The Deckchair Listening Project brings local residents together to share their stories, exploring community from many different perspectives.

Whether you simply want to “put your feet up” for a natter, or start to probe the deep questions of life, join us on the deckchairs!

If you’re exploring where you are on your spiritual journey, the team are happy to help you think through where your stories intersect with God’s Story and the Christian faith, and are always open to being asked to pray for you.

But most of all... we love just being here to listen to what matters to you, where you are.

The Deckchairs at the Northstowe Running Festival

31st August 2024

As we took the Deckchairs Listening Project to the 2024 Northstowe Running Festival, it was a wonderful day of big conversations and enthusiastic applause for runners. We loved providing space for those who'd survived the longer races to put their feet up. We were also well positioned to cheer on the family mile. And we loved connecting with lots of friends from across the Northstowe Church Network and wider community. Thank you to the team behind the running festival for such a brilliant community day!

We gathered lots of great responses to our conversations about what it feels like to put your feet up or pause... and we invited people to come and add more feet to our foot bunting during the following day's community BBQ!

As darkness fell it was lovely to see the crowds turn out to watch the Northstowe Neighbours film and Greatest Showman at the Outdoor Cinema. Well done Northstowe Arts!
Read about the Running Festival

The Deckchairs at Northstowe's Midsummer Festival

31st August 2024

What an amazing day at the first Northstowe Midsummer Festival, organised by our friends at Northstowe Arts and Northstowe Hub with huge support from pretty much every community group in our new town.

Brilliant to fill a board with "rays of sunshine" - the highlights of the year so far for Northstowe's residents, young and old. And for this to start so many great conversations on the Deckchairs.


Thank you Northstowe for such a great day!
 

The Deckchairs at The Pathfinder Primary School Fayre

5th July 2024

We had such a brilliant afternoon at The Friends of Pathfinder School Fayre. We enjoyed sharing our giant chalk labyrinth with families, and inviting people to help shape the design of a dreamt of permanent labyrinth installation. Loved seeing sand sketches and full on colour drawings as young people suggested planting, benches, shells, bushes, water features, and signage as part of such a reflective space. Can't wait to see how the project develops!

Who runs the Deckchair Listening Project?

(And can we borrow the deckchairs?)

The Deckchair Listening Project was set up by Revd Beth Cope while she was part of Cambourne Church, a partnership of the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, and the Church of England. Initial funding (in 2014) came from the Diocese of Ely. Additional funding came from the Growing Faith Foundation in 2024.

The Deckchair Listening Project is being run here in Northstowe by Pathfinder Church and ecumenical Northstowe Church Network.

If the Deckchairs are not in use here in Northstowe, we may well be able to lend the Deckchairs to other local churches and Christian organizations so they, too, can "offer hospitality to those of all religious and non-religious beliefs" and start big conversations. Get in touch if you are interested.

Want to know more or stay in touch?

See our Contact and Mailing List details on the homepage
The Northstowe Church Network is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Safeguarding Officer. The Diocese of Ely’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor (DSA) who advise our SO. If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm please contact the DSA. If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police and your local authority Children or Adults Services.