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FCCT Newsletter June & July 2009
For Your Information and Prayers
Nine Year Review - and the Way Ahead!
Youth Work in Farnham
Farnham ASSIST
Farnham Assemblies and Schools Team
FCCT Events Calendar June 2009
FCCT Events Calendar July 2009
Nine Year Review - and the Way Ahead!
Open Meeting on Saturday 27th June –
9.15am–11.00am
followed by coffee & cake at
The Lantern, St Thomas-on-The Bourne
Swingate Road, Farnham
We warmly invite you to join us for a review of the past nine years followed by a presentation and discussion about the way ahead. We would be delighted if you could stay for coffee and cakes afterwards.
This is a time of considerable change for all of us and we wanted to share the story and get your input and ideas. If you can make it please let Heather know by either ringing the office on 01252 714414 or by emailing her at Heather@fcct.org.uk.
Where we are now
FCCT started in 2000 with the prime goal of releasing teams of people from different churches to run with their dreams and visions (or pursue their vocation and calling – depending on your language!). The purpose and intention of the legal framework was always to support and serve the dreams and visions that God had given to His people in Farnham. This purpose included providing a charitable basis for the work being undertaken, a framework for policies and procedures (including child protection), a base from which people could work, and office and printing services.
Over the years the nature and shape of the projects supported has grown and developed, some of whom are separate legal entities (such as Options Pregnancy Crisis), some part of congregations (such as the Bourne CYI), others separate associations (like Explore), others under another charity (Grace – a network of artists in Farnham) and others (like FAST, ASSIST, Cohesion etc.) remaining within the FCCT framework.
Separately we have developed strong links with a national charity that has grown and evolved since 2004 and which has experience of working in other towns and cities across the country. The development within the national charity has been much more focused on encouraging the autonomy of individual projects. It functions in a grant making, networking and mentoring capacity rather than being an umbrella legal entity under which things happen locally.
We have been keen to learn from these developments and also to reflect on where we are nine years in.
Despite our best efforts and despite significant success in some areas, in others it has become apparent that FCCT is now seen by some as an organisation in its own right rather than a body which is there to serve the vocation and calling of the Christian community.
In the light of this, we have been conducting a rigorous review across all areas of our work to ensure that the way that we support projects reflects more closely our values and also the specific needs of the individual projects rather than the perceived (or actual) needs of FCCT as an organisation.
The result of this prayerful review is the decision to deconstruct FCCT, moving it over time to a purely administrative and support function, serving diverse and independent projects which operate autonomously under either their own management groups or separate legal identities.
The first area where change is taking place relates to the youth work under FCCT, which is now known as Cohesion. FCCT will no longer employ youth workers from the end of August 2009 but teams of individuals can apply for grants through the Catalyst process (see below). The good reputation of Cohesion has however established a strong credibility with schools and the community at large and so it will remain a generic name under which a number of youth initiatives will take place, including some with no formal links with FCCT that wish to use this brand. To be honest, how this will work out is unclear at the moment. FCCT is offering to still cover the administrative, insurance and child protection requirements until an alternative is agreed amongst the Christian community.
A new, separate and independent grant making process is being established under a national charity which will operate in Farnham under the name Catalyst, of which we can explain more on 27 th. In essence, Catalyst will welcome applications from teams of people from more than one congregation, with their own core team or management group, that are looking for funding to enable that project to go forward. It will also welcome projects between
congregations. Each project would have its own core team or management committee – Catalyst or FCCT would not provide this. We want the representation on Catalyst to be as wide as possible. The current intention is that there will be no overlap in personnel between the trustees of FCCT and the Catalyst core team.
Moving beyond the youth area we are seeking to establish autonomous management committees for each of the existing projects that sit within FCCT, with a view to their attaining separate legal status over a transitional period of time to suit the development of the project, whilst leaving FCCT as purely an administrative and support hub. Future funding would be provided through Catalyst. All projects already have their own separate names and many of them can transition by September to the new model with minimal disruption.
We recognise that in the short term at least, there is a need for a legal framework which includes charitable status, policies procedures, child protection and CRB, as well as Public Liability insurance, office space and printing facilities. The purpose is to continue to offer this to the existing projects as long as they find it beneficial.
