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. 

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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

Prayer Walking Stanford & Corringham

Join us on our mission to pray and walk every street in Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham.

Soup Week

Living simply, eating together, raising money for Thurrock Foodbank

Rule of Life 2022

In 2022, we are revisiting the six values of 24-7 Prayer that we held to in our first years as a church community: Prayer, Mission, Justice, Hospitality, Creativity and… Learning!

Phil Anderson helped us set the scene at Encounter Sunday, giving us the helpful imagery of a ‘trellis’. Describing a Rule of Life as the structure for growth as individuals and community.

LISTEN: Phil Anderson on ‘Rule of Life’

We then had one world class teaching after the other, as we welcomed our insightful and courageous friends each month. Thank you so much to all our fantastic contributors for all that you prepared and invested into our community.

You can listen back to every session below, or via “Proximity Church Podcast” on all podcast platforms.

Learning 2023: Holy Spirit

We are excited for all that we’ll learn, discuss and experience during our Learning Sundays in 2023.

Watch Charl’s introduction to Holy Spirit below.

Prayer Walking Stanford & Corringham

Join us on our mission to pray and walk every street in Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham.

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.

Five by Five: Daily Prayers

A Prayer for Gable Hall School

Today we pray for Gable Hall School, and schools in our area.

For all that it takes to be a school

For young people, teachers, parents, administrators, staff, and volunteers.

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God of hope, build futures that shine and strives for the best. Builds homes-from-home in safe classrooms.

God of peace, settle minds with anxiety, knit together friendships that go the distance.

God of grace, plant desires for truth and justice; let us see the shoots of skills and the fruit of character. We pray for hearts of kindness, integrity, and humility.

God of love, we pray that the shared love and care for the youngest among us, will bind us together in unity. A unity that strengthens society.

God of wisdom, show us the way ahead.

+ For leadership and governance, bring clarity of vision in planning for the future.

+ For parents, build community that serves one another in the present.

Teach us all how to lead lives that fit our children for leadership.

We pray for the peace and prosperity of our schools; for if they prosper, so do we.

Amen.