxi-ranks, a detached youth work project etc.... and I've got to go to Ikea to buy stuff! There will be a web site very soon!
Technorati Tags: Community: Culture: Emerging Church: Mission: Missional: Sanktuary: Telford
Mark, that's just brilliant.
Isn't it fantastic the way God let's us think that ministry is our idea!
Posted by: Andrew Sillis | 03/12/2008 at 08:45
Wow, how good is that?
Posted by: joe | 03/12/2008 at 08:51
That is totally brilliant.God is good !!!
Posted by: Sally C | 03/12/2008 at 09:41
Mark,
Congrats! This is so cool how this all came together. GOD is so brilliant! i wish i lived there to work with you guys. i think it is so cool how you have the cooperation and input of all these different people and govt. agencies.
COOL name!
All the best and can't wait to see the new site!
Adele
Posted by: Existential Punk | 03/12/2008 at 15:37
found out what your up to now :-)
such a simple idea, with potential to impact so many, with the wider support behind it will work and be another safe 'space'
Would love to pop over once up and running a lend a hand, an ear, catch up, chill.
Posted by: Andy Dean | 03/12/2008 at 22:54
great stuff man, totally chuffed for you.
What a wonderful sign of the deep participation of your community with God in his mission. Its great to see you finding your paths joining with others (both secular and faith motivated) in Gods work.
Posted by: matybigfro | 04/12/2008 at 12:08
Safe Space spreads wider: from the school at Wing (and before?) to clubbing. Fantastic stuff -- keep going!
Posted by: Rick Eveleigh | 06/12/2008 at 14:06