Archived Press Releases

BISHOP unveils eight foot high wooden cross at the entranceway of a new £250,000 Christian therapeutic community near Ipswich - 10th November 2011

Talitha Koum takes root – Bishop rolls up his sleeves to helps landscape a new £250,000 Christian therapeutic community - 10th November 2011   

BISHOP Nigel Stock today helped volunteers landscape a new £250,000 Christian therapeutic centre, planting the first tree at Talitha Koum.

The Rt Rev Nigel Stock, Bishop of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese and Patron of Talitha Koum, is among scores of volunteers who are helping to plant trees in the TK orchard at the site in Witnesham, near Ipswich.

The Bishop is also calling on people to support a series of Planting TK Weekends starting on November 12 and 13 which will see apple, pear, and plum trees planted.

Workers on site have already been moving 1,000 tonnes of earth and laid 50 cubic metres of concrete for the foundations of the accommodation block within the development, in readiness for the brickwork which was started by the Bishop recently.

Now the charity behind the project is organising tree and shrub planting weekends after winning approval from Suffolk Coastal District Council planners for the new landscaping at the site on a farm at Witnesham, just north of Ipswich.

When complete Talitha Koum will offer support to women who are recovering from drug and alcohol addictions, helping them turn their lives around.

The project is being built to help women as a lasting legacy to the five young women murdered by Steve Wright in 2006. Bishop Nigel, Patron of TK who planted an apple tree, said: “I am delighted that Talitha Koum, which has won such widespread support within the local community, is now taking root.

“I was very pleased to be asked to lay the first bricks and I would urge as many people as possible to help the charity now plant trees and shrubs. This will help create a beautiful landscape to lift others spirits in a very special place.

“Talitha Koum is a fitting place to make changes. The students, as they are known, will be able to discover new life skills and find motivation and expert help to overcome addictions so that they can enjoy fulfilled lives in the community.”

John Cobbold, Chief Executive of the charity Talitha Koum, said: “I am delighted that we are now starting to landscape TK. The orchard will be a place of beauty to lift the spirit, provide food for the students who will tend the trees and the surplus can be sold as local produce to provide an additional income.

“There are opportunities for people to help at our planting TK weekends. We are seeking more volunteers, individuals, organisations, or churches to help plant trees and shrubs, donate funds or trees in memory of loved ones that can be part of a lasting legacy on the site.

“We see Talitha Koum as a family and we believe that family values and the Christian faith will help the women to turn their lives around.”

Trees are being donated on site by organisations including the Bishop, Suffolk Foundation, local company ISG Jackson, Somebody’s Daughter charity, a fund set up by the Evening Star in response to the killings.

The charity Talitha Koum aims to bring healing, Christian hope and practical support for women, of any faith or none, caught up in addictive behaviour.

The charity, which has full planning permission for the site, believes TK will be a place of safety and beauty, a fitting place to make changes. The women will grow produce, selling the surplus as a revenue stream. They will be taught new life skills, and find motivation and expert help in learning to beat their addictions and make the most of their lives by getting back into the community.

Talitha Koum has won widespread support within the community, including from the Somebody’s Daughter charity, a fund set up by the Evening Star in response to the killings which has already donated £20,000; ISG Jackson construction company who have donated materials and expertise to help commence the building works on the project. Our thanks goes to Maurice Burman from Holly Lodge Baptist Church for laying the bricks and to Ben and Robin who have helped with general labouring.

The first planting TK weekend is being held on November 12 and 13 and takes place from 9am to 4.30pm, with shifts of between 1.5 hours and two hours throughout the day.

• Anyone who would like to volunteer their time to help landscape the site, or make a donation towards the landscaping, can call the charity on 07935 058685, email admin@talithakoum.org.uk or write to Talitha Koum c/o John Cobbold, Chief Executive, Talitha Koum, 20 Back Hamlet, Ipswich, Suffolk. IP3 8AJ.

• TK is also holding a thanksgiving Service in the barn at Witnesham on Sunday November 13th at 3pm, all welcome. For full details please call the charity on 07935 058685. 

BRICKLAYING BISHOP HELPS BUILD TK – 30th September 2011

Today the Rt Rev Nigel Stock, Bishop of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese, helped lay the first bricks of a £250,000 Christian therapeutic community and launched a buy a brick campaign to raise further funds for the project in memory of those women who were tragically murdered in Ipswich.

Workers on site have been moving 1,000 tonnes of earth and laid 50 cubic metres of concrete for the foundations of the accommodation block within phase one of the development, in readiness for the brickwork to be started.

When complete Talitha Koum will offer support to women who are recovering from drug and alcohol addictions, helping them turn their lives around. The community is being built on a farm at Witnesham, just north of Ipswich, in memory of those women who were tragically murdered between October 30 and December 10 2006.

