The Salmon Youth Centre has been inspiring young people in Bermondsey to realise their potential since 1907.

At the dawn of the Centre’s second century, Phase One of an ambitious £8.5 million redevelopment programme is reaching completion, enabling the Centre to meet modern needs.

Alongside the physical regeneration, the Centre is looking to strengthen and deepen its Christian ethos, spirituality and understanding of mission. There is a desire to encourage a deepening sense of community amongst the staff and volunteers - who manage and run the centre - and the young people whom they seek to serve.

CMS is helping create the post of Spiritual/Pastoral Director to provide spiritual support and leadership for the Centre’s volunteers and staff. The post holder would also build up and strengthen links with local churches and the wider Christian community. CMS is committed to funding this post for at least three years.

The Salmon Youth Centre gives a practical expression of the Christian faith in all of its work, seeking to meet the needs of young people and enable them fully to develop as people. Workers share the story of Christ to help the young person to think more deeply about Christ’s claim to hold the answer to a fully developed and meaningful life.

The First Phase of the redevelopment is reaching completion. Comprising a large sports hall, social area, performance area, a climbing wall, dance studio, music room, learning and enterprise centre, IT suite, chapel, accommodation for the residential community, a staff flat and a roof patio, the new facilities are responding to the changing needs of young people. For example, the buildings are fully accessible to young people with a disability.

The community around Bermondsey will experience a dramatic improvement in the quality and variety of activities available to young people.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Salmon Centre. CMS recognises their need for pastoral care and support as they minister to young people in a challenging environment.

The pioneering new role of Spiritual/Pastoral Director will provide spiritual and developmental guidance and leadership for all staff, with a particular focus on the Residential Volunteers. They will also be responsible for the development, delivery and management of the Centre’s spiritual activity, including research, planning, monitoring and evaluating spiritual aspects of the Centre.

As a result of this appointment, the Centre staff, and particularly the Residential Volunteers, will experience a distinct enhancement in pastoral care and support from dedicated Pastoral Care professionals. This will improve their well-being and help them in their lives and ministries. In turn this will enhance their service to the young people of Bermondsey.

A contribution of £15,000 would ensure that this exciting project becomes reality.

Salmon Centre website