Inspiring communities The churches in the heart of the Thames Gateway – playing their part in regeneration INSPIRING COMMUNITIES | Foreword CONTENTS Fo rewo rd 1 The Bishop of Barking explains how the churches of East London are playing their part in the area’s regeneration Communities for the future 2 Explains the churches’ involvement with the communities of which they are a part – and illustrates their contribution to regeneration with a series of case studies The regeneration challenge 6 Describes the implications of the transformation of East London for those that live and work here Working together 8 Describes the five key elements that will enable the churches to be a more effective catalyst for creating sustainable communities across the Thames Gateway, now and in the future Many thanks to the London Borough of Newham for allowing us to use images from their photo library and thanks also to the featured churches who provided the photos that illustrate the case studies INSPIRING COMMUNITIES | Page 1 Foreword The Bishop of Barking,The Rt. Revd. David Hawkins, explains why churches are committed to building sustainable communities across East London For centuries the churches have been at But what will this mean for local people? the forefront of creating sustainable Will they benefit? Will we build, not only communities. In many parts of the world places, but also communities where people they were the first providers of free want to work, to live and to bring up their education and healthcare and, across East children? London today, churches provide innumerable practical services and projects Inspiring Communities describes some of to help local people, and they form a the ways that the churches are involved in substantial part of the voluntary sector in helping the regeneration of the Thames most areas. Some of these projects, Gateway. Its focus is on the five boroughs featuring real faith in action, are featured at the heart of the Thames Gateway sub- throughout this publication. region – Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, and Waltham Forest. Like others, the churches believe that sustainable communities must be fully Inspiring Communities is published by the inclusive. Churches stand for social justice Church of England, in close partnership and a fairer, more compassionate, society. with the many Churches with which we The contribution made by the Christian work.We also work closely with other churches is distinct and embraces diversity faiths, and other organisations and groups – actively caring for those whom society from the public, private, and voluntary neglects or rejects. sectors.We share the same vision, and the same goal – the best possible future, for So churches have a vital role in helping to everyone in our communities. shape, and to support our communities. In East London, in the heart of the Thames Gateway, we are facing huge changes, huge opportunities, and huge challenges. Major Throughout Inspiring Communities the term redevelopment is being planned across, ‘East London’ refers exclusively to the five Stratford, Lower Lea, London Riverside, London Boroughs in which it is set: Romford, Ilford, Barking and Walthamstow, Bishop of Barking Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham, and, of course, the 2012 Olympics… The Right Reverend David Hawkins Redbridge,Waltham Forest INSPIRING COMMUNITIES | 2 PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST Regeneration is coming to East London and the area is starting to be transformed. The Thames Gateway is the biggest regeneration project in Europe and the largest challenge facing us is to see that what is delivered is what the people of East London want and need, now and in the future. It’s undoubtedly a dynamic place for the 1.1 million people who live there, in very diverse communities with very real needs: the boroughs include some of the most vibrant, yet disadvantaged, in England. In 2012 the area hosts the Olympic games, and the eyes of the world will be upon it. Successful regeneration demands a holistic approach, which brings together the needs of the community, the economy, and the environment. New buildings and infrastructure are not enough: regeneration must be people-centred, and here the churches play a vital role. Regeneration, in the words of The Commission on Urban Life and Faith, has to “take into account less quantifiable questions such as quality of life, well-being, happiness even – what we might term the ‘human face’ of the city.We have to ask questions about the soul of the city as well, and about how faith communities can help develop this.” (1) INSPIRING COMMUNITIES | Page 3 Communities for the future Churches are a strong focus for life in East London. They are a crucial element in transforming the area into better places to live and work Living with communities serving their community.Taken together, Churches are a constant presence and a the churches are by far the largest strong focus for community life in every voluntary providers of activities and part of East London.The long-established support for children and young people, churches, that is the Church of England, the single people and couples, families and ST GEORGE’S CHURCH, HAROLD HILL, Methodist Church, the Roman Catholic older people in the UK. ROMFORD Church,The Salvation Army,The United The St George’s Church and Centre, built with Reformed Church and the Baptist Church, Together, the involved and committed partnership funding, is situated at the heart of the have 223 buildings and worship centres church members, and the faithful deprived area of Harold Hill in outer London. across the five boroughs, served by 297 communities they represent, are an Open seven days a week, and intensively used by clergy and hundreds more lay leaders and integral part of urban life. In many areas local people, St George’s employs a full time volunteers.The Church of England alone they’re a crucial element in building or community worker and is home to a wide range has 110 churches, with 159 clergy. transforming communities into better of activities, providing the main base for Surestart, places to live and work. and offering training, volunteering, childcare, and Christians of all denominations are drop-in facilities. Much of their work is with young families, giving important development committed to working out their faith in Working with communities opportunities both to children and to their East London, and they’re joined by the Churches care for people in their place of parents. other major faiths, all of which are present work.The ecumenical chaplaincy network and active right across the Thames provides chaplains for some of the larger CHRIST CHURCH,THAMES VIEW, BARKING Gateway. Faith leaders are probably unique shopping centres and businesses across The community advice centre attached to Christ among professional groups in that they live the Thames Gateway.The chaplains are Church, on the Thames View estate in Barking, and work full time among the trained to help people deal with issues in provides an accessible port of call for around communities they serve – and so they both their working and their personal lives. 3,000 people a year.The centre takes pride in treating people as individuals and helping with all know these communities intimately. Other chaplains work alongside people in their needs, including health, housing, training, universities, hospitals, and prisons. employment, benefits, debt, consumer, fuel and Churches are there for people at legal issues. It has achieved the Quality Mark for significant times in their lives – when they Churches are active partners in a range of its services, and receives many local authority marry, when they have children, when they projects, which are training, and equipping referrals. Demand is expected to increase as the become ill or die – and for everyday people for work, helping them to get jobs, growth of Barking Riverside takes off, which the advice and support. Every single church as well as offering childcare and other centre is well placed to meet. includes volunteers who are engaged in practical support to working people. INSPIRING COMMUNITIES | 4 Communities for the future Helping communities The Christian churches and the other ST LUKE’S, CANNING TOWN St Luke’s set up Canning Town Outlook in 2002, Churches instigate and run a huge array of world faiths are able to fulfil this most to provide a much needed meeting place and community projects, large and small.The fundamental human need.They can offer learning opportunities for refugee families from resource base of church premises, the a different perspective, a new and more countries including Somalia and Bangladesh. In understanding of local needs and local rewarding way of living in relationship with partnership with the local authority, other local cultures, and the long-term commitment God and with each other. Giving people agencies and volunteers, the centre offers English of both paid workers and volunteers, this opportunity is an integral part of and sewing classes, with a crèche provided makes church-based projects particularly creating sustainable communities. through Surestart. Many participants have gone on effective and sustainable. to gain employment or to continue their Backing communities education. Useful information about accessing There is a clear focus within churches on Churches are well placed to champion the local services is shared in the classes, and at a those with particular needs, such as interests of their communities.They often well-attended parents’ support group, which meets weekly. children and young people, parents, ethnic have good connections with central and groups, women, older people, the local government, other public agencies, BRYANT STREET METHODIST CHURCH, homeless, those not in education, schools and the voluntary sector.Their STRATFORD employment, or training. A number of faith requires them to be concerned, not Close to Stratford town centre, Bryant Street churches employ community workers or just for their own congregations, but also Methodist Church has converted most of its youth workers.