Church Urban Fund:
Norris Green Community Project

Norris Green is a residential area in the north end of Liverpool, about four miles from the city centre. It is an area of municipal housing marked by significant levels of deprivation. The estates in and around Norris Green are experiencing extensive urban regeneration which has led to the demolition of large areas of housing. While the future may be brighter the problems of the past seven or eight years are still with the community. Many people are forced to live in isolation. It became the ‘norm’ whereby families and the elderly were living with empty and derelict houses either side of their own homes and became vulnerable and frightened as many of the properties often became the prime target for arson and vandalism.

The area is served by three churches. The Church of the Good Shepherd is a Victorian building which has been reordered to create a mixed purpose church and community building. Christ Church, built as the memorial Church to former Bishop of Liverpool, Bishop Chavasse had to close due to deterioration and vandalism but the church is very much alive having relocated to the local primary school and continues to worship, pray and serve the local community. St Christopher's is known locally as the "children's church" because it was largely funded by collections from the children of the diocese when it was built in early 1930's. Built in in an art deco style by famous architect Bernard Miller it is considered to be one of the finest buildings of the inter war period anywhere in the country.

Despite the problems a strong community of dedicated people worked together with the three churches and it was not long before a Community Development Worker was employed. An early pump priming grant from the Church Urban Fund helped to bring in support from other trusts including Central Church Fund, LloydsTSB and the Garfield Weston Foundation. The value of the support offered by the Church Urban Fund to churches such as those in Norris Green cannot be underestimated. The grants make possible faith based ministry and mission in the local community that is simply not possible through the limited resources of the local church.

The Community Development worker has been actively involved in utilising the church buildings and in setting up a variety of new activities such as a bowling club for senior members of the community, a mums and tots group and the ‘Chatty Café’ where all ages are encouraged to come along, meet up with friends old and new and share the concerns and hopes for the future of the area in which they live. One of their volunteers expressed her views “Helping here has given me company and happiness, it’s like my second home, I am here every day”.

A residential weekend with a group of young people who live on the estate is currently being planned. Through a series of outdoor activities and workshops it is aimed to encourage them to discuss their hopes and aspirations for the area in which they live.