‘Shine’ began with a Steering Group set up mid 2003 to decide how best to utilise a Legacy that was left to the Church, with the proviso that it was to be used for work in the Community, and that a Christian ‘ethos’ should guide how the funds be used.

Over the next 18 months, the Steering group conducted a Community Audit, consulted with local agencies, voluntary organisations, community groups, and local authority services and education authorities to identify unmet needs in the Community.

Discussions were held with the Shaftsbury Society and Spurgeons Child- Care charities, and SBC decided that a part time ‘Community Project Development Worker’ should be appointed for 3 years, funded by the legacy and employed directly by SBC. The project was to be a ‘stand – alone’ project with its own Management Committee which reports back to Church Meetings.

The legacy is intended to pay for the salary costs for 3 years, with start up costs and minimal project expenditure costs. Delivery of initiatives and programmes will have to be funded through partnership working and external funding.

The post commenced in January 2005 and after a further period of consultation, the aims, objectives, work plan, budget and ‘Terms of Reference’ of the Management Committee were developed and the ‘Community Project’ was named ‘SHINE’ and the ‘Community Project Development Worker’ became the ‘Shine’ Development Co-ordinator.