From this...
Our Vision and Mission
To be recognised by all sections of the local population and key stakeholders as a
thriving centre of welcome, outreach and support for the whole community.
Our mission is to be a people focused centre in a modern, welcoming and safe suite of
premises at the heart of the community of Priestwood and Garth in Bracknell, where we
initiate, encourage, enable and support a broad range of services and activities for
the whole community, especially those most in need or at risk.
Background
A Church community was first established on the site in 1956 with the present Church
built in 1959. Priestwood and Garth has been identified as an area of deprivation
especially in terms of income. Although we are small congregation we offer outreach
today to over 21 organisations in the area with an approximate foot flow of 1000 people
through our premises on a monthly basis (excluding Sunday services). We want to build
on this and serve the community in a much bigger way.
Why we are doing this
- Lack of adequate facilities to develop and grow our community initiatives
especially with young people.
- Wide recognition of needs within our local community, many of which are "hidden" by
the apparent affluence of Bracknell.
- Part of the mission of our church is to play a role in serving the community.
- We want to build on our current activities and make a major additional contribution
to the community.
- To upgrade our existing premises in keeping with the demands and expectations of
the 21st century and to comply with current recommendations to allow access for people
with disabilities.
...to this
Our plans
Bracknell Methodist Church will:
- Provide a broad range of services, delivered by a mix of organisations (church,
voluntary/charity and commercial), within modern, welcoming premises in the Priestwood
and Garth area of Bracknell.
- Focus on priority segments of the community (especially children and young
families, those with special needs or disabilities, vulnerable adults and the elderly).
Our objectives
- To be a Centre at the heart of Priestwood and Garth where doors are open to welcome
people and to be of real service to them.
- To encourage community development through outreach, tackling social exclusion and
economic disadvantage among children and young families, those with special needs or
disabilities, vulnerable adults and the elderly.
- To offer facilities for meditation and counselling to our community at all times
but particularly during distress and personal pain.
- To offer a safe space to support organisations working with vulnerable adults who
need help with overcoming an addiction, for example alcohol and drugs.
- To place an emphasis on working with young people.
- To make our premises fully accessible and usable by people with disabilities.
We plan to provide
- Monthly lunches for elderly and vulnerable adults
- Holiday clubs
- Counselling for example bereavement, marriage
- Youth clubs for juniors (7-11)
- After schools club
- Youth facilities for teenager's i.e club or a cafe
- Support groups for people overcoming addictions.
- Extended services events with schools.
- Weekly social club for the elderly and vulnerable adults
Prayer and Study Rooms
- A much improved and expanded prayer chapel/quiet space for our reflective and
alternative services will be included. This will enable us to develop and provide
alternative and intimate styles of worship to meet the diverse needs of our community
for example Taize, discussion services.
- This space will help to enrich our prayer life. Individually it will be a space
where anyone who wishes to meet with God on a one to one basis can do so. As a church
it will enable us to provide additional prayer groups to those who are local and do not
have transport.
- We want to be able to connect spiritually to our community therefore we intend for
this prayer space to be accessible to all for meditation and prayer. We want it to be a
prayer space that invites them in and captures them in God's love. We plan to create a
prayer corner that allows them to leave their own prayer requests which the church can
take into their own prayer life.
- At this current moment in time study groups normally take place in various homes
however improved premises with additional meeting space will enable opportunities for
further study and discussion groups, for example Emmaus courses. It will allow us to
offer these not just to our existing congregation but also to the wider community.
- Improved premises which reflects peace and tranquillity and brings you into the
presence of God will enable us to connect our Christian Faith with those that use the
building. We see this as an opportunity to provide spiritual development through
artwork.
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