I count myself honoured to have been part of a group of people from churches across Warfield and Bracknell who spent a week volunteering and serving their community under the ‘Hope’ initiative. However it made me think about what happened after the week had finished – we’d made such a positive impact but there was still so much need. What could we achieve in the long-term?
This was something I pondered, but didn’t give a lot more thought to until I went to a Christian women’s conference. Debra Green, Director of ROC was speaking, and all of a sudden I felt like somebody had plugged me into the mains electricity! Her story around the inception of ROC had me captivated; this is what I’d been dreaming of for my community! But what could I do about it? I was just one person with little influence but I was curious enough to join ROC’s mailing list. When I heard about the ROC Ambassador’s Conference I decided to go along to find out more.
What I heard at the conference, both from speakers and attendees, energised and excited me. I felt completely refreshed and empowered to be the change I wanted to see in Warfield and Bracknell. I don’t know what I really expected, but I was pleased to come away with practical advice and best-practice information on how to build the right connections to achieve the positive impact we all want to see in our communities. I came away with a clear idea on the agencies and individuals I should engage if I wanted to achieve the results I’d heard happen for other areas. Our problems may differ slightly, but the hints and tips I came away with are grounded and work. The templates that are shared are written in a style that resonates with the police force, council and other services. This all helps build confidence, that no matter your own thoughts on how capable you may or may not feel – you can do it!
It’s one thing to feel inspired at an event, and another thing to act on it when you get home. I am very fortunate to belong to a supportive home church that has encouraged and facilitated the start of our journey alongside ROC. 60 people across Warfield churches attended a recent event to hear Chief Inspector Paul Wilson communicate the ROC vision, and to listen to other speakers who have a heart and a passion for community transformation. The event focused on four projects we intend to launch – starting small to build quick-win results to help gain credibility with the relevant agencies we want to garner support from. Next steps are to engage and work with other churches in Bracknell, sharing our vision, learning theirs and working out how best to work together to serve our wider community.
I want to emphasise how early on we are in our journey, and the fact that it is a journey, but one I am absolutely and whole-heartedly confident in. There is an appetite for change, there is an appetite to serve, and my role – and that of ROC’s – is to pull together the different strands to facilitate a stronger, co-ordinated, team who are representative of all areas of the community we want to serve. Fast forward a couple of years, and through the grace of God you’ll see community transformation in Bracknell!
For more information on how YOU can become a ROC Ambassador, click here.
