BISHOP Nigel Stock has blessed an eight foot high wooden cross at the entranceway to the new £250,000 Christian therapeutic community Talitha Koum.

The Rt Rev Nigel Stock, Bishop of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese, has blessed and dedicated the cross as a permanent reminder that the centre is a project with a Christian ethos.

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

When complete the complex, which has full planning permission and is currently being built on farmland at Witnesham, near Ipswich, 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 and Bishop Nigel is the Patron of the charity.

John Cobbold, Chief Executive of Talitha Koum, said: “This wooden cross as a symbol, a symbol of our beliefs, that we are a project with a Christian ethos.

“People can bring their problems to the foot of the cross. Everyone can receive unconditional love and support from our centre and can make the journey from hopelessness to hope.

“This is a symbol of the vision that we are now bringing to reality. As you go to the site you will see the cross straight away.

“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.”

Bishop Nigel blessed and dedicated the cross made by Ipswich Craftsman, Brian Sears, within the last few days. He quoted from Matthew 11:28-29 and said "It is wondeful that this symbol of torture has become a symbol of hope, and I am delighted that it will be the first sign that people will see when they arrive here."

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 be taught new life skills by a professional team, 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.

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.

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.