Spotlight on Church on the Rock

Tell us what you do?
Church on the Rock is a community based church and everyone is welcome.  We do all the normal church activities but in addition we run Youth that Rocks on a Tuesday night  for football and sometimes craft and table tennis (every fortnight).  We have a group of about 20 that come along and have a fun time and make friendships.

Moms and toddlers on a Thursday morning – this is over-subscribed  – people from all sorts of backgrounds and ethnicities come along and it helps with language skills and play.

We have an adult group ‘Rock Fellowship’ on a Thursday afternoon and they meet monthly.  This offers friendship and group support and sometimes trips are organised.

There is an over 14 youth group (under 18) that meet on Thursdays every 2 weeks. They do life skills like learning how to cook and to give support to each other.  They play games and have some bible study and thinking through where they are going in their life.

A craft day is held quarterly – on a Saturday morning ‘come and make stuff’ and is well attended by the local community.

There is a coffee morning every month –  and we sell bric a brac to fundraise to support our activities.

What is your proudest achievement?
There are so many – setting up the youth group and building strong links with the kids because they know they can turn to people for help when they need it. The moms and toddlers is such a strong group – 30 toddlers come some days and strong links have been made with the children’s centre and the community.  Some come to toddlers and then come back to the youth group when they are older.

What is your experience of support received from SCVO?
Have found them to be supportive and is a good link for the church.  We know they are there when we need them.  We are hoping to attend the funding network – I’ve liked the contact we’ve had so far.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned about working with people in Sandwell?
To listen and to take the time to get alongside people.  You often don’t know what’s going on in people’s lives.  It is important to be none judgemental and not to make assumptions.

What are your plans for the future and some of the challenges you face?
To continue all the good things we’ve started and to keep re-evaluating what is working and what we could do better.  To take on the things we can, when we can.  No new plans as yet.  Always looking for new people to be involved and volunteers to support what we do would be more than welcome.

How can SCVO help to support your organisation in the future?
Same as they are doing at the moment – we get a lot of information from them – we need to use that information.

Church on the Rock is based at 7 Warley Road, Oldbury, B68 9RZ for further information, please Jackie on 07834315726  0121 552 7153