We are also aware that there is a demand to make these services available to the wider Christian community. For example, we would be happy to provide a free payroll service to any church that would find this beneficial and also to offer with free or subsidised colour printing from the office in Downing Street. Other options that might be worth considering would be a central telephone line for out of hours calls to churches, availability of office space, or indeed any other areas of practical administrative support that congregations might need.
We look forward to sharing more about this with you on 27th June, at The Lantern.
Jane Still, Kenton Sparks
Youth Work in Farnham
Over the past 8 years there has been a wealth of town wide and ecumenical youth work run under the banner of FCCT Youth Team. This has been heavily staffed by the FCCT employed youth workers alongside a small team of volunteers. From September, FCCT will no longer have a Youth Team as part of its decision to move away from the employment of staff and towards project based funding.
Some of the youth work the Youth Team have been running will continue as new projects and we are currently transitioning these. A good example of this is Gems, a work amongst teenage girls across the town but based at Heath End side of Farnham. Currently 30+ girls attend a monthly club as well as have the opportunities for various trips, activities and residentials.
After a series of meetings and times of prayer there was a consensus amongst the Christian community that there should be a new incarnation of a town wide youth worship event called IGNITE. Ignite's intent is to be a town-wide Christian presence in the lives of young people in Farnham. It seeks to help young people find a vision of God through the lens of Jesus.
This project is an important part of a cohesive youth work across the town, facilitating all young people to engage with Christianity in a relevant way, helping Christian young people to be equipped in their faith and allowing them to connect with the theme of justice at the heart of the gospel. A planning group made up of invited young people and youth leaders put together the details and on the 25th April we held the first IGNITE. The 2nd one will be on 20th June at 40 Degreez, Dog Flud Way, Farnham, 8.00 – 9.45pm with After Hours 10.00 – 11.00pm for 15yrs plus only.
 Also under the name of Cohesion, a new project is being set up to facilitate churches working together within secondary schools, developing the work that had been run under the banner of FCCT. As part of this project there will be some ‘schools work’ workshops later this term, where we hope to gather those interested in being part of this work. Only one workshop needs to be attended by an individual, they will be 2 hours long and are planned for Tuesday 16 June in the morning at 10am and evening at 8pm, and Wednesday 17 th June in the morning at 10am.
All these projects will be, in part, supported initially by funds from FCCT as they transition to a funding body.
Steve Delves
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Farnham ASSIST
As you are probably aware, we are a Christian initiative serving Farnham’s Senior Citizens who live on their own - our Mission is “To be there for older people living on their own in Farnham, meeting them where they are and showing God’s love through our work”.
We have been working in the town for nearly seven years and currently provide a wide range of services including monthly lunches at weekends for over 100 elderly people, regular monthly worship in four nursing and residential homes plus the Gostrey Day Centre, individual tuition in understanding computers with six tutors, One to One befriending service for the housebound, Pie & Pint Club for men with between fifteen and twenty guests each week, and a Home Visit Adviser in
conjunction with the Citizens Advice Bureau. We have over 120 volunteers working in the various areas, helping to improve the lives of elderly folk who live on their own.
In the Autumn last year, we felt that God was calling us to reach out further into the local community and we were becoming more aware that there are many who do not know of ASSIST who may benefit from some of the services that we offer. For this reason, we took steps to acquire premises in the centre of Farnham.
As always, God has been so faithful and He has given us a wonderful opportunity right in the centre of town. We have acquired the lease on No. 12 Borelli Yard, which is a lovely two storey building just off The Borough. We are using the top floor as an office and the ground floor is an Over 60s Information Centre for elderly folk in Farnham. We want to work with local churches and other organisations to provide a warm, Christian place where older people can pop in to have a chat with one of our Christian volunteers.
Our vision for the Centre is to be a place...
- which is welcoming, accessible and easy to find;
- where older people living on their own can pop in, have a chat and feel welcome
- where we can spend time with people, individually or as a small group (e.g. for Bible Studies);
- where people can experience something of God's love for them;
- where people can enquire about what ASSIST does, what the churches in the town are doing or to find out more about the services available to elderly people in Farnham;
The Centre opened to the public on Monday April 27th and is open every day, Monday – Thursday, from 10am – 3pm, with our volunteers on hand to welcome people.
