At 15 years old, Phiona’s church encouraged her to do her work experience with Aylesbury Vale Youth For Christ. Through that she attended a week long Foundations course run by Fusion, which set her off on a path which has to date seen her travel half way around the world and become a full time youth and community worker with Fusion.

Following on from a series of lessons about drug and alcohol awareness, sex education and first aid for parties, Lord Williams School in Thame invited Fusion for the second year to teach the young people about the emotional and moral side to relationships, love and sex. So often ignored in sex education, it was a real privilege for the Fusion team to teach about boundaries, values and choosing your pathway in relationships rather than just ‘going with the flow’ and ‘if it feels good do it’ that we are fed from the media.

...Raising money to support Fusion’s work in developing countries.
On the 3rd of July, nineteen friends of Fusion came together for the first of many Curry Club Nights. Four great authentic Indian Curry’s, a beautiful setting and some thought provoking discussion.

Fusion Youth &Community's northern centre opened the UK's first charity shop on the 2nd December 2009. The shop is based in Leyland and is a fundraising venture. All profits will fund the centre's youth and community work both locally and across the region. The premises also includes a first floor office above the shop which is the new base for the Fusion Youth & Community Preston centre. The shop has been going well with a steady increase in takings. In addition to our shop manager and assistant  manager (Diane & Andy) we’ve got a growing team of wonderful volunteers (ten currently) who’ve really helped us make a strong start.

On Sunday 23rd May, 4000 people from 40 churches met together for Love Oxford in South Park to worship, pray and be encouraged in our faith. As part of the event, Vertigo, Christians in Sport and Fusion put on a creative youth afternoon of workshops and sports.  Around 250 young people attended along with the families that stuck around on the scorching day for a picnic.

The leaders and young people were excited at the news that Sainsbury's have donated £500 to support the  football & basketball programme being run in Leyland.

"It gives us the chance to make the programme free for all the young people who come which is a real boost - even £2 a aweek is too much for some of our young people", said Tim, the programme coordinator.

"I really look forward to football each week", said Sam one of the young people, "there's a great sense of friendship and sportsmanship and we all have a lot of fun and now that's it's free we get plenty of guys coming - we even had to split into three teams last week!", he continued.

The programme runs on Tuesday nights, 4.30 - 6pm at Leyland Leisure Centre and is open to 11-17 year olds.

For more information contact us.

You can keep up to date with all the news from our work in South Africa during the World Cup and beyond by checking out our Blog. It's updated daily so keep coming back!...

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