Christ Church Deal, through its members, is deeply committed to making Deal and all of East Kent a better place to live. So members of the community are involved in a range of moral, spiritual, intellectual and economic aspects of life in East Kent.
We do hope this brief outline below illustrates our own mission as a community, and our desire to serve the wider community of Deal and East Kent.
BUILDING THE COMMUNITY
A number of people have moved to Deal to be part of Christ Church. Many of these have professional backgrounds, e.g. pharmacists, engineers, teachers, nurses, social workers, successful businessmen, and a range of others.
MEMBERSHIP: ASSOCIATION OF THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES
Christ Church is proud to be a member of this international care provider. The church is also a member of the Community of Communities Project, a research department of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. This programme uses peer reviews to set practice standards throughout the TC movement. Dr Peter Holmes, Rebecca Mitchell and Dr Susan Williams are Lead Reviewers on this programme.
LAUNCHING NEW BUSINESSES
We have set up several new businesses. One in health care (Community, Therapy and Rehabilitation Ltd.) providing, we believe, the only residential mental health rehabilitation service in Deal. Business and educational support has come through another new company, (Management Training International Ltd.). Both have created a number of new jobs and MTI is expanding to other centres around the UK, Egypt and China. Other members of the community have also brought their own businesses to the area like payroll services, business consultancy and construction engineering. MTI also runs a business school for Diplomas in Management, accredited by the Chartered Management Institute.
PREGNANCY ADVISORY SERVICE
We currently have around 12 people trained by CARE to be crisis pregnancy counsellors. We are researching an initiative, beginning in Deal, looking at the best way to serve our local community in this way.
BBC NARRATIVE DOCUMENTARIES
During 2004 we had a BBC documentary film maker living in our community for six months. Both of his films focus around compulsions and addictive disorders. One is about a young man considering joining the community, the other about a couple who were already members but were finding difficulties with breaking addictions
(Order DVDs)
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
We are delighted to be working with Deal Town Council and other community projects. On the Middle Deal and Sholden Community Project Martin Carnall is vice chair and Yvonne Cooper the treasurer. On the North Deal Partnership Martin Carnall is a director of the North Deal Community Company, and Ruth Brown a member. In both cases we are supporting the bringing of essential health and community services to these area. Also Dr Peter Holmes and Rachael von der Goltz are members of the Deal Town Plan Steering Committee.
SUPPORTING THE SICK
Since Christ Church was birthed we have seen a number of people coming to Deal referred to us by churches, friends, pastors and health care professionals. Over time a number of these become key members of both ours and the wider community. Redeeming lost and wasted education is one aspect of how this happens, with some 15% of members undertaking education.
ACADEMIC RESEARCH
Through the academic research of Dr Holmes and Dr Susan Williams, based at the University of Birmingham and the University of Bristol, Christ Church Deal has been a type of laboratory model of Therapeutic Faith Community. Research about the success of this community is being published this year in both book form, and professional journals. We currently have five members doing doctoral work in social psychology, clinical psychology, governance in Muslim cultures, therapeutic change and social empowerment.
DEVELOPING A COMMUNITY SPIRIT
Through the Christmas and Summer Carnival, in conjunction with the Deal Chamber of Commerce, we love joining in the community spirit of Deal Carnival ... look for us and our bus this year .... and some photos of previous carnivals see photo gallery.
Created on 06/25/2006 01:36 PM by admin
Updated on 06/23/2008 11:27 AM by rachaelvdg
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