We are also working in close partnership with Age Concern Waverley who are in the Centre every Thursday and Citizens Advice Waverley, who are in alternate Wednesday mornings. The Centre was officially opened in June by Jeremy Hunt MP, Shadow Minister for Culture, and the Town Mayor, Cllr Lucinda Fleming.
Over the last few months we have produced the first edition of a twice yearly client newsletter, as well as the first of our monthly prayer letters. We also held an Open Day at No.12, which was planned to coincide with the Volunteer Bureau Charity Fair at Gostrey Meadows, where we had a stand which raised over £110 for the Christmas Lunches.
Looking forward, regular Coffee Mornings are being arranged and there is a further series of six weekly Bible Studies starting in July. Over the next twelve months, we are planning to further develop our Christian witness to the elderly, which is likely to include a Holiday Bible Club for older people, a church service to mark the International Day for Older People, and we are looking to organise our first Senior ALPHA course. We are also planning a number of events to be run in conjunction with local organisations.
We would really appreciate your prayers and support for the exciting and challenging work of ASSIST in our town:
- If you know an older person living on their own who would benefit from our services, please give them our telephone number;
- If you would like to support our work, you can join Friends of ASSIST. Friends support ASSIST by using our prayer newsletters to pray regularly for our work and by telling their friends;
- If you would like more information or you would like to help with any aspect of ASSIST, please contact us.
Kirsty Bruton, Brian Kurton
Farnham Assemblies and Schools Team
FAST is a group of Christians supporting Christian Education in primary schools
FAST is a group of Christians from different denominations being built into a Team
Rom 1 v17
For the Gospel reveals how God puts people right with Himself – it is through Faith from beginning to end.
F.A.S.T. Prayer requests please:
F = Future =
where should we be?
who should we be?
what should we be doing?
A = Activities =
We want to deliver the gospel with impact through assemblies, lessons, church trails, day trips, prayer spaces, etc etc
S = Schools =
We need to pray for school staff and children, to build up relationships, to establish prayer groups in each school
T = Team =
We need more people; we need people committed to schools’ work; we need church congregations to catch the opportunity to support the work in schools; we need to keep those team members already committed to schools’ work
Our Current Activities are:
- Assemblies
- Lessons
- Organising Farnham Church Trails
- Developing special School services at the local church
- Day Trips to Wintershall
- Developing prayer rooms and creative prayer within schooltime
- Promoting Christian artists to work in schools
- Supporting and resourcing new assembly teams
Our Links in the Community are:
- Guilford Diocese
- Surrey LEA
- Churches Together in Farnham
- Peter & Ann Hutley at Wintershall
- Hugo Anson at Grassroots
- Jim Baily
- Jane Llewellyn – Artist
Some Extension Opportunities are:
- Supporting School based Christian Clubs
- Promoting church holiday clubs
- Building relationships with other schools workers
- “Godly Play”
- “Open the Book”
- Developing deeper relationships with Christians in schools – Staff, Parents etc
- Linking schools Activities to churches
- New schools – private schools, special needs schools……….?
