Jo Patterson, a newly qualified United Reformed Church Related Community Worker (CRCW) based at Copleston Church and Community Centre in Peckham, explores what it takes to make changes, not only within her local church but also within the wider community.
Jo’s parish is in an area that has become an attractive location for both professional and highly skilled people. Yet Peckham is listed as one of the worst-affected areas in the country for personal debt and, within areas of local authority housing, there continues to be a high number of people suffering deprivation.
Within this context, the church seeks to find ways of establishing meaningful connections and engagement across all sections of the area. Jo explains: