Salmon fishing in SE16

Yesterday was the Annual General Meeting and Commissioning Service for the Salmon Youth Centre, and today in St James's and St Anne's churches, it was Salmon Sunday, the day we particularly remember the work of the centre, formerly called the Cambridge University Mission (CUM), which has served the young people of Bermondsey for over 100 years.

In the past year Salmon received over 20,000 visits by young people to the 30 club sessions run every week.

Salmon organised 50 day trips and 8 residentials. 98 young people received mentoring and 475 participated in adventure activities.

I had been asked to lead the commissioning service for staff, trustees, and violunteers and to give the talk afterwards.

I said Salmon was a John 10.10 organisation. It took seriously Jesus words in that verse when he said ' I have come that they might have life and have it to the full.'

Getting creative in the Salmon art room

Through its sports, its music, its dance, its art, its adventure activities and outings it gave the young people a fuller and richer experience than they might otherwise have - and at the same time it pointed unashamedly to Jesus Christ who came to give us the fuller, richer life, connected to the God who made us, which only he can give.

Today at St James and St Anne's we heard from Salmon General Director, Sam Adofo, about the work of the centre. We watched a video showing some of the activities available (see below). We prayed for them and we concluded by singing the hymn 'Lord of the Years' written by Timothy Dudley-Smith when he was Warden of the Cambridge University Mission (now renamed Salmon after the mission's founder, Rev Salmon or 'Pa Salmon') and given its very first hearing in CUM in Bermondsey all those years ago. 

We are certainly blessed to have in Bermondsey such an amazing resource for our young people as the Salmon Youth Centre.