St Paul’s Youth, Sport & Community Outreach, Bristol 

SPYSCO has continued to operate its two projects in the St Paul’s and Easton area of Bristol. Under the leadership of Denis Allen and Freddie Lattibeaudiere, PACE has provided weekly football training and team experience for a group of twenty 10-17 year olds based at the St Paul’s Community Sports Academy.

Denis and Freddie have been working with the sam core group of young people for the past 4 years and report strong levels of commitment and co-operation. The group have taken part in local tournaments playing against a Somali team and other inner city clubs as well as in a tournament organised by Ivy Church.

 

At the end of this season we will decide whether to begin again with a younger age group or to form a senior youth team since most of the current group will be leaving school. Denis and Freddie have continued to do an outstanding job nurturing and encouraging these youngsters and have been real examples of Christian consistency and care. It has been very gratifying to learn that at least two former PACE players are now coaching teams in the St Paul’s area.

 

The GATE Cafe continues to provide a safe, wellequipped and reasonably priced space for young people and youth groups in St Paul’s. In addition to providing sessions for Church youth groups, it has hosted groups from the ‘Youth Offending Team’ and other locally based youth projects. SPYSCO continues to manage weekly open sessions for young people from 10 to 17 and over 30 are involved on a regular basis. Special activities have included a fishing trip, breakdance and DJ workshops, graffiti art and cooking sessions as well as T-shirt design and production.

 

By the end of this year, 3 of our locally based youth workers will have completed the first element of their training. It has always been part of our vision to offer training to members of the inner city community.

As a small local charity, SPYSCO welcomes the involvement and support of local Christians and organisations who want to contribute to a Christian witness among the urban youth population. Our Management Group are only too aware of the difficulties encountered as a Christian charity working beyond the margins of normal Christian outreach whilst being objects of suspicion in the eyes of some secular bodies. We welcome our Partnership with the George Müller Foundation.

Peter Kay