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extreme: generosity

LOVE SOUTHEND is an inter-church, Borough-wide initiative, which aims to show the love which God has, for every Southender, through acts of generosity and social concern.

One aspect of LOVE SOUTHEND has been the way that young people from many local churches have come together to clean up, fix up the place. Since the summer of 2005, urban regeneration work parties have taken place across the town, featuring youth groups from across the denominations.

Now, this Easter, they’ll be at it again – under the title, ‘extreme:Hope 08’, the Christian youth will be going to spread hope in two particular parts of Southchurch: the Newington estate and Cluny Square. For one week, between Monday 31st March – Friday 4th April, their programme is…

Monday – a Fun Day in Bournes Green Park, with Bouncy Castles/Face Painting/messy games/a visit from the police
Tuesday and Wednesday – kids clubs and ‘pamper parlours’ for hard-pressed mums, along with football all over the park
Thursday – tea party for the elderly, with live entertainment, in Cluny Square
Friday – LOVE SOUTHEND Youth offering to do odd jobs for residents who are either elderly, or with disabilities, around the Cluny Square area

…all activities and services offered, are FREE to all, except the volunteers…who will each PAY £10 for the privilege of taking part! Each day will see the LOVE SOUTHEND volunteers begin in worship to God – each evening will see them enjoying barbeques and quizzes, which will no doubt be open to local residents, who may wish to join in!

At a time when young people continue to attract so much ‘bad press’, it’s heartening to see the youth of local churches actually paying to put on the sort of community-minded activities as those listed above…all for the benefit of local Southend people.

LOVE SOUTHEND Chair, Stuart Kimber: “LOVE SOUTHEND is all about symbolising the unconditional love which God has, for everyone, and this latest initiative from LOVE SOUTHEND Youth – extreme:Hope 08 – is the latest in line of activities which aims to serve local people, and asks for nothing in return.”