Bringing all your engagement under one roof

Shankhill Parish Church, Lurgan had since 1963 been involved in community activity. They had done this in several locations around the town, using a mixture of their own funds and some grant aid from various public bodies.

In 1992 the decision was taken to devolve the management of these activities to the Shankhill Parish Caring Association (SPCA), a voluntary community development organisation. The SPCA, which was created to drive forward the community work, to help with governance issues, and to organise funding applications, was accepted as a charity in 1996.

That same year, it was decided to develop a new purpose-built premises. It would be 10 years after its conception before this project was completed.

It was confirmed that the Jethro Centre had met the requirements for economic appraisal in 1999. A formal community audit followed this decision, and in 2003 a business plan was compiled. Funding applications were successfully made to several governmental, church and council bodies (which has to date led to funding of about £2,000,000).

The building work began in 2005 and the centre opened its doors in 2006.

The premises now houses a breakfast and after-school club that receives children from the local schools; a day care centre for the elderly; an adult education suite used by the local college as a satellite; a sports hall/conference space for 400; a youth suite; various meeting rooms and a café/restaurant. Some 10,000 individuals use the centre each month.

Even the kitchen is a multifunctional space used for service, being the location for the NHS to assess stroke victims prior to sending home; a ‘Cooking for One’ class, and a ‘Freezer Ministry’ where meals are cooked and frozen for distribution in the community.

The centre also seeks to bridge the gap between faiths by holding a Sunday evening celebration in the conference hall. There are around 120 people in attendance, and this has not detracted from the parish church’s evening service that still has a congregation of 50.

An ‘Out of the Box’ course explored big issues from a faith perspective. This series attracted around 80 people from the community, who discussed topics such as ‘Cymbals or symbols?’ ‘Dealing with the past’ and ‘Education within the peace process’.

The SPCA has applied for funding to employ a project worker who will be responsible for a leadership development programme aimed at the marginalised young people of the local area.

The big dream is being realised. The vision of the SPCA, to see “the inhabitants of Lurgan and its environs, reconciled and living together as one community experiencing peace, harmony and well-being”, is coming to pass.

Last Updated 03 December 2010