hello all!

I just want to tell you all a little about guildford ymca,plantation and the life change fund. I also want to invite all at eternity church to help in one or all of the three ways I will tell you about shortly.

As you proberbly know,in market street is plantation,which is part of guildford ymca. plantation is way more than a youth cafe. there are very many projects that are run from upstairs for young people up to the age of  25years that really do change their lives. there are trained youth workers running projects such as the prince's trust team,Ngage and schools projects,group work within downview prison,young parents group,romance acadamy,girls group and plantation trading to name some. all these things are free to the young people and of course the cafe is a free space too where there is always something going on.

There is also alot of work going on at bridge street to benifit the young people. there is open house counciling  from there, which also runs from midwey house, and alot of young people that may otherwise be homeless both live there and are supported by the staff there to help them to gain further education/work and independance.

on  sat january 30th 2010, the ymca is holding its anual sponsored sleepout. lots of us employees along with friends,relatives and churches sleep outside for the night,under the stars at the cathedral.

the aim of the night is to raise money for the life change fund and also to highlight and raise awareness of the homeless young people in guildford. homelessness doesnt just mean living on the streets, it could be sofa surfing, having a tent in a mates garden or extreem over crowding or poor living conditions. the life change fund helps to finance all that goes on at plantation as well as open house counciling.

on the night,the ymca supply us with loads of cardboard boxes, soup,hot drinks and access to the loo's in the cathedral....all thats left for us to do is make a cardboard shelter,have a laugh,pray we dont get rained on and get some sleep.  last night we were out the night before the snow!!!  the morning after there is also the option of wearing pj's to church;some people are also doing that as a sponsored option.

so, the invite is this......

1, would you like to join us for the night? it really is a fun night!

2,would you sponsor someone?

3,most importantly, please pray for a succesful fundraising event,safety and a dry night.

if you would like any more info or an application form, please give me a shout at church...i have lots in anticipation!!! 

thank you.,