July - September News 2003
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In the work that we do with the
Washington Asylum Seekers Project, which became a registered charity last
September, we were approached by one of the local schools to do something
to raise awareness of racial prejudice.
Out of this request has grown a plan that includes producing
curriculum packs to go into 15 primary schools in Washington. This has now been implemented with the packs being produced
by a primary school teacher and a former head teacher. We also received permission form Buena Vista to copy a movie,
they supplied us with the master, about the life of Anne Frank.
To go along with the packs we have
commissioned the Anne Frank Exhibition to come to Washington for 2 weeks,
where it will be housed in the 12th century ancestral home of
the Washington Family. This
exhibition will open on the 9th of November until the 21st
of November. A young man from
Germany will come with the exhibition and act as curator for the 2 weeks
as well as training about 20 local people to act as museum curators. 15 primary schools and 5 Comprehensive schools
intend to send about 2000 students to the exhibition, there will
also be opening times for the general public.
On the 11th of November we
have hired a large indoor venue where we have invited a Holocaust survivor
to come and speak to up to 1,750 people.
He will then go back to one of the local schools for a book
signing, as he has written a book detailing his experiences. We also then intend to show a video that tells briefly the
story of 2 of the Asylum Seekers living in Washington as well as the
stories of a number of other people that have been the subject of
prejudice.
There will showing of Schindler’s
List in all of the Comprehensive Schools in Washington that can be
attended by students and other members of the public.
Finally, we have commissioned a group called Fortress Europe to
bring their exhibition into each of the comprehensive schools in
Washington. The exhibition
consists of a structure that will be constructed in each of the schools
and inside are various rooms. Students
will then be sent into these various rooms in order to claim asylum.
They will be given forms in foreign languages and told in a foreign
language to fill these out. They
will, hopefully, come away with a better idea of what Asylum Seekers have
experienced getting to the UK.
All of this activity is very expensive
and we will be able to proceed due to an extensive fund raising campaign
that has now been completed. We
have received substantive funding from the City of Sunderland, the
Community Foundation, a trade union called UNISON, and private
individuals. We have also
received material support from the National Trust, who have supplied the
venue and much assistance and an advertising consultant has produced
materials for us, the local press have promised to give us good coverage
of the event. As you can imagine a great deal of time and effort have been
put into this project. Events at Washington Old Hall
On the 4th of July Rodney spoke
again at the annual celebration of American Independence Day.
Each year the event becomes larger and, more thought provoking and
inspiring. This year’s
event was the best yet with an audience of more than 700 people in
attendance and once again the rain held off as we raised the American
Flag.
On the 11th of September
there was a special remembrance service held to mark the anniversary of
the attacks that took place in America in 2001.
There was a very moving service that included messages and prayers
being offered by the local clergy, readings, music and a reading by a
member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. It was a very moving
time to remember those who lost their lives, and members of their families
in the horrific atrocities of that day. Building Plans
On the 14th of August, we
interviewed 2 architectural firms for the task of drawing up proposals for
renovating and altering the church building as part of a drive to develop
a business plan to present to
local funders. We hired a
wonderful firm to assist us and they have now completed their part by
giving us full costing and outline drawings for several development
proposals. The cheapest plan would entail us raising around £750,000
($1,200,000) while the preferred option would entail raising around £1,200,000
($1,920,000). We have hired a
consulting firm to assist us in developing the plan and to help us to
submit 5 funding applications for the amount needed.
We will keep you informed of developments. Mercy Ship
On the 12th of September we
took a group of young people to visit the World’s largest
non-governmental hospital ship the Anastasis, that was docked in the river
at Sunderland. The ship
travels up and down the coast of Africa stopping in various cities where
they provide much needed hospital treatment and dental treatment to those
in need. All of the people on the ship, including the Captain of the
ship pay to work there.
The crew on board the ship are from
all the Christian denominations and the work that they do includes not
only ministering to the physical needs of those they help, but telling
them about the love of Christ. This
is the main aim of the ship. They
have taken up the call of Christ to heal the sick and proclaim the
Christian message to all mankind. It is estimated that 80% of the
world’s population can be reached from the worlds ports.
This group has a wonderful web site that tells more about their
work at http://www.mercyships.org/. Miscellaneous News
On the 17th of September
Rodney and Joseph Hannan were selected to be members of the Local
Strategic Partnership, which is a group made up of local business, the
City Council and the voluntary sector to develop plans for the town. They control a considerable budget and their advice is seen
by funders as of crucial importance in deciding upon whether to supply
funding or not.
On the 22nd of September
Rodney underwent his first major appraisal as a serving Magistrate.
The whole process took approximately 5 hours and will be repeated
every 3 years. It looks at
the Magistrate’s ability to function effectively in a court sitting and
then tests knowledge of the workings of the UK judicial system.
He passed.
Jonathan has moved to Lubbock and is
working in the construction industry as he awaits going into the U.S.
Marines on the 8th of December.
Joshua is taking a break from schooling and has just got a new job
as a waiter at the prestigious Lumley Castle.
Heather is working on her As levels at Park View Comprehensive
school, and Jared continues his studies at Cestria Primary School.
Michele continues to work very, very hard as a mother, at the
church and in the community. She
keeps everything together and moving. The Thomas family |
