We hape to arrange some Unlock Training in Sunderland sometime 2023; open to anyone but booking will be necessary please so that catering can be arranged. Details here as soon as we have them.

Otherwise our Town End Farm work is currently paused while we review the next steps with our local partners in North Wearside Parish.

Francesca Walsh was our Unlock worker on Town End Farm during 2020, with a specific role to nurture and develop the small team of local leaders who emerged during Jacqueline's work in the community centred around St Bede's disused Church. Francesca has now gone to begin ordination training and we will be working with our partners in North Wearside to establish the next steps for Unlock work in Town End Farm.

Profile of Francesca Walsh >>

Jaqueline Atkinson started her Unlock work as an Unlock Worker, based on the Town End Farm Estate in Sunderland, at the beginning of March 2015. She has now come to the end of her time working for Unlockand we wish her well in her new role as Children and Families Missioner for Newcastle Diocese. Local people are carrying on with the groups that Jacqueline encouraged and developed.

Jacqueline was based at the disused and decommissioned church of St Bede's, at the heart of the estate, where she facilitated the local community association in creating a chapel and provided regular short times of reflection. In a community that 'doesn't do church' Jacqueline established a holiday club, a local community choir and a packed out Christingle service. From September 2017 her work included FAB (Faith at Bedes) which runs for most of the day on Fridays including work with young parents and carers, an after school club for 5-11 year olds and a Bible study group.

The Heart of the Estate >> is an account of Unlock's work in Town End Farm, Sunderland.

Profile of Jacqueline Atkinson >>