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Handley Cross THE VIBE COMMUNITY @
Another world is possible
Chapter 1
Handley Cross The intersection of the community, the arts, spirituality and care for the environment. A community of ordinary people living radical lives and showing that another world is not only possible but is already here.
Section 1
INTRODUCTION This document outlines the intensions of the Vibe community to embark on a co-
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.�
housing project, building low impact dwellings and shared community spaces for
Socrates, 469-399 B.C
simplify the way we do life.
some of the community and their families and to develop a learning centre, retreat and arts and well being centre with a spiritual rhythm of life. Our intension is to serve the communities of Teesside with a space to find re-creation, learning and to
We already have a large group of people committed to this aim but we are looking to connect with other like minded people who dream of living with these intention. We know from our conversations that many of you have had similar dreams and we would like to invite you to consider joining us either by doing it with us or helping financially to make it a reality If you would like to talk about the possibilities then please get in touch: Mark Mullis: 07528629146 or mark@thevibe.org.uk
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Section 2
Handley Cross OVERVIEW
1.Ingleby Barwick is one of the the
1. The setting
biggest private housing estates in
2. The community
Europe with a population of close of roughly 20,000 people. The socio
3. The difficulties
economic demography of the
4. The Realisation
community is professional managerial.
5. The Vision
Over the last 10 years it has shown itself to be reasonably insular. There is a sense that people have everything they need and they ok living independent existences achieving their life goals. Community gathering space has been reduced over the years as developers fill all available space with housing. To suggest there is a different way of living that can benefit people in Ingleby seems to tug on pride and can challenge someones ability to cope with and understand life. However if you scratch the surface of Ingleby Barwick you will find an amount of broken relationships, debt, loneliness, lack of purpose and addiction. It is an estate where the ‘gospel’ of consumption seems to hold sway and improving what we have and what we earn is seen as important. The main obvious community that exists on the estate is among the young people who gather each night in groups on the streets forming their identity trying to break out of the little boxes they are being shoe horned into. Before these young 3
people are sucked onto the conveyer belt of debt, the nuclear
theatre director, builders,
family, the smart car and having ‘stuff’ we see glimmers of
health and well-being
hope and dreams of freedom. However, reality soon kicks in
specialists and quite a
and the necessity to conform often takes hold. Some other
few children.
groups like ours are working hard to make community happen
3.However, on such a
an show a different way of life, this includes schools, churches, scout groups etc. We love our community and want to be a part of its transition into a community more able to deal with three of our worlds most concerning issues. Climate change, financial crisis and break down of community. 2. After a number of years of community building on the estate
large estate it is difficult for a group of people who live in detached houses with cars and 'stuff' to be seen making a difference to the world and living alternatively. We believe a radical shift is needed in the structure of our life style to make the difference obvious. We want to 'show' the change we are talking about, we want to
we have gathered a group, a family of committed people who
be part of the answers to
love people and are trying to live by the words of Jesus. (the
the prayers we are
red letter words) i.e. giving to those who don’t have enough,
praying. For example:
Living lives of love, lives where hope invades every area and
We are keen to help
changes us. Working alongside other groups to show our
people on the the estate
estate how an alternative
to make a smaller
way of life is possible. A
footprint on the worlds
way of living not subject
resources and so we
to market forces and
need to make a smaller
attaining wealth,
footprint first...We are
possessions and status.
hoping the estate will
The vibe community
become a place where love and care for each other is rife and
consists of professionals,
so we must be doing that first...We want the estate to hear/
teachers, artists, care
see more of the beautiful story of new life, re-creation,
workers, students, a
reconciliation and fulness of life in the kingdom of God and 4
find their part in it. We therefore need
particular theology of even faith but for those engaged with
to be demonstrating the outworking of
making the world a more beautiful and just place.
that good news in our lives. 4.
5. Our vision is for a creative community. A
We have come to realise that in order to demonstrate that commitment to the co-creation of this world we need to engage on some level with a communal expression of whole life Christianity that involves both journeying together to a deeper understanding of God, combining our resources to look after the earth we have been given and at the same time serving the community of Ingleby
community with a rhythm of life that has Jesus at its centre. Members of the vibe community would live either on site at Handley Cross or in homes on or near the estate .
Barwick and the wider
We aim for the site to become a self sustaining environmentally
Teesside area by oering a
intelligent centre. Generating green energy, recycling, salvaging,
place of renewal and re-
renewing, growing and rearing our own food, storing and up
alignment alongside other
keeping
people of peace. A
equipment that
community that is living
can be shared by
and working together to sustain an ecologically self suďŹƒcient
the whole
spiritual/creative/community space open to the wider community
community. (e.g.
to engage in worship, learning, healing and being helped through
one lawnmower
life struggles. A magical place on the edge of the estate where
rather than one
the treadmill doesn't operate and a new vision for life can be
for each house)
glimpsed. A space and community not reserved for people of a
In time 5
generating income and interest from eco-tourism, educational
meet regularly as a 'family' to learn, worship, support, party and
visits, well being courses and treatments, coding clubs and
do life together. Also organising larger gatherings at Handley
residential visits. Coee house, ART studio rent and gallery
Cross.
space, school visits and hosting events.
A regular input from students coming to spend time with the
We also aim to build accommodation for community living at
community will keep things fresh and vibrant and help us to
Handley Cross, planned and designed to maximise eďŹƒciency and
achieve some of our self suďŹƒciency aims. Another of our aims is
togetherness, but with space for solitude and family space and apartment space for singles and young couples. This, we hope will comprise up to 10 self contained living spaces for both families and singles. The main house already on the site would also include some accommodation space on the upper floors and will be community shared space on the ground floor. The site would also act as a venue for creative and performance arts as well as a centre for well being and retreat. Where people from the estate and all over Teesside can come to renew perspective, work through issues, find space for solitude. The community would continue to work at growing smaller community groups on the estate in houses where people can 6
to be a place
*AďŹƒrming our potential is more important than condemning our
particularly
brokenness.
appropriate and magical for the young people of Ingleby.
*Reconciliation is valued over judgement. *Gracious behaviour is more important than right belief.
Working with school groups running experience days in both the arts and ecology to fit in to national curriculum programs of study. Also putting on concerts, hacks, creative workshops, dry bar and skate facilities for local young people. The hope is that they will become regular visitors which in turn allows them to experience what another world might look like before they become fully immersed in a selfish consumptive way of life.
*Inviting questions is to be valued more than supplying answers. *Encouraging personal exploration is more important than communal uniformity. *Meeting needs is more important than maintaining institutions. *Peace is more important than power. *Care more about love and less about sex. *This life is more important than the life-after. (Taken from 'If the church were christian' P Gulley.)
6. Handley Cross is a large house in 8 1/2 acres of land just 5 minute walk from the estate. It is surrounded by woods and has a beautiful south facing vista across the Leven valley. Details here: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/
We will be providing an opportunity for people who want to to commit to living in the community a number of ways to sign up and invest financially to this new life change. However being part
property-28619977.html?premiumA=true
of this venture does not depend on you having money! We will
Some helpful guidelines to help understand the communities'
opportunities to work with the housing association to investigate
ethos:
having some social housing available on site.
also set about applying for housing and eco grants and pursuing
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