Celebrating 13 years of Proximity Schools

For more than 13 years, Proximity Church have been dedicated to praying for and in our schools.

This year, Proximity Schools worked with more than 300 young people every month through a well developed programme, delivered expertly by a staff team of six, and many volunteers. God has led us further in prayer, mission, and justice for our town then we ever thought possible. He has been so faithful, so generous, and moved in power.

Together, the leaders and trustees have decided that Proximity Schools, in it’s current form, will not continue in the new school year (2023/24).

THE STORY SO FAR

A prayer week for Schools in Stanford and Corringham, turned into pioneering Prayer Spaces in Schools across our town, and a whole-church response to a double-sided offer of how we could bless Gable Hall School.

And so began an adventure with after school Cafés, 1:1 mentoring, sitting in French lessons, a Chaplaincy team, God Story in two schools, TLG Mentoring, inspiring global visitors, reading, writing and franchising the MADE Course, developing wellbeing workshops, hosting Assemblies… the list goes on.

THE STORY CONTINUES

We are so grateful for all that God has done, choosing to partner with us to serve the most in-need families. And it has been so amazing to do it together, thank you for serving, praying, and giving to this work.

Our journey as Proximity Schools is well worth celebrating, and so did just that - with lunch, speeches, a coffee van and an ice cream van! Worshipping a God who is not finished with this place, or with us.

Thank you to our special guests: Nic Jeffrey, Gable Hall School Vice-Principal; Karina Garrick, Corringham Primary School Headteacher; Sally Feeney, Hassenbrook Academy Principal; and Councillor Qaisar Abbas, Deputy-Mayor of Thurrock for joining us on this special day.

Shout out it

Playing a classic game with Senior Leaders from Gable Hall, Corringham Primary and Hassenbrook Academy

Charl shares how it all got started

Sally Feeney: “No one can replace you.”

Scott interviews a true hero, Jenny Wood, one of many Schools Work volunteers from Proximity Church

Mathilde left Denmark at 20 to live and work alongside Proximity Schools

Made Unique

Graham re-tells the fantastic story of the MADE Course

Nic Jeffrey, Vice-Principal Gable Hall School

Deputy Mayor of Thurrock

Councillor Qaisar Abbas, celebrated with us, also sharing some kind words.

Video

We enjoyed this walk (laugh and cry) down memory lane, scratching the surface of some of the fun and faces we encountered on the way.

MADE Course: Spring 2023

This week we celebrated yet another MADE course!

This term’s cohort, six students from Hassenbrook Academy, gave speeches to an audience including: their families, Head teacher, delegates from their work place visits, and the Deputy Mayor of Thurrock, Sue Little.

Week 1: Thurrock Foodbank

Week 2: Bluprint UK

Week 3: Thurrock Digital

Week 4: Hovis, Dagenham

Week 4: Gemma Powell, Paralympian

Week 7: Tangent International

Week 7: MEARS

Week 8: Thurrock Council Chambers

Week 9: DP World

Week 10: Celebrating with Deputy Mayor of Thurrock

After all these years, the MADE course is still working. We heard from the student’s Head of Year that the change in these students has been “very clear”.

And to our team she said:

“You might think you are working with 6 pupils but actually the impact you're having is on so many more! Not only have they grown in confidence and self esteem, as they wrote in their speeches, they have also been helping other students in the school with their self esteem!

“Every single student has grown since they started MADE 10 weeks ago”

Our Schools Team Director, Joyce Gjoni, also praised her team, saying, “the whole team are so committed and hard working and never lower the bar. I’m really proud of everyone and looking forward to more celebrations!”

The MADE course is a 10-week programme helping young people to realise that they are made unique and made with a purpose. Through the course, students grow in confidence, motivation and develop aspirations for their future; through soft-skills workshops and work place visits.

Workplace Visits

We are so grateful to all the people and companies that supported us this term:

• Thurrock Foodbank

• Bluprint UK

• Thurrock Digital

• Hovis

• Gemma Powell

• MEARS

• Thurrock Council

• DP World

Mayor of Thurrock Donates to MADE Course

Proximity Schools were the recipients of £500 donation from the Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr James Halden towards the MADE course.

