Redeeming Our Communities Manchester Event

We had a great response

• Who are you?
• What can I do for you?
• What can you do for me?
• What can we do together?

 

Those present were encouraged to exchange contact information, and agree to meet in the future to discuss what projects and initiatives could be developed in their communities through working in partnership.

Main Programme

With a standing room only crowd in attendance, and an overflow room underway, we began the main programme. Chief Constable Peter Fahy gave a welcome to all those attending. Mr Fahy was followed by a performance from LZ7, who got the crowd on their feet and dancing to their track 'This Little Light'.

Debra then showed the crowd some of the footage from the Liverpool launch event, before bringing Andrew Lancel (aka DI Neil Manson in ITV1's 'The Bill') up to the stage for an interview.

Debra then asked Chief Constable Peter Fahy to share his vision for the evening and it's outcomes. He told the assembled crowd of some of the good news and success of GMP recently, but also stressed their desire to see more reduction in crime, and the need to partner with organisations such as the Church and other faith and community groups to see this happen.

The Chief Constable then presented an award to Christie Spurling, for his work with young people across Greater Manchester throught the N:Gage project. Christie told us that the project has been up and running for 3 years, and has 3 main areas of work. There is the Step Up schools programme, where Christie's team deliver a series of mentoring and workshops to young people at risk of exclusion to help them make good choices for their future. N:Gage also run detached youth work in parks across South Manchester, especially in the evenings when anti-social behaviour can be a problem. N:Gage also run the Transform programme, which has seen groups of young people spend a day cleaning up an area in the community, helping to shift public opinion from seeing the youth as the problem to seeing them be the solution.

Debra then interviewed Fiona Murray and Terry Manyeh from the charity Reclaim, who provide mentorship to at risk young people across Greater Manchester. Terry spoke as a young person who has directly benefitted from the guidance Reclaim was able to give, saying that without their help he would most likely have been in prison now.

We were privileged to have with us Louise Casey, who is the Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Advisor to the Government. Louise has recently been involved in the development of the Policing Pledge, and explained to us what this meant in Greater Manchester. She also encouraged church leaders to work with their Neighbourhood Teams for the good of their communities; to form relationships with each other that mean information and ideas can be shared on how to help lower crime in their communities, but also to find out how they can help those in their communities that have been victims of crime.

We then heard about two stories of how partnerships are working between local churches and police. Mark Greer and Alan Saunders have been meeting with Inspector David Henthorne to look into how the church in Swinton can work with the neighbourhood police team there. Mike McGurk has been meeting with PC Ian Rowley in Denton for the last 2 years, and they had words of encouragement for everyone that over time good relationships can be developed.

Twelve24 performed one of their new tracks, 'Fix Me'; the band are the latest of the Message Trust's schools bands, more information at www.message.org.uk
Following their performance, Andy Hawthorne spoke about the work The Message has been doing in communities across Greater Manchester, specifically through the Eden Project. He also interviewed Allan Cocking, who told how he was helped by the church and an Eden team out of a life of crime and drug addiction, to now being an Eden Team Leader himself.

We also heard the testimony of Stephen Smillie, who explained the impact belonging to a church community has had on his life; his story is also one of a life of drug addiction, crime and time spent in prison, and he read us a poem he has written about life in prison. He says that through the church and his new Christian faith, he has been able to give up the drugs, and turn his life around.

Anthony Delaney and Debra Green then moved on to reiterate to people the call to engagement, before some of the several hundred police officers present had to leave to return to their work duties.

Bishop Chris Edmondson, Bishop of Bolton, gave a prayer of blessing and encouragement as the officers left. This was followed by a time of worship led by Noel Robinson and Andy Smith, and prayers from Debra, Chief Superintendent Neil Wain and Josh Green (Twelve24).

If you have any feedback about the event please email us:

You can also join our new social network at redeemingourcommunities.ning.com to share ideas and stories about community transformation in your area.