is happening in Benwell.
Strengthening the community of Benwell and Scotswood and preserving its heritage.
Something Wonderful is a project of St James Church Benwell that aims to strengthen the local community, whatever their background or belief. We have named it ‘Something Wonderful’ as we want to do just that – continue to be a place run by and for the community where you can encounter/eat/learn/create/do/be something wonderful.
Our community
We engage with hundreds of people every week. We work with many community partners and organisations to provide activities for anyone who may be isolated and vulnerable. This including families in food poverty, asylum-seekers, those with poor mentall health, the elderly, disabled, and others.
Just some of our activities include:
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Pathways welfare support hub
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Pay-what-you-feel café
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Art club
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Creative writing group
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Gardening and local history group
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Interfaith and intercultural community events
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Tours, talks and exhibitions.
Our building
St James is a historic and beautiful landmark in a community who have known much change. We want to open up, restore, and honour this sacred heritage space.
Currently, St James is open every weekday with hundreds of people coming through the doors every week for community use. However, this grade II listed building is also in a poor state of repair. Only one third of the building is usable, the roof leaks, the heating system is broken, the lights don't work.
But, we have an aim for St James' to be less burdensome and more environmentally friendly. We want to secure its future for a diverse urban community, as a place that belongs to them and is part of their story.
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Charitable Status and Governance
St James is a charity with Excepted Status. The Church is registered with the code 625141 in the diocese of Newcastle in the parish of Benwell and Scotwood Team. The Parochial Church Council of Benwell and Scotswood Team is a charity for the purposes of the Charities Act 2011
St James is the responsibility of a parochial church council duly constituted under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure (1956) as amended, and the Church Representation Rules.
Steering group
The PCC formed a steering group for Something Wonderful that actively aims to include and amplify voices from the community from a diverse range of backgrounds.
Something Wonderful is run by and for people of all faiths and none.