Bishop Nigel, the charity’s Patron, said: “The care, love and support that will be found in the therapeutic community of Talitha Koum is a way of the Christian community responding to a particular type of pain and distress that can be found in our society.”

The Bishop’s involvement comes as the charity has also secured support from the business community, with ISG Jackson naming Talitha Koum as their community project. The construction company which operates across East Anglia, south east England and the Home Counties, is offering its expertise to the charity, donating some building materials and supporting the project.

Bernard Clarke, Managing Director of ISG Jackson, said: “The Talitha Koum project is an important community based initiative that looks set to provide a vital support structure for some of the region’s most vulnerable individuals.

“In addition to providing practical and professional support from the very outset of the project, ISG Jackson has made a long term commitment to work closely with the charity, providing work experience opportunities within our business and amongst our supply chain partners.”

John Cobbold, Chief Executive of Talitha Koum, said: “We are reaching out to those who want to help by giving time, money or both, to help, to become an important part of making our vision a reality.

“We are moving forward in faith building TK and we are asking people to buy a brick for £5. When we sell 50,000 bricks we will have all the money we need to complete phase one of our project. I want to thank everyone who is supporting us – and appeal for more support to keep momentum going.

“We believe partnership working in the community will help achieve a sustainable project for the women and we have put together some important partners who will make the difference. These include the Somebody’s Daughter charity, a fund set up by the Evening Star in response to the killings which has already donated £20,000, ISG Jackson, local company Clear Fields who have donated to the charity ground workers to lay the footings and other skilled individuals who are committed to using their skills to make the project a reality.”

The charity earlier this month started construction work on phase one of the development, which will involve building one of the accommodation blocks and converting a barn to house a kitchen, dining room, recreational area, toilets, medical room and laundry facilities.

Mr Cobbold said: “With this important work completed we will then be able to move forward preparing to take the first six women in the autumn of 2012. Talitha Koum is working quickly to make this a reality because we know there is a need right now for this type of residential facility.”

Bricks can be purchased from Talitha Koum, please just send £5 per brick with your name and address saying how many bricks you would like to buy. A paper brick, with information on it will be sent to you registering your donation and thanking you for your purchase.

Anyone who would like to support the project with time or to buy a brick for £5 can contact Talitha Koum c/o John Cobbold, Chief Executive, Talitha Koum, 20 Back Hamlet, Ipswich, Suffolk. IP3 8AJ or visit the website www.talithakoum.org.uk  

Talitha Koum Starts Building Christian Community - 7th September 2011

Talitha Koum Patron The Rt Rev Nigel Stock, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese, said: “The care, love and support that can be found in the therapeutic community of Talitha Koum is the way of the Christian Community responding to a particular type of pain and distress that can be found in our society.

“The unconditional love that it shown reflects the love of God in Jesus Christ and is a serious contribution to the restoration of hope in lives.”

Fundraising over the last two years has secured £100,000 of which £75,000 was allocated towards obtaining all the legal requirements, planning permissions, architect’s drawings and building regulation consents necessary to start building.

With £25,000 still in hand work has now commenced on phase one and the charity is actively fundraising to secure an additional £225,000 needed to allow phase one to be fully completed. Volunteers are also giving their time to help with the construction process and fundraising, and more are also needed to help bring the work to completion.

John Cobbold, Chief Executive of Talitha Koum said: “After going through the legal and planning process successfully, I am so excited that the building work is now beginning.

“The decision has been made to spend the money we have to move towards making the project a reality, going forward in faith that we will secure the rest needed. We see Talitha Koum as a family and we believe that family values and the Christian faith will help the women to turn their lives around.

“The creation of a therapeutic centre is a place where they can be helped to carve for themselves a life free of turmoil, fear and vulnerability.”

Liz Beaton, one of the original trustees of Talitha Koum, who lives in Ipswich, said: “After seven years of prayer, planning and preparation, this is a thrilling moment.

“We are really looking forward to the day when the doors are open to offer this particular help and hope to the women who need it.”

Anyone who would like to support the project with time or donations can contact Talitha Koum c/o John Cobbold, Chief Executive, Talitha Koum, 20 Back Hamlet, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 8AJ or visit the website www.talithakoum.org.uk  

Internet: www.talithakoum.org.uk  
Email: admin@talithakoum.org.uk  
 

Charity thrilled as Rotarians back campaign to raise £250,000 for recovering addicts

A Chief Executive is thrilled that Rotarians have backed his Christian Charity’s campaign to raise £250,000 to build a sanctuary for women recovering from alcohol and drug addictions.

Talitha Koum is a Christian therapeutic community which will be built on a farm just north of Ipswich as a lasting legacy for those women whose lives were tragically cut short by the murders.

