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 We plan to open a shop type premises in the middle of Southend. A place to serve and work with our local community as a meeting place, a base to branch out and help others, and a space to share.
We are saving to acquire, renovate and transform a shop premises into Shared Space. Manned by enthusiastic and determined people, with CFS working alongside people from our local community, we intend to make a difference. Frankly, this is an enormous challenge for us as a church, but we feel this is just what Jesus wants of us.
 We plan for three areas in the shop
- Building Relationships: e.g. relaxing, drinking coffee, talking, sharing, helping, a place to “be” as we explore faith together.
- Trading Place: e.g. set up your home for £50 (refugees and homeless); new interview suit for £10 (long term unemployed); items of practical benefit (for local people)
- Specialist Activities: e.g. social enterprise; working in teams; gardening; PC refurbishment; training and empowering people; building relationships through practical activities; developing local skills; advice, support and courses; listening and counselling.
 Next Steps? A team of us are working to turn this vision into reality
Money? We need to raise tens of thoudsands and are making good progress with money we've saved as a church and donations from other Baptist churches across East Anglia. That's thanks to The Eastern Baptist Association making us a church of the year.
We hope to be up and running by September 2009.
Peter Dominey (church leader) & Jonathan Ullmer (project leader),
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Our Area
The government divides the East of England Region into 3550 areas* Shared Space will be launched alongside the 2nd, 5th and 11th most deprived of these areas. We already meet as a church in all three of these areas.
(* Lower Super Output Areas of East of England Region, according to 2007 Indices of Multiple Deprivation).
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