|
back
Hope Givers Day Conference During the Hope Givers Day Conference, Ray Allaway shared the responses from the 70 churches and 26 Christian agencies that exist in Eastbourne. Some of the highlights of this report were: It is estimated that there are 8,750 people who regularly attend church in Eastbourne and surrounding villages. 50% of churches have facilities which are available for hire. 7 churches provide breakfast and after school club facilities for children. 27 churches run parent and toddler groups at least one morning a week.05 Over 50% of churches run children's activities. At least 20 churches run a programme for teenagers. 37 churches reach out to their communities by offering such things as coffee mornings There are around 303 regular weekday activities in churches which include chess clubs, five-a-side football, weight watching, English lessons, art classes and cookery lessons. Willingdon and Polegate churches jointly run Contact Care scheme in which members of the community can register by phone to request help. Various Christian agencies in the town provide help for a wide range of personal issues such as benefit advice, counselling, debt and poverty, family breakdown, fertility, homelessness, crisis pregnancy, suicide attempts, and job search. Churches and Christian agencies make a significant contribution to the local economy and it is estimated that around two million pounds is paid by churches in respect of salaries to ministers, administrators, youth workers, music directors and maintenance staff. Around 2,200 hours per week in term time are given in churches, mostly by unpaid volunteers. It has also been estimated that 130,000 volunteer hours are spent annually by Christian agencies supporting Eastbourne's social infrastructure and overseas projects. All the churches and Christian agencies mentioned in this report are listed in the Christian Directory, which you can purchase for £3 from Martyn Relf, chairman of Churches Together. To order your copy phone Martyn on 01323 638744. Hope for Eastbourne News Winter 2009
|
