New Youth Work Manager Appointed

Just42 are delighted to announce the appointment of Kevin Woods as a Youth Work Manager as from 26th August 2008. Currently living in Felixstowe with his wife & 2 children, Kevin is very well experienced, having led youth groups over the past 18 years, most recently as Youth pastor for a local church. He has only recently gained an honours degree in Youth & Community Work and Applied Theology. He is excited by the opportunity to work with Just42 in a largely rural environment and has already visited a number of our youth clubs where he will be involved. More info in due course!

Supporters of Just42 brave the bad weather

About 20 plucky people (see photo) braved the atrocious weather conditions on Saturday 7 th June to take part in the Just42 ‘Rural Ramble', a sponsored walk between Grundisburgh, Hasketon, Bredfield, Melton & Woodbridge; these are all villages where the youth-work charity have either Kidz Klubs or run youth clubs (or both) and displays of the work were organised at each location. Over £800 was raised by the few who completed the 10 mile route, which was largely along public footpaths. The money will go towards Just42's work in these villages and adjoining areas of rural isolation.

Organiser Caroline Rutherford said “it would seem that over 5 inches of rain fell in 48 hours that week-end and we all got soaked! Nevertheless we enjoyed the camaraderie and were well looked after at each village hall where refreshments and/or lunch were provided.”

The event was co-organised by 3 young people as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award scheme; Josie Nash, Hannah Blackmore and Beth

Johnson completed the walk themselves as well as helping with design of posters, publicity etc. Numbers were lower than anticipated as many who were intending to join in were put off by the weather.

The only part to be cancelled was the celebration bar-b-que at the end. “despite hopes raised by the weather forecast the night before, it was still raining when they arrived at the Woodbridge Youth Centre” said Project Director Mike Simpson. “ as everybody was wet through we decide to call it a day. We will celebrate on another occasion! We are so grateful to all those who took part”

African Adventure a great success

As we near the summer holidays, Just42 look back on a busy month which started with a large number of JADS club members enjoying a week-end away at the African Village at Sizewell Hall

Young people from Hasketon joined some others from Kidz Klub and the Christian Union in mid May to make up a party of 24, the maximum number allowed for a week-end living in the replica thatched African huts in the wooded grounds of this fine coastal country house; run by CYM, the group included a number of staff and volunteers from Just42 who assisted in the project which was part funded by the Four Acre Trust.

Despite the relatively poor weather on the Friday and Saturday, everyone really enjoyed the activities such as clearing an imaginary mine field, traversing ‘rivers' on rope bridges (see photo ) and building shelters to live in out of old wood and foliage; the ‘wide game' took everybody's energy and sitting round a large camp fire at night and singing silly songs was a wonderful end to the day. The sun shone on Sunday and it was building water filters on the beach and seeing the old pond water being made clean enough to drink by the team leader that intrigued and amused everyone. Football was the last event before catching the bus back to Woodbridge on Sunday afternoon.

Tribute to Mary Foden

Mary Foden bn March 25 th 1929 died May 4 th 2008.

To describe any persons life in a few sentences demands literary skills few of us possess, to describe Mary Foden is a task too great for the most literary amongst us. I loved Mary and she loved me, I am one of many she loved and one of many who loved her, her influence on us means her greatness will live on. Her life was tough; she faced every challenge with fortitude and courage fuelled by her love of God and her unswerving faith in His love of us.

Mary's kitchen was a place of debate and life changing discovery for me as she gently but firmly lead me from limited literary skills to achieving a BA Hons JNC. Her faith in me lead to the formation of Just 42, her faith in Just 42 lead to the largest Christian Youth Work agency in the county to form. I do not know the number of us who have been guided through essays and dissertations, theological debate and linguistic rhetoric as well as French grammar and near and far history to mention a few of her skills. Love of music, gardening and serving others was only overshadowed by her love of, and devotion to, her family.

Mary is with God, dancing and worshipping with the angels and above all else she is happy, our sadness is not hers. There is a large Mary sized hole in the world that will only be filled to overflowing by those enabled by her love and aspirations. We must put our learning into action and reach out to the least and the lost with God in our hearts.

All in Just 42 who knew Mary will be amongst those who will miss her so much.

Malcolm Knapp

Just42 Village Walk

We are urging familys to join a walk through the pretty East Suffolk countryside to highlight the youth work going on in rural villages.

We are challenging families from those communities to walk from village to village on Saturday June 7 th along a designated, mainly footpath route, including a stretch on the banks of the River Deben.

It is hoped walkers will join one or more of four three-mile sections, making a full day's outing of 12 miles for the most energetic.

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