CRCW – Liz Kam

The overall aim of the CRCW post is to strengthen the capacity of Levenshulme Inspire URC to engage in mission and outreach within its local community and assist in developing a more strategic and co-ordinated approach to its community engagement.

Levenshulme URC used to be a small church with just eight members in a huge and dilapidated building and facing closure. However, the members felt they still had a mission calling to the neighbourhood and with the appointment of Ed Cox as pastoral adviser, they worked in consultation with community partners and developed the concept of the Levenshulme Inspire Project. Significant funding, over two million pounds, was secured over a period of time. While the bulk of the money raised came from the Lottery and Manchester City Council, the project was delighted when the local Mosque gave £52,000 for community work and the relationship between the Church and Mosque continues to flourish. On 30 October 2010 the new building and project opened to the public.

The whole enterprise is a partnership between the local church, Synod, active local residents and great Places Housing Association. There is a staff team of over 15 people and some 30+ volunteers who are managed through a Centre Management Team.

Liz is just coming to the end of her 5th year in post and she, in partnership with the wider organisation, continues to build relationships with centre users and local people. Her work with new arrivals also continues to develop well and careful reflection is enabling Liz and the wider organisation to ask itself challenging questions and learn more about its role in the local and wider community.

To find out about Levenshulme Inspire, click here: http://www.lev-inspire.org.uk/

To read an insightful article by Liz Kam, click here: Levenshulme Women's Group – A reflection by Liz Kam