Faith in the community

THERE'S a smart man in a pair of highly-polished black brogues who's as much a part of Millbrook as the towers.

On the face of it, the footwear and its owner might seem out of place in this area of Southampton with its reputation for crime, poverty and unemployment.

For the shiny shoes belong to a man with a dog collar - a vicar - and this is, after all, an atheist age when church-going is shunned by many and Sunday has become a day for DIY instead of a day of rest.

The vicar - the Rev Norman Boakes - has lived in Millbrook for the past 11 years.

On the face of it he and his churches may seem to have something of a discreet presence in the community.

Yes, congregations tend to be on the small side, but daily services form a small part of the church's work in the area.

When Mr Boakes walks the streets, passers-by, both young and old, yell greetings across the road at him.

He's a quietly-spoken yet clearly determined man who praises Mill-brook's warmth, friendliness and sense of community.

It would be wrong to assume this man of the cloth has a negligible grasp of what life is like for ordinary people.

Mr Boakes has no delusions about the area's problems, yet he's one of its most staunch supporters and is angered at its reputation, which he feels is undeserved.

"We have our problems but they get magnified and blown out of proportion. I think the way the media reports Millbrook sometimes doesn't help.

"I remember one slogan referred to the area as 'Southampton's Beirut', which is awful.

"It makes people scared and apprehensive - and I don't think it helps.

"It's a very interesting place to be. Overall, I have enjoyed being here enormously.

"People have welcomed me into their homes and are very honest so, in those ways, it's a wonderful place to work even though there have been bits of vandalism."

Mr Boakes, 52, oversees two churches - St Peter's and All Saints - in the parish of Maybush, which embraces Redbridge and Coxford as well as Millbrook.

"It's not a middle class congregation. They're ordinary working people, though there are exceptions. On the whole it's quite elderly.

"Most of the people who come have lived in the community all their lives so there's a very strong sense of community in our churches and a wish to serve the local community too."

But the church tries to reach out to all sections of the community.

One of the latest schemes to be introduced is an adult and toddler group called Little Fishes, based at St Peter's.

There are also twice-yearly activity days and a Sunday Club, again both aimed at children.

The monthly high point in terms of congregational numbers is at the all-age service, which sees up to 80 people flock to worship

All Saints' Church, built in 1964, features a stunning stained glass window - the work of French artist Gabriel Loire.

It's a haven of peace, decorated with modern art - the perfect place for quiet reflection.

However, like most churches today, its front door has to be kept locked.

Every morning Mr Boakes holds a service of morning prayer in the Lady Chapel.

"There's a lot more faith around than church numbers reflect. There are a lot of people who believe in God and clearly pray regularly.

"But it doesn't get translated into becoming a church community.

"This is because the Church of England doesn't have a good history of being able to reach out and communicate with ordinary people. In many people's eyes it has been a middle class institution."

It is surprising then that Mr Boakes says Maybush conducts more weddings per year than many more affluent parishes in Hampshire.

In years gone by, when the church had a more prominent role in Britain's community, members of the clergy often acted as confidantes to members of their flock.

Mr Boakes says this still, occasionally, happens now.

"One of the humbling things about working here is the people who do want to discuss things with you and are very honest and open. They don't pretend to be anything other than they are.

"It's quite a privilege, really, that people are willing to be that open and hon-

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est with you. It's not huge numbers, but people still use us."

One of the areas where Mr Boakes has the most impact in Millbrook is through his role as a member of the Outer Shirley Regeneration committee, which has been injecting substantial grants into the area for the past two years.

They have been given £15m by the government to allocate over a seven- year period.

Members work in conjunction with the city council, local groups and voluntary bodies, researching community projects in Millbrook, Shirley Warren, Coxford, Maybush and Redbridge which will benefit from a cash boost.

"What we're realising is that there's not one overall fix-it - you have to provide a whole range of things.

"We've done quite a lot in two years but we still have a long way to go.

"You can see the changes."

Southampton Action For Employment has been running courses in Millbrook for the long-term unemployed, whose self-esteem has probably plunged to an all-time low.

By giving the men and women tips on applying for jobs and going for interviews, the organisation has helped integrate dozens back into the working population.

"There's only ten people on each course but it makes a real difference over time.

"It's lovely seeing some of these people walking with their heads held up high."

Another group was sent away to sea on the Southampton-based sailing ship Tenacious.

Mr Boakes went down to the docks to meet them on their return.

"It had not been an easy voyage. They had been seasick but came back bubbling with enthusiasm.

"They had never had such an experience in their lives - it makes such a difference to people.

"But the biggest change we can make is to help make them feel that Millbrook is a good place to be.

"A lot of people know this deep down - they wouldn't live anywhere else.

"We want them to know there's more to life than smashing the school windows and daubing the walls with graffiti."

Many of the problems the estate faces are endemic in many inner cities. Drug-taking, alcoholism and chronically high levels of unemployment are rampant in our society.

Yet involvement in just one of the regeneration projects can transform lives, infusing hope and self-confidence into people who thought life held nothing.

"People don't feel they will be able to get anywhere in life - but they have more skills and talents than they give themselves credit for," said Mr Boakes.