The Reverend Alan Forsdike, President of The Rotary Club of Ipswich East has chosen Talitha Koum as one of three charities he will lend particular support to in his year in office, helping to raise vital funds for the project.

Alan said: “The Rotary Club of Ipswich East has always supported local charities who work with disadvantaged people. I strongly support Talitha Koum and believe that this project will provide a lasting legacy for those tragically caught up in the cycle of addictive behaviour, and who wish to turn their lives around.”

The charity Talitha Koum aims to bring healing, Christian hope and practical support for women, of any faith or none, caught up in addictive behaviour.

John Cobbold, CEO of Talitha Koum said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with the Rotary Club who share the same heart of compassion for vulnerable people as we do and we look forward to working closely with Alan and the Rotary Club East during this coming year.”

Talitha Koum is a place of safety and beauty, a fitting place to make changes. The ‘students’, as they are known, will grow produce, selling the surplus as a revenue stream. They will be taught new life skills, and find motivation and expert help in learning to beat their addictions and make the most of their lives by getting back into the community.

The project has already been supported with individual donations and a generous grant from the Evening Star and Ipswich Borough Council’s Somebody’s Daughter Fund helping to start off the refurbishment of the old grain barn on site.

The barn, when completed, will become the heart of the Talitha Koum community, a place to learn new skills, and work, for those selected to attend the centre.

Talitha Koum now has full planning permission and all that it needs in place legally to start the building works for the project.

A fund raising campaign has been launched to raise the £250,000 needed in conjunction with construction companies who donate materials and tradesman and volunteers helping to build it.

Rotary clubs are based in local communities across the world with its members meeting on a regular basis for fun and friendship, and to plan projects that will benefit the lives of others.

Anyone who would like to support Talitha Koum can send cheques payable Talitha Koum c/o John Cobbold, Chief Executive, Talitha Koum, 20 Back Hamlet, Ipswich, Suffolk. IP3 8AJ; or visit the website www.talithakoum.org.uk

Internet: www.talithakoum.org.uk  
Email: admin@talithakoum.org.uk  

Press Release - 10th March 2011

TEA LEAFA KOUM

What’s in a name – you may ask, The Talitha Koum Christian Charity (the name comes from the bible and means Little girl Get Up) team of staff and volunteers are having tea with the Mayor Councillor Jane Chambers @ 10.30 am Thursday 10th March to discuss ways of setting up a fund raising team to help with the financing of the TK Project which is to help support vulnerable women out of addiction on a journey from hopelessness to hope.

“The Mayor said "I'm really looking forward to this meeting, to get to know some of the team behind this fabulous and compassionate project. We shall be looking at ways to raise money and to spread the charity's message to the local community and further afield. From hopelessness to hope sums up what this is all about, and that is why they receive my full support."

Talitha Koum will give a rare and creative chance for women to change their lives for the better through a unique treatment plan under pinned by the Christian faith. It is open to those of any faith or none. It’s because there is an urgent need for sensitive, holistic and effective help that the Talitha Koum Therapeutic Community is being set up.

Would you like to be involved in helping to raise funds to finance this project? Then please come along to our ‘Tealeafa Coffee’ morning on Saturday May 7th 10 to 12 noon @ The Talitha Koum Office, Trinity Bungalow, 20 Back Hamlet Ipswich IP3 8AJ.

You will have the opportunity to find out more about our project and how you can support our major fund raising events which are:    
     • London to Paris Bike ride planned for 26th to 30th August 2011.
     • Come dine with us - dining events such as a French, Italian, Polish dinner events, Would you or your organisation like to host a dinner for us?
     • Join the ‘Friends of Talitha Koum’ – find out more!

“ Abi Hutton, Admin Support for Talitha Koum said “I am excited about working for this project and getting involved in the fundraising. I look forward to the day that the first group of women join the project and move in to the farm.”

Do you think you could persuade someone to give or lend you an elephant? Well, maybe not an elephant – how about a mini bus? We need lots of people to help us with Talitha Koum, so come along to our coffee morning to learn more.

More people need to be involved in social action – come along and help us with our fund raising and 21st century small holding. We need volunteers and finance. We need the right people, in the right place, right now to help us make it happen!

We need to come alongside these vulnerable women with a heart of compassion, teaching them how to beat their addictive behaviour through faith and love – bringing hope. There but for the grace of God go any of us or our friends and family. We believe that social action is the responsibility of all of us, we need action now, so if you are interested in supporting us with funding or as a volunteer, please contact us at :-

The Talitha Koum Office, Trinity Bungalow, 20 Back Hamlet Ipswich IP3 8AJ

…… End …..

For further information or to arrange for an interview, please contact John Cobbold on 07545 249890

Press Release - 18th February 2011

Talitha Koum launches plans for new Christian Therapeutic Community on
Friday 18th February @ Hope Church Ipswich 11.00 am