7Corners

Faith makes all things possible.  Hope makes all things work.  Love makes all things beautiful.  May you have all the three for this New Year.

Our Programme as from January…

Face to face Young People’s Times:

Tuesday Café 4.00 pm – 7.00 pm

Wednesday ‘God Squad’ 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm

Thursday Café 4.00 pm – 7.00 pm

Friday ‘Film Night’ 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm

Saturday HotSpot 6.30 pm – 9.00 pm

Good news …

Our Counselling Suite is now ready for hire.

Following Covid regulations the Counselling Suite is available for hire.  Do you or someone you know need a comfortable room to meet clients?  For more information, please contact the Centre.

Advance date for your diary

IYE Festival – Saturday 09 July 2022

New year – new you…

Volunteers needed: If you could spare some time to help or would like to know more details, please contact the Office 01873 855414.

Don’t forget if you are buying a gift or something for yourself or thinking of booking your holidays – you can donate to us.

Details and links how you can donate:

https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1090166-0

Don’t forget to use our registered name – The Bridge to Cross Charitable Trust.

Money Matters…

Thank you to all who support The Bridge to Cross Charitable Trust financially.  The office has only been open a week this year and a number of donations have been received.  If you would like to donate on a regular basis, why not sign up to our monthly giving scheme.  Forms are available from the Centre.

Caravan Update

Exterior work is completed, including a tow hitch being attached.  We are now looking to have the cushions reupholstered and source blinds or curtains for the windows.  Watch this space!!

 Do you know of a convenient and safe space to house the Caravan?

Thought for the week:  When you can’t find the Sunshine, be the Sunshine!

What a year 2020 has been! I trust that this letter finds you all keeping well and safe.  Looking back through the diary there was a lot of cancelled, postponed, not happening!  We could have given up .. but we didn’t.

7Corners 2020 recap:

January – A new projector was fitted in the café for film nights – no more screens of Pink!  We said goodbye to Fr Mark Soady who resigned from our Board of Trustees to take up a new position in England.  Our primary room hirers gave notice that they would no longer be using 7’s Centre.

February – Friends and supporters of 7’s overwhelmed us with their generous gifts.  Ange and a number of Young People from 7’s attended KHVIII Careers Fair and preparations for the IYE Festival 2020 began.  Three new volunteers offered their help.

March –  Ange attended a conference in Coventry which gave encouragement for the work undertaken at 7’s.  The IYE Festival ‘save the date’ emails were sent out.  7’s Centre still open, following advice and guidance to ensure that no one would be put at risk.

April – 7’s Centre closed under government stipulation.  Zoom meetings were set up to keep in touch with our Young People. Adaptation started on our working policies to enable us to go out to meet Young People.  IYE Festival cancelled.  Gwent PCC Police Community Fund granted funding to enable us to purchase a new HotSpot caravan also a grant was received from Persimmons Homes.  Although the centre was closed Fare Share was still collected and distributed respecting social distancing.

May – 7’s Centre continued working within safeguarding boundaries.  Zoom meetings proved to be very successful and continued to meet. Funding was received from the Archbishop of Wales Fund for Children to finance the purchase of 12 new chairs for the Café Area.

June – Strategies developed on how to reconnect with Young People due to the closure of the centre, new programme to include Outreach and HotSpot.  Zoom meetings continued and the search for a new caravan began.

July – As from w/c 20.07.2020 an outreach programme of Detached Youth Work which included HotSpot was implemented to enable volunteers to go out in the open spaces following guidelines.  Zoom meetings continued as so did the search for a caravan.

August – Funding received from Wales and West to finance the new Outreach Programme.  New outreach sessions very well attended and . . . a new/old caravan purchased.

September – Further funding received for additional equipment to enable the Centre to be adapted for the winter months from GAVO, VSEF Covid-19.

October – Unfortunately 7’s Outreach provision had to be suspended due to the ‘Firebreak’ and the planned Light Party postponed, Zoom continued.  This gave time for us to prepare for a ‘winter provision’ at 7’s Centre.

November – Ange received an award from the High Sheriff in recognition of her tireless support of the Young People in Abergavenny.  Sadly, Peter Millward stepped down as Chairman and we welcomed Peter Nuttall as his successor, Sandy Greenslade joined the Board of Trustees. No 24-7 Prayer room however, we did manage to go ahead with the Light Party in the Bandstand – there were sausages of every description, Pork, Chicken, Vegetarian, Gluten Free, yummy cakes and lashings of Hot Chocolate topped with whipped cream and sweets!

