July has been a busy month for the Whitley team. As we come to the end of the school term, we celebrate community, fun and new skills this month has brought!
End of the school term
In the last few weeks of term we’ve had members of the local community come in to connect with the kids we are working closely with.


It was also the first outing of SYC’s new Community Events Trailer. Packed with essential festival and games equipment – it is available for use for local community-gathering events.
On Sunday 7th July, St Barnabas Church hosted a South Reading Churches United service. Bringing together St Agnes / St Paul’s / St Barnabas, Christ the King RCC, Tyndale Baptist Church, The Well, and Reading Family Church. Worship was led by Aaron Dolding and there was a lively set from Mountains of Fire Ministries. Leon Collyer brought us the word, in his final weeks as St APB’s vicar. It’s always wonderful to see Christians of varying denominations and backgrounds come together to pray and worship under one roof. Church leaders came together at the end of the service to pray over Leon as he steps into a new chapter of his ministry.

In the last few weeks of term, we’ve had members of the local community coming in to connect with the kids we are working closely with. A friend of ours came in to teach them bread-making (a business of hers). Each made a loaf and some cheesy scones to snack on and to take home (which were delicious!). Another friend came in for a day with her 6 month old – we work mostly with boys, and they were entranced by the baby. Playing with her quietly and gently, not words you generally associate with teenage boys!

Festival Trailer
We celebrated the first outing of SYC’s new Community Events Trailer. Packed with essential festival and games equipment, it is available for use by local community-gathering events.