As most of you know I have been sitting as a parent representative on the Sure Start Millmead Children's Centre Management Board. (I step down this Wednesday as is required by our constitution.) So when I had the opportunity to look around a very different Sure Start I jumped at the chance.

This weekend I took a trip to Chelmsford Hundred where a new Sure Start Children's Centre has been built with a church within to serve the spiritual needs of the community. After I returned I discovered the following interview with Rev Gowing-Cumber (my host for the weekend).



Keep reading for part 2.



Some points to take away perhaps:

The successful establishment of a men's group "Google and God" which makes no assumption such as "all men want icurry and football" but was started from listening to what people had to say.

The combined efforts of the Church of England and other churches with more traditional statutory services and the community was able to produce a community centre where funding and direction had previously run out.

The needs of a community are not only for jobs, doctors, dentists, business innovation, political leadership or schools but for the fulfilment and exploration of matters of the soul and spirit too.

Community funders can and do come to understand new things and sometimes change their mind on subjects.

There is a need for a space where people are able to discuss political matters.

A spiritual space need not be limited to one tradition or even core faith even if it is administered by only one.