Preston Road, Hull
This pioneering work in the Humber region is the first of what we pray will be many exciting responses to reaching the most challenging and vulnerable communities across the region. The Preston Road estate in Hull (situated on the east coast of England—about half-way between London and Edinburgh, and about 50 miles east of Leeds) is home to approx 6,500 people. The estate traditionally provided employees for the city’s docks and the railways until the decline of these industries.
Some city stats:
• One quarter of The Kingston upon Hull Local Authority’s population of around 258,000 is under 20 years old
• Businesses in Hull deliver an annual turnover of almost £8bn.
• The Hull/York Medical School was ranked joint first among UK medical schools and Hull is the UK’s friendliest university, according to the University Friendship League Tables!
Some local area stats:
• This area is in the bottom 0.26% of multiple deprivation nationally, being ranked 86th most deprived in England and in the bottom 0.3% in terms of education, skills and training.
• It has 1½ times the national recorded crime rate.
We are currently recruiting for an Eden team Leader who will work as part of St Aidan’s to see our vision for Eden Preston Road come to fruition. Please consider whether God is calling you to lead or be a part of this new and exciting team!
- Revd Mick Fryer, St Aidan’s
• High levels of unemployment and income deprivation place it in the bottom 1% nationally resulting in high levels of benefit dependency and worklessness.
St Aidan’s, the local evangelical Anglican Church longs to see young people and families in this community impacted by God’s love and be given every chance to realise their God given potential. This caring and committed family are passionate about extending their existing creative community engagement and adding high quality community youth mission to its long list of activities. Strong links with local service providers and other agencies provide this Eden team with an ideal opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of local young people and their familes, especially as 35.4% of the population are under 16.
Another exciting dimension to Eden Preston Road is the re-siting of The Archbishop Sentamu Academy – a 1500 pupil high school, to a new £35m complex on Preston Road in Sept 2011. This academy has a strong Christian ethos and is keen to work in close partnership with the Eden team providing us with a unique and incredible opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of many young people and their families.
