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Bristol: Andrew Lord, chief executive of Alabarè Christian Care & Support, began a local appeal to recruit volunteers this past week in Bristol. Alabarè focuses on aiding ex-service personnel in need. Alabarè has three houses in the city with veterans residing between six to eight months. At midday on 29 January, Lord presented the Inspire Award, which recognizes “exceptional contributions made by staff and volunteers”, to John Shore, who was the first recipient in Bristol. Mr Lord stated: “Our homes provide a safe and suppor tive environment in which veterans can re-build confidence and develop essential skills, whilst working towards living independently again… We urgently need volunteers to give residents training and suppor t to help them acquire the skills and confidence they need to ensure their civilian lives are successful.” Alabarè has over 45 projects in Plymouth, Weymouth, the Portsmouth area, and Salisbur y. Future plans include opening suppor t homes in South Wales and Gloucester. To learn more about the organisation and volunteering, please log on to: www.alabare.co.uk. Derby: In the excitement of redeveloping their church building, St Michael’s, Alvaston, hosted an Ar ts Festival last weekend. The event allowed people to deepen their knowledge of the plans of re-development by attending the exhibition. Lisa Higginbotham, Mayor of Derby, opened the joyful event on Friday night with wine and cheese. Local ar tists were able to sell their ar twork. The event was organized through the Parochial Church Council (PCC). Before the festival opened, a member of the PCC, Dr Malcolm Evans, stated: “The main purpose is to communicate to the local community our plans to redevelop the church building itself to make it a warmer, more functional building in order for it to become the hub of the community. Additionally the event is hoped to be a fund raising time to help finance the work planned.”
Durham: St Michael and All Angels Church celebrated a “Red Rose” Accolade for the “Places of Interest Quality Assurance” scheme on 22 January. Members, in Houghton le Spring, gleamed as they accepted the award from Visit England. The award is based on visitor experience, duration of stay, information on offers, a team of at least 30 volunteers, guided tours, and accessibility in the building. The Rt Rev Mark Br yant, Bishop of Jarrow, responded: “This is a wonderful recognition for the volunteers who come here faithfully week in and week in out to welcome the people who come to this very significant part of our Nor th East Christian heritage.” Southwark: Nic Fiddan-Green’s newest sculpture will be displayed at Southwark Cathedral beginning in Holy Week. Christ Rests in Peace stands as a symbol for remembering the faith throughout the season of Lent. Many of his creations have travelled around the world. To design the equine head, plaster must be placed on the cast to create a resin. Lead sheets are beaten for the desired appearance. Finally, chiselling forms a face and a crown of thorns is gilded. The artist commented on the excitement on revealing his piece by stating: “I have been working on the subject of the face of Christ for over 20 years ‘with no place in mind’, so when it was proposed to me to install a work at Southwark, I realised it was all out of my hands. It is a great honour and oppor tunity to reveal this work in a sacred and spiritual place.” The creation will be displayed in front of the High Altar from 12 February to 30 March 2013. Fiddan-Green will speak on the inspiration and process for Christ Rests in Peace on 17 and 24 February at 12:30pm on both days.