Network of Kindness Learning Communities launched in Sefton North
We are delighted to have launched the first Network of Kindness Learning Community in Sefton North.
This structured programme brings together faith groups from within a single Deanery area to examine the assets, needs and existing work in their local communities, and plan their next step in social action.
We were joined at St James church, Maghull by members of thirteen churches from across Formby, Thornton, Crosby, Aintree, Blundellsands, Hightown, Maghull and Melling.
The day followed an initial survey and mapping exercise with groups to help understand existing activities in Sefton North Deanery, from emergency food, social isolation and mental health projects to children’ activities, and projects tackling issues of poverty and financial insecurity and poverty, supporting displaced people or those in housing crisis.
The Learning Communities then take participants through four sessions over the next year: Data and Decisions; Vision and Counting; Listening and Equipping; Campaigning and Launching.
Rev James Green, Executive Director of Together Liverpool and the National Lottery funded Network of Kindness project said: “We’re really pleased with the feedback from participants following the launch of our first Learning Community.
“It was a really positive session with lots of collaboration and reflection, and a productive start as participants begin to think about projects they might develop.
“Our aim is to support participants to take the next step in social action no matter what their starting point.
“We believe social action is open to everyone even if resources feel limited. So whether a faith group is in an affluent area, or one of acute poverty, we believe there’s always a way to engage our communities.
“We also believe strongly in developing appropriate social action with rooted in the local area. The initial mapping work offered important insights into activity that’s already happening across Sefton North, providing a strong foundation for groups to identify where they might help fill a local need.”
Work is underway to map and begin launching the next Learning Communities in more deanery’s, later this year.
Joseph Cottrell, Social Action Lead Development Officer for Together Liverpool and the Network of Kindness project will be leading the next North Sefton Learning Communities sessions with James on May 18 and September 28.
Joe said: “The Learning Communities programme take people through the whole process over the next few months, so we’ll be keeping touch as work develops, all the time helping people to problem solve in their context.”
Participant Rev Poppy Thorpe said: “I really enjoyed our first Network of Kindness Learning Community. It was good to look at what's going on in the Deanery as a whole, and also look at the community feedback and statistics from our own parish.
“The session was fun and gave us lots of space to chat in smaller groups, which in turn allowed us to start to think about developing what we are currently doing and think creatively about what we might be able to do in the future.”
Participant Rev Ian Hopkins Team Rector for Maghull and Melling said: “We weren’t really sure what to expect but it’s been a really enjoyable morning together.
“We looked at what sort of needs our communities are facing and how we recognise those needs, how we think about them, and we had the chance to do that together. And then we also thought about how as churches we might start to meet those needs, and tackle them, and some of the challenges that we’d face.
“We had the chance, plenty of time to do that, as groups and think through in our own local church how we might do that. So really positive and we’re looking forwards to our next Learning Community.”
Other participants said: “Really helpful, the format of focused input and plenty of time to work on our own context was very helpful.”
“Really positive and we’re looking forward to the next Learning Community. We’ll bring more members from our church so they can join in.”
