A local project based at Bishop Auckland Methodist Church, employing the creative talents of six young people, and enabling with partner 105.9 BishopFM a service from the church to reach those sheltering at home and unable to attend their regular place of community activities and worship, has been generously supported by Gaunless Gateway Big Local Partnership.
The Partnership “was delighted to support the work” with a £14,797.80 project award feeling that “it fits in with identified community priorities, especially during these unprecedented times.”
Those unprecedented times have particularly affected both old and young, and in enabling the creative talents of six young people working across a variety of artistic and technical aspects to be mentored by a local artist and equipped by working closely with BishopFM community radio volunteers, they will develop skills to serve the local community long into the future.
When community groups can more easily meet again in buildings, the church on Cockton Hill Road with upgraded audio and visual capabilities, will be an excellent venue for community gatherings with the potential to live stream to those unable to attend in person. And in the meantime those unable to access their local place of worship, perhaps because their age places them in the vulnerable category for the virus, will be able to listen in on a Sunday morning on 105.9 BishopFM and hear some of those young people bringing their creative ideas across the airwaves.
Rev John Purdy says “the generosity of this grant enables people of all ages and backgrounds to be linked together as we support one another at this difficult time. For some of our people who had been coming here for over 60 years to be unable to attend was heartbreaking, but now with the help of talented young people and the right technology, they are reconnected once more and feel as if they are still a part of the community they love.”
Link to article in the Northern Echo
It was good to read the publicity given to the above project in this morning’s Northern Echo. Carry on the excellent work!
My wife and i are not attending the services in the Church building at present (how we miss seeing everyone!), but we watch the services on the internet each day and really appreciate them and the work put into them by Rev John and Vanessa.
Love to all, Ian and Ellenor.