F C C T Events Calendar June 2009
Monday 1st
12.15pm Royal Arms
Farnham ASSIST Pie & Pint
Tuesday 2nd
3.30pm Hillbrow
Farnham ASSIST Praise & Worship
Wednesday 3rd
9.30am Understanding Computers
Farnham ASSIST
Friday 5th
11.00amTilfordPark
Farnham ASSIST Praise & Worship
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Thursday 18th
11.00am Gostrey Centre
Farnham ASSIST Praise & Worship
Saturday 20th
12.30pmBethel Baptist
Farnham ASSIST Lunch
Sunday 21st
3.30pmWeyValley
Praise & Worship
Monday 22nd
10.00am Potters Gate & St Peters yr 6 Asembly
FAST
12.15pm The Crown
Farnham ASSIST Pie & Pint
1.00pmPilgrims Way & Rowledge
yr 6 Assembly
FAST
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REGULAR EVENTS DURING SCHOOL TERM
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Tuesday 9th
10.45am Potters Gate
FAST Lessons
10.30-11.30am FAST Craft
FCCT Office 43a Downing Street
Wednesday 10th
9.30am Understanding Computers
Farnham ASSIST
HaleSchool
FAST Lessons
Friday 12th
GEMS Residential
Weekend Away Together
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Wednesday 24th
9.30am Understanding Computers
Farnham ASSIST
10.30-11.30am FAST Craft
FCCT Office 43a Downing Street
1.10pm Shawfield Primary
FAST Assembly
Thursday 25th
9.30am William Cobbett yr 6
FAST Assembly
8.00-9.30pm Prayer Meeting
FCCT Office 43a Downing Street
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MONDAYS
9.00-9.45 – Prayer for Schools at Weydon Christian Centre
1.10-1.50pm – Heath End Detached Work
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Sunday 14th
1.00pm Gostrey Centre
Farnham ASSIST Lunch
3.30pm Hatch Mill
Praise & Worship
Monday 15th
Potters Gate Prayer Week
FAST
12.15pm Millers
Farnham ASSIST Pie & Pint
Tuesday 16th
10.00am Schools WorkWorkshop
FCCT Office, 43a Downing Street
8.00pm Schools Work Workshop
FCCT Office, 43a Downing Street
Wednesday 17th
9.30am Understanding Computers
Farnham ASSIST
10.00am SchoolsWorkWorkshop
FCCT Office, 43a Downing Street
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Saturday 27th
9.15-11.00am 9 Yr Review and The Way Ahead Open Meeting
St Thomas on the Bourne
Monday 29th
9.10am Folly Hill
FAST Lessons
Tuesday 30th
10.00amASSIST Prayer Meeting
No 12 Borelli Yard
RowledgeSchool Prayer Tent Week
FAST
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TUESDAYS
8.45-3.15 – Work into schools
Rowledge
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Event Calendar July 2009
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Wednesday 1st
9.30am Understanding Computers
Farnham ASSIST
RowledgeSchool Prayer Week
FAST
Thursday 2nd
JimBaileyPraisePartyRowledgeSchool only
FAST
Friday 3rd
10.30am St Polycarps
FAST Yr6 Assembly
11.00amTilfordPark
Farnham ASSIST Praise & Worship
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Friday 17th
7.30pm GEMS Girls Evening
Holy Family Church, Alma Lane
Saturday 18th
12.30pmBethel Baptist
Farnham ASSIST Lunch
Sunday 19th
3.30pmWeyValley
Praise & Worship
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THURSDAYS
4.00-6.00pm - ‘The Cooler’ at Weydon Christian Centre
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Monday 6th
12.15pm Royal Arms
Farnham ASSIST Pie & Pint
Tuesday 7th
3.30pm Hillbrow
Farnham ASSIST Praise & Worship
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Monday 20th
12.15pm Millers
Farnham ASSIST Pie & Pint
Tuesday 21st
10.15am FollyHillSchool
FAST Assembly & Lessons
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FRIDAYS
4.00-7.00pm – ‘Pulse’ at Holy Family Church, Alma Way
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Wednesday 8th
9.30am Understanding Computers
Farnham ASSIST
HaleSchool
FAST Yr6 Assembly
All Saints School
FAST supporting “Pause Day”
Sunday 12th
1.00pm Gostrey Centre
Farnham ASSIST Lunch
3.30pm Hatch Mill
Praise & Worship
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Wednesday 22nd
9.30am Understanding Computers
Farnham ASSIST
Monday 27th
12.15pm The Crown
Farnham ASSIST Pie & Pint
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2ND SATURDAY
‘Pure Sport’ at Farnham Sports Centre
7.00- 8.30pm - ‘Pure Sport’ for 7-11 year olds
8.30-10.00pm - ‘Pure Sport’ for 11yrs plus
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Monday 13th
10.45am Waverley Abbey
FAST Yr6 Assembly
Tuesday 14th
BentleySchool
FAST Yr6 Assembly
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Tuesday 28th
10.00amASSIST Prayer Meeting
No 12 Borelli Yard
Thursday 30th
8.00-9.30pm Prayer Meeting
FCCT Office 43a Downing Street
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Wednesday 15h
9.30am Understanding Computers
Farnham ASSIST
BentleySchool
FAST Assembly
Thursday 16th
11.00am Gostrey Centre
Farnham ASSIST Praise & Worship
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FCCT OFFICE, 11/06/2009 |
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