2024 REPORT FROM FORGING MEN

In 2023, Forging Men continued with events offering fellowship and having fun together (curry nights, pub nights) and to hear form speakers who challenge us.

We started last year with James von Cleef speaking about epic long-distance cycling trips in memory of his son, Peter Hall from New Life Wood in Pitsea, supporting people battling addictions & other life challenges, as well as hearing from Dan Pierce (‘formerly of this parish’) at Mulberry House in Ongar.

This was followed in the summer by another excellent talk from Alan Hargreaves on the theme of ‘Men & Grief’. We also continue to engage with Kintsugi Hope and how this could be channelled towards a Men’s Mental Health project.

There was also the annual trip to The Gathering in June organised by Christian Vision for Men with a good number of guys attending, followed up by a visit to a regional CVM event at Colchester in November. In December we had another great annual Christmas Curry Night, with over 30 guys attending made up by a good number of Foodbank volunteers. This was followed quickly by our annual ‘Carol Singing in the pubs’ evening raising funds for the Billericay Foodbank; £560 was collected this year. Forging Men were also asked again to help with the organising the ‘Carols in the Park’ event in partnership with the ‘Friends of Lake Meadows’, an event attended by nearly 200 people.

At many of our events, as well as ‘regulars’, we also get guys attending who might otherwise not have connections to churches or consider themselves as believers or people of faith.

So far in 2024, we have heard from Grant Smith at Mulberry House in Ongar, talking about his life in the construction industry and his efforts to bring affordable housing to the poorest people in Africa. Next month’s (26th February) event is ‘Listening to our community’ where we will a have chance to hear from a variety of local community initiatives.

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