The diocesan trustees have made the decision to close All Saints Pastoral Centre, where SPEC is based. While making this difficult and understandable decision, the trustees have also been very clear that the diocese is committed to having a residential retreat centre for children and young people.  SPEC will stay in its current location up to the end of 2012 but will ultimately move to another, yet to be identified, site.  This change obviously brings some uncertainty for the project, in particular for the staff.  However, it is also a positive opportunity for us to shape the project to ensure that it remains ‘fit for purpose’ for the young people of the diocese from 2012 and beyond.

There will be many SPEC friends out there with a soft-spot for SPEC being at All Saints Pastoral Centre, but I would like to reassure everyone out there that:

• SPEC goes on, albeit in a new place after 2012.
• We are open for business as usual, committed to giving of our best for the young people of the diocese.
• Although a bit sad, we are also optimistic (and perhaps even excited) about the future.
• We still need volunteers to join our community each year, especially young people from the Diocese of Westminster.

We would ask for your prayers that we find the right new home and, in particular, for those members of our staff and community who might be anxious about the changes and the uncertainty.

Jon Rogers
Director, SPEC
26 January 2011
Feast of Ss Timothy and Titus