Project Birth

Just42 was set up as a result of a shared concern, vision and commitment to serve young people in Woodbridge and the surrounding area, developed over many years by an informal network of youth workers and Christians. Research was undertaken with churches, young people, parish councils, statutory agencies and other community partners to establish the need and viability of the trust. Read a summary of the key findings of the research

The initial aims were:

• To sustain and develop existing youth work started by Christian youth workers in the area
• To meet needs and gaps in provision to young people, in rural areas particularly, identified in initial research
• To set up a sustainable organisation capable of developing and maintaining the work

What’s in a name?

The name Just42 and the strapline – Justice for a new generation - came from the bible text in Isaiah chapter 42 verses 1-9. This passage was inspirational to the founding group and helped us to work out what we felt God was calling us to do. Essentially it’s about bringing hope and an equal opportunity for a fulfilling life to all children and young people. To us this means making sure young people get a fair deal – justice – when adults are making decisions about their community and their lives. So our programme is open to anyone, but we work especially hard to reach those who face particular difficulties in playing a full part in their community or reaching their potential.

The organisation’s vocation

As Christians, we believe God has a special purpose for Just42 – a vocation or calling. For us it is about serving people and bringing God’s love and light into our lives through our service. This means we try to work by God’s values. We are not a church and it’s not our role to preach to people or tell anyone what to believe. We work with people of all faiths and none and are a multi-faith team. While those of us who are Christians love telling people about God because we’re passionate about our faith, we don’t force our ideas on anyone! Our faith is a foundation for our lives and work, and helps us to understand what we believe God is calling us to do. The Isaiah passage gave us the foundation for this:

• A sense of the church body responding to a particular call: v1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight”
• A vocation to work with the vulnerable and the young, to nurture fragile lives: v3 “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out”
• A confirmation that God already blesses the work: v6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand”
• A call to mission beyond the borders: v6 “I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the gentiles”
• A theology that demands we live God’s love as well as teaching it, transforming the world: v7”To open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness”