Colchester Nightstop handed £5,000 award

THREE members of St Margaret with St Michael's church, Berechurch, Colchester, attended a ceremony at Olympia in London to receive a Faithworks Community Award of £5,000 for the work they
are undertaking in caring for homeless young people.

It all began over a free beefburger in Castle Park two years ago when Jeannette Hewes met a young man with nowhere to live. Jeannette and husband Kevin welcomed him into their home until he was back on his feet. Colchester Nightstop was born.

Now with an ecumenical management group, Colchester Nightstop offers homeless young people a
fresh start with support. Members of different churches welcome these young people into their homes for a while. There is training and support for the task and many people support the work through
prayer and gifts.

Jeannette said: "I've spent the last three years telling God ‘I can't' and he says ‘Yes, you can'. We
have just as many teenagers who need help as those who we have had the resources to help. This Faithworks award means we can expand our work and meet the needs of even more young people."

More than 200 community projects applied for the £5,000 awards, sponsored by Congregational & General Insurance, the Faithworks Membership, Kingdom Bank, Oasis UK and Spurgeons Network.

Malcolm Duncan, Leader of the Faithworks movement said: "Every day the people involved in these projects give themselves away for others. Their work is sacrificial, sustained and committed. These people are the true leaders of the Faithworks Movement. Our awards ceremony is like a window on the massive world of Christian social action."

---