is happening in Benwell.
Strengthening the community of Benwell and Scotswood and preserving its heritage.
Something Wonderful is a project based at 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.
You will be taken to our 'Give a Little' page.
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 includes families in food poverty, asylum-seekers, those with poor mental 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 at the heart of a community which has known much change. We want to open up, restore, and honour this sacred heritage space to keep it as a resource for the community.
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
Something Wonderful is a project of Benwell and Scotswood Team Parish (charity number 1205934) based at St James Parish Church in the Diocese of Newcastle upon Tyne (Church of England). The charity is the responsibility of a parochial church council duly constituted under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure (1956) 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.