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Lambeth Police Sergeant Graham Norman working in partnership with an organisation called Redeeming Our Communities (ROC) will be hosting a ‘ROC Conversations’ evening on Wednesday 25 May at Holy Trinity Church, Clapham Northside at 7.30pm to discuss the needs and hopes for the community of Lambeth.
The evening, held in partnership with the local churches, Lambeth Borough Police and the British Transport Police (BTP), will draw together local residents, community organisations, councillors, and statutory agencies to encourage positive discussion and the expression of ideas that may be built upon with the focus on action and forward movement in partnership.
Redeeming Our Communities is a national charity set up in 2004 that aims to be a catalyst for community transformation by promoting partnerships, that creates more opportunities to reduce crime and improve community cohesion. Since 2004 the charity has been building links between churches and the public sector for the good of the community.
While there is progress underway for the roll out of ROC in Greater London, the important partnerships links established between churches, the police service and public sector across the Capital is strengthening with the support of the City of London and BTP at senior levels. The first phase launch in the six lead London boroughs of Lambeth, Croydon, Kensington & Chelsea, Islington, Newham and Southwark, together with the City of London is well under way.
Debra Green, Director and founder of Redeeming Our Communities says –“the church is a huge untapped resource with many thousands of members who all share a commitment to serve people and communities and already deliver a vast range of community projects from youth work to the care of vulnerable people. This is a great time to be forging partnerships so that people of goodwill can work together towards a safer, kinder community. We have found working with Police forces across the UK has proved to be a partnership which significantly benefits people and communities.”
Rt Revd Paul Williams, Bishop of Kensington, agrees that the partnership has been fruitful, he says – “ROC has a vital resource to offer our churches: expertise in forming multi-agency partnerships that can deliver real change and safer communities. With Christians working alongside the police and other community groups to address some of our urban problems, ROC projects can be truly transformational!”
PS Graham Norman the deputy faiths lead for Lambeth Borough Police comments; “The timing for the ROC launch in Lambeth couldn’t be better. At a time when the police and local services are facing unprecedented cuts, the Church steps up and asks “what can we do to help?” with no other agenda other than being true to it’s belief in helping the needy and loving their neighbour (their community). The Church already provides essential services to the community, but ROC takes this a step further by coordinating those services and building on them in partnership with statutory agencies.”
All churches in mid- Lambeth (i.e. Clapham, Brixton and Stockwell) are encouraged to attend. Further meetings for churches in North Lambeth and South Lambeth will be held in July and September. For further information contact Sergeant Graham Norman of Lambeth Borough Met Police on 07766134379 who is organising the event.
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