The church, the Council and excluded school children are all about to come together in an exciting new project called "The Gap" that demonstrates Christ's love for those on the edges of society. Launching at the end of March, the Salvation Army, working in conjunction with the Safer Sutton Partnership, will be hosting a 6-month trial scheme at their Benhill Avenue church premises to help disadvantaged youngsters. Many of these young people have been excluded from their schools and some have problems with addiction. Funding is being found to convert part of the existing Salvation Army complex into a drop-in centre and education facility. 15-16 year-olds will work with specialised teaching staff to catch up for missed schooling, and develop new skills to help them integrate back into society. The drop-in centre will be refitted and redecorated with artwork provided by the youngsters themselves. New sofas will be brought in together with games equipment. There will be a specially converted counselling room, a new administration office and they will have their own kitchen facilities. Head of the Salvation Army in Sutton, Richard Mingay, explains "The Gap is exactly where we should be as a church today. William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, was very much for the marginalised and the excluded - and we see our work as carrying on in his tradition"
For more information about the GAP |
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