We’re beaconing you!

Join us in the Churchyard Garden on Thursday 2nd June for the lighting of the South Bank Jubilee Beacon. Ours will be one of thousands of community beacons and 54 in Commonwealth capitals lit that night at the start of the four-day Jubilee weekend – yay! Bring food, drink, friends and a willingness to join in singing led by local choirs. Not familiar with the specially written Song for the Commonwealth yet? Song sheets will be provided. Merriment from 8.30pm, beacon lighting 9.45pm. Joyful details here.

You too Pia?

Why have one big architecture project on the go when you can have two? And who gets to decide what makes for the perfect space? While St John’s is being reimagined for the 21st century, we’ve invited students from Accumulate, the art school for the homeless, to design their idea of Utopia. Supported by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, the architects currently refurbishing Denys Lasdun’s South Bank IBM building, the students will reveal their ideal worlds in the nave of St John’s on 7th and 9th July while the church’s transformation is completed around them and using materials left over from the building process. Expect music, atmospheric lighting and more. Read up on the creative process here.

Employment on point

Last month we told you about the launch of our Bridge to Employment course, a mix of job-related training, life skills and creative opportunities. It’s now fully underway and for one participant, JK, who has been in and out of prison for eight years, it means working towards a Personal Training Level 3 Qualification whilst also taking part in a Music Production and Monetising Creativity workshop. He’s determined to have his own fitness business and podcast series.

Here’s his take: “I’m working with a cool group of guys, there’s no judgement of my past and they all talk to me on a level. Daniel and Luds [course leaders] have been proper cool to me and have always been on my side since I started, talking to my probation officer, keeping me on point with tasks and stuff. I like having them in my corner”.

To refer someone, offer support, provide a job, contact our Programme Manager Daniel Gregory 07398 765537 | tbaw@stjohnswaterloo.org

High benchmark!

Question: how many Data Scientists does it take to install a bench in a churchyard? Answer: 22. That is, if they’re the brilliantly enthusiastic young volunteers from LV= home insurance based around the corner in Stamford Street. Come back James and crew, sit on the bench, picnic on the lawn, weed at will. We ❤️ you!

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