December – Regrettably, due to the transmission rate increase the outreach provision has been suspended again.  No Christmas party this year.

Well that’s all for now apart from to thank you all for your continued help and support, special thanks go out to all our volunteers who are very flexible and have been pushed out of their comfort zones this year.  May you and those you love find true happiness and peace this New Year!

A quote comes to mind ‘In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity’.  How very true, whilst coping with COVID-19, heatwaves, thunder storms … we are reminded that amidst all the uncertainty God is good. 

At 7’s we have been very busy!   We have received a grant from Wales and West to help with costs incurred by our new outreach programme. We are also blessed with very flexible volunteers who have agreed to move out into the community – pushing their comfort zones plus we welcome our new volunteers onboard.

This month’s updates:

The 7Corners Centre is mobile, with outreach sessions being held d on Tuesday and Thursday, 4.00 pm until 7.00 pm, to reconnect with the Young People with whom we have lost contact due to the closure of the Centre and our normal services. The programme of Detached Youth Work, which includes Hotspot, enables volunteers to go out in the open spaces following guidelines.  We are pleased to report that these sessions have been very well attended and although some of the young people are known to us out of the total attending 51% are new faces who are getting to grips with our concepts. Hotspot is back out in the Community – Saturday evenings – with Chips!

Caravan update – We have found and purchased a new/old caravan which will be totally refitted for Hotspot purposes.  It is an older model, as preferred, 17 ft long and in very good condition.  The seller has delivered it to Abergavenny and we have secured a temporary home where it can be refitted.

Big thank you to all who were involved in this.

If you shop online don’t forget to visit the Easyfundraising website first before you make your purchase.  At no extra cost to you, 7Corners will receive a donation from Easyfundraising.  https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/bridgetocross/

You can also support 7Corners (Registered name – The Bridge to Cross Charitable Trust) by shopping at AmazonSmile. To access use this link – https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1090166-0

Thank you, thank you, thank you – to all our friends and supporters who have given to the charity this month, your generosity is overwhelming.  

 On 06 February 2020, Ange and a number of young people from 7’s attended the King Henry VIII Careers Fair – this proved to be an excellent networking and PR opportunity.

IYE Festival – background preparation has now begun!  Don’t forget to make a date in your diary – Saturday 11 July 2020.

 Volunteer update – we are pleased to report that we have had interest from three people offering to help at 7’s – DBS checks are being undertaken as I write!  If you would like to volunteer see information below*.

Food at 7’s – Pancakes . . . Shrove Tuesday plus other days lol!!!

Sunday Diners – next sitting 15 March 2020

Hotspot still goes out around Abergavenny, visiting Bailey Park, to meet the young people out in the community – this is an important part of outreach having a presence in the Community. 

Thinking of book your summer holiday or buying something special?  The next time you shop online don’t forget to visit the Easyfundraising website first before you make your purchase.  At no extra cost to you, 7Corners will receive a donation from Easyfundraising.  https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/bridgetocross/

You can also support 7Corners (Registered name – The Bridge to Cross Charitable Trust) by shopping at AmazonSmile. To access use this link – https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1090166-0

*Any volunteer help is most welcome! We’d love to hear from you if you feel you can help out in any way. Pop in and see Ange in the office or telephone 01873 855414. 

Don’t wait for the perfect moment, take the moment and make it perfect.

Well, Christmas came and went and now seems a very long time ago! Crocus and snowdrops are starting to flower and even the first daffodils are peeking through.  Will we see snow or go straight into Spring?

An urgent Appeal – but not for Cash!

The Charity* behind 7Corners needs a new Treasurer from the end of March 2019 – could you be that person?

The HotSpot outreach project needs volunteers to go out on Saturday nights – three hours once a month – to meet with the young people in the area – could you help?

For details – email admin@7corners.org.uk or telephone 01873 855 414

(* The Bridge to Cross Charitable Trust – Reg No 1090166)

Dates for February – Sunday Diners – 10 February which will be a Valentine Special!  

King Henry VIII Careers Fair – Thursday 14 February 2019, 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm

Advanced notice – Save the Date –  IYE Festival second Saturday in July 2019.

