Arches
The Arches is Trent Vineyard's largest area of ministry serving those in need across the city. Through the centre we hope to share God's love with those who need our help in a practical and supportive way. We aim to provide an environment of compassion and care, where people feel they belong and are accepted and where they can build a sense of self worth and confidence.
The Arches Project started in 2001 when derelict arches below Abbey Bridge were transformed into a place where we could store and distribute food, clothes and furniture to those in need. Small groups got involved in cleaning and decorating the old buildings, and in the December of that year we opened, firstly on Thursdays, then Saturdays and more recently Tuesdays. It’s amazing how from such small, humble and naïve beginnings, things have grown and developed.
Opening Times
Tuesday : 10:00am- 11:45pm
(coffee lounge only)
1:30pm - 3:30pm : referals by appointment only.
Thursday: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 1:00pm
The Arches continues to give people a hand up through practical provision. But it also seeks to foster ongoing relationships and community through a variety of small group settings. These include the Coffee Lounge, Just for Women, Arches Men, Drugs Clinic and more recently the Arches Small Group, Arches Restoration and Sunday Lunches. We hosted our first Christmas Day in 2006 and have repeated this every year since.
The best way to describe the work of the Arches is to hear the stories. All of our visitors, just under 2,000 last year, have a story to tell.
A woman, we’ll call her Amy, recently came to the Arches. She came with nothing, needing practical support in the way of furniture and clothing but also needing someone to talk to, someone to hear her story.
It began in Zimbabwe, where she lived with her husband (a civil rights lawyer) and her son. They had a comfortable lifestyle: a nice house, a good job and lots of friends.
One day, Amy received terrible news that her husband had been killed in a car crash. Then, at the post mortem, it was discovered that he had been shot ─ presumably by the corrupt authorities of the day. Amy and her son, already traumatised by the death of a husband and father, then had to cope with the fact that he had been murdered.
Soon afterwards the authorities came for Amy, raping her in front of her son. Fearing for their lives, they fled the country. They took nothing with them. No photos, no mementos ─ they had to give the impression they were leaving for a holiday.
At the same time Amy discovered she was HIV positive.
When the Arches team first met Amy, she had only just begun to process all she had been through. The team were able to give her valuable time, to listen to her and to pray for her. Since then, she’s received ongoing support, both relationally and practically, with teams visiting her and helping to redecorate her home.
Another visitor, Graham, had quite a different story. In his 50s, Graham was an alcoholic and drug addict. He’d also had a stroke. Graham would stagger into the Arches week after week for years, often aggressive and verbally abusive but somehow loveable at the same time. He was always sorry. All he really wanted was a good moan, time and two slices of toast with marmite!
Then we learned that Graham had died from a chest infection. We were all really sad. But Arches team members were able to go and help at his funeral, serving tea and coffee. Marjory, one of the team leaders, gave his eulogy.
It’s a constant joy and privilege to come alongside people from all walks of life. People from different backgrounds and cultures, with varied life experiences from over 65 different countries without flying anywhere! We’ve met some amazing, resilient and beautiful people.
In order for the Arches to run effectively we need over 30 volunteers per session. These volunteers, each working on one of the 16 different teams, enable the Arches to reach out to thousands of people in need and to support the 100-plus organisations in Nottingham that refer people to us.
It’s a great opportunity for us to give, but often we get so much in return. It impacts our own relationship with Jesus, and in the process we regularly have our hearts softened and broken.
For more information about the Arches, please see the Arches Update, available at the Information Desk at Trent Vineyard.