ROC South East - Winter 2012 highlights
The last 3 months have been an exciting time for ROC in the South East, with key meetings in Sussex and Kent with police and churches all across the region.
Sussex
February saw the launch of ROC in Mid-Sussex, with the biggest launch yet in the South East when over 500 people came to the launch event at the Triangle Leisure Centre Burgess Hill. Nicholas Soames MP, Sussex Police Deputy Chief Constable Giles York and our own Debra Green spoke at the event and all emphasized the vital role the church had to play in partnership working and community transformation. ROC Conversations in Burgess Hill & Hurstpierpoint were then held on 6 & 7 March. Haywards Heath is also riding the momentum of activity happening in the mid-Sussex area.
In January, Paul also spoke at a Churches Together Unity Service at Holy Trinity Church in Hastings. About 450 people attended the event, which saw ROC and many charities exhibiting their work from all across the region, demonstrating both the quality and depth of work that churches are undertaking in the community. Many useful contacts were made and follow up meeting re planned as ROC looks to launch in the town.
Discussion is ongoing as we look to see ROC launch in Brighton, Crawley and Hasting, extending ROC further across Sussex through 2012.
Kent
Before Christmas, Paul Wilson met with Chief Inspector Lee Russell from Kent Police Partnerships Unit and Detective Inspector Barry Knott at Kent Police Headquarters in Maidstone. We are delighted that Kent Police have agreed to partner with ROC to launch in Kent.
It was decided to launch ROC first in Maidstone and then look to spread the initiative out across the county. In January the first of what we hope will be many more ROC Conversations was held at St Luke’s Maidstone, with representatives from churches, the local council, police and Kent Fire and Rescue in attendance. Many key issues were explored and there was some in depth discussion about local priorities and opportunities for improved partnership working. Elsewhere in Kent, Paul was invited to speak at a Churches Together event at Margate. Church leaders from across the town gathered at Margate Pentecostal Church to hear Paul talk about ROC and the opportunities opening up for churches with Kent Police and other key partners.
Essex
Discussions have also been ongoing with Essex Police. Paul recently visited the Headquarters of Essex Police in Chelmsford for a meeting with Robin Hance from Essex police Christian Police Association where discussions were held about partnering together.
More recently, Paul has been meeting with churches in Brighton, Crawley and Hastings. Discussion is ongoing as we look to see ROC launch in each of those locations as it extends further across Sussex. In Brighton, Paul has had very positive follow up meetings with St Peters and St Luke’s’ and many more churches in Brighton and with New Frontiers churches in Hove.
Stay tuned for more roll-outs across the South East!
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