Our Hotspot caravan still goes out around Abergavenny twice a month, visiting Bailey Park, Abergavenny Castle and the ‘skate park’ on Hereford Road to meet the young people out in the community – this is an important part of outreach having a presence in the Community.

May I remind you next time you buy something online don’t forget to visit the Easyfundraising website first before you make your purchase.  At no extra cost to you, 7Corners will receive a donation from Easyfundraising.

Any volunteer help is most welcome! We’d love to hear from you if you feel you can help out in any way. Pop in and see Ange in the office or telephone 01873 855414.

Wise men still seek Jesus

Sunday Diners – this year there was a ‘Christmas Special’ where Ange prepared a traditional Christmas lunch with all the trimmings for 11 young people.    Thank you Ange.

On 8th December we joined in the ‘Churches Together‘ which was very enjoyable.  The ‘Scratch Nativity Walk’ preceded the Carol service – Ange was an Angel; did you see her?  It was great to see so many denominations together in one building.

Then, of course, there was the Christmas party!  As usual there were tables groaning with food including a huge box of mince pies and lots of sausage rolls kindly contributed by Maureen and John Powell again this year. We thank all those who donated to the party; all contributions were very much appreciated. The party extended over two days – which is now becoming part of the tradition!  Not staying overnight of course but with young people coming in on both Saturday and Sunday.  With festive films and music going all day – both days!

Our Hotspot caravan is still going out around Abergavenny, visiting Bailey Park, Abergavenny Castle and the ‘skate park’ on Hereford Road to meet the young people out in the community.  We need volunteers – three hours per month.  Could you help?  Pop in and see Ange in the office or telephone 01873 855414

Christmas is almost here! If you are busy buying your last minute gifts or thinking ahead to the January sales, may I remind you next time you buy something online don’t forget to visit the Easyfundraising website first before you make your purchase.  At no extra cost to you, 7Corners will receive a donation from EasyFundraising.

A Christmas Appeal – but not for cash!  The Charity behind 7Corners needs a new Treasurer from the end of March 2019.  Could you be that person?  If you are interested please contact the centre on the number above.

Well that’s all for now apart from

May you and those you love find true happiness and peace this Christmas and into the New Year!

From all here at 7Corners.

Riding Lights – ‘Gospel Street’ What an excellent performance from these young people.  A modern production of ‘stories and people’ from the Bible remembered by the actors.  From Sermon in the car park to The Funeral Director – a truly thought-provoking evening, emotional, moving and funny. Well done and well worth the ticket money!

On 31 October 2018 the ‘Living in the Light’ party was held at 7Corners – with hot sausage sandwiches, cake and pizza  – thank you for the donations of food, pizza was donated by Domino’s.  The event was hosted on Halloween to draw youngsters from more harmful activities and influences – no tricks at the Centre, only treats.  This event also included an informal dedication service to launch this year’s 24/7 Prayer Room. There was excellent attendance of both young people and ‘mature’ people

The 24/7 Prayer Week came and went very quickly.  Ange did her inspired transformation of the chill room into two rooms! The week was well supported with most slots being filled and those who took advantage of the quiet time there found it a calming yet uplifting experience.  Jan came down from Aberystwyth to cover the night shift and several hardy souls took up the opportunity of a reflective late night or early morning slot. We had many very positive comments including our outside agency workers. Ange has now, reluctantly, dismantled the room(s).

A BIG thank you goes out to Mountain Warehouse, Abergavenny, whose Manager Jane brought in a big box of winter clothes for distribution, which was much appreciated as the temperatures drop.

Sunday Diners – November 11^th – Sausage and Mash on the menu with onion gravy – yum!  Nice one Ange.

Next month will be leading up to Christmas, and, of course, there will be the Christmas party which will take place this year on Saturday 15th December. We look forward to seeing anyone who would like to pop in and say ‘Hello’.

Our HOTSPOT team are still out every week around Abergavenny, visiting Bailey Park, Abergavenny Castle and the ‘skate park’ on Hereford Road to meet the young people out in the community – this is an important part of outreach having a presence in the Community.  We need volunteers!  We’d love to hear from you if you feel you can help out in any way with the HOTSPOT outreach team. Pop in and see Ange in the office or telephone 01873 855414.

THINKING OF CHRISTMAS!  Next time you buy something online don’t forget to visit the Easyfundraising website first before you make your purchase. At no extra cost to you, 7Corners will receive a donation from EasyFundraising.