British PM visits Nazarene compassionate ministry center

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Carlisle, United Kingdom

British Prime Minister David Cameron visited Living Well Trust at its main center in Carlisle, United Kingdom, on November 9.

The prime minister visited Living Well with Richard Rhodes, who was a police and crime commissioner candidate for Cumbria, United Kingdom, at the time, and John Stevenson, member of parliament for Carlisle. Cameron met with the Living Well staff to discuss how faith and voluntary sector organizations can engage with local and national government to tackle youth crime and deliver programs to impact young people.

Living Well Trust is a Nazarene compassionate ministry center started by Barrie Thomas and lay leader Kath Queen in 1998 after eight years of voluntary work in the area. The center sought to provide services and ministries to an economically disadvantaged community, including an accredited alternative education for teenagers who disengage from mainstream education and numerous activities for youth.

The prime minister observed one of those education lessons in progress and took the time to view a music workshop run by Living Well Trust’s Locdown team, which works with individuals referred by the youth justice system. Cameron then spent time talking with local mothers at the Reach community project — a series of programs designed to meet felt needs, such as baby care clinics, health workshops, early child development classes, and structured family interventions.

Cameron later commented on Twitter: "Inspiring visit to @LivingWellTrust in Carlisle..."

Although initially working in one particular disadvantaged community, the center expanded to work across the entire city. In 2011 it fused with staff from another faith organization, which operated on almost identical principles and target criteria. The target criteria are communities and individuals within the bottom 5 percent areas of deprivation in England. Since the organizations' collaboration, the work was rolled out to more than 20 locations across the U.K. with 800 volunteers and 30 staff committed to meeting the needs of those they engage with through a policy of acceptance, support, and empowering vulnerable individuals through community engagement, life coaching, alternative education, and the arts.

Last year Thomas stepped down from the day-to-day leadership to become the chair of trustees. In addition to this role, he remains the senior pastor of Carlisle Church of the Nazarene and is involved with the development of two new community works within the city, including a partnership with the Church of England to develop a chain of charity shops across the city.
--Church of the Nazarene Eurasia Region

 

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