MADE was selected as one of the Mayor’s nominated charities for his civic year for its services to young people and supporting their mental health. Cllr Halden has raised nearly £18,000 from the borough community, and particularly its businesses, to support his nominated charities.

The Mayor of Thurrock and Gable Hall Staff with Proximity Schools team. From left to right: Des Dhillingford, Joyce, Graham, Cllr James Halden, Gary Lewis, Carla, Scott, Gemma

It was with great delight that on 05 January 2023, the Proximity Schools’ team met with the Mayor at ORTU Gable Hall School along with Principal, Mr G Lewis, and ORTU CEO, Mr D Shillingford, where the Mayor presented us with a giant cheque to mark the occasion.

It was extremely encouraging to hear how Cllr Halden highly values the work Proximity Schools carries out across three schools in Stanford-le-Hope and the impact it has in the local community. 

Proximity Schools feel honored and grateful for the ongoing support the Mayor has offered them over the years. 

---

The work of Proximity Schools depends on the support of the community.

If you would like to give to the work of Proximity Schools as they support 132 young people every week, become a Hope Giver by choosing to give a monthly.

Give to Proximity Schools

The MADE Course 22-23

New Year, New MADE Course

We are very excited to begin a new MADE course, with six Year 9 students from ORTU Gable Hall School.

MADE is a 10-week programme helping young people to realise that they are made unique and made with a purpose. Through the course, students grow in confidence, motivation and develop aspirations for their future.

The programme consists of engaging and interactive workshops in the morning. We’ll cover topics such as teamwork, determination, communication, and power of choice, amongst others.

In the afternoon the students get to visit a workplace and find out more about that career choice and how people got into that role, often they get to experience what it would be like to work there first hand.

This Term’s work place visits

On our current course we will be visiting IKEA, Hovis, Bluprint UK, Thurrock Food Bank, Mears Group, Tangent International, and Orsett Fire Station, plus others. We are very grateful for local business partnering with us and taking time to talk to and inspire the young people, it real does make a difference.

MADE students visiting Bluprint UK, Stanford-le-Hope

Where did MADE start?

The MADE course was created by Proximity Church in response to the profound pressures, strains, and difficulties that young people face in an ever-changing world. We have run over 20 MADE courses with more than 100+ children.

In these years, MADE has proven to consistently support and engage the most vulnerable. With a wide impact, its effects have also been felt in school, at home and in our community as young people begin the journey of discovering their identity and purpose, and how to relate better to the world around them.

MADE Course Honoured by Mayor

The Mayor of Thurrock, James Halden, has nominated MADE to be inducted into the Mayoral Roll of Honour for its services to young people.

Our team will be one of the first inductees to the the Mayoral Roll of Honour, after its launch in 2022. Cllr Halden initiated the Roll of Honour to shine a light on businesses, community groups, charities and individuals who have worked hard to serve Thurrock in extraordinary ways.

MADE was designed by Proximity Church in 2016, as a response to the profound pressures, strains and hurdles that young people face.

Mayor of Thurrock James Halden (right) at a MADE Celebration in March 2022, alongside students, parents, MADE team and local businesses.

The course is a 10-week programme helping young people to realise that they are made unique and made with a purpose. Through the course, students grow in confidence, motivation and develop aspirations for their future.

Since then, MADE has proven to consistently support and engage the most vulnerable. The impact has been felt in school, at home and in our community as young people have begun the journey of discovering their identity and purpose and how to relate better to the world around them.

Thank you!

The news came at the perfect time to be announced at the School’s Summer Party, as we celebrated the efforts of staff, volunteers and Hope Givers.

Joyce Gjoni, Director of Proximity Schools, says: “We are very grateful for the support of Mr Mayor, ever since he hosted one of our first workplace visits to the Council Chambers. His nomination for the Roll of Honour confirms that we are serving a need in our community, and encourages our team and volunteers to keep going.”

If you would like to give to the work of Proximity Schools to run projects like MADE, become a Hope Giver by choosing to give a monthly. How can I give to the work of Proximity Schools?